Patina & Peaches

Patina & Peaches
6"x 6" oil on canvas

Artist Note.
I painted this while visiting a
good painting friend, back in August.
I was attracted to the
beautiful patina
on the antique tray.

Preparing the house
AND studio ready to sell
has been a lot of work
but at least this was part of
our own plan.
I really feel for the folk
who have just had their homes
torn apart or flooded in
Florida and Houston.
Getting it all back to normal
will take a huge effort.
I send my true
and warmest blessings to all those
reading this who have been,
 affected. May the future get brighter
very quickly.

Farmers Market #5

Farmers Market #5
Two Pounds of Peaches

8x6in  oil on canvas panel $125. SOLD

I loved this scale as soon as I saw it. There were
several of them throughout the market, but I liked the
deep blue trim on this enameled basket.

Artist Note.

This started as a demo in establishing basic shapes
from this photo. Click to enlarge any of these.

Demo -  first layer.
The trouble with
photos are I tend to
follow them pretty
exactlyat first.
All I changed here was
the stall in background



It bugged me that so many other elements were detracting from the
focus I wanted -  which was the scale.
I cannot believe I did it, but I even placed the truck and cars in after this.
Oh no...someone smack my hand and stop me!

 I closed my eyes, relaxed, and took myself back to the time and place of my 
photo source. Doing this simple thing has helped me more times
than I can remember. The air, the noise, the smell and then
there it was as clear as can be - the scale. In my mind I recalled 
how the glass looked and remembered all I could see in detail 
was the color of the tent  reflecting in the scale glass and fruit around
it. NOTHING ELSE.
It is only the camera which can pick out every single detail.
After getting the handy tool out it was easy to get rid of some of the
distractions. Squinting turned the trees and vehicles into dark shapes
so I merged them all into the green cover and  a pattern of dark and light.
I left the scale exactly where it was but eliminated all
unnecessary details, even leaving out the precise details on clock face
like the exact width and numbers. All implied but not
 painted in detail. Even so, I still created a feeling of intimacy with the scale.
Now I really like it. The artist who bought it named it
Two Pounds of Peaches - nifty!

Peaches and Roses

Peaches and Roses

8x6in oil on canvas panel  $125 SOLD

Beautiful roses always lift my spirits so when my daughter
left to return to her new home, I set up a lovely still life to paint
using my favorite blue and gold together.

This handsome red fox came onto our deck. I did not know
we had foxes here. I have seen coyotes, snakes, quail, and
rabbits galore, but this is the first time I have seen a fox.
Glad there is no "Tally Ho" in this part of the country.

Artist Note.

Tomorrow I am going to show a great little exercise on edges.

It has worked successfully with the members of the Guild.
Stay tuned!

Yesterdays Mixed Fruit - fixed!

Mixed Fruit

8x6in oil on canvas panel   $125. SOLD

This may look like the same painting as yesterday and it basically is...
with some changes.

Artist Note.

When I saw yesterday's post on my blog this morning
I thought, ouch,...it needs something to break up the
bottom line on the quiche dish.
After painting walls most of the day it was neat to have
something  I could do a little tweaking on.


Here is how it looked yesterday.

See if you agree that the new image has a better eye flow.
The angle of the peach slice breaks up the long line of the base
of the quiche dish and directs the eye to the middle peach.
Just for the fun of it, see if you can spot a couple of other
changes I made to give more movement to the painting.

It does not really matter if it is a better painting or not.
What matters is that I am more satisfied with it now.
We all have to please the artist within.

Mixed Fruit

Mixed Fruit.


8x6in oil on canvas panel
THIS PAINTING HAS HAD A CHANGE - see 7/19/12

This is the last of my fruit paintings... for a while.
I have enjoyed working with the shapes and colors
but the yellow roses are starting to droop and I need to
finish the one I have started.
Painting walls in my new teaching space tomorrow
so may not have time for a blog. Stay tuned!

Fruit Plate

Fruit Plate

6x8in  oil on canvas board   $125. SOLD

This was actually inspired by my hubby, Jim, making a fruit salad.
I had come up from the studio and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw
all the rich colors together and asked if I could borrow the bowl and
fruit for a little while... and this, all knowing lover of mine, actually
said, "NO It could be hours before I get them back!"
I can remember the day when anything I wanted to paint, I could have.
That was before he took over the kitchen. Seeing I do not want the kitchen
back I smiled sweetly and picked up my camera!

Artist Note.


There was not really a leaf on the peach, I put it in to link the two
areas of fruit together. I deliberately placed the bowl behind the plate
instead of off to the side, to try something new, and I like it.
I am going to play around with this set-up some more.