The Life of an Artist
5 x 7"
My mom has been coming over after work a few times a week to watch Eleanor while I paint. This arrangement seems to suit everyone just fine - Eleanor loves it, my mom loves hanging with her granddaughter, and it's good for me to be back in the studio, even for just a couple hours a day. Thanks, mom - oh, and thanks for the asparagus, too!
6 x 6"
When painting an avocado from life, you really have to work fast or those lovely bright yellows start to fade more toward yellow ocher, and worse. Rubbing lemon juice on the avocado will stop that from happening, but for once, I didn't have any lemons around. Which is probably why this avocado got painted in the first place! Go figure.
5 x 7"
This green vase was actually the first member of my colored-glass still-life-object collection. I have a bookshelf in my studio, and since, after three moves in the past three years, I hardly have any books left - most of it is taken up with painting 'props'. Someday I'll post a picture of the menagerie.
6 x 6"
I finally made it to my local "fancy" grocery store on Friday, to stock up on various pantry staples from their amazing bulk foods section. When I stumbled across a bin of these beauties, I knew I had to bring some home. Don't know what they taste like yet, but I'll probably find out after another painting or two!
8 x 10"
Wine touring and tasting are a big thing in the Willamette valley. There are at least half a dozen really good wineries within a (totally scenic) half hour's drive of our house, and we try to take advantage of it as often as possible. For Christmas, Jesse got me a club membership to my favorite local winery, Silvan Ridge. These are two of the bottles from our first shipment.
It's been a while since I painted on a smooth gessoed panel, and not on canvas. I've gotten really comfortable with canvas over the past year, but there's nothing like an ultra-smooth surface for capturing the texture of glass and metal objects.
8 x 10"
This pink is getting me in a Valentine's day mood! Bring on February. As my mom recently reminded me, we start getting daffodils here next month, so - something to look forward to, painting-wise! I don't have any daffodils in my yard, so I will probably be relying on donations, but there shouldn't be any shortage. Hey, it's for a good cause!
8 x 10"
Most of my paintings over the past year have been done using the wall of my studio as the background for the still life. Consequently, many of them have a greyish cast. In the future, I'm going to be using some different colored backgrounds, just to spice things up a bit!
First of all, I'd like to wish everyone reading this a very belated Happy New Year! Welcome back to my studio blog. My lovely daughter Eleanor is now closing in on six months old, and we are absolutely delighted to have her in our lives.
Eleanor Ilse Sedwick, born August 4th, 2009
11 x 14"
Here's a picture Jesse took of me painting this morning:
8 x 8"
Daily painting no. 250! It's taken me about a year and a half to get to this point. It's been a lot of fun.
5 x 7"
I spent this week working on a commission, and trying to get lots of rest. Also, drinking lots of this tea! It's Raspberry Leaf, good for women's systems - and I need all my systems right now, more than ever!
6 x 6"
8 x 8"
Only have two and a half weeks left until the baby's due date. I really didn't think I'd still feel like painting at this point, but aside from wanting an afternoon nap every day, I feel much the same as I have all throughout the pregnancy. Which is good! Now I'm going to go find some wood to knock on. Have a great weekend, all!
6 x 6"
4 x 4"
4 x 4"
5 x 7"
6 x 8"
5 x 7"
5 x 7"
8 x 8"
