Farmers Market #1 and winner of the painting.

Farmers Market  #1

8x6in oil on canvas panel $125. SOLD

I have started to do a series of the Farmers Market in Santa Cruz, CA.
I took photos and did some sketches and I want to do them
while it is all fresh in my mind. This is the first one and my focus
was to capture the sun and shade.

Artist Note.

I expected to have the winner of the Studio Tour Giveaway before
now, but dear hubby Jim has dragged his feet. It is all Wimbledon's
fault. He has been glued to the TV.  It was only when I started the
heavy sighs and quiet mutterings before assuring him that it really was
quite alright if he didn't really want to do it (Tennis had finished for the day)
and with that he went off to his office
and spent quite a while diligently reading them.
Finally, he came back and told me  he did not
discharge his responsibility lightly, and I was presented with a great
flourish, the person he thought should get the radish painting.
AND THE WINNER IS... ROGER AKESSON!
The reason he picked him was because he liked that Roger
said I inspired him. Lovely of you to say that Roger - thank you so much.

I think Jim was surprised at the many nice comments. He has never
read that part of my blog before. He said it was hard to choose.
I was surprised only two artists wanted the handy tool and that was
STEPHANIE BERRY and LIANA YARCKIN   
(please send me your addresses)
It is a magic tool and can do many things besides how I use it
so I know they will love it.
Thank you all for the great comments...big smile...and glad so many
of you enjoyed visiting all the studios. I know I enjoyed them too.

Hydrangeas and Part Demo

Hydrangeas

8x6in  oil on canvas panel  $125.

Hydrangeas with sprigs of coffee bean plant.
These  hydrangeas have a lot of a creamy color in the center
with pale blue edges to the petals. I got them at Trader Joes
in Albuquerque at weekend. They are not perky!

Artist Note.

This was a demo done in class today.
I had a lovely set up using the the reds of the strawberries from
yesterday to move the eyes around from the coffee bean buds.
I blocked it in like this.

Then I realized I would not be able to fit it all in in time.
So  - off with the strawberries heads!

Using my wonderful, handy tool.  Love this part!
If interested in seeing tool and how it is used, go to
(May 2nd, thru 5 or 6.)
 http://juliefordoliver.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-05-12T19:58:00-07:00&max-results=10
You have to scroll down to get to the correct dates.

I then had to change the vase. Why? To link to the blues of the hydrangeas
I had used a dark green vase first to link with all the leaves,
and the design on the strawberry bowl
had blue in it to link with the flowers.
See how changing one thing can lead to rethinking the other areas.

All these decisions are made with the class watching and
I give the reasons why... and it can lead to some lively discussions.