Two and a Half Plums

This has nothing to do with Charlie Sheen's former show.  I just like the cadence of the title.

I've been trying to figure out what about my own paintings make me unhappy, and I believe I've figured it out.  Some of them of course are just flat ugly, or as my daughters used to say, YOU-gly.   But apart from that.  I have been trying to change my style of painting to a looser one.

When I first started painting, I wanted my painting to look exactly like the set up.  If it looked smooth and realistic, I was happy.  Now I'd like to paint with a looser style and "see" more colors.  I'm not able to achieve that and so when I've finished a painting, it might not be ugly, but I'm not happy with it.  That's what I keep whining about.   Please just bear with me!

8 inch X 8 inch oil on canvas panel

Flowers and Vase

8 inch X 8 inch oil on canvas panel

Today was fun!  I wanted to try to something that for me was different .  One of my favorite artists, Jennifer Bellinger, has written that she always pre-mixes her paints before she starts a painting.  That amazes me, because I'm clueless about what colors I want before I start.  I mean she pre-mixes everything!  I love her work though, so I thought I'd try the best I could.  

I mixed a big batch of grays and darks, and big batches of oranges and reds and corals.  Lots of variations of the colors.  I found that it was really helpful to be able to reach over and choose the color I wanted without having to try to mix it and then finding that what I mixed wasn't quite right.  That's my usual method! 

I did realize that this type of floral, with lots of layers of color, would work better if I did an underpainting first.  After that dried, I could paint over the bottom layer.  Today I had more blending together of colors than I wanted, which got a little muddy.  

Still though, I was pretty happy with the result.  I'm not putting it in the do-over pile.  (At least not yet.)  

Teapot and Pomegranate

This painting is from my weekly class.  The instructor had me make a value study of the set up, and then in the following class, I painted over the value study.  I put a lot more time into this painting than I do when I'm painting at home.  I like the way the teapot turned out, and my little leaf!  Not too happy with the pomegranate, though.  I couldn't get its little snout right.  Next time.  

This may be my last painting that I post this week.  I'm off to Houston to help out my daughter again.  Her husband is out of town and she's a working mom.  I help get the kids off to school and help with meals and homework.  I'm taking my painting gear, and I'll retrieve my camera, left on my last trip.  I just don't know how to upload photos on her computer.   Have a good week! 

Glass bottles

In this study, I wanted to try to capture the translucence of glass.  When I finished, I decided that the thing I like best is the shadow of the glass carafe.  Isn't that funny how we like one little part of a painting?

If you want to see glass beautifully done, check out Carrie Waller's award-winning work here  or here:   Her watercolor work is breathtaking.  

7" X 9" oil on canvas panel

Little Brown Jug

This is a little jug that belongs to one of my daughters. When I saw it, I wanted to paint it.  I am using a borrowed camera, and I don't think the colors are as bright as they should be.  But at least I can post now.

I want to thank everyone for all the encouragement they give.  When I started posting, I never knew about the wonderful fellowship of artists who blog.  I love it!

Mango In and Mango Out

I guess I'm destined to be known as The-Lady-Who-Paints-Fruit.  I can't seem to paint anything else and have it come out looking right.

I worked and worked on that bowl.  There was lovely reflected light from the mango inside the bowl, but I just couldn't capture it.  And I'm not mentioning my ellipse.  Oh, I guess I just did.  

I envy those people who can paint something in an hour and then post it!

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

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