Brown Egg

Another still life featuring the same three 'objets.'  As it turns out, my birthday on Wednesday was on the same day as my birth.  By that, I mean to say, I am 'Wednesday's Child.'  Yes!  I was born on a Wednesday.  Thank Goodness.

This title is a little misleading, n'est-ce pas?  Due to my camera setting, the brown egg is a little orange.  Easter egg, maybe.

One Fresh Egg

I have celebrated another trip around the sun with candles and cakes.  What a wonderful time to be alive.  Still life painting today with three of my faves, subjects, that is.

Egg and I

This is the Day 2: still life from the workshop with  inimitable Carol Marine last week.  She paints like no other and speaks to the simple set up for still life painting. I think this one works.  (The original is not quite so purple.)

Mother's Day Party

This silver set is ready to party.  I love the handles, sturdy and simple.  Happy Mother's Day to all my friends.

Patterns

There are patterns of dark and light in composition.  In this particular painting, I'm trying to create this pattern and to show the heaviest texture in the light.  The shadows are thin, transparent paint.

Morning Tea

A little cup of tea with a peony on the tray.  My morning starts with coffee and an ellipse.

Poppy Season, Spring Has Sprung

Today's work is poppy red, mining all the vast tonal selections of tubed reds.  We are just about to have poppies here at the ranch.  Some bluebonnets have started to bloom.  Best time of the year!

Cup of Good Cheer

This painting could not wait.  I am going to make a few more adjustments to the light, but it is my work for today.  Love the depth of pewter...

Pewter Cup

This was painted after having observed Kathy Anderson's demonstration in San Antonio at the Greenhouse Gallery.  Kathy is one of the Putney Painters who has painted with this group for the past 12 years.  Wow!  What an exciting painter she is.  Her flowers are so light and beautiful and natural.  Kathy is no casual observer of these botanical wonders she paints.  In order to make the lovely designs, she carefully notices the anatomy of the various species.  Her work is lovely to behold, and Kathy Anderson has a very contagious presentation.  If you ever have the chance to observe her working, I highly recommend it.

Glowing Cup

This has a glow, all-over golden with a little cherry.  The cup is from my uncle's collection, Bavarian origin.

Offering

Please join me if you are anywhere near Baton Rouge next Friday night, 6 January 2012, for the 42nd Annual River Road Art Show.  I have participated in this wonderful exhibit for several years.  This year I have several pieces in the show which is going to be on display until 27 January.

The Louisiana State Archives Building on Essen Lane is the site of the show.  The reception on January 6 is from 5-8 PM.  This is one of my earlier pieces which I'm reposting.  It will be on exhibit. 

Happy New Year!

daily exercise is good for the soul

This is the painting du jour.  I am trying to paint a little all over  large panel I have.  The design upper left is from another exercise.  Just trying to clear the cobwebs.  Using a range of warm to cool reds and white to learn my colors while working on design.

The Merry, Merry Month of May

We are eagerly awaiting the marriage of our son at the end of the month of May.  All of us are on High Alert to keep going to the goal.  There seems precious little time to paint, but, as you know, the painter must.  I'm trying to keep it simple and direct.  Lots of precious practice pieces.  I painted this set up earlier with a different direction colorwise. 

LemonLife

I like the strength of cad lemon for its intensity. Love lemonade, don't always enjoy making it of the pitfalls of life.

Fully Engaged

This collection of white objects all clustered with a golden pear made for an interesting afternoon.  I was in ellipse squeeze.  I was trying to use three disparate primaries.  My objective was to work fast, to get the composition and drawing going and then to paint like mad.    I did have fun doing this one, though.  12" x 12"

Paint Pot

In this painting, I have veered into the addition of Cadmium Yellow Light.  The varieties are a little surprising to me.  I have also found that a photographed look at the painting is quite a bit different than the actual piece.  Is this a little like looking at the painting in the mirror?
Last week, I had the pleasure to meet, Carol Carmichael, a fellow traveler in this pursuit of painting.  Her studio is filled with her amazing artwork.  She has been painting a very long time, teaching art, encouraging others.  I'm hoping I will get to see her again in Birmingham.  

My Efforts of Late

Lately, I have done quite a few still life paintings.  This one presents it own challenges.  Somehow on the photo, I can see where I went wrong.  And now I've been exposed.  I'm calling the one on top Shorty.



The butter dish is study/deep practice #2.  Both are 8 x 10, using yellow ocher, alizarin crimson, French ultramarine blue and white.  This one is Sit Still.  Trying to discover the secret of luminosity. 

White on White

This little 6 x 6 is a very quick exercise.  I'm working on a few of these to see how my three primaries work: yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, French ultramarine blue. 

Peaches and Ice Cream

This painting is from warmer days, days when the peaches were so abundant.  This reminds me of making ice cream.  Mmmmm...always good on a cold day.

LITTLE FRIENDS AROUND THE TEA POT

Here are a few more of my paintings from recent months.  With gratitude, I am painting and painting, looking for moments to record and to savor.