Of Grapes and Crystal

Of Grapes and Crystal
Oil on panel, 9x12

Once again, I did not get to start painting until late.  With daylight savings time beginning only last night, it seems doubly late to me!  I had to play catch-up with the housework (never fun!), attend Michael's last basketball game of the season (a real nail biter - still tied after overtime!), and family time filled the rest of the day.  Once I did get started, the going was slow.  I have never painted grapes before - and I had to look at EACH grape to see just where all of the colors landed.  Same thing with those crystal prisms and the cut crystal bowl - it is all painting those reflections to create the objects.  This painting is a collection of favorite things around the house.  The bowl was a "trophy" my oldest son won in a golf tournament, the lamp from a dear friend, the green cabbage dish was a special find while antiquing.  The whole reason I chose this to paint - when I took out the grapes to wash and eat for breakfast, this glorious clump was in the bag!  Instantly, I set up the still life with a sign in front boldly marked, "DO NOT EAT!"  This is the only way to save food to paint around here!  This the painting 66 in 66 days.  I should have painted Route 66 today!

Teakettle of Roses

Teakettle of Roses
Oil on Panel, 8x10

The snow is falling - 12-18 inches expected, and I am enjoying this extra painting time!  I worked on a commission most of the day, only starting this painting this evening.  I chose to paint small - only an 8x10 since I needed to finish it today (to keep up with "a painting a day").  Now that it is finished, I wish I had painted it in a larger size!  I have not yet painted a large painting from one of my smaller studies, but maybe this will prompt me to do so.  This cool little antique green glass lamp sheds an interesting light over the sideboard - fun to capture on the sideboard.  The teakettle was my Grandma Frank's, a small wedding photo, and the books are Monet and an antique Shakespeare.  I found the sideboard at a little shop in downtown Lee's Summit 25 years ago.  I had the painting finished, and then I decided to add the gold detail in the curtains.  I love the detail, and the painting just didn't seem complete without it.  This is the 53rd painting in a row!

Shakespeare by Lamplight

Shakespeare by Lamplight
Oil on panel, 11x14

I started late in the day on this one, first with a detailed sketch.  I used photo reference for the lamp (thanks, Chris!), using my own Tiffany lamp for the lighting in the interior set up.  I have always been drawn to this kind of art - but I have only just started to try my hand at it.  After the sketch, I had to stop, to later start for 30 minutes - to stop again for a meeting at the high school.  I hated to put down the brush - I was so in the zone!  By the time I returned, there were chores to finish - and I didn't go back to it.  I tried to sleep - but could not.  For three hours I tried - and I kept thinking out my next strokes, the colors, the mood.  It was hopeless, so I got up and finished this painting!  Sometimes, there is just a painting inside me that wants out so badly - I am simply forced to submit to it's will.  It is so exciting to go down this road - just as if the paintings are painting themselves and I am just along for the ride.  This is day 23 of the 30 day painting challenge - and dare I say this challenge may have changed my life?

Hot Tea and a Good Book

Hot Tea and a Good Book
Oil on panel, 8x10

Surprise!  This is my first interior painting ever!  Inspired by the artists on the 30 day painting challenge - I chose this setting in my living room for my subject matter.  I had SO much fun painting this!  I simply did not want to stop painting!  This is a table full of memories, my dad made the table out of his father's walnut, the lamp was a Christmas gift from my children years ago, the tea pot - a favorite find at a local antique shop, curtains from my parent's victorian home, and the teacup and saucer a gift from my sister-in-law's mother-in-law!  The book is on the beauty of impressionism, and the hot tea is my absolute favorite Teavana flavor - samurai chai mate!  This painting is total exploration - I have zero experience in this genre!  It was very satisfying to use the bold colors I rarely find in the landscape.  Could I have uncovered a new favorite painting style?  This is day 18 of the 30 day challenge......what will I paint next?