Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunrise at Flagstone sunrise Alabama orange yellow violet clouds trees
It's always a good day for me when I can begin it with a quick sunrise sketch before work. We have had a couple of days of great weather which makes it even more difficult to sit at my desk and stare at a computer. I just had to get outdoors, even for a short while. I'm going to try to do another sketch after work also.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Fragile Color still life daily painting green amber red purple wine glasses blinds
More of my weekend flea market finds. This is a painting I should have done standing up. From the comfort of my chair, the drawing issues were not so noticeable. The glasses were empty while I painted this sketch, so, laziness is my only excuse. I'll find out tonight, which color glass the wine tastes best from.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Red Glass, Blue Glass - SOLDstill life daily oil painting blue cat red vase white blinds back lit
Flea markets, antique malls and junk shops this weekend provided a box full of objects to experiment with.
The idea here was to combine bold and graphic elements with the subtle values of the transparent and translucent. I am looking forward to the next attempt.
The idea here was to combine bold and graphic elements with the subtle values of the transparent and translucent. I am looking forward to the next attempt.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
In The Fridge, a daily still life with condiments - SOLD
The joys of painting, one doesn't quite work out as you hoped, the next one works out exactly as you hoped. This result makes me very happy. I was able to keep it simple and chunky, strong color notes and contrasts. A sense of the light as I saw it and, it just simply feels right to me. There are things I would do differently now that I have had some time to look and digest this for a few hours. I think if I were to do this subject again, I might want to focus on one object a little bit more and push back the rest by easing up on the contrasts and softening some edges. Something to consider for my next sketch.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Milk and Honey - still life, honey bear, carnation, milk jug
Trying to change my thought process about painting is really hard! This painting was a struggle but I am not disappointed. There will always be varying degrees of success and even some hideous failures but it only motivates me to continue. If it was easy, it would be boring. Excluding all of the glare and my lack of ability as a photographer, this is a pretty decent sketch...in my opinion. Its possible that I am somewhat prejudice in my opinion, I love milk and honey!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Flowers and Jars - floral daily painting - SOLD
I have had it in my mind to simplify the subjects I paint for a very long time. Most of the time I become absorbed in the painting and unconsciously slide into to my usual habits. A few days ago I read a quote on an artists blog from a workshop she attended (David Leffel, I believe). "Everyone paints the way they do because of the way they think. If you want to get better, change the way you think." So simple, so direct and so right on the mark! While this sketch may not seem much different from anything else I have painted, to me it is a sea change in my thinking as I paint. I hope that I can expand on this approach and not fall back into that dreamy, unconscious zone that I have enjoyed for so many years. My apologies to the artist/blog that I copied this quote from, I wrote down the quote but not the source...the dreamy, unconscious zone strikes again!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A House of a Different Color - Ardmore, Alabama
I'm going to try to re-photograph this painting on my lunch break. I am pleased with this painting, especially the color but, it just doesn't show well in this photo. I had to stop and sketch this house, the pinkish / purple-ish color was too engaging to pass up. I can imagine being cheered up after a hard day at work by just pulling into the driveway and seeing this bright happy color.
This sketch is 12"x16", oil on canvas.
This sketch is 12"x16", oil on canvas.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Swinging, Still-Gardner Homestead, Tennessee
Just over the Alabama state line into Tennessee is the Matt Gardner Homestead, this is the swing on the front porch. Across the road is the Elk River, which I have painted several times. A short distance east is the dirt road and corn field where my 3 previous sketches were done. Prior to this painting, I was driving along the road,heading west, parallel to the river. As I passed a densely wooded section I heard a blood curdling scream above my blaring radio. It scared me silly. The road is narrow and curvy, so it was about 100 yards before I could pull over under a bridge and turn around. I drove like a maniac to get back to the spot where I heard the scream. All the while I was reaching and rooting around under the seat of my truck for some weapon to defend myself and rescue the screaming victim. The only thing I found was an 8x10 canvas. I slowed down as I rolled up to the spot, turned off the radio, opened all of the windows and scanned the woods ready to do the hero thing. Nothing...not a sound or movement. Then I heard it again but from the other side of the road and a little further ahead. I drove up again ready to take action. Staring into the forest I see a nearly hidden mobile home, next to it a chicken. It wasn't a person I heard...it was a chicken. I drove back to the Gardner Homestead and painted the very still and quiet porch swing on the 8x10 canvas. Tonight's dinner...chicken, I think!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Day Brightens 5x7oil on board
Looking back at the road I came in on as the sun makes an appearance. As I look at the last 3 sketches I am annoyed with the color photo reproductions here on my blog. Usually the color has a noticeable shift towards yellow because of the incandescent lighting in my studio. I turned off those lights leaving only my fluorescent lights on. Now everything has shifted towards blue, losing some of the warmer tones. There is some glare and reflection on this piece also, which is making it appear cooler...very frustrating.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Flowers and Field 5" x 7" oil on board
This was painted in the same location as yesterdays sketch. My philosophy is turn to the right and begin painting. Although I am now using an Open M Box easel and it is considerably lighter than my French easel, it is still a pain to pack up and move to a new location. There is too much stuff to move, it is so much easier to turn to the right and get to painting.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Road Past The Corn 5" x 7" oil on board
I painted several sketches along this dirt road and corn field. This is the most fun thing to do, quick, loose and spontaneous impressions of my day in the field...well, next to the field.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Flowers in the Studio SOLD
The flowers are from the grocery store. My plan was to sketch them up close but while preparing to paint, this wider composition felt more interesting. I am very happy with this loose spontaneous sketch. There are few details but, more "feeling"...I think. While looking at this sketch, feeling very pleased with myself, I couldn't help thinking, this picture is very familiar. Well, a little research confirmed that I painted an extremely similar one in April. There has been approx. 363 paintings since starting this blog 2 1/2 years ago, its hard to remember each post and sketch.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Demo Two, 10" x 10" oil on canvas
My second demonstration for the art group I meet with once a week.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Sweet Onion in a Box 10" x 8 oil on canvas SOLD
The goal here was to try to paint the varied and subtle colors of an onion. Each time I looked more colors were revealed through the translucent and reflective skin. This is the second version. After looking at the first one for a day, I felt it wasn't working, so...I jumped back in and repainted the entire picture. I guess I'll know if this version works better after a few days or week when I am not so close to the painting. I find it very difficult to judge my own work, especially when it is still on the easel.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Sunset Clouds 8" x 10" oil on canvas
From my balcony I could see these huge clouds. They seemed frozen in space, until I started painting and then it seemed as if they were jet propelled. After looking back on my last few paintings I seem to be in my orange and blue period.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Plums 8" x 10" oil on canvas
The weather channel was wrong. It never did storm in my area. I didn't want to get caught in the predicted thunderstorms so I painted a bowl of plums on my small balcony. I am pretty happy with this one. There wasn't any direct light on my subject but loads of reflected light from the glorious sunlight that wasn't supposed to be there!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Morning in the Foothills 8" x 10" oil on canvas
I painted this about 2 weeks ago but never got around to posting it.
White on White with Blade 5" x 6" oil on board
A small sketch to get myself back on schedule and hopefully find the groove again.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Demo Painting 7" x 9" oil on canvas - SOLD
I painted this as a demonstration for a class last night. A nectarine, red pears, small green pear and a papaya(?) that drove me nuts. It was a lot of fun and they are a very nice group, I'm looking forward to next week...without the papaya!
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