Soup Fixings

Purchase Information

The inspiration for this painting started with the white metal pot. Love it. Found it at a dilapidated antique shop on the north fork of Long Island and couldn't wait to get it into a still life painting. Getting the different textures - the sheen on the pot, the dusty skin of the potatoes, crispiness of the carrots and so on, was the ultimate challenge here.

Long Beach Life Guard

Purchase Information

Forgot to post this one. I painted it way back in July on probably one of the hottest days of the summer. This local life guard kept watch in the shade of an umbrella. Capturing the color and value of the shade on her figure juxtaposed to the bright sun all about her was the main challenge of this plein aire piece.

September Sunflowers

Purchase Information

This was a BIG painting for me to paint en plein air - 20"x40". It took several sessions outside and then a little bit of tweaking in the studio. I was attracted to the different stages each flower was at: one just opened and others already well on their way to seed.

Glass Jug with Two Flowers

Purchase Information

As I was eyeing up this composition and deciding from which angle I should paint it, I was drawn to the distortion inside the jug. I think the very severe dark background works with the light foreground because the line where they meet is "re-routed," sort of swirled inside the glass. On another note, I just noticed that my last few posts are all basically yellow flowers in glass. Funny how you can get stuck in a rut. Now to get unstuck. Wish me luck.

Yellow Rose in Glass Bottle

Purchase Information

The color of this old bottle is so wonderful as are the imperfections within it. I think the overall composition of the painting would have been better served if the rose was a bit more upright...but then again, maybe not.

Little Bottle of Flowers

Purchase Information

Another little green bottle from my collection featuring two tiny yellow flowers - most likely the last from my garden for this season.

Summer Table Setting

Purchase Information

I know it is a little late in the season to post a summer scene, but I had forgotten to take a picture of it back in August when it was painted. So, here you go. A little taste of summer in November.

Pottery and Glass

Purchase Information

Here are some more of the bottles from my collection and an old ceramic pot and plate I found at a yard sale. The purpose here was to paint realistically and yet obtain some abstraction by arranging the bottles so that the plate and pot would look distorted through the glass.