All Cuddled Up

This is something that I've done before, that is fun to do again. Orange slices , all very close.

Something New and Different

Here's to something new, and different, in the year to come! Hope that your 2011, is filled with lots of exciting surprises! Early, best wishes for a very wonderful 2011! May all of your dreams come true!

Leaves and Stems

Just had to paint one more tangerine, with the leaves, and stems. These seem so festive, just perfect for the holiday spirit!

We're Very Close

It seems like these little tangerines, with stems, and leaves are everywhere. They are so pretty. I love the colors, and shapes, and just had to paint them. There are a million other things that I should be doing, but couldn't resist. Here's to everyone, including me, getting everything done! Happy holidays to all!

Three of a Kind

I finally had some time to get back to painting, during this past very rainy weekend. After not painting for awhile, I felt a little out of practice. This just means that I need to paint more. Looking forward to being able to have time to really focus in the new year!

It's A Cluster

It's fun to paint again. Back with more citrus slices. I love all the colors of citrus fruit. So inspiring, bright orange, yellow, pink, and lime green!

It's a Secret

This is a quick one that I did in between traveling to Las Vegas, and Palm Springs. Now that I'll be home for awhile, I'm looking forward to having time to paint. Can hardly wait! Being away allows you time to clarify ideas, and make plans for what to come! I have all kinds of painting ideas going through my head, and am so excited, and ready to get started!

Joined at the Hip

The Lafayette Gallery will be participating in the Lafayette Farmer's Market, starting next week. The farmer's market will be open from 4 to 8, on Thursday evenings, in downtown Lafayette. I volunteered, along with two other gallery artists, to show some of my work in our booth, next Thursday. Trying to finish, and frame a few last minute paintings, has kept me busy. Let's hope for a break in our recent rainy days, and lots of customers!

Almost Quarters

Here is one of the same tomatoes from last week, cut in almost quarters. I tried for a looser look with this painting. It is fun to paint like this. I'll work on this direction some more, and see what happens!

Two out of Three

Finally back to painting, after being out of town. It's so wonderful to be back, but a little hard to get back in the painting mode. This one is the best result, after several attempts. Will forge ahead, with more to come!

Lessons from Laurel

The title of Laurel's workshop was, " Still Life Alla Prima". The translation of Alla Prima is "first time". The concept is to complete a painting in one sitting, or all at once. This is a valuable lesson for me, and something that I need to work on. Because of this, my new resolve is to complete a painting at once. This post is a small, 6X8, which I was able to complete fairly quickly. I did this as a warm up for a larger painting soon to follow. My goal is to complete a single larger paining in one session. I am excited about challenging myself. Stay tuned for more!

On Higher Ground

Now that I see this photo, I wish that it was better. It's a little blurry. I will try to redo this. In the meantime, please bear with me, I will try again tomorrow, and leave it for now.
One more "on the edge"painting, and still having fun. I'm back to the familiar, my comfort zone, only, this time with beautiful red plums. Hard to believe, but I still have more ideas for more on the edge paintings. At the same time, I'm also really enjoying my class in landscape painting, which, I had to miss last Friday. I will be in class this Friday, so stay tuned for more, more still life, and more landscape paintings to come.

Three Reds

My friend Kathy asked me if I ever did Red Bartlett Pears. The answer is, yes, I do, and here they are. Another quick pear painting, done yesterday, thinking about Kathy. This was done quickly because we are leaving today for La Jolla, and won't be back until Wed. A short trip to attend a conference with Brian. I'll be on my own, looking at galleries and the sights, while Brian is attending the conference. More to come after we return.

All Four of Us

One more pear painting for the upcoming exhibit. I still want to do a few more. This one was a quickie. Experimenting with blue, a color I normally don't use. For some reason, my comfort zone is a warmer color palette. I feel a little out of my element, but will forge ahead. I think it's always good to get away from the familiar, once in awhile.

Still in Line

One more on the edge painting. I can't seem to get enough of this composition. It is still fun, and I still have more ideas. I'll keep moving onward and we'll see where we go with all of this. Stay tuned for more.

Very Friendly

I just finished reading Pam Holnback's newest post on her blog. She has done a great job sharing ideas from "The Weekend with the Masters" in Colorado Springs. It makes me wish that I was there. One of the ideas that she shared today, was Skip Whitcomb's quote, "simplicity is power". The more information you include in a painting the weaker the statement. I just love that idea. Again, if you have not seen Pam's blog, please go take a look, pamholnback.blogspot.com. She has generously shared all kinds of ideas from her "Weekend with the Masters"

Very Close

More tomatoes, one of the best things about summer! Still working on the edge, and still enjoying it. There will be more "on the edge " to come, probably not tomatoes. Stay tuned for more.

More Secrets

Still working for a less finished, looser look. I remember being told in some long ago art class, that the mind likes to see something slightly unfinished, so that the rest can be left to the imagination. The idea is that the viewer is drawn into the painting to contemplate what isn't there. Who knows?

More of the Same

Here we are with more apricots. This one was done during a short weekend escape to Santa Fe. I didn't have very much time, but I had apricots on my brain. I enjoyed painting them last week and wanted to continue. I ended up buying more apricots in New Mexico and just kept right on. I guess, I'm feeling that the apricots have such a short season they will only be around for a little while, so I better stay with it as long as I can. Isn't the color of ripe apricots just gorgeous!

Breathing Room

This painting was done very quickly, and photographed very quickly, while it was still wet. It looks a little reflective. I usually take photos right before it gets dark. This was pretty early, around 4 pm, in a shady spot, on a very sunny day. I guess, the moral of the story is to take the photos later, when the sun is not so bright. Oh well. one more thing to remember. Live and learn, or in this case, slow down, paint, wait, and then use the camera