Floral Blues and Whites

5 x 7"
oil on panel
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I struggled with this a little, but I like some things about the way it turned out. The vase and pitcher have a solid presence on the panel, and there's some lusciously thick paint in spots - particularly the bottom right hand corner - that I like looking at.

New Video: November Paintings

A quick compilation of all the paintings I did last month. Those of you on the email list may need to click this link to view the video. Enjoy!

White Lilies and Irises

5 x 7"
oil on linen on panel
$50
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The splash of bright yellow on the petals of these Irises is so arresting to me. One of my earliest art teachers once had me draw an Iris just like these from her garden. I thought it was impossibly hard - but back then I mainly used colored pencil - no wonder I thought it was hard! (I still can't do anything with colored pencil twenty years later.)

Speaking of the past, here's a painting I did back in September (30 paintings ago) that I was reminded of while painting today. It's still available - here's a link to the original post, and purchase info.

Red Teapot, Blue Pitcher

6 x 6"
oil on panel
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Is anyone else thinking, "Superman?"

Teal Vase with Ornaments

6 x 8"
oil on canvas on panel
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It's been about a week and a half since I last painted, so I'm surprised that I like the way this turned out. It wasn't as much fun as it normally is, though - because instead of feeling like I was falling back into every day's familiar, comforting routine, I had to remember how to do it all over again. I was mixing my basic colors before starting to paint, and I thought, "Why does this feel wierd?" Then I realized that it was because I was standing up, when I am usually sitting down at that point. As David Darrow always says, in times of intimidation, you simply have to let yourself not be afraid to fail.

Green Stack

5 x 7"
oil on panel
this is a sold commission piece

Jewel Tones no. 2

8 x 10"
oil on panel
This is a sold commission piece

Another fun ornament painting, for a collector who wants to make a grouping of them on her wall. This one even includes several mini self portraits - my reflections in the ornaments!

Crescent Lake

6 x 6"
oil on panel
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I miss summer already! We weren't exactly warm on this vacation, as I recall - even though it was August, Crescent Lake is at 5,000 feet elevation, so the campfire was very welcome. I can't wait to go back next year.

Vanagon on High Street

6 x 8"
oil on canvas on panel
$50
$5 s/h

Eugene, Oregon has to be the world capital of VW buses. I enjoyed painting this crisp fall scene - especially the leaves in the street.

Cut Pomegranate

6 x 6"
oil on panel
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The background of this painting appears to be grey, but it's really a blend of reds, greens, and blues. I do actually have a tube of grey paint, but I mainly use it to tone down other colors, and not as a color in itself. Most of the greys in my paintings are mixed from complementary colors. In art school, professors often used the term "muddy" to describe paintings that had gotten beyond the student's control color-wise, with complements blending into each other on the canvas and giving everything a greyed-down feel. Frequent washing of brushes during painting, and using separate brushes for separate colors while painting were some suggestions for avoiding mud. However, there is a school of thought in painting that using the same brush for the entire piece helps achieve better color harmony - since a little of each color is present in all the rest. The moral of the story really is that there's no wrong way to paint - as long as you come out with a result that you like.

Rosy Outlook

5 x 7"
oil on panel
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I like to listen to NPR podcasts while I paint, and most of the news is grim these days. Even the weather is grim. But there are good things to look forward to, and lots to be grateful for, and I try not to forget it.

Persimmon with Green Ornaments

5 x 7"

oil on panel

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I think I'm entering pre-holiday freakout mode, in which I run around like a chicken with its head cut off, shedding scratched-over to-do lists as I go. And I'm not even hosting this year...

Christmas Persimmon

6 x 6"
oil on panel
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Persimmons

5 x 7"
oil on canvas on panel
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Just when I thought the yard was going to call it quits for the season, we get persimmons. I've never eaten one of these, and something about the rock-solid feeling of these particular ones is telling me that I'm not about to start. They're gorgeous, though. I kind of wish they were wax fruit so I could keep them around all winter.

Christmas Pomegranate

6 x 6"
oil on panel
Sold

It's been a good week. I've been getting a lot of positive feedback lately - thank you all (you know who you are) - and also I got an art supply shipment this morning, which always makes me feel like, um, well... a kid on christmas!

Pomegranate

6 x8"
oil on canvas on panel
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This pomegranate was given to me by a new local collector, who saw it and thought of my work. I enjoyed painting it - the colors are just gorgeous. Thanks again, Lana!

Windowsill

8 x 8"
oil on panel
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I was struggling to set up a still life this morning, when my eyes came to rest on this scene. After reflecting on the simple beauty of the sunlight streaming through the colored glass for a minute or so, I decided to scrap my more complicated setup and just paint what was in front of me.

Red Teapot and Pitcher

8 x 10"
oil on panel
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This one is a little larger than usual - and certainly a departure from yesterday's!

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I recently adjusted the painting below, from back in August. I liked it before, but it looked like the lemon was floating just above the dish instead of sitting in it. See the previous version here.

5 x 7"
oil on panel

Sold

Pocket Ornaments no. 2

3 x 3"
oil on canvas
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I've been getting reports back from happy customers about my Christmas cards from Cafe Press. The printing is said to be very good quality. If you're interested in checking them out, here's the link!

Ornamental

5 x 7"
oil on canvas on panel
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Jesse suggested this title. I took it literally, although I think he meant orna - mental (as in, I'm a mental case for painting so many ornaments.) Oh well. ;)

Bottles and Baubles

5 x 7"
oil on panel
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Because neither of the art stores in town carry Ampersand Gessobord, I decided to buy some Ampersand Claybord and experiment today. It's pretty difficult to paint on. In fact, I don't recommend it. Once this is dry and varnished, it will be as glossy and beautiful as an oil painting on any other surface, but this one was a bloody fight coming through. Guess I will click on over to one of my favorite online art supply retailers now....

