The Green Teapot, and a chance to watch me paint it - live!

 "The Green Teapot"

10 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

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As an artist, I don't often feel that I'm in a "helping" profession. Yes, the arts benefit society hugely, and I'm proud to be a part of that. And yes, when I'm teaching painting, it's incredibly rewarding to be able to pass on my experience to my students. Donating my work to charitable organizations is a different kind of difference-making. I'll never be a social worker, but I truly know how important social work is to my community. So! This Thursday, I'll be participating in a great benefit for Sheltercare, here in Eugene.

I say it's a great benefit, because it really is - it's at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on the U of O campus, there's live music, great food, a silent auction of local art, and this year, my talented friend Heather and I will be making art, live, during the event. AND our paintings will be part of the raffle - along with our subject, this lovely green teapot.

So, today's painting was just a warmup, you could say!

Click on the image above for more info about the event - and click here to read an interview with yours truly, on the Sheltercare blog!

"Blue Light"

 "Blue Light"

12 x 24 inches, oil on canvas

Available here

A new painting, large-scale for me. Painted from life, before the flowers got too wilty! Hint: always paint the flowers first.

Also, when you're painting anything painted on anything else - the design on this vase, the lettering on this bowl, and yes, even tattoos on human skin - paint the form first. Below, you can see I painted the vase, rounded in space (minus the highlights from the spotlight), before adding the blue design. I didn't wait for the paint to dry before adding the blue, though that's sometimes helpful.

You can see a 30 second time-lapse video of the underpainting for this piece on Facebook.

I'm a Purple Person

 

"Garlic on a Purple Plate"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

$350

click to buy

Friday was a good day. It started off with a misty 6 mile run with Gabriella, then I hit up the thrift store for some new still life props and fabrics (also scored two cute cocktail dresses, in case anyone's thinking of inviting me to a fancy shindig....*hint hint*). In the evening I headed to The Gallery at the Watershed for some live painting - and wine.

Both of which are in evidence here:

 I really love painting with others - not so much in front of a hushed audience, but in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. I'm thinking of hiring myself out for parties. Better than a mime! I'll just stand in the corner and paint. It's not the wildest party idea I've come across lately....

"Morning Coffee with Iris" still life oil painting floral

 

6 x 6" 

oil on canvas

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Well, it's the end of the weekend, and I'm tired out - but I do feel like I fit a lot in! Running, painting, family time, friend time, book club - wow, I didn't even realize how much I really did until now. And it's not over yet. Jesse is off tomorrow, and we're heading to the big city to take our little one to the zoo!

"The Checkerboard Table" *Revised*

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

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I adjusted the flowers to look a bit more natural in the vase. Above is the revised version, below is the original. What do you think?

 

I rescued this funky table from Gabriella's tree lawn after her last studio move. I thought, what the hell, I might want to paint it someday.... and finally, a year later, that day has come! Here is her interpretation.

"Irises on a Low Table" still life floral interior scene fine art oil painting daily

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

(on hold) 

I had a really hard time getting started this morning. One of the best - and most difficult - things about painting still life is the incredibly wide range of possible subjects. Decision-making can really hold up the process! After several false starts, I took a giant step back from my setup, and the wider view helped me settle down to paint. See a work-in-progress shot here.

"Iris Bouquet in a Pint Glass" floral flower art oil painting purple still life $100 ebay auction

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

$200

Available through The Gallery at the Watershed

I have a lot of paintings in my Etsy shop - some of them are two years old or more! But as I often remind myself, they all find their owners eventually. Recently a particular favorite of mine, which had been hanging around the studio for quite a while, sold to a very wonderful and enthusiastic patron. The next day someone else contacted me about buying it! I've resolved to do a series of Iris paintings this summer, in the hopes that my disappointed buyer can find another Sedwick original to love.