FRONT AND CENTER

4x4, oil, $45.00

It is persimmon season.  I just love the color of these delightful little fruits.  Sometimes I just want to paint what I like for the subject that it is front and center on the canvas.  I totally enjoyed laying in the pure cad red light at the transition from light to shadow...yummy.

"IN SEASON"

6x6, oil on raymar, 

Fun morning painting with fellow artists.  Painting can be isolating and so it is fun to get together to paint, gab, exchange thoughts and share a cup of tea or coffee with friends that paint.  I love setting up still lifes and more often than not, way too may options to paint.  So I turn my kitchen into a studio.  What better place to end up when having a comfortable gathering.  I was fortunate to have Julie Hill, Dana Cooper and Kelley Sanford via cell phone to talk art and laugh and just have fun.  Dana and I have know each other for a while, but Julie and Kelley are the unexpected gifts of being a daily artist on Daily Painter Originals.  Telling me once again how important it is to step out of my comfort zone and join new things.  You never know what will happen when you put yourself out there.

"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.

"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 :)

"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. 

"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.

"LIFE ON A LEASH"

6x12, oil on panel, $120.00

While exploring all the sites in Chicago we came across this dog park.  It was set in the middle of the cities beautiful architecture.  It was a beautiful place for owners and their pets to walk and play with other visiting canines.  I got a kick out of this guy walking 3 small dogs, talking on his phone. He was oblivious to the large German Shepard coming up behind him.   I thought maybe he was a professional "dog walker" and was on the phone lining up his next group of dogs on a leash.

"CHICAGO AND STATE"

6x6, oil on raymar panel, $75.00

Just got back from a family vacation in Chicago. Getting around a city like this is just fun.  Travel on the subway made life so easy.  With 3 grown boys running around with friends and going to "Lalapalooza" (music festival) for the weekend, getting around would have been difficult in a city where rapid transit is not a priority.  So Chicago was a perfect vacation for everyone.

Okay, this just might have been way too much to get on a 6x6.  I enjoyed trying this painting and I think I might do it again and work on simplifying.

"A TASTY COMBO"

6x6, oil on raymar canvas panel, $75.00

This guy gets around.  I can't resist putting this little tomato into every painting.  I think it is time to cook him up with a little onion or a caprese salad for one.

"SNUGGLING UP"

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

tomatoes are starting to come in and they are tasty.  I love the red skins of home grown.  

"SO LOVELY"

4x4, oil on 3/8 panel, $50.00

Just a little rose in my yard that I can't remember the name, except that it was lovely.  It was cut and painted and just drooped when it's portrait was complete.  I really love painting these little ones.  

"LOOK'IN FOR LOVE"

4x4, oil on 3/8 panel, $50.00

Working this small is fun because it goes with my love for small things.  I have always collected little things, like thimble size.  There is something personal and sweet to a painting so small.  I have been working with bigger brushes to make me stay loose and I am lov'in it.  They are a little abstract to me.  Anyway this rose was pulling way over and made me think it was look'in for something.  So why not love.

"FIRST OF THE SEASON"

6x6, raymar panel, $75.00

This perfect little tomato is the first for the season in my small garden of hierlooms.  They say he is an "Avalanche" tomato.  I expected a really big guy to flavor up a few sandwiches.  Instead he was just a bit.

"THREE PART HARMONY"

6x6, raymar panel, sold

Here is another of the paintings completed on the Dewberry/Cooper Paint A Thon day.  I was so happy to push my colors beyond my comfort.  Love days like this.

"LOV'IN COLOR"

6x6, oil on raymar panel, $75.00

This was a great day of painting and chatting.  Dana Cooper came to paint with me for the day.  It was a little crazy as my house had lots of activities going on and in the middle of everything easels and still life set ups.  Having another painter to bounce ideas off of and simply have a fresh eye is wonderful.

"SINGING THE BLUES"

4x4, oil on 3/8 panel, $50.00

Oh such fun must come to an end.  This is the last of my pear series for the moment.  Just a little different in it's setting.  I love experimenting with blues lately and relationships around the color wheel.  I find there is always something new to knock my creative mind for a loop.

"A PEAR OF MANY COLORS"

4x4, oil on 3/8 gesso panel, $50.00

I am really enjoying playing with color in the creation of these pear paintings.  They are great exercises in fearlessness and a small format to complete in short sessions.  Lots of fun.

"A PEAR'S LIFE"

4x4 oil on gessoed 3/8 panel, $50.00 

Another pear painting in my series.  To this sweet and juicy pear that has served me well.  Just one more and then fruit salad it will be.

"MY BEST SIDE"

4x4, oil on 3/8 gesso board, $50.00 +$10.00 S&H

I just love all the colors in pears and of course their shapes.  I equate them with the female form.  They are just so voluptuous.  I love painting and drawing from life and this fruit is the closest thing to the human form I know.  My sense of humor might be playing into this.  I am sure there are others you might think of and want to share.  I would love to know what you think.