Painting exercise

'Pineapple on Plate'

10" x 12"

oil on canvas panel

I finished off a painting exercise today that I began last week. In the first session, I made a rapid underpainting which I needed to dry completely before continuing. I used cadmium yellow in the underpainting along with titanium white. These pigments have a slower drying time, but luckily the pineapple survived the drying time :) and I carried on with it this afternoon. I gave myself no longer than 2 hours working time from start to finish. The first session last week took around 45 mins and the second session an hour. The result is fresh and energetic, and unlaboured, which was the kind of result I was looking for :)

'Tomatoes and Pan'

10" x 12"

oil on board

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I painted 'Tomatoes and Pan' this afternoon. It took approximately two and a half hours to complete. I imposed a time limit again and didn't go over it and I'm happy with the result. It's certainly not overworked and that's the way it's going to stay, and to make sure, the things have been put away and the tomatoes will be eaten within an hour! 

'Pots with Pear in Dish'

10" x 12"

oil on board

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I set a strict time limit for this painting. I didn't want to spend too much time on any one part and end up putting in too much information and subsequently tightening up. My time limit was two hours which was easy to set as two hours was the only amount of time I had to work so I couldn't go beyond it even if I wanted to...this seemed a good plan. All went well and I was just giving myself a pat on the back for achieving what I'd set out to do when I realised I'd left out the reflection of the blue and white pot! Duh...! That was yesterday afternoon. Today I painted in the weird and distorted abstract reflection and strengthened some of the values. 

I don't think it's important what objects you paint, the importance lies in the way in which the light falls on them. Sometimes you can suddenly notice something that you've passed many times previously which had stayed invisible until that moment just because the light is falling on it in a different way. Changing light alters our perception of what is around us and provides an opportunity to translate that visual excitement into paint. Sometimes I feel very privileged and lucky being an artist.

'Pot, Apple and Very Old Spoon'

10" x 12"

oil on board

This is my afternoon's work after teaching this morning. The light coming through the window in my studio was just right for a still-life set up on the floor. I'm pleased I've painted this lovely patterned pot at last...it's been waiting its turn in my studio! 

Paintings with cherries!

'Jug with Lemons and Cherries'

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

This afternoon I've been busy adding cherries to these three paintings! Have a look and see what you think. In the painting above 'Jug with Lemons and Cherries' I'm happy that the composition is now complete both in terms of space and of colour.  

'Green Apple with Jug'

6" x 6"

oil on  board

In 'Green Apple with Jug' the cherry becomes a compelling focal point. And along with the two red leaves, it creates a triangle in space which again leads to a stronger composition. 

'Delicious Biscotti'

8" x 8"

oil on board

Before I added the cherries to 'Delicious Biscotti',  the biscotti looked a little lonely and were crying out for something to sit next to them! However, now I'm glad to say, all is well, and again I feel the composition is complete. 

'Pomegranate and Fork'

'Pomegranate and Fork'

6" x 6"

oil on board

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Phew...this one took all my powers of concentration! The inside of pomegranates is something I'm not that familiar with and on cutting it open I realised just how complicated it is! But...oh so beautiful! Literally crammed with colour and pattern. I hope I've done it justice. 

'Spotted Umbrella with Apple'

'Spotted Umbrella with Apple'

6" x 6"

oil on board

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Sadly I have to say goodbye to my lovely spotted umbrella :( It has without a doubt seen better days. But I must say, it has served me well. (Thinking back to the water-logged non-summer just gone it's no wonder it's worn out!)  I'm happy with the painting. It's the first one I've made using my new shadow box. The box keeps the light constant so it's now not a race against time as the light moves round or disappears altogether! 

Bronze Pot with Apple and Plum

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

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Yep...my brass pot is actually bronze! I discovered that when my husband saw the title of the painting and was horrified that I had described his beautiful bronze pot as brass!  So...there you are...you learn something new everyday!  
I did in the end return to the painting although I said I wasn't planning to. I added more colour to the area at the back which looked slightly unresolved and dull and I also revisited the 'bronze' pot. I am now done with it and the painting is finished.  

'Spider Tomatoes'

'Spider Tomatoes'

oil on board

7" x 9"

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Staying on the fruit theme...here are some delicious and very ripe vine tomatoes. When I saw them today I couldn't resist painting them. Their colour was so vibrant and I love the shapes the bunches make when they're still on the vine and...vine tomatoes are one of my favourite things to eat! So I've tried to make them look as juicy as I could!

Apples and Oranges finished!

'Apples and Oranges on a Dish'

oil on board

8" x 8"

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I didn't post yesterday as I spent the whole day on the computer catching up with emails and correspondence! But the good thing about that was, because it had been 48 hours since the first layers had been applied, the paint had dried to the stage where I was able to scumble the next layer over without disturbing the under layers, which made it easier to do the work that needed to be done to the apples. Now that the painting is finished, I can now return the fruit to its rightful place in the kitchen to be eaten!