"Light Baggage"

 

 

9 x 12"

oil on panel

sold

Irises are blooming everywhere here in Atlanta, inspiring me to paint Vincent van Gogh's Irises being admired by a visitor in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

The Red Piano Art Gallery sold it before I could even add it to my website, so a larger view will follow soon.

~ Happy Friday. Go get your vaccination shots.

"Sweetie Pies"

 

 

9 x 12"

oil on panel

sold

I've said it many times on this blog - Wayne Thiebaud is an artist who has and still does greatly inspire me as a painter.

Here are the reasons I continue to admire and love Thiebaud. His work ethic, still, at the age of 100, is admirable.  He's a humble man despite being considered one of America's greatest living artists.  He is best known for what critics describe as an artistic appreciation for everyday objects - although he's been known to dispute that, describing his "humble goals to try and paint at any time any subject matter in any medium under the general heading 'people, places and things.'"  I told you he was humble.

Featured in my painting is Wayne Thiebaud's Pie Rows.  

Please click here for a larger view.

"Color is the New Black"

9 x 12"

oil on panel

sold

When it comes to really feeling the joy of a painting, top of my list is dogs.  Second is featuring any painting by Wayne Thiebaud.  He is a giant in my world.

Wayne Thiebaud has painted ordinary objects - wedges of pie, lipstick, sunglasses, neck ties, cupcakes, buckets of paint, gumball machines, shoes to name a few - for decades.  What sets him apart as a painter is he takes that subject, that thing, and injects life into it - with color.  Take one shoe you see in his painting Shoe Rows.  There is, approximately, no less than 10 colors of paint in that one shoe.  The edges vibrate. The devotion to every object and shadow is admirable.

And that's why this painting was pure joy to paint.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Unwrapped"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

My appreciation for the multitudes of colors in a fish.

"Purple Bell"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

I thought I'd take the day off of painting but that would mean cleaning the house. 

I did, however, take a break from painting people.  In fact, anything that required sketching out first. It's nice to just start painting freely.

My recent acquisition at the local farmer's market - a lovely, vividly-purple bell pepper.

"Prosciuttaloupe"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

What I think is a perfect summer lunch of cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto with cold, red grapes.  

"All Of Me"

12 x 4"

oil on panel
sold
 

I had one more long panel, perfect for my sardine.  I've painted the head, the tail and the head and now I get to do the whole fish.

I signed it lightly, underneath the fin on the bottom right so it can be displayed horizontal or upright, which looks cool too.

a closer view of the left half

a closer view of the right half 

"A Little Blue Cheese"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

Fish I won't eat.  Cheese I will.

"Cuttings"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

From where I sit and paint, I can see the one Dogwood tree that was here when I first bought my house fifteen years ago. It was the only tree in my back yard. Now it lives among Cherry trees, Crepe Myrtles, River Birches, Japanese Maples and a Lilac tree. It's happy.

"White Lily"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

From my afternoon of Zen, which included a quiet, comforting, rainy day.

"Color World"

3 x 11"
oil on masonite
sold

Happy Spring to you - although I have a great appreciation for the soft, grayish tones of winter, I found myself eager to place something colorful in front of me and play with my paints. I've been nothing short of brain-dead after finishing up 18 new pieces and getting them to the galleries - I've even done my spring cleaning, tax returns and whatever else I've neglected since November. Time to get back into the groove.

detail

This painting is a quick, painterly, cheerful portrait of the flower before me, sitting in my favorite POM glass.

"A Dose of Zen"

5 x 5"

oil on masonite
sold

Owning a business can be gratifying at times. And sometimes the weight of responsibility can suck the life out of you. A hefty repair bill was my dose of reality today, wondering how, in this age of operating at a bare-bones capacity, I'm going to pay for it. I've had better days. So I came straight home, made a pot of strong coffee and got lost in my paints. A dose of Zen.

"Morning Exercise"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite
sold

Before I forget to mention ..... I've finally found the best brand for white and black. I've never been thrilled with any of the many brands I've tried. Made by Daniel Smith Artist Materials, it's their Titanium White - the Ivory Black and the Lamp Black are great too. Thought I'd pass that along.

This new painting is a glimpse into my day. When I have my cup of coffee and my crossword puzzle, all is right with the world.

"Georgia Grown"

12 x 6-3/4
oil on masonite
sold

Tons of fun with this new piece - I don't do many still-lifes but thoroughly enjoy them. A keen observation from my boyfriend, speaking up that this pile of vegetables would make a good painting. Great vivid, bold color - a perfect subject for using oils. The arrangement includes Georgia grown vegetables I picked up at a local produce stand - Vidalia onions, red tomatoes and Silver Queen corn. This new painting will be included in the Contemporary Realism show at 16 Patton opening June 13th.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Soy Soak"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Back to painting and feeling a bit rusty after a week away from the brushes - I warmed up with this little still-life of California sushi rolls, soaking in soy sauce. Also the current challenge for other artists on my Different Strokes From Different Folks blog.

"Proof"

8 x 8"

oil on masonite
sold

Well, before I became a paintaholic I did a lot of gardening. My boots are proof. This subject is also the current challenge on my Different Strokes From Different Folks blog.

"Morning Zen"

8 x 10"
oil on masonite
sold

Painting a Buddha and hydrangeas is a pretty nice way to spend an afternoon. This grouping happens to be what I see when I wake up every morning - which is also a pretty nice way to start a day. I took a lackluster photograph of the Buddha and flowers, painted roughly 50% from the reference, then put it away and let intuition take care of the rest.

Also the current challenge on my Different Strokes From Different Folks blog - please enjoy many different versions of the same little arrangement.

Have a wonderful, peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.

"Three White Guys"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

I relish the appearance of pumpkins - it means summer is over. The end of my constant bitching about how hot it is. So here is my ode to autumn - three miniature, white pumpkins.




You must take a look at the 82 versions of Week 3's challenge on my Different Strokes From Different Folks Blog - I am stunned that so many artists are participating and I thank you all. The truth is we all need inspiration. And motivation. If you're interested in Week 4's challenge, the reference photo is here.

"Group Hug"

7 x 7"
oil on masonite
sold

A few of us in the Daily Paintworks group painted tomatoes today. I enjoyed it very much - a change of pace, subject matter... always a good thing. And using oils for what they are meant for - free-flowing color and brush strokes.

"Irises"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite

sold

This new painting was inspired by reading an article in the NY Times, that Iris Blue is the new, hip color, and........... I got some for Christmas. Surely signs to lead me to paint this timely I is for Irises piece. I had a lot of fun with the Van Gogh-like brush strokes, laying it on thick.