"Lamb Chops" Meat painting still life oil on canvas food kitchen art

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

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I have to give a huge tip of the hat to an artist I discovered this week while researching meat painters: Scott Conary. I am really blown away by his work, and I think you will be too!

"Steak and Eggs" meat painting still life beef food kitchen art

 8 x 10"

oil on canvas

$125

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It's my honor to set the challenge this week for the artists of DPW, and here's my choice: raw meat! It's really no wonder - being on the Paleo Diet now, our fridge is jammed with it! Now that I've begun, I think I'll be doing a few more meat paintings - you know, just to get it out of my system.

"Arrangement in Yellow and Green" still life oil painting food vegetable fruit kitchen art

 

11 x 14"

oil on canvas

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I liked painting this spaghetti squash so much the other day that I  launched right into a second, bigger version. Luckily I had rubbed the cut apple with lemon - it wasn't even brown by the next morning!

"Nude with Silver Rings" female figure painting portrait art oil on canvas

 

16 x 20"

oil on canvas

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This is how I spent Valentine's evening, and it was time well spent, although some in my figure painting group (who shall remain nameless) chose to spend it with their sweeties. If my husband had any thoughts of objecting, well, they were forgotten when he saw what I brought home!

"Pepper Boat" fruit vegetable food kitchen art painting still life

 

6 x 8"

oil on canvas

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If these peppers are in a boat, then the others must be swimming - or else they've been decapitated by sharks...it's macabre, but it's coming to mind because I saw that very scene in a children's Lego diorama at the library today. A man getting his head bitten off by a shark.

 

"Gourd on Pink" still life oil painting pumpkin squash melon vegetable kitchen art - one dollar auction!

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

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Here is my demo from class this morning. There's something about teaching that just puts me in a good mood! I'd like to remind you that all email and Facebook subscribers are automatically entered to win the painting in the right hand sidebar - so, tell your friends! The prize will be drawn during the first week of March.

"Spaghetti Squash" kitchen decor food art vegetable oil painting still life

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

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I really like this one. I've been looking at a variation of this arrangement on my kitchen counter all week, and it's been saying "paint me!" very softly. Who says it's bad to hear voices in your head?

"Hats Optional" food kitchen vegetable pepper art oil painting still life

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

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Wow. I'm pretty tired right now, and having trouble thinking of something to say about this painting! I think I need to go look at something on the other end of the spectrum for a while.  :)

"Blue Egg" - kitchen art food still life oil painting

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

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I tried again with this egg last night, not wanting to waste it, you know, since I already cracked it open. I love the greens that happened in the egg-white.

"Breakfast Egg" kitchen art food painting still life oil on canvas

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

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This has become a familiar sight around my house lately! Jesse and I have been trying out the Paleo diet for about a week now, and we have eaten a lot of eggs. I'm not complaining, but I am starting to wonder what I'll do when I just cannot possibly handle eating any more of them!

"Orange Tulips" spring floral oil painting flower still life and a BLOG GIVEAWAY!

 

5 x 7"

oil on canvas

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My still life painting workshop started this morning. It's a great group, and I really had a good time painting with them. That, combined with this incredibly unseasonable weather have me in the mood to give something away! (the painting at right, that is). To enter, subscribe via email or "Like" me on Facebook. Extra entries if you do both! (Already subscribed? You're automatically entered.)

"Peppers and Onions" vegetable food kitchen decor oil painting still life

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

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I was literally hurrying to finish this painting because I couldn't wait to cook these up for dinner last night! They were delicious.

"Preserve Us!" vegetable pepper oil painting kitchen decor

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

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Sorry for the long absence! We were in Mexico with Ellie's grandparents all last week. I am happy to report that I did nothing but laze by the pool, and think not at all about real life! I went to figure painting night soon after getting home, hoping to ease back into the groove - and while I got plenty warmed up, I ended up wiping the painting I did! I try to think of it not as a waste of paint, but as a learning experience....

