Orchids and Apples

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My grocery store sells small orchid plants. I bought a few the other day. They are perfect for still life. The blooms last quite a long time and the buds open slowly. I think I feel an "orchid series" coming on.

Green Apple in Blue

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It has been a VERY slow painting start for me this new year, what with Christmas, and house guests, and colds and flu. So, today I HAD TO PAINT. I was like a wild woman dashing around the house trying to put together an interesting still life setup. All that I had in the way of fruit was this one green apple. I had a few decent sprigs left from a week old bouquet of flowers and my trusty blue bottle. I threw in some interesting shadows and reflections, and "wha la!" Happy and satisfied... the creative itch, scratched.

Farm in Late Fall

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About an hour into this painting, I got a visit from one of the farm's residents. A very spunky Jack Russell Terrier raced out to see what I was doing and he was not too thrilled! He barked and barked and barked and barked. For a little guy, he made quite a big commotion and it went on for what seemed like forever.  I was actually thinking I might have to pack it in when fortunately, he was called back into the farmhouse.

Red Farmhouse

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I was back outside with my easel this week. When driving around the back roads of Bridgehampton scanning for a scene to paint, I spied this old red farmhouse. Alongside it was an open field, glowing bright green in the morning sun. The juxtaposition of these complimentary colors drew me in and sealed the deal. It was a glorious painting session, complete with an occasional "cock-a-doodle-do," from the resident rooster!

Sunflowers and Pears

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There is a wonderful little farm stand just down the road from my house. The other day in the pouring rain, I pulled over, ran in and grabbed up this bouquet of sunflowers. "Oh, won't these brighten up your house on such a gloomy day," said the owner as she wrapped them up. Little did she know what I was really going to do with them when I got home!

Yellow Rose Surrounded by Apples

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I broke out the palette knife on this one as I strive to create atmosphere in my still life paintings. Again, I am trying to pay close attention to value and notice lost and found edges. This time, I also applied the paint a bit thicker than usual, and am very happy with the outcome.

Apples and Ceramic Pot

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I was back in the kitchen... whipping up something delicious.... and gala, and macintosh!

Pinkish Pear and Yellow Rose

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I am trying to soften my edges to create atmosphere between the objects in my still life paintings. One of the tips I got from artist Melissa Franklin Sanchez when I took her workshop this past summer was NOT to work too much in the shadows. Shadows of the proper value, with little or no detail,  help create that feeling of atmosphere.  I am happy with the way this one turned out.

Yellow Roses in Soft Light

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I believe that this big, beautiful, yellow bloom is the last offering from my rose bush this season. It filled  my studio with a heavenly scent as I painted it adieu. Lusciousness.

Blue Vase with Flowers and Fruit

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Lost and found edges, values, color, composition, brush work - so much to consider. The discipline of painting daily and painting small and all in one sitting is moving me closer to the way I want to paint... one day at a time.

Yellow Roses and Pears

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 I have decided to start adding more elements to my still life set-ups. Ironically, I think it was easier to execute this painting with the additional subject matter than others I've painted in the past with just one focal point. Perhaps I am on to something here!

Sunflower Farm

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I went down to the harbor today to paint more boats, but it was way too windy. So, I made an about face and headed out to the farmland where I found this little cluster of charm -  beautiful white farm in the middle of the big bright blue with a great big tree, surrounded by sunflowers! Pinch me.

Roses Late Summer

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It has been a few days - feels more like weeks since I last painted.  I was away from my home and studio for a bit but am now back. Hooray! I wiped out the first version of this painting after working on it for about two hours. I was going to call it quits, when my husband called and said it would still be an hour until he got home. So.... I went at it again and managed to get this done before the sun went down and I lost the natural light.

Purple Petunias

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A big pot of petunias was getting a little leggy, so I snipped off some blooms and put them in my favorite glass vase. One look was all it took. These purple petunias had to be painted. So I lugged out the easel and set to work right in the backyard. Now, if only I could find a way to capture the sweet scent that went with this little arrangement.

Yellow Flowers in Glass Bottle

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I am staying at my sister's house for a few weeks and found these sweet yellow flowers growing on a bush in her backyard. I have no idea what type of flower they are and even tried "googling" them to find out. No luck on the name, but I am very happy with the still life. It is simple and quiet and peaceful.

Lily White Urn

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I was back at the The Sag Harbor Florist this week, and they set me up with this beautiful arrangement to paint. Just as I was finishing up, a blast of sunlight hit the still life and just lit it up. It was great fun albeit a little stressful to get it all done while it lasted.

Rocky Sea

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So, I tackled the rocks, again... a different day and a slightly different angle. It so happens that these rocks are located along a busy road just outside Sag Harbor. I never knew I had so many friends in town... a lot of honking and waving. So sweet.

Trees in a Sunlit Field

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Yet another little study from my landscape workshop with artist Ben Fenske.  Again, the goal here was to try to create depth and atmosphere. I really loved this little field in Wainscott which is just outside East Hampton, NY.  I plan to go back on my own to do a few more paintings.

Hazy, Hot and Humid

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So this is another landscape completed just after taking the plein aire workshop with artist Ben Fenske as offered through The Hampton Studio of Fine Art here in Sag Harbor. Fenske recommended that I do small paintings/studies for a while and then try larger canvases. Even so, I feel like the 6"x6" size is a little too small for the great outdoors - even if the goal is just a study.  My plan is to go a bit bigger, maybe an 8"x8" (that's the size of the painting I posted yesterday, and it seemed to work better.)

Geranium on Outdoor Patio

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I have not posted for quite some time. The reason, I rented out my house in Sag Harbor for a few weeks to some lovely folks who wanted to vacation in "the Hamptons." This is the first time I have ever done this, and the hardest part for me, was deciding on what paint supplies I truly had to bring with me and what would be over-kill. Happily, the packing and moving is behind me now for a bit and I get to get back to painting. This pot of geraniums is a loving touch I found on the front porch of the sweet house where we are living for the rest of the summer.