Winter Green

I'm experimenting a little with a different way of approaching the background; a little looser and softer.  I'm so familiar with this scene that it invites me to get out of my comfort zone.

Oil on linen.  7 x 5

Apple and Glass

 I painted away from home today, with a group. Maybe I don't paint well with others, maybe I just need more practice.  Maybe when this year is up I should do a bottle a day painting blog.  Oh well, off to clean my brushes!!

Oil on linen.  7 x 5.

Vase and Flower Pot

I'll go back and finish this one.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Frozen Pond 3

 I'm just having fun, not worrying too much about details.  Also, I went back to my old palette of colors.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Frozen Pond 2

I'm trying colors I hardly use.  A cooler palette, did not put my "regulars" out today.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Frozen Pond 1

Not entirely frozen yet, but almost there.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Little Green Apples

This was done very quickly, I didn't want to get caught up in the details.


Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Stormy Skies

I saw this picture in a book and just had to paint that sky.

Oil on linen.  7 x 5

Drapery Study 2

Oil on linen.  7 x 5

Drapery Study

Since I'm working on one at a larger scale, I've been thinking a lot about fabrics and drapery.  I guess I'm a little obsessed.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Seashell and Roses

One of the things I love about doing one painting a day is that I always  learn something new.  It could be a fact about the materials, the colors or composition, but that "Aha! moment" happens every time.  It doesn't matter if the painting itself is successful, many times it's not.  Many times, I know.  It's all about the lesson.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Morning Sky 2

A favorite theme of mine is the early morning sky and its reflection on the water.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Wednesday's Child

Self portraits are a must to learn the craft.  I've said it once before, no matter how big the canvas, my face never fits.

Oil on linen.  8 x 10

Glass Berries

I have these interesting little glass berries and I thought they would make a nice, interesting little painting.

Oil on canvas.  4 x 4

Quick Shells

I want to became as comfortable painting a seashell as I am painting an apple or a tomato.  This is a great exercise for that purpose.  I think a rectangular format would work better, next time.


Oil on canvas. 8 x 8

Roses with Seashell

One more time, different lighting; it didn't get any easier.

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Seashell with Roses

oil on linen.  6 x 6

Seashell 2

I felt that yesterday's seashell needed a little more room.


Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Seashell

On this cold morning, I chose to paint something that reminds me of summer.  I did not want a fancy seashell from some exotic island; I wanted one from the "Jersey Shore" that I found myself.
I dedicate this painting to all my friends who miss summer as much as I do.  How many days until Memorial Day??

Oil on canvas. 5 x 5

Bouquet of Trees, Winter.

I painted these trees on April 19th, when it was spring and forsythias were in bloom behind them.  This is how I see them in the winter, before the snow.  Hibernating, like gentle, peaceful giants.

Oil on canvas.  6 x 9

Midnight Roses

I know, is not technically midnight.
I was working on a larger painting all day and had not done my "daily". I decided to take some roses and  put them in front of a window.  The result is something very different from what I usually paint.  It's good to get out of the comfort zone, at least once a year.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Nature Studies: Geese

I'm doing quick studies of "wildlife', even though calling Canadian Geese wildlife does not seem accurate since they're everywhere.  Anyway, I feel I should do more of these, and I will.  I'm not expecting masterpieces or even finished pieces.

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Pink Gerbers

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Bowl of Oranges

I found my inspiration today by admiring the paintings of Joaquin Sorolla (1863-1923) at the Hispanic Society Museum in New York City.  His paintings are full of energy and self assurance.  His colors are clean and vibrant.  The size of them is truly imposing.  Just to think that he created all that beauty with the same painting tools that I use every day.
About the craft, I have been warned about painting cut glass, obviously, I did not listen.  I enjoyed painting this and I love the way that the orange in the front steals the show.

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Rain

Some people like to walk in the rain, others like to sing in the rain, I like to paint in the rain.  Maybe I can't make that claim because I'm under a roof, but the sentiment is the same.


Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Beach Sketches: #9, Winter

It was cold and windy, but so beautiful.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Presbyterian Church

Oil on linen. 7 x 5

Pears

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Cup with Lemon

Oil on canvas.  4 x 4

Wednesday's Painting..

Is full of woe..
This morning as I decided to put some of the homes in the landscape.  They are a part of the place and I don't want to ignore them or pretend that they are not there.  This is new to me and like everything else, it'll take patience and lots of practice.  I didn't really finished this work, I kind of abandoned it.  I feel that whatever else I do to it will not contribute, therefore, I'll move on.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Pears and Stripes

Naming these paintings is half the fun.
I'm staying with the same elements to explore different angles and ways to present them.

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

2 Pears

It was all about the shadow.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Kiwi on Red Plate

I thought I push the colors a little more today.

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Kiwies

I'll be the first one to admit that putting a green kiwi on a yellow plate over an orange cloth might be a bit much, maybe.  But, it is in these daily paintings that I get to try different things. It's all about exploring and having fun, learning and getting out of my comfort zone.  I'm happy with the finished product.
Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Cloud Study # 4

Clouds move very fast on a windy morning. I painted this around 7:30;  it was a little difficult to capture the formations, but well worth the trouble.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Tomato with Cucumbers

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Green Bottle

Oil on linen.  7 x 5

Tomatoes

Would I paint tomatoes so often if they weren't red?  I don't think so.

Oil on canvas.  6 x 6

Early Morning 2

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Tomatoes with Bottle

Oil on canvas.  4 x 6

More Mums

Oil on linen.  9 x 12

Apple with Leaf

I love finding an apple with its leaf still attached.
I moved things around in my studio and the light is not too great in the evening, I'm not sure that the colors are to my liking.  I guess I'll know tomorrow morning.

Oil on canvas.  5 x 5

Mums by the Window

The light changes very fast, no time for details.

Oil on linen.  7 x 5

Syphon and Sunflowers

I didn't know what to paint on this dark and dreary morning, so I chose something bright and cheerful.  Maybe a little too ambitious for a quick painting.

Oil on linen.  7 x 5

The Art of my Fruit

Not too much time to paint this morning.

Oil on linen.  7 x 5

Foggy morning

It was a quiet and still morning, reminiscent of a Whistler painting. Then, a duck glided into the picture and I decided to make it the focal point.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Self Portrait #3

I don't do enough of these, it's too painful.
The colors are kind of chalky because I painted on an old canvas.

Oil on canvas.  8 x 8

Fall Colors 4

The reds have faded, but these are still fall colors.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Autumn Still Life

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Mums

Light and shadow study.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7