Original Oil Painting Fall Collection

Fall Collection

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10" x 10"

Painted on gessobord.

Here is a painting of things I collected on a nice autumn day. I threw in the bright red and green apples and orange paper to add geometric shapes to contrast the beautiful organic shape leaves and pine cone. 

The red apple is the star of the show. It just glistens compared to the other objections. I guess I went a little crazy polishing that red apple. 

Original Oil Painting Autumn Apples

Autumn Apples

12" x 12"

Painted on Ampersand Gessobord.

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Original Oil Painting Toppled Apples

Toppled Apples

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12" x 12"

Painted on gessobord. 

This week I got out my Indian corn and apples to create this autumn painting. Every subject in this painting has multiple colors which was an eye and mind super challenge to say the least. (I think my eyes were ready to pop out of my head at times.) When you are dealing with so many colors it is extremely important to stay calm, take many breaks, slow down and do a lot of pre-mixing of colors. I think tomorrow I will take a break and hopefully get outside and enjoy the wonderful fall colors.

After posting this painting on Facebook and seeing it everyday, I decided to make some subtle changes. The not so subtle change was the table top. It was way too bright, light, grey violet. I felt it was competing with the apples. I am much happier with a tone down table. I posted the first version below. See if you agree with me. Did I make the right changes?

Original Oil Painting Apples and White Daisies

Apples and Daisies

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12" x 12"

Painted on gessobord.

These apples sparkle! I love the way you can wash and shine up apples. So my goal was to capture what attracted me to this still life. To make the apples shine and show their vibrant colors! Keeping the table a neutral grey helps the apples' colors stand out. When I was painting this still life I had yellow daisies. I changed them to white to help keep the background neutral but there is so much contrast with the leaves I am not sure that worked. The daisies balance the composition so nicely and can stand their ground with the apples so I stayed with the white decision. I am happy with my decisions and I hope my viewers are too. 

Original Oil Painting Creamer with Fruit

Creamer with Fruit

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12" x 12"

Painted on gessobord.

I painted this from a still life that I put together. I wanted a warm harmony but found that the objects I was viewing were not all warm. The white creamer and plate were a cooler white. I added yellow ochre and lemon yellow to the white areas to warm them up. I tried to change the petals to a darker green but then they blended with the green leaves in the background. I knew if I tried yellow green or brown petals I would run into the same problem. So I compromised and use a combination of blue with yellow green accents. The blue tints here and there are a discord to my warm harmony but they also make the warms they are next to pop. I posted a photo of the still life I was working from. I hope you can understand my struggle. 

Original Oil Painting Flour Sifter and Apples

Flour Sifter and Apples

11" x 14"
Painted on gessobord.

Here is a painting of my reflective flour sifter with apples and daisies. Painting reflections is like painting a puzzle. You have to go by each piece of color. Then you step back and see which piece needs to be enhanced and which piece is not essential.

 I worked hard on keeping the viewers' eyes focused on the center of interest which is the apple pieces. That is where you will find the strongest and largest highlights. I posted a photo of the still life I was working from below. I left the pattern off the table cloth because it would draw too much attention away from the center of interest and would make the painting too busy. Thanks for viewing my painting.

Original Oil Painting Tipped Apples

Tipped Apples

12" x 12"

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The leaves this year in Wisconsin are gorgeous! So my dog Tuck and I went on a walk gathering all the lovely leaves. I took about 60-70 pics of leaves, apples and Indian corn. I painted this from one of my favorite photos of the day. Can you tell that I photograph them in direct sunlight? 

Original Oil Painting Geraniums and Apples

Geraniums and Apples

16" x 20"

Painted on stretch canvas.

Here is my final painting! I added a small red petal on the right to help balance the large apple on the far left. I put in speed bumps in the middle of the table cloth, no more straight path to the bottom. I also darken the bottom of the red apple in the background on the left to add a little more shape. Then I glazed over the left table leaf to darken it with olive green. Lots of little tweaks and a better photo, yeah!

IS IT DONE??   I will let you know. I am taking a break and will look at it tomorrow.

Original Oil Painting Three Green Apples Checked

Three Green Apples Checked

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10" x 10"

Painted on gesso panel. 

This is kind of a Christmas painting but the subject matter makes it year round. It is also a painting you could hang any directions. I almost posted it upside down. This would be a good challenge to viewers. Let them see it one way than turn it a half turn and the next time they view it will they notice? I hope you enjoy viewing my little painting of these green apples rolling around the checkered cloth. I love the way the cloth folds around the apples and the apples reflect the pattern and each other. Everything compliments each other.

Original Oil Painting Pumpkin 2013

Pumpkin 

16x20

Painted on stretch canvas on wooden frame.