And Besides, a Cherry

 

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

These reflective still lifes (sitting on a piece of glass) have always been a challenge for me. My brain wants to tell me things that aren't necessarily true. The trick is to think of everything as shapes and colors rather than "cups," and "reflections of cups." Being able to take off my glasses and see it all fuzzy helps so much!

I'm No Pushover

 

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

My friend Leslie hosts a very fun pumpkin painting party every year, so I bought a bag of small ones from Costco. I really liked this one, so I "painted" it twice. : )

A Great Day to Fish

Click Here to Bid - 11 3/4 x 5 7/8in. (just under 6x12) - oil on panel

(click image to see larger)

Here's another scene from my trip to the beach in North Carolina this year. There were guys like this up and down the beach - their fishing poles stuck in the sand. One (I) had to be careful not to get snagged on the lines as they ran into the water, especially when they were distracted by picture taking.

I often have my husband cut panels down to make the sizes I want. I have a pile of "scraps" from this, and I thought, well, 6x12 isn't a standard size, so if I have something that has to be just a little smaller, a framer will have no problem with it. So. : )

What's Left Behind

 

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

After completing a recent painting, I started to dismantle the setup. I was going back for more when I noticed just these guy left behind. I was surprised how much I liked the simple, sort of random composition. So I adjusted it a tiny bit, and painted it.

Digging for Treasure

Click Here to Bid - 8x6in. - oil on panel

Here's another NC beach scene. It's so fun to interpret the wet sand!

I've been busy doing summer things the past couple of weeks, so I haven't been painting or posting as much. I hope you're enjoying the summer too!

Family Time

Click Here to Bid - 8x8in. - oil on panel

Here's a sweet little family at the water's edge. I had to combine a few photos to get the poses I wanted, but I think it was worth it. I love how the water looks green when it's about to wave. : )

Go Goose

Click Here to Bid - 5x7in. - oil on panel

When I was a little kid my family had some geese for a while. I was terrified of them because they would chase me. My parents said - just turn around and chase them back. But they outnumbered me! To this day I'm still terrified if I see a pack of them. One I can handle.

We're Losing 'Em

 

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

I haven't posted for a few weeks because I had a pretty big EBB. That's the opposite of FLOW, and it's when absolutely nothing I do in the studio works out the way I want it to. I used to feel really terrible and scared when this happened, but now I know it's just part of the creative process - like a field lying fallow.

After a few frustrating days, I realized what was happening and I gave myself a break. I went for more walks and got some stuff done around the house. I spent more time with friends. Every day I managed to go into the studio at least once and push some things around - sometimes oil, sometimes watercolor just to try it - anything to keep one toe in. And after a while, the flow returned. I've got a few more paintings to show from before the break (including this one), but eventually I got inspired by some things outside my studio. I know, crazy! I went outside! That's coming soon.

Just a reminder that if you want to get emails with my latest paintings, you can sign up here. : )

Ripe Reflection

 

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

I love hitting up thrift stores for clothes with fabric I like, and then turning them into something new. They also work great cut up and used as drapery in a still life. : )

Hey That's Not Coffee!

 

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

Today I forgot how to paint. It was a disaster. Luckily I'm ahead with my paintings, so I still had something to post.

Lately I've actually been way ahead with my paintings, and I'm finding a pretty huge benefit to this (in addition them being dry and ready to ship): by the time I post a painting, I am far less emotionally involved. If I decide - well, this one really just isn't up to par, it doesn't slay me like it would if I made the same judgement call right after I painted it. And you end up seeing only the work I am most proud of.

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.

Rose is Single Again

 

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

You might think this isn't very different from the other rose paintings I posted recently, but anytime the scene includes reflections like this, the challenge of painting it goes WAY up. It almost broke me.

Reflecting on Reflections

 

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

I painted this same composition as a 6x6 some years ago and always really liked it. This is my redo, as a 12x12. I set the composition up again, although I didn't have a tiny pear like this, so I had to wing that part. I tried to get the light the same, although looking back and forth now I can see it's somewhat different. I studied both - the real setup and the previous painting, and then tried to keep the things I liked and not the things I didn't. Haha, what a goal, huh? Anyway, I learned a lot.

Converging on Red

 

Click Here to Purchase - $400 - 10x10in. - oil on panel

A while ago I saw an add for some cadmium-free paints (red & yellow) from Utrecht. I figured there would be compromises, but I finally bought some small tubes to try out. And after using them a few months, I am genuinely impressed! They are just as saturated as my cadmiums, and I can't see any chalkiness or other problems in any of my mixes. And if I can be just a little safer with my paint, I'm all for it.

Have any of you tried them? I'd love to hear what you think. (btw, I am not sponsored by Utrecht)

Existing Separately

 

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

Seeing as it's cyber Monday and all, I put a few of my paintings on sale. You can see everything of mine that's currently available here. : )

As for this painting, in case you are confused, I put down the maroon-y paper first, then a big piece of glass, then the light pink paper, then everything else. I thought the reflection-y bits were really cool, but in hindsight I wonder if it might be confusing...

Reflecting on Things

 

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

Sometimes a composition asks for a large panel, and sometimes it wants to be born small. They tell me what they want after I'm done putting them together. As long as they ask nicely then I'm fine with it.

Stacking Cups

Click Here to Purchase - $900 - 24x24in - oil on panel

Here's another big one that I did a while ago. I never painted this particular composition as a 6x6, but it's the kind of thing I have done. Soon I will post new work where I further explore this idea of "enlarging" my small compositions. It's been quite challenging. So much that I put it out as this month's Daily Paintworks Challenge. Feel free to submit your resize (you don't have to be a member)!

Standing By

 

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

In case you don't know, Daily Paintworks (the website my husband and I created and run) has a monthly contest with cash prizes! There are only 29 entries so far this month, so there's a real chance to win. Please consider entering soon (it can be any 2-D fine art - no theme - and you don't have to be a member). The top 15 picks get a free month and a featured spot on the front page. : )

Treasure Hunt

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel - starts at $100

My cherry tomatoes often end up looking like little red candies. And so I'm letting you know that these can be anything you want them to be. ; )

Hide and Seek Apples

 

Click Here to Bid - 5x7in. - Oil - starts at $100

For reflections like these, I use a large piece of glass under my setup. Depending on how I angle the light I get different kinds of reflections - sometimes more like a mirror and sometimes very subtle. It's really fun to play with, and quite a challenge to paint.