Fig Trio

Fig Trio

6x6' oil on canvas panel  SOLD

Artist Note.
A friend gave me some figs
and I do not think
 I have painted them before.
Surely I would remember
their funky shape.
and coloration.
Yes,...and the striped cloth
is still holding my interest.

It is monsoon season
and the clouds are quite amazing.
It is my favorite season because
the skies are so amazing.
It is possible to see multiple storms
at one time due to the vastness
of the horizon.

We need the rain and we are getting it.
The purple sage is blooming
and the desert smells so fresh.

Thanks for visiting.

Copy of a Mancini.

Copy of a Mancini

 6x8 oil on canvas $150.\

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

Carol Marine

came up with a great

Daily Paintworks Challenge

The idea was a fabulous one...

copy a painting you admire 

and  then do a painting 

using what you learned

details HERE

BUT... after I copied this one 

I found I had no heart to do another.

How can I ever match what this 

guy does - he is brilliant!

Took me forever to do this little urchin!

I saw this piece in a traveling show at the

El Paso Art Museum. 

I took the photo on the left.

 I eye-balled the proportions 

so there are  

several areas that are not quite right.

Doesn't matter - I learned a lot.

I have followed Antonio Mancini's 

work for years.

Sargent was an admirer and has

been quoted as saying,

Mancini

 was the worlds greatest artist

The great Richard Schmid has said

 he, too, was heavily

influenced by Mancini's work.

If you are not familiar with 

his paintings here is a link.

Antonio Mancini

Pitcher & Apricots

Pitcher & Apricots
8"x6" oil on Raymar board  $150.
Purchase HERE

Artist Note.

I think that the striped cloth
adds a bit of zip to this
otherwise ordinary still life.

Priscilla Hoback made this
wonderful pitcher
and it is my first time painting it.
Fascinating discovering
the layers.

Priscilla does amazing work and
you can see some of her large
 animal art pieces
HERE

Peaches & Stripes

Peaches & Stripes

6"x6" oil on canvas panel  $125.SOLD

Artist Note.
I must have a little thing going for stripes
at the moment. I have done three
still life set-ups and they all
  have the same striped cloth.

Does anyone else notice that they
favor a certain item for a while?
The cherries are still being included too!

When I finished this painting
 it reminded me
in color
 and pattern
of a
Vuillard or Bonnard.

Lordy...had I subconsciously
copied one of their
still life paintings?
This can happen when you have
a lot of art history background.
Anyone relate?

After trolling though
 nearly everything I
 could find on Search
 I could see quite clearly
the differences, but I am
rather happy that
 this one reminds
me of their patterns
and colors.

Why I Like To Fracture Plus A Still Life.

Summer Still Life

8"x6" oil on linen panel $150.
Purchase HERE

Artist Note

After my Fracturing Workshop

I took a few days off to paint

with a friend who is a regular

plein air painter...and 

due to the extreme heat

(thank heavens)

we set up a still life.

I have been asked why 

I like to fracture

The following is a piece 

I did in my workshop

showing everyone

the premise of why I use the

fracturing technique.

It is all about keeping the

viewers eye's interested.

Below is the type of surface

I would get when I 

used a brush in a smooth, flat way.

One glance and you have grasped it

Then here is the same square fractured.

The idea is 

there is more

to entertain the eye!

Hope this helps explains it, Susie.

Workshop Review

Sunflower Demo  sold

Artist Note.
I always really enjoy my
workshops but this one
was extra special due
to the fun and talented artists
who all got on so well.
A true blessing.

On the first day 

I provide all the surfaces to

 do the fracturing exercises

and a black panel is one of them.

I sketched out the placement
with white chalk.

 Then I started adding
 the orange/yellow transition color

alongside the dark center.
Next, I added the

yellow and green shapes only.

Looking at the light and dark pattern

I then fractured 

 randomly 

with the handy tool.

Added background colors
remembering to use opposing
strokes and then I fractured
lightly again.

I follow the fracturing marks
using brush and knife...
Defining certain areas. 

Artists are encouraged to
bring it back according to
personal preference for
the amount of detail.

Here are a few of the paintings
the artists did in the workshop.
Wish I could show them all.

Lindy

Carol

Michelle

Veronica

The next three paintings

show how 

 different artists used 

the fracturing technique

to have their own voice with paint.

Three dogs - all different!

Cheryl 

Connie

Veronica

Thank you, everyone, for
allowing me to show your work.

If you are interested in the
Fracturing Technique,
here is a link
Fracturing Tutorial