Personal Art Blog

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

Monday, July 31, 2017

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.

33 comments:

  1. Oh I love your figs, and the striped cloth is perfect with them. It is a beautiful mix of colors and I love the way you pushed the color of the stripes towards a blue-teal color. Do you have more that one striped cloth in various colors?

    Enjoy the rain, we are having serious drought conditions and water rationing.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Celia. I only use the one cloth. It is black and white stripes so I go by the value in the light and in this case used a blue mixture. I follow the overall harmony of the painting.
      No rain - where do you live?

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    2. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my question, Julie. I thought you had various colored cloths because of the different colored stripes in each still life.
      ...I live in Rome and still no rain!

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  2. Some of your fig-urative work, hey? I don't know why I think figs are funny but I do. Please fig-ive me. Have a great day.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Carol - what a clever play on words, made me really laugh.
      Sorry you have hurt your back. You are too nice a person to have that happen. Speedy recovery, my friend.

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  3. The figs coloration are beautiful! I don't know that I've ever seen one. Isn't it amazing how something like the striped cloth can look so different depending on what is placed on it. Love the plate also.

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    1. The actual color changes were amazing. Some figs are a dark purple all over but these had those warm green/golds that captivated me. The plate is one I have had for a while and never painted until recently.
      The video you made showing mixing different green is excellent and helpful. I showed a newbe and she did a great chart at home. So, thank you!

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  4. Another winner Julie! Those wonderful shadows in the striped cloth wins once again. When we first moved into my house we had a fig tree.. It did well for awhile, but I don't think it liked New York weather... Or me because I think they needed to be wrapped in the winter which we didn't do. I love the rich colors in the figs!!!

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    Replies
    1. I have never seen them on trees until my friend invited me over to see. These were plucked fresh of the tree. I checked...
      New York may a be too wet for them - only water once a week - and they apparently need sub-tropical climate so one harsh winter could lose them all.
      Hope all is well in your world, my friend.

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  5. Replies
    1. Thanks, Carol, and truly, it is your choice of colors which makes your apple painting so special.

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  6. I love patterns! This works so well in your piece! You are inspiring Julie! Now I am thinking of patterns and food!

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    Replies
    1. So happy you like patterns too, Kaethe. I have so many ideas flowing for this striped cloth that I wake up thinking about them. Classes have started so I will not have as much time. I would love to see your take on patterns and food.

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  7. Sooooo appealing! I'll have to try some stripes.

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    Replies
    1. Hope you do...especially if it is an animal...maybe a zebra or a calico cat!

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  8. Love fest going on here, love the figs, composition, fabulous color, on and on. This is a total winner Julie.

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    Replies
    1. Making me smile here, dear Blanche. Thanks for the great comment.
      I think your pear still life has a lot of charisma. Great colors and shapes but it is what you did with the stems that adds so much more.

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  9. Dear Julie I do not think I have ever seen a fig. Do they taste a lot like a plum? As for the striped Tablecloth - I love it - I am sure you made those figs much prettier than they are in life too. Have a special day. Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. Figs are waaaay too sweet for me and very seedy. If I am going to have seeds then Raspberries are my first choice! A friend told me it is a combination of strawberry and kiwi!
      They are really beautiful to look at those with rich purples and gold/green orange etc. I love their shapes.
      Good to hear from you, dear Debbie. Thank you.

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  10. Love your palette colors, Julie! What a wonderful blend blue and purple make! Your striped cloth again ties everything together and carries my eye right up to the figs. Truly lovely!

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    1. Hi Carol, I am pleased you like the color combination. It was risky. One of those set up which look great, but then when finished - don't quite make it. Have you ever had that happen?
      Looking forward to your next one.

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  11. Love your funky figs, Julie, and I'm always impressed by the compositions you contrive. I'd never have thought to pair a multi-colored plate with the colorful figs, especially on a striped cloth -- but YOU did, and it's stunning. It is a level of creative vision that makes your work so outstanding.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for noticing my combinations, Helene. I strive to make them a little more complex but, and it is a big but...only on a run of a flow that is working. I resort to the tried and true when nothing is going right.
      Thanks for being such a good and supportive friend.

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  12. An exceptional piece of artwork, Julie!!
    Many people have fig trees in their front yards here in Eugene (and apple, pear, persimmon, plum, ...). It is a beautiful thing.
    Enjoy your moody skies and much needed rain!

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    Replies
    1. Eugene sounds like a wonderful as well as beautiful place to live. I bet you eat well with local produce.
      Your beautifully painted ballet slippers took me back in time when I used to move them around in the light to see the sheen of the satin.

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  13. As always, Julie, your work is beautiful and I can always see why figs are a great still life subject. They really are lovely. Still love your fracturing technique and I must say, I think your copy of a Mancini is spectacular!!!

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  14. feels like monsoon season here :p

    the gold and purple of the figs goes great together. was the strips on the dish intentional, they lead your eyes and match up with the blue stripes on the cloth :)

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    1. Yup - intentional! Takes a good eye to notice the little things.
      Hope you are feeling better and thanks for visiting.

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  15. Beautiful work...the colors are so rich and ripe. The cloth seems to go well with so many of your compositions.

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  16. Hello Joan, it has been great following your workshop sessions with different artists on your trip Thanks for letting us all in on them - I really enjoyed each post.
    Happy you like this one and thanks for the visit.

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  17. Mind Blowing piece Julie!Just yesterday I had been to rural Oman and got a few of them from the village boys who were selling them on roadside. It made me nostalgic because we had a big fig tree at home planted by my grandfather.

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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