This Painting is Garbage

                                             6x6 $90

On Sunday we went on a 20 mile bike ride through lovely desert scenery and you would think I'd be inspired to paint it. But no- my eye went to a nicely shaped green bottle lying alongside the road. Garbage. Thus the title....I thought it deserved a hot sunny palette to make up for its shameful treatment in the past.

Looking Askance

I painted today and I will take photos tomorrow, but in the meantime I thought I'd post a painting that I did a few years ago. This one hangs in our kitchen here in Arizona and, no, the eyes don't follow you wherever you are. This is a totally made up image that I did on a whim- and I like it. It makes me smile. The frame is one I make myself from frame stock I order from New York. I haven't yet used it on any daily paintings- it might be too large- but, then again, it might work. I'll have to try it.

Separate and Apart

                                          5x7 $90
I found this lovely little oval bowl that's soft yellow on the inside and grey on the outside. Never seen anything quite like it. So the pear with the rich red highlights won the chosen spot inside the bowl (largely because he contrasted best with the soft yellow).

Bow Down Before Me

                                          6x6 $90
Something about this little pitcher strikes me as imperious, and it looks like "she" has ordered the pears to bow down before her. The one on the right is complying, but the one on the left looks like "he" may defy the order....
I actually completed 2 paintings before leaving town for Thanksgiving, but ran out of time to post them. We're expecting more company in a week, so I had better get in some productive painting between now and then. It's hard to keep up with this!!!! I intend to keep trying though. I love my painting time and I'm continuing to learn. For example, on this one, I made the mistake of mixing the foreground color with white, and it looked flat and dead. I know better, but I still make some of the same mistakes. I guess it's progress when I can recognize what's wrong, and fix it. In this case, I wiped it out and mixed the background color with some naples yellow. Now it has the warmth I want.

Key Limes and Blue Cup

                                          6x6 $90
Are you tired of my pathetic attempts to save this painting (formerly known as Key Limes and Purple Cup)? Clyde Semler, my much valued commenter and critic, suggested that it was missing cool blues. I thought why not give it a try; the yellow green and reddish purple combo just wasn't doing it for me. In the process, the cup became more blue than purple; thus the name change. I think I'm done with this one now. If not, I promise to quietly remove the "Buy Now" button and refrain from posting it again. I'm getting tired of it, even if you're not.

Bowlful

                                            6x6 $90

I've been in Bisbee for the weekend with my Mom and sisters. It was their first time. It was fun to show off one of my favorite fun quirky places. We had dinner at the Cafe Roka (awesome) and breakfast at the Bisbee Breakfast Club (also awesome). The only downside was a 4 hour drunken argument in the room next door that prevented us from getting a nights sleep. I kept waiting for them to pass out....

So...this is a painting that I did before my company arrived. I loved the shadow shape above all. Who would eat oranges with a spoon with the rinds on? Well, I don't know....does it have to make sense??????

Cut Up

                                          6x6 $90
Well, rhe oranges are nearly gone, so just a few more of these before I move on to something else. I'm really getting to know oranges, though. Just another example of the benefits of daily painting. On this one, I was drawn to the reflections of the oranges in the knife blade, as well as the flow of the dark shapes. I'm rather enjoying the 5x7 panels. I love the 6x6, but this is a nice change.

Fresh Squeeze

                                            6x6 $90

I I really like painting glass, and the shape of this mug is fun to paint too. I still am having problems with color accuracy in my photographs. The oranges should be brighter and yellower, the brown is too purple and the lavender is too blue compared to the actual painting. When I correct for one it screws up the others. BUT at lease I got some clarity and sharpness. I'll settle for that for now.

Really Big Onion

                                             6x6 $90

I decided to try a really pale palette for a change. I also spent a couple hours this morning playing with my camera and editing options to try to get a better picture. I found if I took it off automatic and used the cloud setting I avoid the excess blue tones that usually mess with my color. I re-posted a couple of my recent paintings below with a better image. I still had a heck of a time with the Key Limes and Purple Cup. as the background is a lemony yellow-green and the key limes are oranger yellows, but I can't get the differences to show up (it's still not right). In general, I'm having trouble with color accuracy, but this particular painting has been a nightmare.If anybody has any suggestions for me, I'll try them!
I have been invited to join Daily Painter Originals, which I'm thrilled about. Thanks to all of you who wrote to welcome me. I plan to officially join and start posting on Dec 1, as my schedule and my situation here in Arizona are less than ideal for doing a good job, and although I will be here until late December, I can handle a month of Arizona postings before returning to my Seattle studio.

Three Bites

                                          6x6 oil
I'm finally learning how to "get close to accurate" photos in my current situation (away from my studio). I like the colors in this one. It's a "happy palette".

Four Bites and a Gulp

6x6 $90

I'm back! My new battery charger arrived yesterday, so I have an operable camera. I still can't figure out what is the right adjustment for my photos, though, as my laptop image changes so much depending on how I tilt it. I don't know what you are seeing on your screen....Anyway, we got a big box of oranges that we're racing to finish before they go bad. You'll be seeing paintings of oranges for the next few days. I like them when they're cut in these little wedges. 

Key Limes and Purple Cup

6x6 $90

This is the last of the key lime paintings. Also the last post until I get my new battery charger for my new camera. I should have thought of this earlier, I know. I have a battery charger, but not the right kind. Sure hope I'm up and running again soon. In the meantime, I'll try to get some paintings done.

Key Limes

                                            6x6 $90

yesterday's photo updated with more accurate shadows

Here's another version of the key lime and glass vignette. I'm also attaching an updated photo of yesterday's painting because I figured out that I greatly emphasized the shadows due to the way I was viewing the photo on my laptop. I'm not used to using a laptop- nor Picassa editing- and there's a bit of a learning curve going on. Anyway, this version is a bit more vibrant, I think. I'd be interested in whether you think so as well- or not.