Pushing darks—lifting lights

I am inspired by color and light. My impulse when painting is to go straight to the sweet spot—strong color. Now that I am painting on a regular basis, I approach each painting with certain goals. These days I am trying to retrain myself and push the darks before lifting the lights. Above is a detail of the painting I am currently working on.

dark & dreary

not enough light & a burned out brush—prepping instead of painting

Eggs Gone Missing

Earlier this week, I set up a still life. Those of you that have gone through this exercise know that it can take quite a bit of time to create a pleasing composition. Moving this and that, this way and that way, creating interesting intersections and slivers of light that mark the spaces between. It is so fun to finally get started (see below). 

I came back to the studio later to find egg shells strewn throughout the house, a couple of raw eggs on the studio floor, fortunately the rest of the still life was untouched—Spot! Our snack-thief-of-a-dog had helped himself. The eggs were broken, eaten and we later discovered hidden—squirreled away under the cushion of a chair in the living room was an unbroken egg. Clever and funny Spot.

work in progress

Complimentary, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches

A birthday gift to my son. Our favorite colors—orange and blue—Wahoowa!

Orange Pekoe

Orange Pekoe, oil on board, 8x8"

I have been madly working to ready all the paintings for the Lynchburg Art Festival. This is my first time around, so who knows what to expect. I finally got around to reading the fine print and discovered that all paintings must be framed, with the exception of those done on gallery wrap canvases. Yikes, I have alot of framing to do in 2 days.

Ruby Red and Purple

Pomegranates & Cabbage, oil on canvas, 12 x 12 in.

What can I say, the color of a purple cabbage and the ruby red of pomegranates take my breath away.

Final Week at Nimrod

Nimrod Last Stand, oil on canvas, 30 x 40"

For several years, I have been painting on small panels, 6- and 8-inch square. This summer at art camp, I worked on larger canvases. So much fun to spread out! This is the painting from my last week at Nimrod.

Orange you happy!

orange happy, oil on panel, 8x8 in

Every morning I have to choose between exercise and painting or just sitting with coffee. Today, I am happy to have chosen oranges.

Everything is just peachy.

Peaches, 8x8", oil on panel

Since returning from painting camp, I have been so busy with work that I have not had time to paint. Today is my son Eric’s birthday and I felt like celebrating, so I started the day with some time at the easel. Yeah!

Lemons for Tea

Lemons for Tea, oil on canvas, 20 x 24"

My first week at Nimrod Hall was so inspiring and productive, that I have decided to go back next week. I think I might have to pick up another table cloth, that pink madras is showing up everywhere.

REV it UP

Morning Melons, oil on panel, 8" x 10"

After a fabulous three day workshop at BSSS, I drove west to Nimrod Hall on Sunday afternoon. I had a plan to start each day with a pre-breakfast “sketch.” I got into the studio early enough to paint Morning Melons before my first cup of coffee. 

After breakfast, it was time to rev it up — time for a larger canvas and a more complex composition. 

 

Don’t Eat Cantaloupe, oil on canvas, 16" x 20"

Hit Restart!

Loosely, oil on canvas, 16"x 20"

Okay, I know that I started this blog with the intention of being a daily painter. I didn’t really quit, I just lapsed. Now, I am back from a workshop with Jessie Coles, followed by a week at art camp at Nimrod Hall (Bath Co.) and I am ready to work.