Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Tea for Two - Valentine


Tea For Two
6x8in  oil on canvas panel  $135. SOLD

Artist Note.
Continuing with the theme
of 
Valentines Day.

Red is the color which
comes to mind
when I think of love .
What better than getting
my red teapot out  to paint.
Two cups of course for
love shared, and I
did start off with
two cupcakes, but they didn't
fit into the composition.
What...yum, munch, a shame!






33 comments:

  1. This will cheer everyone up, Julie! Awesome color harmony, and I love the range of reds you used. The dark trim on the teapot and cup handles really offers a pleasing jolt of contrast! Well done!

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    1. Hi Carol - red is cheerful isn't it? Thanks for such a great comment.
      I used three reds I mixed from Permanent Alizarin, Permanent Orange and Chinese red. A touch of yellow/green modified them from being too raw. the cool pink was the Alizarin and white.
      looking forward to seeing your new painting.


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  2. Oh this one is just perfect ... and two cakes would have ruined the diet. I love those spaces (forget the term for them) enclosed in the handles and by the cupcake. Red is such a passionate colour ....and the right one for the occasion!

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    1. I am really impressed by your ability to maintain your sense of humor while sick John. Perhaps it is the "passion' red stirs in you!
      Get well soon, my English friend!

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  3. What rich colors, love the variation of reds. Teapots are one of my favorites to collect and paint. Might I add I also love cupcakes.

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  4. No surprise we like the same things, Blanche...birds for example!

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  5. Beautiful. Love how that little cupcake rules the painting. Yes, I am painting but working on larger works that take some time. I will post an update to my last posting today or tomorrow. Thanks so much for asking.

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    1. Sharp of you to notice the cupcake dominates. It was deliberate...it takes a lot not to have a big red teapot stand out and let the others share the stage.
      I enjoyed playing around to get it right.
      How exciting for you to to be working on larger works. They do take time. I have to do mine when I am not at work - at weekends.
      Look forward to your your next posting.

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  6. This is a darling painting for anytime of the year! The cupcake with its pattern works perfectly with red cup and pot. I also feel it is more romantic to share one cupcake!;-)

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    1. Thank you, Celia.
      Sharing -romantic -- funeee - my hubby takes much larger bites than me so it is never a fair share!
      LOVE your beautiful violet. A lovely painting.

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  7. Julie,

    It's OK to "sacrifice" a cupcake for the good of the painting! LOL:) The red teapot is one of my favorites too. And I love the little candies on the ground-makes a nice little story:)
    Libby
    PS-beautiful reds by the way. I find the color so hard to use and you have done it wonderfully.

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    1. Hi Libby, thanks for the complement. Reds are hard - I agree but green and red are even harder for me. Much prefer the Munsell color wheel and do blue green.
      I enjoyed reading your wrap -up post very much and am looking forward to new work.

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  8. Great color harmony! I think red is one of the more difficult colors. You are an obvious master here! Love how your green background showcases the subject matter!

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    1. Hi Kaethe. yes, red is difficult because it your neutralize it too much you lose the glow. The regular color wheel with the green being less blue as the complement is my hardest challenge. I genuinely struggle with it. Munsell is much easier for me to follow. Do you like the Munsell wheel?

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  9. Perfect, Julie. Love the red, but also the greens/blues in the background and the subtle color of the candies on the ground.

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    1. Hi Carol - as one lover of color to another....thank you and I return the complement with saying how I love the color in your abstract painting and the light on the building is wonderful.

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  10. I love the colors together in this painting and the fracturing here. This painting is so peaceful to me. It makes me want to stop and have a cupcake and coffee.

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    1. Nothing quite as civilized as afternoon tea. Glad you find this peaceful - such a nice complement. Thanks Marcia.
      I fell in love with your little lamb. I think the pink ears just melted my heart.

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  11. Very beautiful still life painting and so amazing red colour !!

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    1. Thank you Stelios, red is energizing isnt it?
      Thank you for visiting. ..have a great week.

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  12. Boy do I agree with all the comments about your mastery as a colorist. Your reds are wonderful! The composition, rendering, and lighting are all brilliant -and the marvelous texture of your fracturing technique adds just another level of delight.
    Love it!!

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    1. Always encouraging with your comments, Helene, and I feel so good after reading your words. Thank you.
      My colors have improved over time. I was very much a tonalist and true to the colors I saw, but had not learned to see the impressionist light. Now I love color.

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  13. Love the shape and the smoothness of the teapot. Great painting.

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    1. Thanks Sharon. That is a great post you just posted. Love the flowers but really enjoyed the knowledge you shared.

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  14. This is a painting that says 'look at me ' , love all the red , just pops !

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    1. Thanks, jane. You use red beautifully yourself. The painting of the white flowers is great - I am very taken with the pink vase as well . Lovely!

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  15. love that teapot!! :D would clash horribly with the green kitchen walls, but I wouldnt care lol its so pretty :D

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    1. Thanks Jennifer. Ok - so I feel weird not knowing...what is :D?
      Hope you are feeling better.

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    2. Hi Julie, You put a big :D on my face by asking Jennifer that question above. In case Jennifer hasn't gotten back to you, :D is a way to make a smile on a keyboard :D And your painting above put a :D on my face, too. Such a delight to open your blog and see what beauty you have created for the world. I love what you wrote about the cupcake, too. We have to love ourselves in addition to others, don't we? Thanks for the comments you wrote on my blog, too, Julie. I'm very happy if my writings help or inspire other artists...

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    3. :D = a really happy face, big smile :)

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  16. This looks scrumptious!!! Did you eat the second cupcake? Love it!

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    1. Thanks Joan - yes...part of it!
      I was amazed at all the sketches you did at your event. what a wonderful night.

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  17. I keep thinking about this beautiful painting. It has really stayed with me. What amazes me it how there is so much red, but it's not overwhelming at all and there is no explanation other than your skill with the painting. The greens in the background and the whites that the red teapot, cups and cupcake sit on. Perfect. Now I want to bake cupcakes in valentine wrappers.

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie