Two Lemons

This painting is another that I painted several months ago that has been hanging out in Eden.  It's a 10 x 10, but I remember at the time thinking it was such a large painting!  I had been working so long in the 6 x 6 format trying to get comfortable with still life painting.  I'm still not 100 percent comfortable switching back and forth between small and large, but it is getting easier.

In other news, we just got back from a week long vacation in Mexico.  We all had a blast, even if we did get more sun than we should have.  I brought my fancy schmancy camera with all intention of capturing colorful Mexican architecture, luscious palm trees and tranquil beach scenes to paint.  Mostly, however, I captured pictures of the kids with varying amounts of sand coverage.  I did manage to snap a few of the beautiful and colorful clouds over the ocean, so maybe one of those will turn into something!

oil on deep canvas
10 x 10
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Pear Lineup

Pears are always so interesting to paint.  They have quirky little bulges and points, giving each one its own personality.  Pears seem to have more "human" qualities.  I think that's why the pears I paint always seem to be socializing to me.  I also love the way their chartreuse looks against blue!

oil on deep canvas
12 x 24
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Sliced Grapefruit Wedges

I love working with the bright pink colors found in grapefruits.  They work so well with the orange rinds and turquoise/teal paper underneath.  This painting was actually painted several months ago for the cafe displaying my work, but I only just got around to bringing it home to photograph and list for sale.  I finally gave them enough other large paintings to keep the spot!

oil on deep canvas
16 x 20
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Kansas Clouds

This landscape was painted from a picture I took over the weekend.  I went back to California for a friend's wedding, camera in hand.  I thought I would get tons of inspirational photos of palm trees and mission style architecture, but what really spoke to me were all the open spaces I drove past on my 2 1/2 hour drive home from the airport.  I guess that means the Midwest really is home now!

oil on deep canvas
16 x 20
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Pink Peonies

I struggle with flowers.  I don't know why they baffle me so much, but I just can't seem to figure out a strategy.  I never see shapes and values.  Instead I see every petal, every color change and I forget what I know and paint accordingly.  Usually I wipe the whole thing and go paint some fruit instead.  This time I think I progressed.  I figured something out, or just ignored what I thought I was looking at, and stayed looser.  Whatever happened, I'm hoping it will be only steps forward, and not back into my old habits.

oil on panel
9 x 12
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Patron Bottle

I couldn't figure out what to paint today, and none of my setups were working for me.  So I pulled out this bottle of Patron tequila, and just had fun.  I should keep this in mind whenever I have painter's block, as I think I succeeded in keeping this one fairly loose.  Perhaps a change in subject helped freshen me up!

oil on panel
8 x 8
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Blackberries and Creamer

It might take me a while to stop painting blackberries.  There is so much to do with their shapes and reflections.  It's almost as if they have 100 mirrors facing in all different directions.  I also love this creamer.  Every side picks up a different color and has its own value. 

oil on deep canvas
8 x 8
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