Another apple study!

My seven-year-old grandson  commented to me the other day, "Nana, all you paint is fruit!"

He's right.  It's hard to explain to him the concept of making studies.  Anyway, I had a little trouble with glare on this photo, but I think this was the best one.

I took this outside in the morning light to photograph and disturbed lots of birds gathered in the shrubbery around the bird feeder.  We have lots of titmice, cardinals and a large Mexican jay.  He's as blue as the sky.  I noticed that there's no activity around the hummingbird feeder.  We had a little cool front come through three days ago, and I guess that was their signal to head south for the winter.

7" X 9" oil on canvas panel.

Citrus Spill

I liked the way these lemons and clementines spilled across the table when I was arranging my set up.  They just fell into position without my having to do much rearranging.

I enjoyed painting on a larger canvas for a change.  I have painted this pitcher before, and I can see that my painting has improved.   Below is my first version, painted in June.

 Still miles to go, though.

12" X 16" oil on canvas

Orange Re-do

I started this painting a few days ago, and ended wiping it off.  I was trying too hard for too much detail on the sliced orange.    I set it aside and tried again today.  I like this version better.

After I wipe off a painting, there is still a faint image of the prior efforts.  Jennifer Bellinger once described it as a "ghost painting".   You can use that faint image as an underpainting.  It made the second attempt easier.

7" X 9" oil on canvas panel

Value study Apple and Leaf

This was done in today's class.  The instructor had me buy four transparent paints--transparent brown, yellow, red and green.  I used those four colors in the value study.  All the previous value studies I've ever done were with regular paint using burnt umber.  I like the tints of color these paints provide to the value study.

So today wasn't a total loss.   (See today's prior post.)

7" X 9" oil on canvas panel

Nothing to post yet today

This morning I attempted to paint an orange that was sliced in half, but I ended up wiping it off.  I set the timer for an hour in an attempt to keep it nice and loose.  That didn't happen, and there's a reason.  I'll start at the beginning.

I have three wonderful daughters.  Now that they are grown, they all like each other and me.  (Not always the case during the teen age years.)  One of the fun things when we all get together is all four of us end up sitting on my bed, laughing and telling stories.  Sometimes I learn things that I'd rather not know about, but that's another story.

One of the things they laugh about ME is that they inherited my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  I say they didn't get it from me, because I still have all of mine.

Anyway, if I do have OCD, they all benefited from it.  I like things neat and clean.  I would move through the house picking up, putting things away, wiping and fluffing and dusting, putting the chairs back under the table, stuff like that.

Let's see, I had a point here.  Oh yes, why I wiped off my painting.  When I paint, I find if very hard to suggest things.  That's why so far my paintings are very realistic.  I don't WANT to paint like that.  But my OCD kicks in, and I find myself trying to paint  Every.  Little.  Segment.  of that sliced orange.   When the timer rang, I stepped back and looked at my painting and I didn't like it.  So I wiped it off,  and I'll try again later.

Anyway, this afternoon, I have my second class with the ladies.  I'm supposed to do a value study of an apple.  Maybe I'll post that.

Lemons and water glass

Lemons again.  I enjoyed trying to get the different planes and colors that are in the lemons.

The water glass was a new challenge.  I've tried to paint a water glass only once, and I think this is better than my first time.  My ellipse isn't great, though.  The thing I like best is the shadow of the glass.

I started this painting two days ago and was very unhappy after several hours.  Today I was tempted to just start a new painting, but I lectured myself and made me try to finish this one.  I'm glad I did;  I need the discipline!  I'd always rather start something new...a fresh canvas, a new possibility.  But I don't want to have a bunch of unfinished paintings, so I trudged on.

These were the same lemons I used in my prior painting.  When I was cleaning up today, I discovered that they were getting very soft.  Several days in the set up and hours under the light hastened their demise!  I'll have to find another subject for my next painting.

