Seashells in the Dead of Winter

This was a series of limited palette 6x6 daily paintings done in the January cold.  Two shells and a rock. I enjoyed the smooth surface of the gesso board and the quickness of the study.  I tried it several times and completed the top version to my satisfaction.  

A Party of Apples with a Couple of Wall Flowers

Fruit Salad #1

Fruit Salad #2

I haven't done many still life paintings but that is changing.  Still life is a great way to do small studies that don't move and can be done rain or shine!  I did a series of fruit during the pandemic in acrylic, two of which are shown here, and just recently did the top painting in oil.  I am appreciative of the photo reference provided by Unsplash photographer Garreth Paul.  I loved the dramatic lighting.
 

Pounce and Prance

I just spent the most delightful 2 days with my great niece, Regan, a sweet budding artist!  We had a sleep over together with another fellow artist- my daughter, Callie.

Regan is 8 years old and loves painting.   After she painted a picture for me for Christmas, we decided that we needed some time to paint together.  When she visits, she often digs through the collection of old Beanie Babies from my kid's childhood.  She picked out two favorites to take home this time so we decided they would be the subject for our first painting:  "Pounce and Prance".  I worked in pastel and Regan worked with acrylic paint.  Callie also worked with acrylics but didn't have time to finish hers.  We had a ball!

The joy Regan (and Callie) displays while painting brought me such joy as well.   Thank you, Regan!

LEMONS # 2 AND #3

I thought after my first lemon attempt, I would continue to paint a few more.  Not only did I have all the paints mixed up, but I rarely work with yellow!  I also rarely work with fruit!  So it was a great exercise.  I appreciated how the different ground on the canvas really makes a difference.

My second attempt, below was on a salmon colored board. I aborted that attempt as I just didn't like the colors.  For the third attempt above, I went back to a sepia toned canvas, changed the arrangement and threw some blueberries in.  I am attempting to stay loose and not get caught up in the details!  It is a challenge when you are used to focusing on small details on a face!

#1 Lemons

After focusing on pastel portraits for the past half year- all from photographs,  I want to dig back in to oils.  And I want to begin again painting from life - Ala Prima!  So out came some lemons and a cutting board.  Was it ever fun!  I am rusty for sure but I hope to continue with these studies!

Happy Flower

I had wanted to play around with a palette knife for some time.  My friend and I set up a still life of this little happy yellow flower one day in the studio and then went at it with the palette knife.  It was fun.  I like the sculptural quality.  As a happy ending, the painting sold at my annual Open Studios in November.

White Mug

I loved how the white mug looked so blue in shadow as contrasted by the warmth of the table it was sitting on.  It was a nice complementary situation that was fun to paint.