Citrus in Sun

 

Click Here to Purchase - $500 - 12x12in. - oil on panel

I got completely obsessed with sewing the last few weeks and neglected painting entirely. Oopsie.

Here's an oldie that I held onto because I really love it. Now it's prepared to find its forever home. Plus I'm home from visiting family for Christmas and ready to paint again. I hope you're all finding new inspiration too in the almost new year!

Friendly Lemons

 

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - oil - starts at $100)

Here's another little still life that I painted from a photo. I admit I had to paint it twice before I was happy with it. The first version was too dark, and I didn't realize it until I came into the studio the next morning. For some reason I can fall into too dark when I'm painting from photos, and so (while I forgot this time) I often make the references lighter than I actually want them so the painting will come out about right. Kinda like when I tell my husband we need to leave 10 minutes before we actually do so he'll be on time. : )

Making Lemons Glow

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Here's another one from a photo reference. A couple of people mentioned the shadows/highlights tool in photoshop after my last post (about painting from life vs photos). This is a great tool that allows one to adjust the light in shadows (and highlights, but it's most useful for shadows). If you haven't tried it, and you have access to photoshop, I highly recommend it! I found it years ago, and since then it has been my GOTO tool for editing photos for painting. I used it for every single still life reference I've been painting lately. Basically it allows you to "see" into shadows, even ones that look black in photos. You will find it under image>adjustments>shadows/highlights.

Gather the Chickens

 

Click Here to Bid (8x8in. - OIL - starts at $150)

This is a slightly larger one I did a few weeks ago. I really felt these were my strongest lemon slices yet. So strong they are starting a revolution. Beginning with the chickens.

Bending Blue

 

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Someone asked me recently what size brushes I use for these small paintings, and I realized it's a question I haven't gotten in a while. So in case you're interested, I typically use several bright, (this is a short flat) synthetic brushes - either Silver Bristlon or Rosemary Ivory. Since sizes vary, I'll say the smallest is about 1/4 inch wide, then 1/2 in., and the biggest (most often used) is about 3/4 - 1 in.

Glass Half Full

 

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - OIL - starts at $100)

My props have been very contemplative of late. The lemons concluded they were more on the side of "glass half full," but the pears couldn't decide. If you read my last post you know that pears often have trouble making up their minds. They can always see it both ways.

Fancy Lemon

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - starts at $100)

I was thinking today (for some strange reason) about stingy paint putter outers. I'm talking about artists who put tiny little dabs of paint on their palette because ... well, paint is expensive, right?! I can say this because I was one of you once.

Imagine if piano players had to pay a penny for every key they struck. It wouldn't cost a fortune to play one song, but it would sure add up to practice, huh?! Can you imagine the emotional turmoil while practicing? But that's essentially what we're going through as artists. We pay for every dab, whether it works out or not.

Someone told me once, "Paint like you're a millionaire." I didn't understand it really, but I did put more paint on my palette. And because it was there, I used it. And because my palette didn't feel stingy, I was more confident, and eventually I DID understand.

Put more paint on your palette. It makes a difference. No longer will you make the decision not to mix that last color you need because your blue has run out, and you mix a color that isn't quite right, but whatever. You'll have plenty of blue. And paint every day too, so that you can use the rest tomorrow. And if you can't paint tomorrow, put your paint in the freezer so it lasts longer (I'll post my solution to this soon).

Lemon Potions

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - starts at $100)

I have a bunch of patterned fabrics that I haven't even USED yet! To be honest I envisioned them more for larger still lifes, but that hasn't happened yet so... I thought I'd start pulling them out and trying them with these small ones. I will keep playing.

Tea for Three

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For the first few lemon paintings I used my regular (halogen) lightbulb. It usually takes me about three tries before I remember I have other bulbs. Is that habit? Complacency? Laziness? At any rate, I used a softer, cooler, florescent bulb for this one.

Making Limoncello

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - starts at $100)

When I was in Italy this past spring teaching my last workshop, we had wonderful dinners every night. They usually started around 7 in the evening, and I (personally) generally fell into bed around midnight. Italians take their dinners seriously, and you know ...when in Italy... At the very end of each dinner, after I'd already had too much wine, the limoncello would be passed around. They call it a digestive (pronounced dee-jes-teev), and if you haven't had it, well, it's interesting. You only need a tiny bit. And then you sleep like a baby.

Plotting a Revolution

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - starts at $100)

In case you didn't know, Daily Paintworks runs a monthly contest. First place gets you $400! We have a record low number of entries, and it's almost the end of the month, so your chances are especially good right now. Think about it. Submit