Eggplant Study: Day 3

Day 3 of the challenge and the first day of my new "beginning oil painters class. I love new classes: I can't wait to see the progress of the group (and sometimes, I gain some amazing painting buddies)

The challenge in this painting for me was to paint the "shine" and all the beautiful colors especially the beautiful purple against the lime green stems.


You can see all day 3 challenge paintings here

Turnips: Study

Turnip Study: oil on board/ 8 x 10

Day 2 of the 30 day challenge and another personal favorite. I love the warmth and the texture of this painting. Again, this was painted over another painting so some of the underpainting peeks through and adds to the feeling of warmth.

See everyone else's paintings here

Avacado Study

Avacado Study/ oil on gesso board/ 8 x 8 

Today is day 1 of the Thirty Paintings in Thirty Day Challenge hosted by Leslie Saeta (link). As soon as I compose this post, I will see whether I was successful in signing up last week...
To start with, on this challenge I will paint 8 x 8 or 8 x 10 (maybe 9 x 12), quick studies to keep my prices (for this month challenge only) attractive... Most of my subjects will be familiar to me (so I can complete them quickly). I practice with a slice of cantaloupe and some leks and they are part of this series..
In this painting I set three challenges (in addition to the ones above):
1. colour: bright and vibrant (you do know that I am Canadian by birth ( and correct spelling)
2. Clear depiction of ""In and out"
3. interesting design...

Leeks: A Study for the 30 in 30

Leeks/ oil on board/ 8 x 10/ 

This is a new favorite painting of mine.
Technically, it is interesting because I took a failed painting, flipped it upside down and then painted this on top. This was fantastic. First, I LOVE the red undertones from the previous painting and I ended up "digging" a few out. Second, because I had to paint over a bowl of fruit, I was forced to use the thickness of paint that I really want to use every painting (and don't).
Lastly, I love the green and white of leeks and green onions and this one makes me smile because I went to the grocery store to buy either (the clerks seem to have grown accustomed to me "modeling the produce": standing each pear up before making a selection, chasing the tumbling pile of turnips across the floor when I have to checkout the bottom one for its color and shape). This day, however, the clerk checking me out remarked "man, those are some "big ass onions"..... I wanted that to be the title of this painting (and it is in my mind). 

This painting is another test for the September 30 in 30 challenge. If I sign up for this challenge  I want to paint 8 x 8 or 8 x 10 paintings: each painted quickly to allow for a little lower price than my paintings that take more time: so the subjects have to be familiar and simple to do this. Still not committed.....

Cantaloupe Sketch

I am considering joining Leslie Saeta's Thirty in Thirty Challenge which begins September 1st. My "theme" might be 8 x 8 size kitchen objects.  This is a sketch to "think about it".

Riding on a Gondola Sketch

Riding on a Gondola/ oil on paper on board/ 6 x 6 $125
Purchase here

This is a small painting on oil paper. I love how this surface allows texture by scraping: smoother than canvas but not as slick as gesso board.
I also love this image, taken with my sister and her family riding on a gondola.

Rose Arches

Rose Arches/ oil on paper/ approx 9 x 12

Maria Hock Bennett (link) and I are planning a few days of plein aire painting. Neither of us have experience doing this, but we have it on good advise that this is the way to experience color and light (even of our paintings are merely exercises). In preparation for this, I am working on painting from photographs like this one from Italy with flower arches across a walkway. I am working on the colors, brushes and supplies that I want to carry. We start tomorrow. Can't wait!