7" X 9" oil on canvas panel

Saturday Lemons

I've been working on a larger painting, so I wanted to do a small study today. This is a totally different style than the pear. Much more informal. I actually like this better than the pear.

I don't have an expensive camara, plus it's a cloudy day, so I don't think the colors are true. I think the colors in the painting are richer.

7" X 9" oil on canvas panel.

(Click on painting to view larger.)

Painted pear

This is my pear from yesterday's painting class.  I took my value study (see September 2nd post), and she had me apply color.  The right side of my pear looked flat--I was using burnt umber, yellow ochre and burnt sienna to try to make it dark.  My instructor told me to add green, and that was it.  The shadow took on dimension.

This is a very classical style of painting, not how I hope ultimately to paint.  But I hope to continue to learn lots, and I LOVE the class.  There are five ladies of approximately my age (plenty-nine I always say).  And they are fun and kind and very nice.  Just what I had hoped for.

Painting class today

My son-in-law brought home too many bananas, so I spent this morning cooking.  I made banana pudding for tonight, and a loaf of banana bread for tomorrow.

My new painting class resumes today.  It was cancelled last week because of the storm and flooding.  I will be working on completing the pear underpainting that I did last session.   Hope to have something that I can post!

Gala Apple Bowl

I keep saying I just want to learn to paint apples!  What I really mean is I think they are a fairly simple shape, so it's good practice.

I painted these apples to enter in the September challenge at Artists Helping Artists website. There are lots of interesting and varied entries for this month.   Check them out.



8" X 8" oil on canvas panel

American Beauty

It's been a busy week, and I didn't get to paint much.  First, San Antonio got heavy rains from tropical storm Hermine, and our roof sprang a leak.  First time I've ever had to get a pot to put under a leaking roof. So I dealt with the roofing estimator.  Then the AC started leaking from the overflow spout and I had to get a repairman out.

Plus my daughter and son-in-law are thinking of selling their house.  Their neighbor told a friend of his at work, who wanted to come see the house even though it's not on the market yet.  So I spent two days cleaning and staging the house.  That involved throwing a lot of stuff away!

This apple is all I've had time for this week, but I'm hoping  to try again tomorrow.  I found it difficult to mix different shades of red for the apple.  And the reflected light looked green to me, but I couldn't seem to get it.  But I learn something every time I get to paint!  I like the highlight.

8" X 8" oil on canvas panel.

Lemon Challenge

I painted this for a painting challenge on Rookie Painter.  I've never entered a challenge before, and I was inspired by Linda Popple's entry.  It is fresh and has an abstract quality I like.

I had a hard time getting the correct values on the lemon.  It was a good exercise, though.  I think I'd like to enter another challenge.

8" X 10" oil on canvas panel
(Click on painting to view larger.)

Clementines and coffe mug

I fell in love with this little mug in a thrift shop.  It has orange undertones, and a shiny reflective glaze.  I like how the little oranges reflect on the surface of the mug, and the blue background is reflected in the handle.

My new painting instructor told me she uses Naples Yellow to lighten paint, rather than white.  I tried that with the oranges, and I liked the effect.

8" X 10" oil on canvas panel
(Click on painting to view larger.)

New Painting Class

I started a new painting class this week.  The instructor told me beforehand that she would have me paint a pear so that she could show me how she teaches, and so she can see where I am as a student.  I took several canvas panels that I had toned with burnt sienna.  She asked me if I had one that wasn't toned, because she uses a different method.  Luckily I had one.

She had me use transparent umber and transparent burn sienna to make an underpainting and then lift off paint to make the lighter areas.   Her teaching method involves making an underpainting for every painting. This is unlike any teaching I've ever had.  I hope I have the patience!

8" X 10" oil on canvas panel
(Click on painting to view larger.)

Peach trio on acqua platter

These peaches were so beautiful, I had to paint them first.  Then I sliced them, added a little sugar, and we ate them for dessert.  I love fresh peaches.  Yum.

8" X 10" oil on canvas panel