Cool Tones

8 x 8"
oil on panel
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By cool, of course I mean the cool end of the color spectrum. But I think this painting came out looking pretty cool, too - in the other sense of the word.

I had the opportunity today to lay out a whole bunch of my paintings from the past few months, and I really noticed how I've been evolving - and improving. This blog is over 8 months old - this is painting #166. I've come a long way, and I look forward to having a long way to go.

Honey

4 x 4"
oil on panel
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Sugar Bowl

5 x 7"

oil on linen on panel
$50
click here to purchase

Blue Heaven

5 x 7"
oil on linen on panel
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There are many subtle differences between the various blues in this painting. I'm not sure they are all coming through - especially with the variations between computer monitors. Oh well - you'll have to take my word for it: they're subtle! Have a wonderful Halloween :).

Jewel Tones

6 x 6"
oil on panel
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There are lots of excellent holiday decorating color combinations beside red, green, and gold (though the classics are solid, in my opinion). These colors would look beautiful together on a wreath with some gold ribbon.

Rose, Silver, and Gold

6 x 6"
oil on panel
Sold

Red Tea

5 x 7"
oil on panel
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There's a lot of red and green in this blog lately. I guess my subconscious is getting in the holiday spirit, too. If your subconscious is feeling the Christmas vibe, check out my Christmas Cards! They're blank inside, so you can create your own subliminal messages...

Silver and Green

5 x 7"
oil on linen on panel
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A cold has been raging around our house this past week. It kept me in bed most of the weekend, but I'm finally going to get out and enjoy some of the fall sunshine.

Rose and Red Teapot

5 x 7"
oil on linen on panel
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This was my first time ever painting on linen. It is generally more expensive than canvas, and it offers a finer textured surface. Like any new medium, it's going to take some getting used to. I certainly slathered some lovely thick paint on this one.

In other goings on, I finally have a YouTube video of my paintings! Click here to check it out.

Christmas Rose

6 x 6"
oil on panel
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Have you seen an image here on my blog that you think would be great on a greeting card? Click here to see currently available cards, or email me with your ideas. Thanks!

One Red Rose

5 x 7"
oil on panel
$50
$5 s/h

This painting really has only two colors - red and green. Well, OK - there's a splash of purple under the fallen petal.

Peppers and Lanterns

5 x 7"
oil on panel
$50
$5 s/h

Christmas Ornaments - and a Pocket Painting

Jesse came into my studio today and remarked that these ornament paintings look a lot better in person than they do online, and I have to agree! 3 x 3" oil on canvas Sold

Hanukkah Balls - and a seasonal Pocket Painting

6 x 6"
oil on panel
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Looking for a unique way to decorate for Hanukkah this year? A fishbowl full of blue and silver ornaments of different sizes looks beautiful on a coffee table. This painting would look even better! Think this image would be perfect for your holiday cards this season? Email me for details.

I've seen a lot of great pumpkin paintings on the internet over the past week, and here is my own offering, pocket sized:

3 x 3"
oil on canvas
Sold

Christmas Tea

6 x 6"
oil on panel
Sold

For anyone who likes Christmas paintings, and is looking for something a little different to do for their holiday cards this year, consider clicking over to my new CafePress shop. If you see something there you like, but you want a different painting on a different card size, just email me and we can work it out.

Christmas in a Bottle

6 x 6"
oil on panel
Sold

I know, it's only mid-October, but look out: as soon as the election is over, it's going to BE the holidays! (So if you think you're annoyed by all the campaign ads now, just wait until the Christmas ads get started.)

Full City

6 x 8"
oil on canvas on panel
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Here is another street scene from Eugene. It also happens to be daily painting number 150! I've really been enjoying creating this blog, and learning a lot in the process - not to mention meeting fellow artists and making new friends.

Still Life with Chinese Lanterns

5 x 7"
oil on panel
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A slightly larger version of what I did yesterday. I had lots of fun with those brushy purple flowers.

Fall Colors

3 x 3"
oil on canvas

(on hold)

Campfire

6 x 8"
oil on canvas on panel
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Here is a sketch done from photos I took this summer at Crescent Lake. It was a beautiful night, with storm clouds moving off in the distance and blue light everywhere.

Chinese Lanterns

5 x 7"
oil on canvas on panel
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This plant, Physalis alkekengi, aka Chinese Lantern or Japanese Lantern is actually a real plant (as opposed to the bouquets of mini plastic pumpkins on sticks I've seen around lately), which I wouldn't have believed if I hadn't looked it up on the internet with my own two eyes. Very interesting, and fall-like.

Tea For One

4 x 4"
oil on panel
Sold

I am now selling greeting cards with my art on them! Click here to visit my Etsy shop and check them out.

Heirloom Tomato no. 4

6 x 6"
oil on panel
$50
$5 s/h

Happy Friday, everyone. Here is an enormous tomato.

Bowl of Apples

6 x 8"
oil on canvas on panel
$50
$5 s/h

I don't know if I have a drawing problem around the mouth of the pitcher or if the pitcher has a ceramics problem all it's own. Oh well, it's got character anyway.

Red Teapot

5 x 7"
oil on panel
Sold

It's supposed to start raining tonight, and who knows when it will stop. May? Time to run the teapots through the dishwasher and get ready for some hot drinks!

Fine Books

6 x 8"
oil on canvas on panel
Sold

A little slice of life from Eugene, Oregon.