True Blue Friends

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's the second in my little blue on a shelf series. And speaking of rockstar subjects, you've probably noticed this little white cup a few times. I got it in Germany so many years ago, and it's cracked from when I poured hot tea in it once (?), so I can't even use it for liquids. But it's still perfect for being painted.

Tomatoes Go with Fish

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Whenever I go out, I always keep my eyes peeled for objects that might go well in a still life. But when I find something, I never know if they are destined be a rock star or not. This green fish has turned out to be a favorite. I have other things in my collection that I've never painted, even though I try them out in scenes. They just don't work. Although of course they might later. It takes a while for me to give up hope. And then of course there are a handful of things I keep right next to me - this simple plate and gorgeous fork are among those. They are my quiet rock stars.

The Red and Green Team

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I've been asking AI for title suggestions, but haven't used any yet. Not that my titles are so great or anything, but I guess that's one area where I'd rather be myself.

My son is 20 and in college and has a lot of thoughts about AI. Mine are still evolving, as is AI I guess. If they ever make a robot that can paint natural media, I'm done for. Or will there always be a demand for human-made art?

Party Cups

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

I found this pink stripey cup in Boise when I was there recently. I tried painting it a couple of times, but this is the first one that worked out. I think it's because of the company it's in. I tried with apples before, and my guess is they just didn't get along.

Not for Consumption

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

In case you missed it, I recently released a new online tutorial (ArtByte) that is all about painting glass! The idea behind the ArtBytes is they are bite-size and affordable. If you have seen it, please email me with feedback, or leave a review. Thanks!

Ready and Waiting

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I tend to like orderly scenes. I think it's the German in me. Of course my mother would say that I wasn't orderly as a child. But it's definitely something I embraced as I got older. In my environment and my paintings.

As for the bird I posted yesterday, the general consensus is that it's a Great Tit. Thanks to everyone who emailed me. : )

Too Much Cantaloupe

 

Click Here to Bid - 12x12in. - oil on panel

I did this one as a study for a larger piece. It was difficult because the canteloupe kept trying to wander off. I don't often paint canteloupe, and now I remember why. They need to go to obedience school I guess.

Brightens Up the Room

Click Here to Bid - 10x10in. - oil on panel

Ok, this is the last rose painting for now. Also featuring a new metal pitcher I got on ebay. Very simple but I think it adds a lot.

Hogging the Tea

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I snuck off to Boise with the hubs for a few days. The drive from here is particularly beautiful, especially this time of year. For an artist it's like a visual feast. It's my favorite kind of break from painting. It refills my soul.

Finding Each Other

 

Click Here to Bid - 8x10in. - oil on panel

One of my students from last week sent me a photo of her temporary solution to a panel holder. The idea is that it holds the panel in place, and allows you to paint off of every edge with nothing blocking the strokes. She basically taped paint-stirring sticks (the same thickness as her panels) to a board with very sticky tape, which then holds the panel with friction. It works! Here's the photo ->

Color Conference

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I've been attempting to dye fabric for backgrounds lately, with mixed results. The problem is that the length of time it stays in affects the color, but once you pull it out and wash it, the color is very different from how it looked when you decided to pull it out. But I'm learning. And I like these two (the gray and the peachy strip).

Mostly what I want are less saturated colors. I bought a whole bunch of white cotton fabric and Procion dye to play with. It's fun.

Shine On Crazy Apple

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I've got a workshop coming up, so I've been thinking a lot about teaching, always trying to improve my game. One thing I tell my students, because it's important for me too, is setting expectations. We tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves for the next painting to be "good." But it often leads to disappointment. So my thing is to always expect "eh." That way I am pleasantly surprised if it works out. 

Also it can help to do a bunch of paintings without judgement, and then instead of asking yourself if any one is good, rather, ask which are your favorites, and what you learned that you can apply to the next batch. That way you're always moving forward. If you get too focused on one painting that wasn't your best, it can easily lead to fear and discouragement. And then you're not painting anymore, and then you're definitely not improving.

Funky Cups

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here are some colors I've been playing with lately. I was going through my Pinterest boards and noticed that these colors together were a common theme. So I challenged myself to make some compositions with them.

Plate Obscured by Peaches

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I painted this one twice before I was happy with it. It looks deceptively simple.

Not on the Same Page

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Theatre Apples

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

You can always tell the theatre apples from the normies because they tend to stand in the spotlight. And they revel in how the others talk about their dramatic scenes.

Stacking Apples

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

This little pig I have is very critical. He said, "Why are you stacking those apples in that jar? No one would ever do that. Who is going to want a painting of it?" So I stuck him in the painting and he shut up.

Keeping the Doctor Away

 

Click Here to Purchase - $250 - 8x8in. - oil on panel

I love the theme of fruit in a glass bowl. You might have noticed me paint it before. I wanted to do a large painting of it, but decided to work out the lighting and composition first with a few studies. Here's the first one.

Thinking About Dishes

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I went through my thousands of small paintings and picked out some that I think might serve as studies for larger paintings. I am now revisiting the compositions and setting them up again, considering edits. (Here's the original.) Instead of jumping into a larger canvas, I decided to do more studies first. I painted this one, but also did a couple of versions on my ipad just to work out some issues. Soon I'll post the whole slew of versions so you can see, including the large one, which I think I might hang up in my own kitchen. : )

We Want the Fancy Tea

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

This is another experiment with the Phillips Hue bulb as a secondary light source. This time I chose a warmer color. It makes for some very interesting shadows inside the cups, and elsewhere.