Two new 6 x 6's

"Green Grapes"
6 x 6 " oil on Canvas Panel

"Fast Pears"
6 x 6 oil on Gessobord

The grapes will always be known to me as the "killer green grapes."  Green grapes are more difficult to paint than dark grapes.  I started the painting last night and it was going nowhere, so I spent some time last night looking online at oil paintings of green grapes. Most of the paintings were horrid and I started to feel better about the painting.  I then found a pic by one of my favorite artists and was able to study how he did it. I didn't do it, but I know how it should be done :-)

I worked on the green grapes this morning and at least finished them to my satisfaction.  I'll try green grapes again in another year....hopefully they'll be better.

Once the grapes were done, I decided to do something loose, fast and fun "Fast Pears."  In my photo file they are filed with today's date and a title of "Relief."  At least I had fun painting for awhile today.

Traditional Apples

"Traditional Apples"
6 x 6" oil on Gessobord
Sold

"Traditional Apples" with a Virtual Frame

More adventure into traditional form, tighter brushwork. It's a beautiful day, I should be outside, but no I spent the whole day painting. Yeah!

Traditional Pear

"Traditional Pear"
6 x 6" oil on Gessobord
Click Here to Purchase Painting

Pulling in edges and brushwork today to try to create a more traditional painting.  Through The Artists Guild Library I've been watching instructional videos by David A Leffel and Sherrie McGraw, two of my favorite painters. They both paint so poetically, I'm hoping some of that sensitivity will rub off.

Getting geared up to do the 30 in 30 Days project hosted by painter Leslie Saeta, starting on January 1.  Painting every day for 30 days sounds sort of daunting, but I'm on a roll so I'm hoping it won't be a big stretch.

Peach and Cherry

"Peach and Cherry"
5 x 5" oil on Gessobord
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Errands to run this morning and coffee with my dear friend...just a little painting time today.

Sunday's Pear

"Sunday's Pear"
5 x 5" oil on Gessobord
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A little more traditional pear from the last one.  My hubby thinks it should be titled "Twerking Pear."  Uh...no.

Teapot and Lime



"Teapot and Lime"
6 x 6" Oil on Gessobord
SOLD


I thought I might try some of my new found "looseness" on something a little more traditional and see what happens.  When I started painting this I felt like I was chasing a runaway freight train, worrying if that was the right temperature, the right value, the most economic brushstroke.  I'm happy with how it turned out...very impressionistic.  I can see much room for improvement. :-)

Berries and Pot

"Berries and Pot"
6 x 6" oil on canvas panel/board
Click here to purchase painting

Tried doing something a little more traditional (still loose and painterly) with the stained canvas, having bits of the Transparent Earth Red showing through.  Happy with how it turned out.

Abstraction is Creeping In...

"Wednesday's Pear"
6 x 6" oil on canvas board

This is the resource I used and abstracted the pear from.
It's an old image and I painted it in bigger form a couple of years ago.
The colors then were very traditional and the result was more realistic.
I'm really attracted to the abstractness of things, loose edges and lots of color.
A fun adventure!

Peach on Turquoise

"Peach on Turquoise"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Well, that was a productive morning!  I no sooner photographed this finished painting and posted it on FB, it was sold.  About 3 minutes lag time.  I think that might be a new record.

This is going to one of my collector's in Boulder who is a chef. 

Have Half?

"Have Half?"
4 x 4"oil on Gessobord
SOLD

I was really close to wiping this off the Gessobord, but a few strokes and it began to turn the corner.  Once I turned the corner with it, it became really fun to finish.  This one is also painted over a layer of Transparent Earth Red and a little bit of it peeks thru here and there.

Pear and PItcher

"Pear and Pitcher"
6 x 6" Oil on Canvas Board

More experimenting with the staining of the canvas before painting over it. 

Fruit Bowl

"Zesty"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
SOLD

"Jam Session"
2.5 x 3.5" oil on canvas panel
ACEO
Click Here to Purchase Painting

I'm procrastinating about working on a bigger piece.  So I did two small ones today, maybe that makes up for a large one? Right?

Earthy Pear

"Earthy Pear"
6 x 6 oil on canvas board
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It's been a relatively good day, even though it's still frigid outside.  The warmth is coming though, above freezing tomorrow - 37!!

I had fun with this painting today.  I stained the canvas with some fast-drying earthy red paint (Gamblin Fast Matte - Transparent Earth Red), let it dry and then painted over the stain.  I some of the earth red show through and it has a nice effect.  Going to try this again on Wednesday - tomorrow is Emma-palooza day...the 4 yr old whirling dervish of independence.

I Need Some Warmth!

"Juicy Fruit"
4 x 4 oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Miserably cold here!  I'm dreaming of some tropical places and colors....

Dark Cherry

"Dark Cherry"
2.5 x 3.5" oil on ACEO-sized canvas panel
SOLD

I think I have cabin-fever, and am delirious.  When I think about what to paint, cherries come to mind...always!  It's been below zero for the last 3-4 nights and well below freezing for daytime temps for awhile now.  Since I'm still recovering from a respiratory ailment, not sure what it is, I hate to go out.  Maybe I think of cherries because that's the flavor of the cough syrup, or because.....I'm delirious!

Morning and Afternoon Work..So Different

The A.M. painting..teeny tiny shapes
"Bowl and Eggs" 2.5 x 3.5 oil on canvas panel
SOLD

The P.M. Painting....practically throwing the paint on the board
"Apple-oosa" 5 x 5" oil on Gessobord
SOLD

How About Them Apps?

"How About Them Apps"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Peach on Green Mini

"Peach on Green"
2.5 x 3.5" oil on Canvas Panel
    Click Here to Purchase Painting $12.00

Too much to do today, catching up on email and CPSA activities.  I had planned on something a bit bigger, but did mange to get an ACEO-sized painting done before the sun went down.

Cherry Cola

"Cherry Cola"
2.5 x 3.5" oil on canvas panel
Click Here to Purchase Painting $12.00

I'm loving these new Gamblin colors...this one was the Portland Warm Grey and Portland Cool Grey with a tad of Sap Green and White.

Little Green Apple

"Little Green Apple"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
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Experimenting with some new colors from Gamblin.  This was a trial run for the Titanium Buff (with a little Naples Yellow and White) in the warm neutral background.  Sometimes the warm backgrounds can be a little garish and not so neutral, but I'm happy how this turned out.

Two New Minis on New Canvases

"Mini Leaning Pear"
2.5 x 3.5" oil on canvas panel
Click Here to Purchase $12.00

"Mini Lemon"
2.5 x 3.5" oil on canvas panel
SOLD

I just ordered some new mini canvases from Shark's Art Canvas.  They have extra fine canvas and they are perfect for these small paintings.  I LOVE them, and there was no shipping!

Still recovering from my month-long cold and respiratory ailments....the old lungs aren't what they used to be.  I am on the uphill swing, however...so please don't send me all your cures.  Everyone has a cure :-)