Lemon with Bowls

Sunday is my usual posting day but with Hurricane Irene coming and threatening power outages, I thought I would get it out a day earlier. Stay safe everyone.

Figure Study

This incomplete figure study was done on an old landscape. You can see the horizon line passing through the lower legs.

Lemon on Stripes

Wasn't sure there would be a posting this week. This was finished just in time.

Little Pitcher

This is a variation of a painting done previously. I read somewhere that you should paint what you like more than once and I decided to follow that advice.

Three Pears with Bowl

The pears managed to paint themselves rather quickly. The bowl, however, was most uncooperative. I couldn't get the sides to even up or maintain the same angle so the bowl grew and shrunk about a dozen times.

Creamsicle Dream

Today's title is inspired by the heat, the fact our AC is on the fritz and lastly by the orange hues in the painting. The new little glass vase with the cute flared bottom was the reason to paint.

Black Skirt

The above is a substitute for a less than stellar still life. (It turns out that tube black as a background color is not a good idea.) This was a study done at portrait group.

New Again

I was looking through the old, bad painting pile and decided to have a go at reworking the below painting. It had never been varnished, so I just painted on top of the old painting. I am much happier with the new version.

Blueberries

Blueberries --- love 'um.

Three Cherries

This week, I rearranged my studio and painting setup-- palette from my right to my left, easel lamp instead of overhead light, different table for the still life objects, etc. My brain must have been confused because this simple painting was a struggle. The next painting (will post later) was easier but the studio lighting still needs tweaking.

Peonies

There were lots of peonies around two weeks ago. I did try to indicate more petals but ended up satisfied with this looser interpretation.

Cherry

Summer is full of fun distractions. This week, a simpler painting.

Centered Purple

This was a week of many paintings but only one postable one. (Is postable a word)? There was the not quite right ribbon painting and the baaad peony painting started in Johanne's garden. This one made the not too embarrassed to post standard.

Encircled

I decided to keep the ribbon theme going (for now).

Entwined

This is the first still life post vacation. The ribbon was raided from a friend's gift wrapping bag. (Thanks, Lindy!) I am not sure this painting is done; I am trying to resist mucking with it until I know what it needs.

Flag

This art lover is at the MOMA in New York reading about "Flag", a painting by Jasper Johns. I loved the combo of the stars and the polka dots, although they were time consuming to paint.

This posting was slightly delayed--- I have been in Texas where funny and fun things were happening. I happened to be in Texas when Carol Marine happened to be having a party to celebrate her new studio. Then, Qiang Huang showed up at the party and I got to visit with him and his lovely wife, Song. Both Carol and Qiang have wonderful blogs-- check them out. Pictured below is Qiang, Song and Carol Marine in Carol's studio.

Tulips

The image to the left is the most recent version of this tulip painting. I had great fun painting the initial rendition but months later after many sideways glances the muddled quality of the background began to bother me. Hence, the second, brighter version which is perhaps too bright. It may have another reincarnation.

Explaining Rothko

She was very excited by this Rothko painting on display at the Museum of Modern Art. He --- not so much.

Eggshells and Pear

This is a painting completed quite a while ago-- not sure why I never got around to posting it. I do like the red background (note to self; try red background again).

This painting is currently hanging at the DaSilva Gallery in New Haven. The last day of the show is Sunday, May 1st.

Black Jeans

Luckily, a visit to New York museums is an easy day trip. Following Karin Jurick's fabulous lead, after looking at the art, I take photos of others looking at the art. These paintings for me are a nice change of pace from still lifes.