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. : )

Special Tomatoes

 

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

These tomatoes were so special they required a fancy tablecloth. They would not sit for me otherwise.

Just Tomatoes Please

 

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

Here's another little still life with tomatoes. I usually shop at the Albertsons at the bottom of our hill for produce, but I found another store, a little further away, that has prettier produce. It's worth looking around.

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?

Eating is Fun

Click Here to Purchase - $800 - 18x18in. - oil on panel

My Grandpa Roy always said, "Eating is fun." When we visited he would take us kids to the pastry store for breakfast and let us pick out whichever donuts we wanted. And eating them was indeed fun! The resulting tummy-ache - not so much.

Fork 'Em Over

 

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

This is a leftover from a recent bout of tomato painting. I ended up needing to fix a tiny thing that I didn't notice for a while. Then it had to dry again. And be varnished. It's all done now and ready to ship. : )

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. ; )

Packing for a Journey

 

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

In addition to this little still life, I'd like to show you a portrait I did near the end of last year. It's quite a bit bigger, and features McCoy and Alita, two very confident and sweet kiddos, brother and sister. They posed like this totally spontaneously, and I thought it communicated them perfectly.

NFS - 24x24in. - oil on panel

This one was ridiculously difficult to photograph. I tried everything I could think of and still there was glare. So I took two cell phone pics of the faces at slight angles. They are a little wonky (and lighter), but you get the idea. It looks SO much better in person (my broken record).

I used a knife on the a lot of the background for some fun texture. Here's a closeup of the bit right above her head.

Secure the Perimeter

 

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

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 35 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, 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.

Cup Envy

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel - starts at $100

I painted this darn cup three times before I got it right. After the first two, I walked away for a couple of days because I was so discouraged. But it was probably the break I needed to come back to it fresh. I'm really happy with this version.

Salt the Tomatoes

 

Buy Now - $250 - 10x10in. - oil - "Salt the Tomatoes"

Lately I've been working on portraits, and need room on my shelves for new paintings. So I'm looking to find homes for a few that have been hanging around for various reasons. This is one I did as a study for a larger painting a while back. I'm not sure why I kept it, except that I like it.

Gathering Goodness

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - "Gathering Goodness"

And this one wraps up the little tomatoes, for now.

A Peek at Tomatoes

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - "A Peek at Tomatoes"

Check out my 166 other tomato paintings, to date. I've been painting them for over 17 years.

Cutting Up

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - "Cutting Up"

Same scissors - different angle.

Drifting Away

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - "Drifting Away"

I ordered these scissors from the internet because I couldn't find anything like them locally. When they arrived my husband said - do we need more scissors in this house? I said - we don't have any as pretty as these. And he had to admit it was true.

Tomato Martini

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - "Tomato Martini"

Continuing on with my tomatoes in glass series, here they are as a martini.

Shot Full of Tomatoes

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - "Shot Full of Tomatoes"

It's often the simplest compositions that are the most difficult to paint!

Back from the Gallery

Click Here to Buy - $390 - 8x8in. - framed - oil - "Morning Tea with Lemon"

I just got a couple of paintings back from a local holiday show. They are both framed in beautiful floater frames. The second painting is a little larger (note specs under each painting). I hope you can see from the photo that the frame kind of angles in towards the painting. It was really hard to photograph! They are solid wood, but the front face is a lovely gold. The full depth is 2". I'm putting more pictures at the bottom of this post.

Click Here to Buy - $490 - 10x10in. - framed - oil - "An After School Snack"

Extra Tomatoes

 

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

I bought a bunch of these little tomatoes for a recipe and had this many left over. So I painted them, of course.

Tomato Slice Journey

 

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

Recently I took a bunch of photos of tomato slices with the intention of doing some larger paintings. I did this one from life to make sure I knew what information my camera wasn't capturing.