the bartlett five II

I know, I know,this looks much like my last painting. I can't get enough of this crop of pears. The shapes and colors are so much fun. Each one has a different personality. A couple of them did not want to stand up. I had to lean them against a friend. I need to paint some other things today but these pears are really making that decision hard. How about pears and my favorite colorful bowls. No, I think there would be too much competition for the focal point.
This is painted on an 8 x 16" gallery wrap canvas.SOLD

the bartlett five

 

I usually like painting d'anjou pears but these bartletts were so beautiful. Bartletts are great in the Fall. And...I am happy to report that Fall has arrived in our area. Feels much better outside. Sorry for some of you other guys. We have had one heck of a hot summer so it is a welcome relief.
I am very pleased with the way these beauties turned out. Planning another composition today. I think I am also putting off plein air painting. Was going to try a bit but am so intimidated. I am doing a workshop with Tim Horn in a couple of weeks and really need to get a feel for plein air before I go. Maybe tommorow? Or the next day? Or maybe at the workshop.Definitely at the workshop.
This is painted on an 8 x 16" gallery wrap canvas.

where'd they go?

I just did not feel that the title of this painting should be "where did they go?" Maybe that is a Southern thing. I like to pick and choose when I abbreviate, run words together or just make up new words.

This was done on a 6 x 6" panel that was painted black. Karin Jurick style. Really fun to experiment with. This little girl was so cute. I edited her limbs out of one of my last paintings so I felt like I neded to make it up to her. $100.00 plus $10.00 shipping

onion stack

They are back. You knew I could ot stay away from my beloved bowls for long. I have tried out new bowls and they just don't have the same spark. I am so drawn to these bright colors. I guess I am just a one set of bowls woman. This is painted on an 11 x 14" linen canvas.$200.00 plus $10.00 shipping

testing the waters

 
Loved the girl's position in this piece. Her baby daughter was actually in front of her but mostly blocked from my view. Had to edit out a few small limbs. Fun piece to paint.
My twins are 23 today so this was a fun way for me to celebrate their wonderful gift to our family. $150.00 plus$10.00 shipping

earl grey

Struggled with this one a bit. Did not have much time to paint today so of course it did not come easy. So......
This is painted on a 5 x 7"canvas.

SOLD

red and green

 
Only time for something small today. This is painted on a 5 x 7" canvas.Sorry for the glare.

breezy

 
This is not exactly a daily painting. This might be considered a two daily painting. I painted this on a 20 x 30" gallery wrap canvas. Big for me. I always feel like I lose some of the character when I paint larger. I know I tightened up. I find myself sitting too close to the canvas . I see very well at a distance but am becoming far sighted. Trying to figure what works best.
This girl would have definitely turned heads on the beach. I have lots more beach pictures that I look forward to painting. NOT this large.

strike a pose

 
Just got back from a wonderful beach trip with a fellow artist and friend that I have not seen in twelve years. So much fun to reconnect with her and to share old and new stories. She is getting ready to start a blog so I will share her site with you when she does.
We had a great time taking pictures on the beach. We had some pretty great models to choose from. We kind of felt like paparazzi both taking pictures of people. No arrests were made. Trying to not be as timid taking photos. There was a nice layer of seaweed on the shoreline that might help explain the green. So excited about all the fun photos I got.

me first

 
I grew up in a family with four kids. The oldest three ,including me, were only a year and a half apart. We were often in competition for trivial things such as who got the front seat of the car, who got to sit in the comfortable chair in the den, or who had to sleep next to the window ( they would be the first victim) You did not really want to sleep by the closet either beacuse it was full of skeletons. I promise I really did have a very normal, loving childhood.
This painting of my baby brother's children reminded me of sibling rivalry. Caroline is two years younger than Andrew but she works very hard to keep up.
This is painted on an 8 x 16 canvas.

quiet time

 
This one has kind of a lonely feel so I kept the colors soft to help keep the mood. I bet she is smiling under all that hair.

new tea set

 
I got a new tea set that I love almost as much as my colorful bowls. And....I can stack the little cups. I will try not to be as obnoxious as I was about the bowls. You artists know it is so hard to think of new set ups for still lifes. So happy to find something new. I am 49 years young today so this was a great way to start my day!

pears on a plate

 
Just a little time to paint today so I set up my favorite fruit . Pears sre so beautiful and fun to paint.
Participated in an art show Saturday that had a few setbacks but over all was fun. I got to meet some great artists and others. My sister was with me the whole day and she was impressed by the comradery the artists had. I met some folks that I had talked to through blogs and that was so fun. What I have loved the most about blogging is the support and knowledge I have gained from others. Keeps me inspired! Thanks!

morning sun

Not too sure about this one but I don't have any more time to analyze today. This is a pretty busy painting. The rooster was in front of a corn field and there was lots of bouncing, early morning light. I find that my style changes up depending on what I am painting and the surface I am painting on. Painted this on a 6 x 6" gesso board. I hope there are consistancies in my work but not so sure.
Headed up to see my sister's family and participate in an art show tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

SOLD

seriously?

 
I have been busy preparing for my Saturday show so this is another of the 4 x 4" rooster heads that I painted Tuesday. The white ones make me laugh. ( or at least this one does.)

fluffed up

 
Painted this 4 x 4" gallery wrap yesterday. It was officially rooster day for me because I painted six small rooster paintings. Mostly just the heads. I don't think there is anything that is more fun to paint. I love the bright colors. These roosters lived where I am participating in a show this Saturday.
Hope to paint some today but need to get ready and packed for the show. I lost a day this week due to Labor day. Keep thinking today is Tuesday.

fierce

Fun to paint on a small format. May do a few more of these 4 x 4"'s today. Great to complete something in a shorter space of time. I am getting ready for an art show this Saturday in Athens, Alabama.

SOLD

vidalias and peppers

Have not had a lot of time to paint the last couple of days because my boys have been home. Wonderful distraction. Painted this set up late yesterday. I enjoy painting on elongated canvases. I think it makes the composition more fun. this is painted on a 6 x 12" canvas.

SOLD

tucker

I was flipping through my photos yesterday and found this one of my dog Tucker. Tucker has been at summer camp with my parents in North Carolina for most of the summer. He is my dog but my parents enjoy him so much that I share him. He loves lying on their porch in NC that overlooks a walking path around a lake. He is not a barker but now and then when he sees a dog he thinks he can take he will make a low growl. Not loud enough for the dog to hear mind you. He does not even lift his head off the porch to growl at the dog. T hat takes too much energy. Anyway... Tucker and my parents are coming home in a couple of days so I am very excited to get him back and see his grandparents.
Painted this on a 6 x6" cradled gesso board.

SOLD

dancing feet

 
What a fun time I had painting this. I hope this makes you smile as much as it makes me. I am pleased that I kept this as loose as I did. I could have thought of twenty titles for this piece. Decided on "dancing feet". I like the body posture and action portrayed. I feel like the colors around the couples feet accentuate the movement. It had rained the day I took this photo.( A friend of mine,"the rainmaker" was along. She has hampered many of our trips together.) The reflections stemmed from the wet pavement.
This is painted on an 8 x 10" gallery wrap canvas.

wading

 
I warned you I had more pictures. This was my second attempt at using a black primed gesso board. I won't say it was easy. I struggled through lots of it but am pleased with the outcome. This is painted on a 5 x 7" panel. I have lots to learn. Isn't that great?

apple and strawberries

 
I edited my work today by eating part of the set up. I had the intention of including a slice of cantelope but decided to eat it to help simplify the painting. It tasted good and I think it works better in my stomach than in this painting. Painted this on a 5 x 7" linen canvas.