"Hydrangeas"

6" x 6" oil on gessoboard
 - SOLD -

Another new adventure!  This is my first attempt to complete an oil painting.  I've been eyeballing these Hydrangeas in my neighbor's yard and had an opportunity today to get permission to swipe a few.  These big complicated flowers were probably a bit ambitious for my first attempt but sometimes I'm kinda crazy like that.

Whew! Handling oil is certainly nothing like acrylic!  But, I think once I figure out how to do some things I'm going to love it.  I see a million things wrong with this but, like I've said before, my intention is to record my progress and include the good and the bad.

With my fast drying acrylics I've been putting my little paintings on the flatbed scanner and easily getting high resolution images.  Can't do that with wet oils so now I'm faced with struggling with my camera and sketchy photo skills. More things to master...  

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"Rook"

6" x 6" acrylic on gessoboard
$100. + $10. s/h in USA
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According to Wikipedia:   "Rook is a trick-taking game, usually played with a specialized deck of cards. Sometimes referred to as "Christian cards" or "missionary poker", Rook playing cards were introduced by Parker Brothers in 1906 to provide an alternative to standard playing cards for those in the Puritan tradition or Mennonite culture who considered the face cards in a regular deck inappropriate because of their association with gambling and cartomancy."

Well, this painting is a real departure from my norm.  Huh, as if I have a norm!  Anyway, if I did, somehow I'm pretty sure this isn't it!  These are vintage Rook cards from the 1940's and I've wanted to paint them for a while.  Now that I have, I'm not sure how I feel about this one.  It's late, I'm tired, I'll post it and it may look different in the morning.  It doesn't matter anyway since this blog is all about exploring new things... experimenting and taking some risks.  So, you will see the good, the bad and the ugly in the process.

"Sweet Peaches"

6" x 6" acrylic on gessoboard
SOLD

I donated this painting to the Hurricane Sandy
Fundraiser auction on Daily Paintworks.
 100% of the proceeds from this sale went to the
 Red Cross to benefit Hurricane Sandy victims.

Here I am still trying to keep it kind of loose.  I've never painted peaches before and found them to be a little bit of a challenge.  Because they have a soft fuzzy surface they don't reflect light as much as some objects so it's harder to get a lot of contrast with no sharp highlights visible.

I'm still working in acrylics, mostly because I have a lot of acrylic paint left from my mural-painting days and it's what I'm used to using.  I did buy some oil paint and supplies so I want to give them a whirl soon.  I've never painted much in oils and it's been years ago but, as I recall, blending is a dream with oil compared to fast-drying acrylics.

These wonderful peaches were part of this week's bounty from a food co-op I belong to.  Each week several ladies and I divide up a load of food.  We use some of it and share a lot with others in our community.  We never know what we will be getting so sometimes it makes for some creative menu planning... Or, in my case, painting opportunities!  I've been wanting to paint something in this pretty lacy bowl so this seemed like a perfect combination.

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"Buddha with Flowers"

6" x 6" acrylic on gessoboard
- SOLD -

As I explained in my last post, I am going to attempt to loosen up.  I went at it with a larger brush, ended up using a pallet knife for some of it.  I wiped, scraped, smudged and played around.  It was fun!  I had to resort to a smaller brush for some of the highlights, but even then it was still done freely without fussing much.  I'll continue exploring and experimenting with technique for a while and we'll see where it goes.

"Ham and Eggs"

6" x 6" acrylic on gessoboard
- SOLD -

I have fussed over this little painting for two days!  This may be my last tight, very detailed painting for a while.  I feel a need to do some exercises to try to loosen up and stop getting bogged down so much in all the details.  Maybe tomorrow I will limit myself to a larger brush and maybe put a time limit on it.  Maybe I'll try some apples in a Carol Marine-type style.  Maybe I'll paint without my glasses.  Maybe I'll drink some wine... a lot of wine.

The painting style I most admire is looser and more painterly, yet it seems no matter what I have in my mind's eye when I begin to paint, I end up here, tight and precise.  When I see all the tiny details, the highlights, the shadows, the reflected light... all the details that are so often overlooked or glossed over... I feel compelled to paint them.  Why?  Just to prove that I noticed them?  Did you notice the little white stripes that are visible on the green rim of the bowl above?  Very easily overlooked, but I saw them so I painted them!  Once I start down that road, oh my, there's no stopping me!  Ugh.

One advantage of painting daily is having the liberty to experiment a little.  One of my goals is to find my voice.  I've been singing the same tune for a while and I'd like to jazz it up some to see what will happen. So, I give myself permission to play!  Stay tuned!

"Coffee with Marilyn"

8" x 10" acrylic on gessoboard
Commission - Not For Sale

A couple of weeks ago I did a very similar painting as a gift for my granddaugher's birthday.  Well, it seems a lot of people have a crush on Marilyn and showing it on Daily Paintworks generated some interest.

I got a request from a very nice lady who asked me to paint this one which is similar but just a little larger.  Her intention was to give this to her daughter as a gift but, somewhere along the way (shhhh!), she's decided to keep this one for herself.  I hear we may need to do another one, "Tea with Marilyn" sometime in the very near future. :)

"Folding Ruler with Brick"

6" x 6" acrylic on canvas panel
$100. + $10. s/h in USA
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I found this folding ruler among a friend's collectibles and it immediately took me back to my childhood.  My dad always had one of these in his tool box and I was allowed to open and close it as long as I was very careful not to bend it out of shape.  Although Dad was usually doing some carpentry project, this particular one says "Lufkin Rugged Brick Mason's" so I thought I should include a brick in the painting.

I saw this clever idea on Ebay where someone used a folding ruler to make a shabby chic star to hang on the wall... love repurposing old things.  :)

"Shiny Bowl with Oranges"

6" x 6" acrylic on gessoboard
- SOLD -

The moment I sat this shiny bowl on top of this black and white fabric I knew I had my next painting figured out.  I love playing with light, reflections and patterns.  This one has all that, plus food!  I tried to think of some catchy title but, obviously, I didn't have much luck.  My mind kept wandering to the silly old jokes... What's black and white and...  ?

As you may know, I've only been blogging for about a month.  I had a few paintings done up ahead to allow me to post regularly without immediately stressing too much about having a piece ready to go.  Well, my stash is about used up and I'm now working on a commissioned piece which will take me out of the game for a short time.  The challenge begins!  I admire all of you daily painters out there who keep them coming day after day, month after month, year after year!  I've planned this blog for a long, long time and now that I have started, I must find a way (find the time) to maintain the momentum.

"Funny Face"

6" x 6" acrylic on gessoboard
$100. + $10. s/h in USA
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I photographed this young girl at one the many festivals our small town throws every year.  As soon as I reviewed my photos from the day I knew I would have to paint her.  There was just something about her being perched on her Dad's shoulders above the crowd with that aloof look on her painted face that I connected with.  I have a zillion other photos that I would like to someday paint so I may throw one in once in a while.

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