'Healing Fibres' - Exhibition in Worcester, Massachusetts

45cm x 50cm

mixed media on paper

I've reworked this piece for an exciting new exhibition 'Healing Fibres' organised in Worcester, Massachusetts by fibre artist Bayda Asbridge. The exhibition is an annual event to raise awareness and discussion about political, environmental, gender, racial, medical, human rights and other societal issues. The theme for this year is violence against women. This image is to be one of my pieces. I have included threads in the drawing and placed a layer of slashed and distressed netting in front of the image to act as a veil. Both of my pieces will be 'veiled'. I should have the other piece ready to post tomorrow.

'Jackie' now complete!

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

I'm very happy with 'Jackie' now that I have completed her. I've strengthened some of the dark values in the skin tones and changed some of the surrounding area to a cooler hue.  I dislike calling it the 'background' as that makes it sound less important and it's not! I like the way she is looking out of the canvas at the audience, as if she is scrutinising us as much as we her! 

'Tomatoes and Garlic on a Blue Cloth'

'Tomatoes and Garlic on a Blue Cloth'

8" x 8"

oil on board

SOLD

I painted the majority of this piece on Monday and applied the finishing brushstrokes this afternoon.  I like the freshness of the cool blue of the cloth against the bright warm red of the tomatoes. I'm reminded of summer when I look at this painting...and...that spring is just around the corner...can't wait! Here's to a sunny summer this year! :) 

'Alison' finished!

'Alison'

6" x 6"

oil on board

I managed to get back to 'Alison' this morning and make the necessary adjustments. Unfortunately, the paint had dried and I was unable to work wet into wet which was disappointing. I think for a while at least, I'm going to use linseed oil again instead of the fast drying impasto medium that I have been using so that if need be, I'm able to return to a painting a day or two later and hopefully the paint might still be workable. 

Anyway, here she is all done and dusted! 

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. 

'Brush, Paints and Picasso'

'Brush, Paints and Picasso'

10" x 12"

oil on board

Click to bid

Since posting the first stage of this painting I've been able to spend a further two sessions on it. The bulk of the work was completed on Tuesday and finishing off was done this morning. I will, as always, look again later (tomorrow) to decide whether it is finished or not. An important element in my still-life paintings are the abstract shapes within the composition. Abstract shapes become more obvious to the eye in a cropped composition.  Interesting spaces and shapes are created where the objects slice through the picture plane and off the canvas. Picasso is one of my heroes and the printed image that you can see in the book is 'The Weeping Woman' which is one of my favourite paintings by him.