Two Pears on Stripes

I had a first as an artist yesterday.  I sold my little pear painting from yesterday the same day I posted it.  I always thought that would be a fun thing to have happen, and it was!  Little victories, right?  I was riding that high, and thought I would have another go at these little pears.  

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Pear on Stripes

Sometimes pears are tricky to paint because they are essentially two shapes put together.  This one took me a few tries, but I think I was able to capture the bulbous bottom.  I have a hard time painting when it's cold and snowy outside.  I'm hoping spring will come soon!

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Fall Leaves

I painted this back in September for the "Paint the Fall" challenge on Daily Paintworks.  Between a very busy schedule and an unexpected painting hiatus, I forgot to post it.  Better late than never, right? I will have a new painting to post tomorrow as well, I'm on a roll!

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Three Jalapenos

After so many larger paintings, I wanted to mix it up and do a 6 x 6 again.  I found these little jalapenos at the farmer's market.  The lady who was selling them was very nice, but couldn't figure out why I kept sorting through her pile and picking out certain ones.  I told her I was going to paint them, and she became even more concerned, asking exactly what I planned to paint ON them.  I tried to explain that I was going to paint a picture of them, but them I'm pretty sure she just wrote me off as crazy because she just nodded her head and said "oh okay" a lot.  I really like the way this one turned out though!

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Back Lit Lime and Blackberries

I was playing around with the back lighting a little more with this one.  The shadows and the glow it creates are so fun.  I tried to stay a little looser with the blackberries on this one, trying to only hint at their shape.

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Magnolia

I painted this magnolia flower in a white vase for Daily Paintworks "paint it white" challenge.  It seems more like I did a paint it grey challenge, but in all fairness, every object is actually white.  Maybe I'll try it again and have white be the dominant shade instead of the least.  

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Red Grapes

This bunch of grapes was so fun to paint!  Perhaps I've gotten my groove back, or perhaps it was blind luck, but this painting was so enjoyable from beginning to end.  I need to stop assuming everything new will be difficult, and instead figure out what similarities it has to things I have painted before.  What did I learn from this painting?  Grapes are just oval cherries, or maybe smaller eggplants.

oil on panel
 6 x 6
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Dawn Bottle

This little dawn bottle is a commission I received last week.  It is going to be a birthday present for the client's friend.  Isn't it fun when you know someone well enough to be able to think up something so quirky, and know that it suits them?  I hope the recipient loves the painting!

oil on cradled panel
6 x 6
sold

Polka Dot Lemons

We've moved!  Ok, we moved in November, but it has taken me 3 1/2 months to get everything unpacked and put away.  Not to mention all the house painting and "characterizing" (adding molding  woodwork, paneling, details...).  Anyway, I finally have my studio in functioning order, and can finally balance painting the house with painting pictures.  I can't wait to get back in the swing of things.  Here is my first painting after my time off!

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Christmas Ornaments

We are not decorating for Halloween this year.  I don't want to pull out all the decorations while we are packing up the house to move.  It just seems like more work.  And since we are moving over Thanksgiving week, we are definitely not putting out any decor for turkey day either.  So of course Christmas is on the brain!  I've been itching to paint some of these ornaments since I had a go with the pomegranates.  They were fun and challenging, and I will be playing around with them a lot more!

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Pomegranate and Pears

Having more fun with pomegranates, I thought I would add a couple of my favorite mini pears into the mix.  The mini pears at the store are getting redder and redder each week.  I don't know if it's a seasonal or variety thing, but it sure adds to their personality!

oil on panel
6 x 6
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One Pomegranate

I love pomegranates.  I think they are so fun and quirky and full of personality.  This little one was fun to paint, and I tried not to get too fussy with it.  I hope to play around more with them and really get a feel for their shape and colors.  They also remind me a bit of Christmas ornaments, which makes me now want to experiment with those!

oil on panel
6 x 6
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The White Teapot

It was funny to me how much drama and life I could find in a simple white teapot.  I have painted this teapot before, but was never really able to get the shape or shadows right at all.  Last time, I approached it as a white teapot with shadows in a few spots, and this time, as an object with many shades of grey and a few hints of white.  It totally changed the way I painted, and I am much more pleased with this outcome.

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Mini Eggplants and Creamer

Eggplant season must be a long one around here, because our farmers market still has these cute little guys every week.  I love playing around with their reflections and colors!  

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Pumpkin and Pears

It's finally starting to feel like fall.  The heater has been running in the house for about a week, and jeans are now worn every day.  This is my favorite season, and hopefully I will have time to paint lots of it!  This little pumpkin was so fun to paint.  I had so much fun with all the grooves!

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Cloudy Day

It's been forever since I have posted a painting, and almost as long since I have been in the studio.  I have a lot going on right now, but I am still surprised as to how distracted I am!  We are moving, and finding a house has become my permanent job.  When I sit down to paint, all I can think is that there must be more I should be doing in our house hunt.  We have finally found a house after a few disappointments, and while we are still waiting for a final agreement on price, I am optimistic.  Now it's just a waiting game to close, and I am feeling antsy to get back in the studio.  Hopefully I'm not too rusty! 

This painting is not new, it is one I did while on my artist's retreat several weeks ago.  I wasn't sure if I was going to post it because I thought maybe it was too whimsical.  But now that I have studied it for a while, I think I like it.  Hopefully I'm not the only one!

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Vintage Bottles 5

This painting is also from my retreat weekend.  One of my scrapbooking friends had this awesome alphabet paper, and I thought it would be a perfect backdrop for my bottles.  And the key limes look so fun next to the burnt red.  

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Lemon Slices

This is another painting from my artist's retreat weekend.  I painted this one along with a friend, and it was so exciting and fun.  I wish I had a picture of her piece to show next to mine!

oil on panel
6 x 6
sold

Tomatoes and Lime

The second painting from my retreat weekend.  It's been a while since I have painted a tomato, so I figured the subject needed some revisiting.  I tried to keep this one fun and fresh with loose brushstrokes.  I also love the little key lime hanging out with the "big kids."

oil on panel
6 x 6
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Lemons in a Silver Bowl

I was away all weekend at an "artist's retreat" of sorts.  I had a blast with some great friends, and even got to paint with another artist for the first time ever.  What an awesome experience!  This weekend I finished five paintings, an embroidery project for a friend and even caught a fish.  It was definitely a productive weekend!

oil on panel
6 x 6
sold