On the Green

                                    6x6 Bid on this Painting   

I separated my older daily paintings into 3 piles. One pile is "fine as is" (I could change my mind about any of those). Another pile is "project for improvement" . The third pile is for "paint-overs". I think I've learned a few things about composition lately. Took me long enough! I'm starting to really "get" the concept of linking my shapes, both in color and value. This painting is an example of one that I painted over using what i know now. I think it's a much stronger painting. The painting I posted yesterday I decided doesn't work. I ended up with ambiguous focal points- the bright green lawn and the sunlit corner of the house. Because I'm trying to feature the house, I am working on toning down the lawn and increasing the interest on the corner of the house. Will post the "new and improved" version soon.

Green and Gold

                                      Bid on this painting
It seems I only paint the little ones any more when the DPW Challenges occur. I am working on my Spain/Portugal series whenever I have the opportunity to paint. I know I'll get back to the dailies later. This challenge was to paint rectangles of color based on what you are observing. I quite like the effect, and it renews my resolve to be more careful about making color fields interesting with the application of a variety of related colors.

Egg On Stage

                                         5x7 $90

I've been going through my older paintings and choosing to (a) put them in a pile to be painted over or (b) get reworked. This is one painting I always liked, but the values needed to be strengthened to make it stronger. It's an interesting exercise to analyze what works and doesn't work in a painting and make the attempt to rescue it. Sometimes they still end up in the scrap heap.

Lone Plum

                                  6x6  $90
Here's another painting with my little triangle cutouts. I like the tie- in of the dark plum with the dark under painting. I want to tell all of you about the BEST documentary we saw last night (Netflix DVD) called Waste Land. It's about a Brazilian born artist named Vik Muniz who was commercially successful in NYC and wanted to take on a socially redeeming project in his native country. He chose the largest landfill in the world- in Rio- and his goal was to have his art make a lasting difference in the lives of the people. It is a daunting project, but it's highly successful and the documentary is fascinating. I think non artists will enjoy the film and artists will love it, as I did. If you see it, let me know what you think!

Let the Light Shine

                                  6x6 $90
Enough of Rome. It's back to the still lifes for the moment. I have made a few changes to my Rome paintings (I tend to "go back in" quite often), and I'll replace the images on my postings as they evolve. So this is another "colored water" painting. The teal bottle actually is that color, but the yellow is colored water in a clear bottle. I love the way the egg picks up the color around it.

"Brother in the Bowl" and reworked "Sand and Surf"

                             12x12

This is the last of the 12x12's- for now, anyway. I have more blank canvases, so there will be more. I am going to do an 11x14 for a birthday present for my aunt, and then I'm thinking about doing one for the Google Street View challenge. The February one takes place in Prague, and I had fun strolling the virtual streets looking for subject matter.

I got confirmation from several comments that the man's leg led the viewer right out of the picture. Every time I looked at it, all I saw was that leg! So- the wonder of paint- I painted out the leg and changed his posture. I'm much happier with this!

Three Plus Three

                                   12x12

Time for another 12x12. This is another new color scheme for me. I'm kind of into the really light blue right now. I like the way it looks with the orange (although I think I'd also like the composition if that cup were dark instead. Hmmmm........) I'm especially fond of the reflection colors in the glass.
I just have a zillion ideas right now. Way more ideas than painting time, but I'm trying to keep up.

Two on a Tabletop

             6x6 $90

I'm really fond of red underpaintings. The problem I've had in the past, though, is that I don't care for the amount of red that affects the other colors- especially too much pink! Lately I've been using an acrylic ground and applying just a bit of the ground color in oil when I begin the painting. I don't think I'd feel the need to do that with yellow, but with red and blue I find I like it better. I'm very happy with the colors in this painting!

Bottled Belles

                                     6x6 $90
I have some more 12x12's to post, but I'm taking a break from that. I don't often paint flowers, but that could change. I really like this painting. I also did the Carol Marine challenge but it's not dry enough to photograph. Somebody- I don't remember who- said that she was exhausted at the end of this challenge. Man, so was I!!!! It took a lot of concentration. It was magical, though. When I got the shapes and the values (nearly) right, it took only a couple strokes and highlights to make the object  (a cup in this case) real!

12x12 Paintings/ "Not a Great Hiding Place"

The mandarin orange was trying to hide behind the apple, but didn't realize that the reflection in the bowl would give his secret away. There's even a bit of his shadow peeking out, but he might have gotten away with that.

12x12 Paintings

                                  
A few months ago, I sold several paintings to a local hospital. Now they have asked for some small paintings to place in exam rooms- preferably with a "botanical" theme. I painted 6 new paintings for this project; this one and one other are based on existing 6x6 paintings- the others are entirely new. The blue under painting gives this a decidedly cool look, and the orange doesn't pop as much as if the under painting were warm, but there is a moodiness that intrigues me with these mostly cool paintings.

Lately I have been mushing all my leftover paint at the end of a session into a big pile of "neutral" that I use in my next painting session. Does anybody else do this? I find the neutral is usually lovely as it is, but I can also alter it to my liking.  I also love the idea of not wasting paint...

I replaced yesterdays post, wiping out the buildings to the right. I originally placed them there to stop the eye from traveling off the picture plane, but ultimately decided they didn't add anything to the composition. I prefer the simplicity, but would love to hear responses (if you have an opinion).

From Tree to Thee

   

                                 6x6 $90
My latest obsession is with this stainless bowl. So many interesting things happen when it enters the picture.

Cozy Up

                                          Sold
I'm out of 6x6 panels, so the challenge will be to arrange compositions more suited to a horizontal format. I painted 2 of these today, and then cleared my painting apparatus away to return the guest room to its primary function. We have guests all next week, so the postings will be slim. I hope to get back on the program by next Saturday.

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.

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).

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.

"Over the Line"

                                           6x6 $90
This is pretty simple and direct. It's easy for me to see the pattern and value and color in a composition like this; much harder to see when the subject becomes more complicated.