Nautilus Know-how, 6x6

"Nautilus Know-how" 6x6" Oil

I'm continuing my fetish with the 6x6" canvases as I seem to sell them almost a quickly as I paint them, which isn't such a bad deal. This one by far is my favorite because of the complexity of colors, although all of the 6x6"s continue to hold close to my heart. This time around I payed more attention to lost and found edges of the shell. Softening edges has always been a challenge while at the easel, but when it's done right it really adds so much more interest for the viewer. Setting the shell up upon a table, it was well below eye level, so I searched around the studio to find something available that could be used for the prop. A couple of books laying around would solve the height issue and these two had just the right hints of the same colors in the shell making them an instant "plus" for this piece. Hope you enjoy.   

Proper Pansies, 6x6

"Proper Pansies" 6x6" Oil

Over the course of several weeks I've painted a lot, but shamefully I haven't blogged about it at all. Zilch, nada, nuthin'. It seems that there is so much to do and so little time. Too bad we can't buy more time somehow like it was a commodity, but then it wouldn't be so prized.  What would you do with it?

"Proper Pansies" was painted last week at Studio 30 during the "still life" session. Officially by my own calling, I'd categorize this time at Studio 30 as a time of good friends and conversation much like a tea party, but with paint. The small black teacup with the pansy decoration and gold gilded inner lining was from my Grandma's collection. It just glows in real life and so I tried to capture that luster with some Cadmium Red Med, Indian Yellow and a tiny touch of a green mixture.  The toughest part of this still life was trying to capture that inner glow of the light streaming through the yellow china cup. I think I got it...well, kind of.  Anyway, the yellow china cup I picked up at the Goodwill, a great place to find interesting things to paint.

One of the time consuming things I did during my blogging absence was listing with DailyPaintWorks.com. Also called DPW, it was developed by blogger Carol Marine and is quick and easy to list and simple to use. The art is varied, categorized and priced with either a set price or at auction. I have signed up to DPW to find a venue to release the hoards of art that I have in the studio that I must rotate. There are some really nice pieces starting just at a low $50 each. So, do stop by often as I post new work weekly. Link to the right---->

Here are a few listings with links to each auction....

Dune Path 6x6, Pastel

Dinghies at Rest, 6x6: Pastel

Cusp of the Day, 8x10" Oil

Fanno Creek Wetlands, 16x12" Oil

Glass Implements, 9x12" Pastel

Mosier Aspens, 12x9" Pastel

Cherry Bowl, 6x6

"Cherry Bowl" 6x6" Pastel on sanded paper Sold

Since I got that notice of acceptance into the Local 14 show, I've been focusing on getting a series of fruit still-life paintings done. I've painted this cute little one before and to be honest with you, I spent more time on it this second time around noticing things that previously went unnoticed. I think this comes with most anything in life. I just may have been more ready to take in more information this time around, or possibly wasn't willing to see it clearly last time. Have you ever listened to an inspirational tape and then listened to it a month later only to get something new from it? I was told that as we grow in maturity, or shall I say at different times in our lives, we are more receptive to certain ideas or concepts than at other times. Am I more willing to listen instead of just hear? Am I willing to see more than before? I guess and guess again.

Being Sour Has it's Benefits, 6x6

"Being Sour Has it's Benefits"  6x6"  Pastel on sanded paper

This makes me smile!  It seemed like such a hard subject to paint, so I took my reference photo (from Wetcanvas' Reference Image Library) and hung it upside down along with my painting.  This forced me to "see" what it really is...a big mess of bold color and shapes!  It didn't take as much time to create as I thought it would.  Hope you enjoy this little bit of sunshine.

Duet, 6x6

Duet, 6x6"  Pastel on sanded paper

I've been side stepping my farm series this week, taking a quick break with this small still life piece of pears.  I'm actually preparing for the Local 14 show where I will be showing several still life paintings of fruit.  Even though the show won't be until October, I still like to be ready to "hang" well before the installation.  This one is a bit interesting because the variety of textures/techniques used to make the different surfaces.  The resource photo comes from the Reference Image Library on WetCanvas.

Color Study #3

"Color Study #3 6x6"

I'm now working in color schemes, trying out a complimentary palette with yellow and purple. Complimentary colors are colors that lay directly across from one another on the color wheel. Like green is to red, or blue is to orange. That kind of color study has always been my favorite combination. The actual photo reference I took of this scene has a much more "cooler" temperature to it and it actually didn't have a spoon in it either, so I had to imagine a spoon with that kind of lighting on it. Hopefully, it comes across as "really there" even though that is not the premise of this study. I struggled with my typical tight rendering, grasping on to any looseness to the piece. I just gave up and decided not to fight my tendencies to realism. Anyway, here is my palette below.