Original Oil Painting Daffy Daffodils

Daffy Daffodils

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12" x 12"

Painted on gesso panel. 

$50.00

I painted this using a lot more palette knife than I usually do. My goal was to loosen up and try to create interesting brush strokes. Using the palette knife helped with this goal but also created slightly bigger flowers. The gold in this painting is very strong but the red apple is strong enough to create an interesting tension between the two.  Any way I am on the mend after that terrible cold last week and it feels great painting again!!

Original Oil Painting Grapefruit Petunias

Grapefruit Petunias

10" x 10"

Painted on gesso panel.

It has been a slow week. Many interruptions and obligations to attend to. Today however I finally finished my painting, yeah!! I worked from a photos on this painting. One photo had fall leafs in  the silver bowl but I decided to put purple petunias in the bowl instead. I used my own reference photos for the petunias. The dish and grapefruit came from my master course photo I am taking. Of course the purple goes so well with the gold since they are complimentary colors. In fact there is a lot of complimentary play in this painting.

Original Oil Painting Pink African Violet

Blue Bird of Happiness

12" x 12"

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With all the warm weather this week I thought a new plant was in order. So I went to Stein's and bought this wonderful pink African violet. I added the glass blue bird of happiness because (you guessed it) I am so happy to get a break from the winter cold. There is such a contrast between the blue bird and everything else but I like the tension. 

Yes, I did change the title a month later to Blue Bird of Happiness instead of Pink African Violets. I have no idea why other than I kept thinking of it as the painting with the blue glass bird in it.

Here are some process pics.

 I first start lightly sketching things in.

 I usually start with the background when mapping colors in.

This is what it looks like with colors mapped in. 

 After I mapped in the subjects I noticed the foreground need some details. I used a Q-tip and marked a place for a leaf and fallen flower. Then I started painting the details in the flowers.

I continue with leaves and glass bird next. After looking at it I decided the table color was wrong. Next morning I tried something lighter which gives the composition more contrast. Since the right side looked unbalance I added another flower in the background. This time I added a long stem and bud.

Original Oil Painting Tin Pansies

Tin Pansies

12" x 12"

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 I finally got a descent photo to post on DPW. I had to take a dozen pictures in different light to match what I see in the painting. Yeah!!

Original Oil Painting Pansy Boot

Pansy Boot

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What is on the menu for today!

In process.....

What a break from the last painting that took a long time. This is a small painting I started today. I wanted to paint something fun. What is more fun than an old shoe with some johnny jump ups in them? When I start a painting I try to fill the whole surface in with color. I focus on getting a feeling for the painting. I mark color areas in the rock and shoe leather. I mark where the lightness lights might be and the darkest dark. Everything will be worked over tomorrow. I will adjust edges, add detail where needed and definitely tame the white in the center of the shoe. So far I spent three hours on this painting and probably going to do another three hours plus but much slower. Tomorrow I get down to some real work, can't wait.

Original Oil Painting White Daisies with Fruit

White Daisies with Fruit

16" x 20"

Painted on stretch canvas.

Finally had time to deal with the tapestry. I brighten the table top in front of the focal point and tamed down the tapestry in the shadows. I also brighten the flowers more by restating the highlights and changed the shadow color on the center white daisy. Now the center flower sings. Please note: if you saw this post before I have updated the photo. The first photo was wash out or over expose photo? So I put a light coat of medium over it and took another try photographing it.