Onion Basket Oil Painting

Onions were the first food I ever attempted to draw, or paint. The shape, papery layers, and color variety are just perfectly tempting for oil painting.

Tried several variations on the arrangement before settling on this one. Wanted to work on looser brushwork and textural forms, and thought more variety would keep me from over focusing. Lots of different textures with glass, fabric, smoothness of onions, and roughness of the basket.

While finishing up with this painting, I had an 'aha moment' about selecting a visual idea for any painting; keeping the concept in mind while working on the painting, can be the real challenge.

Onion Basket
16 x 8 Oil on Canvas Panel
© 2014

Will post another onion piece soon still on the easel with less textural elements. Yikes, also running out of time to do an Xmas painting. Better get going... still catching up from my trip to Hawaii!! ;o)

Thanks for looking!