Scotch

 

 "Scotch"

10 x 10 inches, oil on panel

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It's hard to believe, but I've never painted shoes - at least ones that weren't on feet - in my life before this week! There's always something new to explore.

 

Green Onions on Blue - And Thoughts on Using Black Paint

 

"Green Onions on Blue" 

10 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

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 Here's are the colors I used for this painting. You'll notice that I have black in there - in fact, I almost always have black on my palette. Rather than using it to paint black things, or to darken other colors, I treat it like a blue - a very dark, desaturated blue. Usually, I mix dark greens with it. 

 

I also used it to whip up that little preliminary value study, right in my sketchbook. Ten minutes of planning makes a huge difference in the finished product - oil sketches are a practice I highly recommend!

Black is the New Blue

 

 "Pink, Purple, and Red"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

$150

Click to buy

Here is my demo from last weekend's "Mindful Mixing" workshop. I painted it with - you guessed it - Yet another limited palette! This time I picked Azo yellow (a lemon-type yellow), Alizarin crimson, and Ivory black. For those of you not familiar with my limited palette technique - that's a color to stand in for each of the three primaries: yellow, red, and blue. In this case, black is the blue.

Here's another demo, using the same palette. My "Stroke Economy" exercise: 25 brushstrokes to paint a pomegranate, this time. Always fun, and kind of scary! Did I say scary? I meant - um, challenging.

And here is some student work. Another amazing group - I was really impressed!

Want to get back into painting in 2016, or make the switch from water media to oils? My next workshop is for you! Intro to Oil Painting, January 9-10, here in Eugene. Info and registration here.

Good News Comes Early

 "Calla Lilies on Black"

8 x 6 inches, oil on canvas
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I was lying in bed this morning - before 7 am - just texting with my Gallerist (because that's totally normal), when she dropped the extremely excellent bomb that my scheduled show-slot this year had just become a SOLO show.

This news is especially excellent because the opening is December 13th. 

But just because I have six months to prepare doesn't mean the work doesn't begin today. And it also means that you all need to be opening Orbitz in a new tab and seeing about getting some plane tickets! Oregon in December. Pack your raincoats.

Dark and Snowy

"Snowballs on Black"

approx. 5.5 x 4 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

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I love these Snowball bushes. Too bad the deer that (over)populate my neighborhood love them, too. My husband put a little fence up around the baby I planted last year, but it's been too munched on already to provide any blooms this year. Luckily, my neighbors have a lovely, lush specimen that leans oh-so-conveniently over their deer fence right into my back yard. Another piece of luck - they last forever in a vase! Who knew?

Here's an example of how this painting-on-paper might look matted and framed: 

Love these snowballs as much as I do? My first painting of them - another one-dollar auction - ends this evening! Check it out here.

"Apple Season" still life daily painting fruit kitchen art red

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

Framed, $300

email me to purchase

There's nothing wrong with some warm Summer sunshine, but Fall is my favorite season. Apple picking (or picking them up really cheap at the store), apple cider, apple pie, and apple paintings....

Pumpkins, too. Halloween, people!

"Still Life with Cut Lemon and Houseplant" floral fruit food botanical art painting original oil on canvas

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

$100

purchase from my Etsy shop

I wanted to call this one "Cut Flowers Hate Houseplants (root envy)," but I restrained myself. What famous artist said it takes two to make a painting - one to paint it and another to kill her before she names it something stupid? I think I've got that quote wrong, anyway...

This little plant, for those who may be curious, is a Peperomia Jayde. It's taking a vacation from its normal abode on my kitchen windowsill to spend some time in the studio. Jayde isn't the only one on vacation - I'm off for a week of visiting family and friends in the Motherland Midwest. See you when I get back!

"Blue Jeans and Converse" nude male african american figure art painting portrait original oil on canvas

 

11 x 14"

oil on canvas

$250

purchase

This painting took a little less than three hours, but I was very warmed up from working in the studio (on a wiper, but whatever) all day. You can see a picture with the model in the background, and some WIP's here. 

"Bouquet on Black" floral still life daily painting of flowers in a pitcher

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

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I love the challenge of simplifying a big, complicated bouquet of flowers into something that can come across on a small canvas.