Grand Canyon

I did this a few years ago after visiting the Grand Canyon the first year I taught at The Scottsdale Artists' School. I did a group of them but I think I like this one the best. I may post them consecutively this week. I remember telling the class about my impending visit. I heard, "Wow, can't wait to see the Grand as a mini!" It took me awhile to get over being intimidated by the scene. Guess it had to settle in me before I felt like i could even attempt it. Sorry I haven't figured out how to use spell check. "Consecutively" doesn't look right. Anyway, "Grand Canyon #o547", 3x4 inches oil on board, POR

Apples and Roses

"Apples and Roses", 3x4 inches, oil on board, POR

Frame

Most of my watercolors are 3x4 inches and all of my oils are 3x4 inches. This is an example of my most commonly used frame. This one is gold but lately I've been using silver. I get them from Frankenframes mail order from Tennessee. Really nice people to work with. They've got that great southern charm. You can always tell them I sent you!

Workshop Demo

My computer is still not back from Apple which just means a bit more work for me to post. This was done in a workshop probably in Scottsdale but maybe Woodstock? "Orange and Blue Composition", 3x4 inches, oil on board, POR

Sunflowers

I was concentrating on getting a lot of light onto the tabletop fabric. I used the complement of green (red) with a lot of white. If I did this again I wouldn't have the middle flower point directly out but I like the way the painting came out so it's a minor point. "Sunflowers", 4x3 inches, oil on board, POR

The Line-Up

My grandson is visiting this weekend. He is applying to a new school and needed to write a paragraph as part of the application process. He told me five sentences make a paragraph. I told him five objects make a still life composition. That's what we're taught but of course lots of us break the rules with just as good results as those of us who follow the rules. "The Line-Up", 3x4 inches, oil on board, POR

Pewter Creamer and Grapes

I've been mixing red and green together for over 10 years and it never ceases to amaze me. It's usually Winsor Newton's Winsor Red Deep and their Permanent Green Light with a touch of white. Makes a beautiful gray. Any pure red and green should work. Don't forget the white. "Pewter and Grapes", 3x4 inches, oil on board, POR

Sunflowers and Garlic

Spring is coming. I like to use this warm green fabric in my set up to remind me of the grass that is bound to arrive shortly. The sunflowers are artificial.
"Sunflowers and Garlic", 4x3 inches, oil on board,POR

Pears and Grapes

We went to Fairway on 125th Street and got loads of produce; some to consume and some to paint. I have to be careful and tell my husband which is which. I love it when I can feel the energy emitting from the fruit. "Pears amd Grapes", 4x4 watercolor on paper, POR

Honey Jar and Copper Watering Can

Or how many different ones of orange can I see/paint without getting monotonous? "Honey Jar and Copper Watering Can" 3x4 inches, oil on board, POR

Sunflowers, Blue Vase, Red Bowl

Sometimes I see things to correct just after uploading the image to the blog. I think I may go back and make my signature smaller. I'll have to look at it in a frame. Which gives me an idea to take a picture to show the kind of frames I use. "Sunflowers, Blue Vase and Red Bowl", 3x4 inches, POR

Tulips in Watering Can

This is an older painting. Reminds me of spring approaching. "Tulips in Watering Can", 3x4 inches, oil on board, POR

Sunflowers and Honey Jar

As you can see I definitely have my favorites. I have a collection of honey jars cause honey comes in different colors. So some of the honey in our cabinet is for consumption and some is for painting. "Sunflowers and Honey Jar", 3x4 inches, oil on board, POR

Honey Jar, Pear, Bucket

So I did it again. I mean I did another painting. Same set up. I concentrated on the first wash being light and the second wash being a darker value and leaving a lot of the first wash uncovered if that makes any sense. Sometimes it's hard for me to write after painting for hours. Yes, it did takes hours to do this even though it's small. I may do it again tomorrow and make the first wash brighter. I'm thinking the honey jar could be brighter. We'll see. "Honey Jar, Pear, Bucket", 3x4 inches on watercolor board, POR

Honey Jar, Pear and Vase

I'll probably try this one again tomorrow to see if I can get the honey jar warmer. I deliberately picked a dark object in order to experiment with darks in a medium that needs to read light. Maybe I'll work on it more tomorrow. "Honey Jar, Pear and Vase", 4x5 on 6x8 watercolor paper (OMG, it's sooo large!), POR

Lemon Slices with Antique Yellow Cup

I rescanned the painting because of the pencil lines. I had also played with the sizing of the painting on the left and I'm not sure I got it right. Anyway, the one on the right is how it looks now. I was influenced by the oil paintings which I posted yesterday. "Lemon Slices with Antique Yellow Cup" 4x3 inches on 5x5 inch watercolor paper, POR

Twins

When you're painting small there's usually enough paint leftover to do another one. (There's not always enough energy unfortunately.) These were done with the orange/blue palette. "Still Life with Orange Slice" (vertical), 4x3, oil on board, "Still Life with Orange Slice" (horizontal), 3x4 inches, POR

Landscape #0706

This composition is the same as the March 1st post. I sometimes do the same comp over again usually with a different concept in mind. I 'm not positive but i think i used the yellow/purple palette to get a different color feeling. "Landscape #0706" 3x4 inches, oil on board, POR

Sunflowers and Silver Teapot

My husband and I are taking care of our grandson (which is a great joy for us) and i don't have my paints with me so I'm posting one from last year. This is a silver pot I grew up with. Of course once I started painting seriously I looked at it with great interest and asked my mom if I could have it for my still life collection. "Sunflowers and Silver Teapot", 4x3 inches, POR

Roses in White Vase

Yesterday was a joyful day for us. We welcomed the arrival of our third grandchild. Forgive me if I post an older painting! "Roses in White Vase" 4x3 inches, oil on board, POR

Antique Yellow Cup

SOLD
This is my absolute favorite cup and favorite white bud. Painting clear glass is fun as long as you're squinting and painting what you see.
"Antique Yellow Cup" 4x3 inches, oil on board.

Sugar Jar, Lemon, Garlic

I'm definately pleased with the sugar jar; the values and color choices but I'm not at all sure about the composition. Not sure that I like the flower either. I'd like to do it again sometime soon. Maybe in watercolor. "SugarJar, Lemon, Garlic, 3x4 inches, oil on board, POR

Landscape #0506

I'm not sure about posting the watercolor I did today. I want to think about it and possibly post it tomorrow. I don't mind posting it if there's something redeemable about it but if it's going to make me feel bad, I'll just wait til I get something I like. Sometimes a minor change will make a big difference. And a fresh eye is needed to make this assessment. Softening some edges or adding a dark or two is what I'll be looking for. Another thing is looking to see if i did something boring like placing two trees same size, same color, same value next to each other.
With watercolor you can't futz around too much or you lose the natural glow of the paper and the paint. Takes working at it (everyday) to get it good.
"Landscape #0506, oil on board, POR