Radish and Blue Napkin

I decided to go for simple subject matter this morning and focus on values.  It seems like I can never get too much practice on values.

(6x6in)

This and That

I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to paint this time.  So I literally just picked up three random things from the kitchen and went for it.

(6x6in)

Binkies

I finally got a little painting done after weeks of sickness has plagued our house.  Hopefully I can get a few more done before this baby arrives!

(6x6in)

Balancing Act

I've been experimenting with some softer brushes that I'm really liking.  It seems like I can get more general softer transitions before I lay paint in with my smaller harder brushes.  This morning I felt like the balancing concept fit a lot of the thoughts I've been having lately.  

(6x6in)

Preparing the Team

These are some of my daughters Life Factory bottles which we love.  I was thinking this morning I may have to pick up a few more when her new brother or sister arrives!

6x6in

With and Without

 I've done quite a few paintings recently of fruit inside cups and glasses and various containers.  I've been really drawn to the way colored glass neutralizes the bright color shifts of the fruit and adds beautiful reflections.  I also think bright little fruits inside protective containers appeals to my motherly instincts right now as I'm about 34 weeks pregnant :).

12x12in

Work In Progress

Getting a little closer today.  I'm hoping for one more sitting on this painting tomorrow and to have it done.  We'll see...

Work In Progress

I started a new 12x12 piece this morning.  Here's pics of the the still life set up and my start.  I thought I would get a little more done on it, but then the power went out :).  Oh well, we'll see what I can do tomorrow.

Out the Top

I always find it amazing that eggs are so simple and challenging.  There's so much subtlety!  My daughter and I have been going for walks everyday now that the weather's nicer.  A lot of our neighbors have chickens roaming around and farm fresh eggs.  It's exciting to have Spring here finally.

(6x6in)

Young and Colorful

I finally finished this today.  I haven't done a larger piece in a while and found it to be a learning experience again.  I think I'll do a few things differently next time I go bigger, but this was still a fun piece to complete!

(12x12in)

Work In Progress: 4

I keep thinking I'm going to sit down for my last sitting on this painting and then it takes me longer than I think.  Oh well, getting closer to done.

Work In Progress 3

Today I filled in some more on my larger piece.  Tomorrow hopefully I'll adjust some edges and values and add in highlights and dark shadows.

Work in Progress 2

After a lovely birthday weekend I sat down to paint the still life I started last week.  I'm still really enjoying the colors of the fruit although I realized it's lost some if it's luster since I first set up the still life.  I'm glad I took a couple of photos as fall back reference!

In Progress: Larger Still Life

Yesterday I started on a larger piece 12x12in.  It's been fun to set a few more objects up and work a little bigger.  Here's my progress so far starting with a photo of my still life.

Fat in Half

I realized today that avocados are really only good for one short sitting. I was glad I painted them in first before they got brown and weird looking!

(6x6in)

Peeled Orange and Colored Glass

The beachy oceanic color schemes continue in my daily paintings as the snow continues to fall here in Utah.  Whew, it feels like it's been a long winter.  But, I'm still enjoying all the reflections in the colored glass with fruit.

(6x6in)

Cup of Orange

I went for colored glass again this morning.  These colors remind me of sipping a yummy orange drink on the beach.  I'm really ready for a little beach time after all this snow we've had in Utah this year.

(6x6in)

Blue Green Blood Orange

I found some more great stuff at the D.I. (Deseret Industries-like Goodwill).  It felt great to get back to color this morning after all my recent white subject matter studies.

(6x6in)

Sweetorange

Threw a little more color into my whites this morning.  The inversion has lifted a little this morning in Utah Valley.  Time for color and fresh air!

(6x6in)

Sweetheart Rose

After a wonderful weekend away, I came back to this lovely!  Starting to wilt slightly, but still as beautiful as when I left.

(6x6in)

Sweetheart

I got some beautiful white roses from my husband for Valentine's Day. This one was so fun to paint!

(6x6in)

Another White Cup

I decided to take another go at this cup this morning just to see if I could pick up some more information.  It went a little faster this time!

(6x6in)

White Cup

Still working on adding more colors to my grays and whites.  Sometimes the simplest things are also the hardest.

(6x6in)

Take One Down

There's this great gin called Jack Rabbit that is distilled at Beehive Distillery in Salt Lake City.  It's got great flavor with notes of rose petals.  I found this bottle in our cabinet and decided to try painting it.  My only regret is that I couldn't give it a sample as I'm pregnant now.

(6x6in)

 

Fizz

My husband and I quit cold turkey on the soda in 2009.  Since then we've come to really enjoy kombucha tea.  Recently, we ran into these kombucha sodas that are Dr. Pepper, Rootbeer and Cola flavors.  It feels like soda is back!

(6x6in)

Fresh

I've been really craving the oranges lately!  This morning I was inspired by Carol Marine.  I love how she stacks and arranges fruit with such fun colorful combinations.

(6x6in)

Good Morning

I haven't painted many eggs, so I thought I'd use our last egg this morning as subject matter.  We had ground beef and vegetables for breakfast instead.

(6x6in)

Five Slices and a Peel

It seems like I did a painting of an orange not long ago that I found challenging and I've been avoiding oranges ever since.  I decided to go for it this morning.

(6x6in)

Stacked Plates

I started stacking things yesterday with the pots and it bled into today too.  I'm really enjoying painting these fun colors!

(6x6in)

Stacked Pots

I found these great colorful pots in the basement.  They remind me of the Southwest.  I must be eager for the sunshine after all this snow!

(5x7in)

Pink Ladies and Green Tea

Worked in a 5x7 format this morning while I'm waiting for more 6x6in boards to come in.  This painting is done on mounted canvas.  It was pretty fun, but I think I like my gesso board better.

(5x7in)

Grapefruit Slices

I found some new dishes to paint this morning which is always exciting.  Then we enjoyed the grapefruit for breakfast after the painting was finished.

(6x6in)

Love Morsels

So I had planned to paint a series of the chocolates in honor of Valentine's Day coming up next month, but I've discovered that I keep eating them. This may be my one and only chocolates painting...we'll see.

(6x6in)

Four Cups and a Spoon

I think this is the last of the coffee cup series for a while.  These cups I got from the D.I. have sure been great subjects.  It's been really fun practicing color mixing neutral colors and drinking lots of coffee throughout the series!

(6x6in)

3 for Coffee

I enjoyed a delicious "Bullet Proof" decaf this morning while painting these three.  In case you haven't heard, a bullet proof is blended with butter instead of cream and it's a delight!

(6x6in)

Cups and Raspberries

I've been really enjoying experimenting with neutral colors lately.  It's been fun to play with subtle temperature shifts and see how close I can get to accuracy with values on the cups and dishware.

(6x6in)