Pick Your Spot Again

 

Click Here to Purchase - $700 - 16x16in. - oil on panel

For this larger painting I used a 6x6 I loved as inspiration. I set up the composition again, but ended up changing it a bit in several ways: I added the spoon and an extra cup, and altered the colors of the paper. I'm learning so much from each one of these.

Glass Gathering

 

Click Here to Purchase - $700 - 16x16in. - oil on panel

Here's another large painting that was quite challenging. Trying to get all the shapes right and everything leaning in the right directions (perspective) AND the value and color relationships ... but I like how it turned out in the end.

Gather Round

Click Here to Purchase - $700 - 16x16in - oil on panel

I love these scenes in the bright sun, but haven't found a way to paint them from life as they change too much, too fast. And so I've been taking pictures and painting from that. I would love to find a light that simulates this look, but have had no luck so far.

Orange You Colorful

 

Click Here to Purchase - $700 - 16x16in - oil on panel

Here's another larger painting experiment. This time I decided to add a lot of color variation within each color. I tried it out first on my ipad and that really helped a lot.

I Ordered Eggs

 

Click Here to Purchase - $700 - 16x16in - oil on panel

Today I went to the post office to ship my latest large painting and found that prices had gone up yet again, and especially over a certain size (any box side longer than 30"). I've seen this happening, and for other reasons as well have been focusing on medium sizes with new work (in between 6x6, and 24x24). I feel so much more freedom composing, but also in how I paint. As well I've been experimenting with my process, and I have a feeling my next batch of workshop students will be hearing some brand new things from me. : )

So here's a NEW painting, finally, after exhausting my reserves.

Avery

NFS - 16x16in. - Oil. - "Avery"

Avery was a wonderful model. She loves the camera and the camera loves her. For this pose she was in the shade of a big tree, with a lot of darkness behind her. I played around with the reference image on my ipad and decided a light background would work best. The only problem was the dress was suddenly mostly the same value as the background, so I tried an outline and found I really liked it! I have found my ipad to be indispensable for these portraits.

Extra Spoon

 

Click Here to BUY ($700 - 16x16in. - oil)

My little painting shelves are now empty of new work, and all I've got left are larger paintings I just haven't posted yet. I haven't painted in over a week - trying to give my back a rest. I don't know if it's working, but gosh my pickleball game is getting better! (ha) It's the one thing that doesn't seem to hurt my back. So don't be surprised if you hear soon that I've gone pro! Not. But I AM enjoying it.

Spring in the City

 

Click Here to Buy ($700 - 16x16in - OIL)

This is from a trip to San Francisco a few years ago by myself. One of the things I love about downtowns in cities are the big shadows and occasional channels of light that break them up. I had fun with the warmth seeping into the shadow areas, and they sky reflected off the windows and metal hatch(?) on the sidewalk.

On a different topic, I used to recommend Feedburner at my workshops as a free way to set up a newsletter. Unfortunately that feature will end soon, and they are recommending that anyone still using it download their email lists if they don't want to lose them. : (

Apple Shadows

 

Click Here to Bid ($700 - 16x16in - OIL)

Last year I took a few months off in order to reorient my creative compass. I had been feeling stuck, and needed to find the joy again. One of the things I did during this time was scour Pinterest for inspiration. I went down many rabbit holes, and allowed myself be open to any kind of imagery that led to a creative tingle (for lack of better words). 

I found myself very attracted to what I'm calling "abstracted realism," like this artist, Amy Brakeman. Or this guy, Raimonds Staprans. I experimented a lot with things way more abstract than these apples above, but this is the first one I was really happy with. For me it represents a place in between where I am and where I want to go. Now I just need to gather my courage and step further into the unknown. This is very hard for me.

Lone Fork

 

Click Here to Buy ($700 - 16x16in. - OIL)

Here's another larger one I did a few months ago. I was heavily using my palette knife and squeegee (in addition to brushes), so there's quite a bit of texture. I was also really trying to experiment with color, pushing it whenever I thought it might work. That said, even though I photographed it the same way I always do, I couldn't get the colors looking exactly right in the photo. It definitely looks better in person (I'll try to get a better photo). Here are some detail shots taken in different light (click to enlarge):

Three Vases

 

Click Here to BUY ($700 - 16x16in. - OIL)

I'm going through an ebb in my studio, which is why I'm really glad I still have some paintings from before that I haven't posted. I was particularly happy with this one.

My husband said to me once that my mood is only as good as my last painting. Over the years I have realized just how true this is! When I do a painting that doesn't work out, I feel discouraged. When I do five paintings in a row that don't work out, I feel like crawling into a hole. Nothing seems possible, so I don't feel like trying. And while I've done it many times, it's awfully hard to crawl out of that hole. So I'm wondering - is it just me? Or are most artists this sensitive? How about you?