Personal Art Blog

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

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Yellow Roses & Fruit


Yellow Roses & Fruit
8x6in oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note.
I loved painting this one
and am thrilled it turned out well.
The light was just right.
Yellow roses for 
Valentine Friendship
were a gift and I gathered 
the other items easily.

I am back
 to doing still life paintings,
and it feels very, very good.
I think they are my favorite
for a couple reasons...
I get to choose items I respond 
emotionally to, and the 
biggest plus...
I can set it up,
and it stays in one place.
Yes, I do have to paint 
the flowers first before they droop,
but other than that 
I can come back and do a 
bit here and there.

I have several displays
set up in 
my studio at home and it 
is a wonderful feeling
to walk into the studio and choose
which one I want to paint
that day.

41 comments:

  1. So nice Julie, so much detail in such a small work shows great skill

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    1. Hi Lorraine - sorry to read about the hard time you have been going through. To be able to pull off the piece you did is something to be proud of.
      Thanks for the lovely comment.

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  2. Beautiful in every way. You've really nailed this Julie.

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    1. Thanks Blanche - I like it a lot so I am pleased you like it too.
      Have you decided if you are going to work any more on your step painting?

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  3. Your still life painting is lovely! I love the light on the roses which makes me go right there. You can feel your emotional attachment to your pieces.

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    1. Thanks Joan. The yellow roses were lovely and from a very close friend I have known for years. It has been a while since I painted something with this viewpoint. I enjoyed setting it up with other items my friend has given me. She shops garage sales just for still life objects for me.
      I enjoyed your fun sketch of the bowl of clam shells.

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    2. I've thought about going to garage sales for interesting items for still life setups, but then I think about how I don't have room for any more stuff. Maybe I just need to wander around the homes of people I know and "borrow" items. lol

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  4. Love this for the color harmony and dramatic light and shadows. Your set ups are always interesting and seem to convey something personal.

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  5. How astute - yes, this one is very personal. Most things I paint mean something to me. Just like you love the fishermen scenes and your barn painting is a real stunner. Obviously from what you wrote it also is from the heart. I sense we are very similar that way.

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  6. And what a wonderful display it is! Ii am studying it closely:)

    Beautiful roses, color and direction of all of the objects. This one works so well!

    Libby

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    1. Hi Libby - happy you think it works. You asked a question on your post about "empty spaces" in a painting, and as you can see here...there are none, but I love Andrew Wyeth's work and he is a master of empty space in his compositions.
      I really like the TGIF piece - the colors are wonderful and the symbolism made me smile. How neat to be able to design a collage which can do that!

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  7. It amazes me how you capture the essence of a scene without getting bogged down with details. Wonderful composition.

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    1. I do appreciate such a meaningful comment. Thank you, Carlene.
      I feel you captured the essence of the snowy landscape perfectly in both your beautiful paintings so it is a true complement you have given me.

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  8. Ooh, this is sumptuous Julie - your love of still life shows through in your beautiful work!

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  9. Love your soft yellows and the complex composition. You pack so much onto a small 6x8" canvas!

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    1. Hi Carol - thanks, my friend. I am working on three other still life paintings and not all as packed as this one.
      I like your marsh paintings very much. Lucky client! I am looking forward to seeing the finished commission.

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  10. I've watched your work bloom over the years, Julie... Bravo! This post has inspired me to set up more than one still life at a time in the studio. Painting from life is so important. I treasure time outside with artists friends painting plein air, but the solitude of the studio is also important. I'm taking a workshop in a few weeks and will report on painting still lifes outside... Ovanes Berberian style.

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    1. Such a great comment - how nice of you, Diane.
      We share many similar tastes with our art, but I do not have the skill with .
      the figure you have. I was floored by the paint-out you just posted about with 90 other artists - WOW! And your landscape is beautiful.
      Are you going to take from Ovanis?
      Lucky you. I took from him in the late 90's and still think I learned more from him about color than any other teacher.
      I will look forward to seeing some still life paintings on your blog and hope you write another outstanding workshop report like you did with Qiang.

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    2. No, unfortunately not Ovanes, but an excellent artist that took a workshop from him, Katie Dobson Cundiff. She works in a much looser style than mine so it should be a great exercise to get my brush moving faster. Also waiting to hear if I get into Don Demer's workshop, fabulous seascape artist. There's always something to learn!

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  11. Gorgeous as usual! So happy you are doing still lives again!

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    1. Hi Kim - I am too. Got several going on and I am all excited.
      Are you painting but just not posting?

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  12. This is so rich, Julie. Rich in color, rich in texture and rich in meaning to you. I feel the way you do about still lifes. I may venture out of that subject matter, but "coming home" to still lifes is my refuge.

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    1. I love the way you put it - "coming home to still life is my refuge."
      I will remember that one.
      At art school they told us that painting the still life was a necessary step to be able to paint anything else.
      It is a shame it is held in the lowest regard by the know-it-all establishment of New York art critics.
      ,

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  13. its always better to paint/create something that can get emotionally attached to. it shows in the work :)

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    1. Glad it shows - thanks Jennifer.
      it was neat seeing glorious color on your blog today.

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    2. thanks Julie :) it does show, it makes the work more personnel and it shows how much more comfortable your are painting what you love :)(if that makes sense? lol)

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  14. Another one of your unbeatable and beautiful roses, as always I am amazed at how many things you succeed in putting into such a small surface and still creating harmony !

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    1. Lovely complement,Jane - thank you.
      i was admiring your tulips. What a fabulous painting and the jug is just stunning. Well done indeed.

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  15. Such a beautiful piece. My eyes take me all over the canvas with all the details and colors. Love this one...

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    1. Hi Hilda - how are you doing? Everything healing okay I hope.
      Thanks for the visit and encouraging words.

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  16. Very wonderful painting !!!
    Happy weekend Julie !!!

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  17. I really love this, Julie. The composition is so pleasing, offering a veritable feast of delights as the eye travels around and through it. I find your technique captivating as always. There's a physical depth, texture, and substance beyond the plane of the canvas. This is a lovely set-up. It would be stunning at a larger size, too.

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  18. Once again you make me feel quite accomplished. Thank you, Helene. Wish I could have you on my shoulder while I am struggling with a painting.
    Hope you are painting - I loved your painting of the kettle with the eggs and am looking forward to your next one.

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  19. What a great way to approach the subject. I don't paint many still lifes, but I love them. I'm just not very good at them. Love the blue and white dishes and vase and yellow roses are so fresh and lovely. Excellent work!

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    1. Thank you Sharon. I always appreciate your supportive comments.
      I really enjoyed your topic - and really enjoyed visiting the work of your friends. All good artists. I love it when artists support each other. So little time in this life in the grand scheme of things and to waste it would be a great shame, I have seen quite a few beautiful florals you have done. You do not call them a still life? Your last floral is lovely.

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  20. Beautiful! Everything is working perfectly. Well done!

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  21. Julie, this is a simply wonderful painting.

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  22. How I wish I can take a tour around your studio and enjoy all the settings, this is awesome Julie!

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  23. Your still life paintings are very special. Always have been and always will be. I love the pops of blue and the very gentle yellow in this one.

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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