"White Shoulders" - portrait painting nude figure painting oil on canvas

 

14 x 18"

oil on canvas

$400

White Shoulders is a famous perfume from the 40's. I always see it mentioned in novels, but I've never actually smelled the stuff. This painting has a kind of old-fashioned feeling to me - for one thing, I made the model look about 20 years older than she is, and the hairstyle also looks outdated, even though what I didn't include in the composition was the riot of dreadlocks exploding from the crown of her head!

Cocktail Cherries - still life oil painting fruit

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas 

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As part of celebrating my blog's 4th birthday, I'm thinking of going back and revisiting some of my earliest daily painting subjects. Maraschino cherries were among them.

Cow Skull and Orange

 12 x 12"

oil on canvas

purchase

The colors I used to paint the skull are much cooler than what I thought I'd use going in. Most are actually blues and greens. You can sort of see that in the work-in-progress shot below. I also tried to use really thick paint and a big brush. Since I tend to do almost all my painting with a really small, round brush, this was a good change.

Navel Oranges and Lemons

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

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Ta Dah! My 500th daily painting. In about a month, this blog will be 4 years old, so I'm awarding myself an honorary degree in art-bloggery, no cap and gown required. No beret and gown, either, which is what I wore when I got my *real* degree!

Cow Skull with Blush Roses

 

11 x 14"

oil on canvas
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There's still time to register for my Still Life painting workshop, Mondays in February. Come paint with me! Info here.

Mona Lisa Smile - female nude figure painting

 

14 x 18"

oil on canvas

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I was so happy to get back to figure painting after the winter break. This model always has just the hint of a smile on her face - you can tell she's thinking happy thoughts even if her shoulder hurts! Here's a behind the scenes shot - "Like" me while you're over there to get all my FB updates.

Apples and Oranges

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

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My two-year-old daughter is starting preschool tomorrow. It will only be a couple days a week, but I'm looking forward to some regular studio time, more daily paintings, and hopefully some larger work! I'll definitely be getting my animal-skull collection out of the closet - how's that for a teaser?

Rose and Chocolates

 

6 x 6"

oil on panel

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Valentine's Day M&M's: nothing but pink, white, and red in the whole bag!

Blush Rose Bouquet

 

6 x 8"

oil on canvas

$75

In case you've not been over there, my facebook page has some work-in-progress and studio shots that I don't get a chance to post on this blog. There are occasionally also some behind-the-scenes pictures from figure painting night!

Lemon Bowl with Knife

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

purchase

The first painting of the year! It felt SO good to be back in the studio last night after weeks away. I even managed to do some cleaning and organizing before I got started. My goals for the new year, art-wise, are still pretty vague. Goal number one: write down a list of goals. Go!

Channelling Degas

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

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Well, December totally got away from me, and I'm sure many of you can relate! I had a great year - 111 daily paintings, and 28 figure paintings by my (certainly inaccurate) estimation. Thanks for your support and friendship, and best wishes to all for a productive, creative 2012!

Pomegranate by Candlelight

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

natural maple frame

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Here's another painting that just came home from a show, made last year around this time. I've been having a lovely family visit this week, with no time in the studio, but I just wanted to check in and say hi to all of you.

Orange Bowl with Pear

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

purchase

Here's another gem from my growing pottery collection. I've been intimidated to paint these lovely glazes in the past, but, like almost everything else I've ever been intimidated to paint, it was unexpectedly fun.

Winter Bounty

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

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This setup was so gorgeous to me the other day that I had to have another go at it. I'm finding this bowl by Ted Ernst, which I picked up at Clayfest this fall, really inspiring - the color and texture.

In case you haven't peeked into my Etsy shop in a while, I'm offering 10% off all orders through the end of the year, and throwing in a free holiday art card! The coupon code is HOLIDAY2011.

Cross-Legged Nude

 

14 x 18"

oil on canvas

$300

purchase

One of my favorite figure painters is unquestionably Alice Neel. Her influence on me can be seen here in the treatment of the legs. Of course, I only noticed this after I finished the painting, brought it home, and stuck it up on the wall to look at. It wasn't something I was consciously trying to do at the time.