Oranges for Sale!

This past week I bought some oranges that were the sweetest I've eaten in a very long time. I enjoyed every juicy bite.

I decided to paint a few of these to share with you... hope you can just imagine how sweet and juicy they taste. BTW, these are for sale on ebay...

I am also working with a few new colors on my palette. Prussian Blue (instead of Pthalo Blue) and Quinacridone Magenta (instead of Alizarin Crimson). I really like they effects of these two colors. I also understand that they are more stable colors, have to be really careful with the Prussian Blue and its high tinting strength. It makes a beautiful mix with the Ultramarine Blue for a little different tone.

Orange and Blues

6 x 6 Oil on Canvas Panel

© 2012

Orange and Slices

6 x 6 Oil on Canvas Panel

© 2012

A gift for Leslie...

This little landscape painting is a thank you gift for Leslie. She and I have been friends for so many years I kinda lost count. She shares my love of horses, and told me about my Arabian Mare Bella that I owned for 18 years.

This is one of Leslie's favorite trail riding spots on the Green River,
and she wasn't expecting it, so it was a lot of fun to surprise her too!

Thank you Leslie, I hope you enjoy it for a very long time!

On The Green River

8" x 10" Oil on Linen Panel

© 2012

Georgetown Atelier - Student Show

I got the bug to do some figure drawing again, prompted by the 'Paint Two Images' project. So I did some research and found the Georgetown Atelier. This is an art school that teaches good traditional skills and technique for creating art.

I have always been a fan of traditional art skills. Even if the artist's work has gone a different direction, he or she still knows the basic foundation for this time honored profession. The basic skills will serve well no matter what direction they are headed.

The Atelier is planning its student show for this year to be held 

June 30th 5-9 pm.

Located at 5628 Airport Way S. Suite #330, Seattle, WA  98018

http://www.georgetownatelier.com/

First Image Idea for 'Paint Two Images'...

When I first wrote about 'Paint Two Images' a couple weeks ago. I had no idea what to paint and I am still not locked into the idea just yet. I considered landscape, still life (floral), and figure. Any of these would work as a basis to start, but I am leaning toward figurative - partly because it is a favorite subject, but also this is an opportunity I don't get very often. And figures on a bedroom wall will look more fitting, rather than in the dining room. 

So here is a drawing that I am thinking about using for one panel... Not a finished rendering, but the bud of any idea. I haven't drawn figure for some time, so this may take a little while to get comfortable with again. I am just very glad I do not have a hard deadline for this project. It is teaching me that stress is not always good for good art. 

Model Sketch

Newsprint & Charcoal

18 x 24 Original

© June 2012

Model Sketch - closeup

Newsprint & Charcoal

18 x 24 Original

© June 2012

Lost and Not Found... Still Life

As some of you know, I moved last year and still unpacking to move in. Recently while going through my inventory, I was searching for a couple more small paintings that are earlier works from 2008. I couldn't find them, but did find a couple small images shown below on the left.

This was about the time I started doing smaller studies before a larger painting.
I noticed my brush work was a little different back then - mostly painted with bristle brushes, and the colors very chromatic - but using a limited palette.

I rememberd these were a lot of fun to paint so I thought I'd repaint them, and share new versions with you on ebay. Let me know what you think about the differences...

Golden Pear & Grapes

6 x 6 Oil on Canvas Panel

© 2008 - © 2012

 Apple in Small Bowl

6 x 6 Oil on Canvas Panel

© 2008 - © 2012

"Paint Two Images..."

Earlier this year as I was waking one morning, to my amazement a voice said "paint two images for over the bed". No matter how mysterious or mundane it seemed, it did not seem like my own voice or my own idea. It was very odd like a direct order, and there was and is no doubt it is something I'd better do.

Since then, the many small images I have been selling on-line were in part intended to get control of my materials in preparation to begin the project. Every time I felt doubt creep in I'd get a little reminder so as not to forget about the project.

I've thought about content - subject matter, composition, and color. Searched for visual inspiration and discovered many possibilities. Oh yes, I have done some praying about this project and expect more answers as I begin to work and make it tangible.

For the next few weeks I'll be painting less for on-line sales while I work on this unexpected  'commissioned work' and will post my progress. I have selected some source materials to start my studies.

Now I am ready to begin...

What is a weed?

There isn't anything about painting here nor a profound reason for this post except to share some quotes I found rather interesting. In someways these quotes could be metaphor for experiences in life.

I've been painting mostly blossoms of various plants that we normally think of as beautiful and desirable for our gardens, but here are quotes that caught my attention.

"What is a weed? Any plant that is found in a place it doesn't belong."
~Geoff Reed

 Imagine a rose bush growing in a cornfield!

“What is a weed?  A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Plants we think of as a nuisance in our gardens may have amazing properties that could help us in some way, or something to write about, or perhaps simply view in an interesting way. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum