Triplets

Very hot today so worked on painting of pears.  After struggling with colors of pears being too cool and green I remembered that my brushes must not be clean enough and it was impacting my color.  

Half Full

Wanted to try this little red bottle.  Difficult with the strange top to it but it is close.  

Odd Little Jug

This little jug has an almost flower like spout. I enjoyed using the orange against the blue jug.

Kitchen Treaures

Today I sent off my registration for the Lone Star Art Guild annual convention show in July.  I am entering this painting as it won a ribbon in my local art league judged show thus allowing me to enter the show.  This years convention is close to home so looking forward to attending.

Red Hot

Wanted to attempt some peppers again.  My last attempt was very frustrating so I tried to go bigger on a small panel.

Thirsty

A little still life in oil using a water bottle.  Recycling is good

Rookie Painter Challenge

This is my first submission to the Rookie Painter challenge blog.  I loved the photo and wanted to try it.
I enjoyed working on the oranges.

Here is the original photo

Fruit Week

Oh the ellipse.  I am trying so hard to improve in my drawing of them.  I have re read my art books, practices and am still suffering in trying to get them correct.  

Virtual Paint out Challenge January 2010 Corsica

I started participating in the Virtual Paint out monthly challenge where a place is listed and using Google maps, you take the street view to pick  a location to paint from the map.  It was fun to see the different spots in Corsica and to pick a location.  The blog to see the submissions is:  http://virtualpaintout.blogspot.com

Here is the spot I picked and my interpretation.
It is on a panel, in oil 6 x 6

6 Impasse de la Route de Ville, Bastia, Northern Corsica, France


I had some difficulty in getting the corner bricks right, and I enhanced the color as it was very washed out in the original photo making everything look sort of gray.

2010

I am not a big fan of New Year's resolutions. But sometimes it is good to think about the year ahead to put things into perspective and to at least give a little thought and focus to the months ahead.

I do want to try to do more painting this year.  Not to get so hung up on making finished paintings, but doing lots of starts and studies as many artists and books advise.  Get more at ease with color choices, getting the starts down, seeing the shapes, lights and shadows, subject material.

All of these areas will teach me more about the craft and can help me improve.

I won't set some sort of number or goal to achieve, but will work to carve time out to retreat to my studio, to let the creative side be nurtured and encouraged.

Here is to a creative and growing year!

On the Way Home

This is the latest installment from Different Stokes challenge.  The original photo that Karin provided is below.  I had trouble with trying to get all three people working so small as I was working 6 x 6,  so I started over and figured I would try only one person, as this is only the 3rd person I have ever attempted to paint.  The original was so dark, on the one figure, so I brightened it up when I used only one person.

City Rooftops

This is the latest challenge from differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/
Wished I had some good "graffiti" to paint on the side of the building.

First Attempt at Outdoor Plein Air

I made my first attempt doing Plein Air painting when Tom and I were on vacation.  We went to Mustang Island State Park, which is on Padre Island Texas.

I had spent the better part of the previous weekend trying to rig up my gear. I didn't want to spend much money as not sure if I would like it. I bought a little wood paint box at Aaron Brothers for 7.00 to use as my pochade box. I followed excellent instructions found on the web as to mounting on my tripod and rigging up what I had

Of course, we discovered that the bag of supplies weighed too much so next time will try to pack lighter.It was really sunny and windy, and I got tired standing the entire time. 

This is the photo of the scene and the finished quick study. I didn't like how the painting turned out, it seemed to get worse as I painted. But it was fun, and will definitely try it again.

Tasty Treats

This is for the weekly challenge of Different Strokes Blog

Did it a second time, as I wasn't happy with my first attempt with frosting.

Familiar Streets

Streets of San Francisco from a photo on canvas.  Part of the challenge for Different Strokes Blog.  First attempt at a city scene.

No Place Like Home

This is my husbands childhood home in Connecticut.   It is painted on a 6 x 6 panel.  Hard to work so small, and wanted it to be "painterly".  Not sure if I like the way it turned out.

Waiting Outside

This was my first submittal to the blog Different Strokes Blog

It is 6 x 8 on canvas.  I haven't painted a person before and so I was pleased it didn't  end up looking like an alien as the subject. 

Eat Your Vegetables

I was too late to post this on the blog Different Strokes Blog but I did use the posted challenge photo for this painting. It is 6 x 6 on panel.

Cherry Delight

6 x 6 on panel from a photo.  I like the way this turned out.  I think I really like the smooth surface to work with

Lemon Bounty

Painted this from a photo.