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Friday, January 29, 2010

#74 "Can She Bake a Cherry Pie....", oil, 14"x11"


We painted at Joanne's studio yesterday. She had made this luscious cherry-licious set up. We had a very short time to paint (about 3 1/2 hours including setting up, cleaning up and a lunch break) and since it is in my nature to paint all prima (all in one go, wet into wet), I put this cherry pie on the canvas board very quickly. It tells me that I am gaining some confidence with oil paints. In a couple of days I will leave for Mexico for 3 weeks. Since I am in a bit of a flow with these oil paintings I sort of hate to break my stride. But. Hey. Sunshine, sea breezes, swimming pool. I think it will be okay. I won't be taking oil paints with me, but will take watercolors. If I do any painting I will stay with my food theme and.....I'll post it. The Ray for the Day is "Can She Bake a Cherry Pie.....".
SOLD

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

#73 "Silver Tea" oil, 14" x 11"


The second day of our workshop Pam started out by showing a video of Sergei Bongardt talking and painting. The artist spoke so clearly from his heart that the video was very moving. I felt inspired by his talk and by his work. My painting this day feels looser and juicier that the one the day before. This is my goal.....loosy and juicy. I was worried that all that lavender would make the painting too sweet. I think I avoided that. The Ray for the Day is "Silver Tea".
SOLD

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

#72 "Morning Reflection", oil, 14"x11"


What a wonderful weekend we had! An old friend from grad school loaned us his house on Vashon for the oil painting workshop while he is in Ecuador. Barbara Barry, Joanne Shellan and I had a cozy time in his sweet home, talking art and life, when we were not at the Barn Works Studio painting with our teacher Pam Ingalls. Pam turned out to be charming, extremely well organized, and very generous. We worked hard, learned a lot and went home exhausted and turned on. The four stages of an oil painting plus value and temperature are the lessons I hope to hold onto. We had delicious dinners at the Hardware Store Restaurant (where Pam Ingalls had a large show, so we feasted on her paintings as well as the food), great lunches from the Thriftway, a glass of wine here and there and very satisfying painting, learning, and woman time. As I dropped each woman off at her home with her gear and new paintings I felt a little sadness at the dissolving of our life and work together. The Ray for the Day is "Morning Reflection".

Monday, January 25, 2010

#71 "A Slice of Life", oil, 16"x12"


Tulips in the store herald the possibility of Spring, and oranges make me think of sunshine. I made this set up for our painting session at my studio last Thursday. I am happy to be painting on a regular basis again, even though it is once a week. Since this painting I have been to a weekend workshop and have learned some more great stuff about oil painting. Those will be posted in the next couple of days. The Ray for the Day is "A Slice of Life".

Friday, January 15, 2010

#70 "Eggs on My Brain" , oil, 9"x14"


So yesterday we painted at Joanne's studio. We just weren't finished painting eggs. This time we wanted raw eggs and broken shells. This is a small painting, only 9"x14". It appears to be a very simple little painting, but took as long as larger, more complicated ones. How can that be? Every painting seems to have a very fresh, fun beginning, then a kind of chaotic middle and then the finish which involves pulling it all together. Each stage has it's own joys and frustrations. Pulling it all together sometimes seems like magic.....to make a bunch of colored shapes look like raw eggs and eggshells. How does that happen? I really couldn't exactly tell you. I wonder how we will have our eggs next week. Scrambled? The Ray for the Day is "Eggs on My Brain".
SOLD

Thursday, January 7, 2010

#69 "Fried Eggs", oil, 20" x 16"


Well, it looks like food is the subject matter that compels me at this time. Perhaps after my Holiday eating it will be better to paint food for awhile rather than be eating it! Joanne and I painted today at my studio. Two Tartes Bakery called yesterday and asked me to do a show there this year. Synchronistically (funny how often than works) my new food series will fit in there very nicely. I can't wait to go photograph their pastry case and others I can think of too. The Ray for the Day is "Fried Eggs".