"SWEET TEARS"

8x8, oil on 3/8 gesso panel, $100.00

An unlikely pair, these two.  Funny how still life set ups turn out.  A knife, a pear and an onion, breaking down space on a two dimensional surface.  Doesn't always make sense.  Although I have had a salad I like very much that has these two in it.  I like the color most of all.  Again hoping for fall to arrive.

"ONIONS OF A DIFFERENT KIND"

8x8, oil, $100.00

It was feeling like Fall and I thought this was just a perfect color scheme.  Then the 100 degree temperatures arrived.  So this is my plea for Fall to get back on track. 

"MORNING LIGHT ON SYCAMORE CANYON"

8x8, oil on gessobord, $100.00

Since I have been getting out to hike, I have also been taking lots of photos.  This was from a hike a few weeks ago in Sycamore Canyon, Laguna Beach.  It is a pretty place.  The plant life is abundant and seems to like the cooler coastal moisture and temperatures.  This was from the top of the trail looking back.  Lots of cactus.  I liked the way this cactus was reaching and creating shadows.  Mostly, the light and atmospheric conditions created a spectacular view.

"SURROUNDED"

8x8, oil on 3/8 gesso panel, $100.00

I have been playing with composition lately.  I don't mind painting odd subjects to form space and create shapes.  In this still life I used many of the same objects that were in my last still life.  I added more to it to tighten up space to see how that worked.  More is not always better.  Yet I like the uncomfortable clutter and directions the objects.  I feel slightly uneasy, wanting to grab onto a focal point.  The salt shaker is pretty much framed in by shapes.  Keeping the balance was fun.  I love threes, three eggs, three mugs, three central supporting objects.  

There is a psychological aspect to painting for me no matter what the subject.  In this painting I am the salt shaker tightly surrounded by life's everyday needs.  The composition has only allowed me one escape or one entrance into the scene.   In painting it is important to allow the viewer a way into the scene.  Psychologically I always want a way out.

"GET CRACKING"

8x8, oil on 3/8 panel, $100.00

I was just fascinated with the shadows in this still life and the bright yellow coffee mug.  I really wanted to bring color into my shadows.  I also liked the way the eggs framed in the salt shaker.  I love shapes and find myself looking for them more more and more.

"UNDER THE WEATHER"

8x8, oil on 3/8 gesso panel, sold

Two out of 3 sons informed me that they were feeling under the weather.  Neither of which live close enough to do anything to help.  Just another reminder of those days gone by.  The days of being mom on an everyday basis.  Both these guys are very capable of taking care of themselves, but wouldn't it be nice to bring them some hot tea to help them feel better.  Love you and feel better :)

"PERHAPS...APPLE PIE?"

16x12, oil on raymar canvas panel, $220.00

It is the season when apples are abundant.  So many different varieties.  I say Granny Smiths are one of my top favorites.  They make wonderful pie filling and have that bit of sour in each bite.  They also make yummy apple sauce.  Oh how I enjoy this time of year.  

"A BIT OF LEMON"

8x8, oil on 3/8 gesso panel, $100.00

I loved painting this little ceramic container.  It was hand made by a young man and son of a dear friend.  I love painting things that have meaning or a history.  Besides it being sentimental it is lovely.  It has a beautiful glaze and creates very nice reflections.  

He is currently away studying hard.  The wonderful thing about these beautiful ceramic pieces he left to his mothers care is that every time she brings one out to paint, hold and share she is thinking about him.  I just love that.

"A SLICE OF VITAMIN C"

8x8, oil on 3/8 gesso panel, $100.00

Blue and orange are compliments, another set I am exploring in this painting.   Orange and blue can be bold and harsh in advertising, but they really grab you.  It is difficult to dismiss any graphic done with these two colors.  You don't have to like them for them to grab you.  In oil there is a lot more going on with color  mixing and moving around the color wheel to venture into neighboring colors to turn the form and sculpt the painting.  In the process there is a cast of supporting players that push and pull the subject from a graphic statement of bold eye catching color to something with more depth and more to see.

"FEELING GREEN"

6x6, oil on 3/8 gesso panel, $75.00

Color is so much fun and compliments are even better.  

"A DAILY PRESCRIPTION"

8x8, on oil on gesso panel, $100.00

I love the saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away."  I personally think a bouquet of flowers can do the same thing.  Not that we should eat them, but admire the beauty and the loving feeling when receiving such a lovely gift or purchasing one.  So I say buy those flowers you love or plant ones to cut and for insurance eat the apple. 

"APPLE TO APPLE"

8x8, oil on 3/8 gesso panel, $100.00

With autumn right around the corner, it seems a good time to paint apples.  The green ones are particularly good for painting as they reflect great light and color, yet still have wonderful depth in values.  

Setting this up was particularly interesting.  I have 12x12 sheets of colored paper usually used in scrap booking that I uses as back grounds when setting up still lifes.  It is very quick to change out the color and see the effect the color has on the subject.  After playing around the choice was harmonious.  Just staying in a small area of the color wheel for the obvious color scheme.  What's fun about doing this is looking for spots of color that may or may not be there that optically pop up in areas of my vision.  I like to experiment an lay in a color to push another color usually by using compliments.  I've had more of a chance to do this since committing to daily painting.  It's kinda changed up my excitement and interest with my long love affair with art and particularly painting.  

"STANDOUT"

10x10, oil on 3/8 panel, $140.00

It is nearing the end of tomato season.  For a couple of weeks I just could not keep up with the production.  Most of the crop has not been very large in size.  Lots of salads of tomatoes, onion, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Wonderfully tasty and colorful.  Some just standout as better tasting.

All have been fun and very cute for painting.

"LEMONS IN WAITING"

6x12, oil on 3/8, SOLD

Color studies are fun to explore.  Seeing color in reflections and shadows that are not obvious to the main color scheme help exaggerate and bring color forward.