Pitchers on White Linen

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Believe it or not, this is the first time I ever painted linen.  I was told by one of my mentors, that linen reflects light much more beautifully than other material. In truth, I was doubtful but I am teachable. So the next time I was at an antique store,  I picked up some old linen napkins. Guess what?! Yup. They glow.

Pottery and Glass

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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.

Hydrangea and Oranges

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This is the final in my hydrangea series. I found it difficult to create the bigness of each hydrangea bloom, while tending to the delicacy and airiness of each little floweret within the blossom. It was a painting paradox, for sure. Comparatively, the oranges and pottery were quite straight forward.

Yellow Roses in Turquoise

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I am quite pleased with this little still life. In particular, I like the perspective and the lemony yellows joined with shades of turquoise and greys. An interesting color combination I will be sure to work with again.

Scallions

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I think it was important that I indicated the table in the upper right corner of this painting. Otherwise, the plate and scallions would have appeared to be floating. I loved painting all the different greens in the stems and found getting the glossy sheen on the ends of the scallions, equally absorbing.

Plated Fish

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So, the fish made it through a night in my freezer and was ready for another full day of modeling. It is amazing to me that the same fish, the same plate, the same artist could create two such different paintings only a day apart. Compared with the painting I posted yesterday, this painting is cooler in temperature and more raw in nature. I intended none of it. That's what makes painting so exciting for me; this element of mystery. It is always bigger and stronger than my plans... and that's a good thing.

Fish and Lemons

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I love painting fish! It is a treat right from the start; heading to the market and making my selection based on the color and shimmer of the scales. Then there's the still life setup; plating the little guy and surrounding him with colorful condiments. Of course, the actually painting process is the ultimate; trying to capture the glistening, soft belly and rendering the eye without making it look like the fish is giving you the "stink eye!" Finally, I think I always form a special little bond with my fish.  This one was gently placed in the freezer when the painting was complete. I am trying to get two days out of him. More of this fish tale in tomorrow's post!

Copper Pot of Sunflowers with Pears

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Since sunflowers last a long time, I decided to create a large painting of this still life.  It is 11"x14" - way bigger than my usual 6"x 6" -  and took two sessions to complete. The sunflowers held up nicely. Overall, they are a very forgiving flower to paint, unlike roses where one false stroke, and you might end up with a tulip on your hands... or canvas! Think I might be off to buy another bunch of these beauties tomorrow. Available as a note card.

Pears in Red and Yellow

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My exploration of lost and found edges, atmosphere and value continues in this painting. The study is made so much more enjoyable with the inclusion of the last few blooms from my yellow rose bush and with the pear, a wonderful fruit that comes in an endless variety of shapes and colors!

Fish Plate

                                               
So I guess this is a bit of a fish story, with pictures to go along with it. My daughter, Edwina, was home from college this week and we planned to paint together. She said she wanted to paint a fish. Here's where she is so great for me. I never would have thought to paint a fish. So, off to King Kullen I went to buy a fish with its head still on. Here's the fish... a porgy... and as the check-out girl remarked, a nice size one!

I wanted to share with my daughter one of my most trusted painting tools... my color charts as outlined by the great Richard Schmid in his book, Alla Prima : Everything I Know About Painting. Here's the fish with the charts... cobalt blue and tera rosa:

It is a very good thing that we set up outside. That porgy was not only a good size, he was also very stinky.

This painting is available for sale in a beautiful gold frame. $395.

A Cool Pear

                                               
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I recently had a little exchange with plein aire artist Roos Schuring regarding her thoughts on still life painting. At this point in her career, she is fully invested and enthralled with the concept of painting out of doors, but at one time painted from photographs and studio set ups. I am breaking away from full reliance on photographs and I am just beginning to adventure outside. I asked her what aspects of still life study she thought would benefit my growth as a painter. She suggested I set up a still life in natural north light. So I did. She was so right! I have fallen in love with cool light... it is so elegant and quiet. Now that is a cool pear!

Oh Pear

                                           
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My husband never travels for work, but he was out of town this past week. That meant only one thing to me.... I could paint at night!! I have always loved the feeling that the track lighting gives to my kitchen at night. So, one night, with the house to myself, I set up in the kitchen and painted a pear. As part of my commitment to expanding my painting style, I was going for big strokes, pretty color, speed and I wanted it all alla prima! Loose and painterly are what I am longing for nowadays... and I quite like this effort.