"Healthy Competition" & demo - SOLD

I've had quite a few requests to do another demo video, and I am proud to say - HERE IT IS! My husband and I created a very special video of this painting - including both the painting AND my palette. My husband made this happen - it looks simple but he put a lot of thought and effort in to it. Thank you, sweetie! (to view this larger, click on expanding arrow icon, bottom right on the video player below.)

International viewers, please click here to see the video.

"Second Thoughts" - SOLD

I am an onion. I've painted them until I've become one. This is my favorite and last for a while. Here's what I've learned: 1. you can't please everyone (see yesterday's comments). 2. the main thing that's tough about onions is the values and colors shift subtely across the onion, and I found the easiest way to deal with that was ... 3. scrub in a kind of mid color first - then on top of that paint in the parts that go lighter, darker, grayer, etc. That way you have a starting point, and something to compare to.

What's funny is I got a lot of comments suggesting I paint in the lines on the onions. It's funny because I never even considered that when I was painting them. You see, what I LOVE about painting is suggesting what I see ... interpreting it ... suggesting. This one is my most realistic I think, and it was a stretch for me. I also got suggestions to find the onions with lots of layers peeling off, and I'll try that at some point, but these were pretty smooth. And yes they were really that color.

"Don't Lose Your Head"

Click Here to Bid

After yesterday's post I got a couple of comments suggestiong the onion didn't look so much like an onion. Yikes! But hey, I can take some good honest criticism ... I'm good. The nice thing about this format is ... you can't see me cry. : ) This is my third attempt. A little more oniony?

"Mugion" - nfs

Get the title, an onion in a mug? ha .... ha .... Well, I'm finding that onions are tough. And what makes them tough, in my opinion, are the subtle shifts in color and value. I kind of cheated here by using just one in my setup, and putting it in a cup, effectively cutting off half. Pretty sneaky, huh?

"Onion Corner" - SOLD

I've always had trouble with onions, so last time I was in the grocery store I thought - here's the challenge I've been looking for. So I bought some and now I'm going to paint them until I AM an onion.

"Love on a Runway" - SOLD

I lucked upon these two connected cherries recently at our Central Market, with a tiny little leaf to boot. I don't think it gets any cuter than this.

"Tough Crowd" - SOLD

If you haven't been getting my emails for the last few days that's because they haven't been going out. I'm trying to solve the problem, but it's slow going.

"Country Driveway" - SOLD

Recently I visited my folks in the Texas Hill Country and painted a scene looking down the driveway that I saw half a billion times growing up. So now I have to figure out whether I like this so much because it works, or because ... I'm sentimentally attached.

"Pecking Order" - SOLD

I got this cute little bird from my husband's bio-mom in Germany and have been waiting to paint it. I love these 3 together. I feel I'm getting better and better at painting white objects - these pigs being some of the most difficult. I love the challenge.

"Pepper Cups" - SOLD

The peppers are reflecting awesome colors all over the sides of the white cups, which is why I was compelled to paint this. I'm really happy with this one.

"Jarring Peppers" - SOLD

Little peppers are fun because they add little bits of color wherever you need them.

"Pepper Parade Passes Pig" - SOLD

I have to admit my husband came up with the title for this one. And then promptly hi-fived me. I think he was pretty proud of himself.

Oh, and because several of you asked, the painting yesterday was from a photo. Or, two photos to be exact.

"Waiting For Lunch" - SOLD

I saw these gals in Maine waiting for their hamburgers just like the rest of us. They looked so cool in this light with the blue in the shadows of their white shirts and all the green green grass. Very summer I think.

"Where'd He Go?" - SOLD

In addition to roving eggplants, today I have for you pictures of my kids from my recent workshop in Westford, MA. I have to admit it was tough doing 2 back-to-back workshops, but I also had a lot of fun.


And below is the group photo minus this little one in the photo right above (2nd from the right), little Lisa. Another great group!

"Spicy Reading" - SOLD

First of all, I'd like to mention that a couple of spots have opened up for my advanced workshop in Jacksonville, FL next month, Oct 18-22. Click link to see class description.

Second, a few pictures from my recent workshop in Rhode Island:


The workshop was in Kelley MacDonald's very cool studio in Warren, RI. We laughed, we cried, we drank ... and hopefully they still managed to learn something. Ahh, these kids. It was a fun bunch.

"Pepper Pals" - SOLD

I'm back! It seemed there was no internet access anyplace I stayed in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, and no time to seek out places with it during the day. I am back home now, late, and just wanted to let ya'll know I'm still alive before I hit the sack. Tomorrow I will ship out all the paintings that have built up, and post about the workshops I did this past week!!

"Eggplant Excursion" - SOLD

I am off tomorrow for Rhode Island, and then Westford, MA, for 2, 3-day workshops. I'll have a day in between during which I plan to see as much art in Boston as possible. In parting I leave you with these adventurous eggplants on dots. More soon ...

"Out to Pasture" - SOLD

I took a trip home to see my folks recently and found this cool old truck in a field down the road from the house. I got there in the morning and took advantage of the intense light. I am finding what I am most inspired by when I go outside is the light - and the difference between what's in the shadow compared to what's in the light. I think I need to get out early on a regular basis.

"Gather Around" - SOLD

Ok, apparently I'm channeling all my "grief" over school into my paintings. This could be the teacher and all the wee ones participating in storytime. The small one is my Jacob. : )

"Figtastic" - SOLD

Several of you have emailed me lately asking about the true meaning behind these last few paintings. My son started Kindergarten 2 weeks ago and it's been tough transition. But, I am happy to report, Jacob and school are getting along very well, and ... we are surviving too. : ) This painting could be him and his new teacher, who, incidentally is the new authority in our house: "Ms. Ramos says you're not supposed to color like that."

I've had some troubles with my email recently - if you've emailed me and not heard back, please try again. Some got kicked back, but I fixed the problem.

"Following Figs" - SOLD

I am leaving for Rhode Island next week to teach a 3-day workshop, Sep 8-10. One spot has opened up last minute. If you are interested, please email Kelley Macdonald.

Meanwhile, I found some figs in Austin recently. They had green ones and purple ones, and I much preferred the purple for some reason ... but they were mostly squishy. I had a small window of opportunity to paint them before they got too wrinkly to identify.

"Let Him Go" - SOLD

The orange section is like the twilight zone and the bottom apple is being sucked into it. The top 2 apples are concerned, but, fearing they themselves might be sucked in as well, they wisely remain in the pink.