Tangerines

Tangerines

6" x 6", Oil

Pretty little orange things- so sweet and juicy.  

Red Grapes

Red Grapes

6" x 6", Oil

I much prefer to paint from a real still life than a photo. Colors are always different. For larger paintings setting up the composition takes time.  When I just want to sit down and paint I usually grab something from the kitchen like this one.  

Pears in a Row

Pears in a Row

6" x 6", Oil



Apple Still Life

Apple Still Life

Acrylic, 11" x 14"

 

Another acrylic with an under-painting.  You can see the texture in the background and glass jar.

I don't know why I love to paint apples and pears.  I just do. 

All Boxed In

 

All Boxed In

24" x 24", Oil

Another large painting.  I enjoy setting up compositions and then painting it from a bird's eye view.  especially like the light and shadows on this one.  What do you think? 

 

Looking Down

Looking Down
30" x 30", Oil
I've been painting bigger pieces but still painting fruits!  These gala apples are big and dramatic.  this piece will go into the Kensington Labor Day show - the three day show at the downtown armory or town hall in Kensington, MD.    

MAA paint the town

Apple, Pear, Lemon

"Apple, Pear, Lemon", Oil, 8 x 10

 

I love to paint fruits!! I especially like the contrast of background to foreground in this one.

Four Pears

Four Pears, acrylic, 8 x 10"

I started painting with acrylics again! This started with an underpainting and then I added the image on top. It's much better in real life - you get to see all the colors coming thru. I matted and placed in my bin at the MAA Wheaton Gallery. So I started a few more and will show those next time.

More bottles

6" x 6", Oil, $75

Another bottle still life!

Is that me?

Is That Me?

Oil

6 x 6"

$75

I'm into painting reflective surfaces now. Challenging to say the least. I try to look at it in an abstract way so I don't get too overwhelmed when I start. I started painting glass this way and now I love to paint glass.

You don't say!

You Don't Say!

5" x 7" Oil

$100

This is my new favorite color combination; green, orange, purple. Love the way the green goes dark to light. Pears are fun to paint so I painted a larger version of this, 18 x 24.

Hangin' Out

Hangin' Out

12" x 12". Oil, $100

I did this in a class I'm taking at Plaza Art. It's just a 2 hour session that runs for 8 weeks. So I complete the paintings fairly fast. I'm working on painting looser, not getting bogged down and overworking. Painting fast forces me to make every stroke count. I think about where I want the lights and darks. The teacher sets up the still life which is good. Sometimes I agonize over what to set up and then I don't paint. I keep telling myself- It's not what you paint but that you PAINT. Practice, practice, practice.

Nothing but Limes

Nothing but Limes

6" x 6"

Oil

This cute glass jar is an empty Patron liquor bottle. I love the shape and the color combination. Becca and her friends loved the insides.

Blue-Green-Oranges

Blue-Green-Oranges

6" x 6"

Oil

Color, color, color! How does it make you feel?

Oranges in Crystal Bowl

Oranges in Crystal Bowl
Oil
6" x 6"
$75

Happy New Year everyone! Can't believe 2010 is here! A new beginning. It's always good to sit back and reflect, get new inspirations and feel rejuvenated in the process. New resolutions...yes, but I won't write them down so you won't know if I'm succeeding. I will tell you one of them though-painting almost everyday. So that you will see.

This little one was fun and fast. I love the bowl, it sparkles.

Apples & Jars II

Apples & Jars II

Oil

6" x 6"

Here's the companion painting. They fit side to side. I am pleased with both of these. I painted them on canvas, unframed so I can send them to a DC gallery for a show, "On the Line", a clothes line exhibit. The gallery will hang the artworks from a clothes line. Clever idea!

I'm working on a portrait for the DSFDF challenge. Since I haven't done many portraits it is very challenging. Today I will try another go at it. Depending on my focus you might see it soon or you might not.

apples and jars

Apples & Jars

6" x 6"

Oil

Apples are fun to paint. I always seem to have a few in the frig so it's easy to set up a still life. Painting glass is a bit tricky though. I have to approach it abstractly instead of thinking what's in front and behind and through! I keep asking is it darker or lighter than what I just painted. It seems to help. I like this one! I'm working on another so you'll see that soon.

Follow Me!

Follow Me!

10" x 10"

Oil

Do you remember apple bobbing at Halloween parties? I never wanted to get my face wet but some kids would put their whole head in the water just to win. I guess I wasn't very competitive. My best Halloween was when I won a prize for best costume. I had a red clown's nose that was connected to a current so it lit up when I pressed a switch held in my palm. Dressed in a man's suit with hat. My prize was a Hershey's candy bar! Oh, for the simple days!

Happy Halloween!!!!

The Line Up

The Line Up

5" x 7"

Oil

$75

This was a good painting day! I love the way these cherries turned out. I even signed this one!!! I'm not sure the picture image is that great though.

Watermelon Slice

Watermelon Slice

5" x 7"

Oil

You know summer is here when the fruit and vegies are ripe! And I can't help but paint them also. The weather has been hot and humid lately. I forgot to water my plants for 2 days and now they are suffering. We were getting spoiled with those 80 degree days. Stay tuned for cherries, scallions and who knows what else....