"Odd Ball" - SOLD

I wanted to work with some stronger colors today...and I did. The fabric on the table top was very hard to match because of its brightness and color saturation. Every time I added white (or yellow) I lost color strength, and every time I added more cobalt the value became too dark. Just one more example how cool our eyes are, and how limiting our paints can be. But I like how it turned out.

"Yellow Tomato" - SOLD

"Tight Fit"

Only two of the three apples made it on this painting. You can see the other apples shadow though.

"Apples with Bowl" - SOLD

My creativity with titles is gone for the day. But, this painting was fun, it actually reminds me of some of my work while I was is college. One of the things I learned in college was to memorize my position with respect to what I was painting or drawing. I would try and always reference a still object, like the corner of my easel with another mark in the room, so that my eyes were always in the same spot. Drawing becomes so much easier if things don't move around, including your eyes.

"Three Apples" - SOLD

I wanted to get some more landscape painting done, but it was too windy this morning for any outdoor painting. I don't mind working in the cold, but wind is too hard to work with. I know a painter who actually build an easel that hooks onto his steering wheel so he never has to leave the comfort of his car when painting. Which is really a cool idea. He just backs his car into a nice spot on the road, turns on his heater, and paints. Hmmmmm....I think I need to build something like that.

"Timp" - SOLD

"First Snow" - SOLD

I have been wanting to get out of the studio for a while, and so I finally did. I went up the canyon and saw this scene from the road, and pulled over immediately. I think the person driving behind me was annoyed with my driving...sorry. Landscapes are so fun, I need to get out more often. Fun, but cold.

"Limes" - SOLD

Each one of these limes seemed to have there own variation of green, I had to try and paint them all. I have always liked paintings that have some sort of reflective mirror or glass on the bottom.

"Departure" - SOLD

This painting was fun to work on because of all the different shades of red on the tomato. Yesterday, however, was a wipe down, which is always frustrating. But, I like how this one turned out.

"Topped" - SOLD

I admit this is a reoccurring composition. On this one, however, I lifted the focal point high on the board, and unintentionally cut the board almost in half with light and then dark. Half is usually a place to avoid when painting, but I think I am okay with how this turned out.

"Chances" - SOLD

I have been trying to reduce my philosophy on art...at least my own art. I think it is fun to see how little I can do to create the illusion of the object. But, at the same time too little can also be a turn off. So, it becomes a balance of how much information to put down before stopping. I have been interested in that idea for a while. I think there are some great artists out there who do this better than I, but I am having fun trying.

Speaking of great artists...I came across an artist worth checking out. Her name is Deb Sterk. She truly is a daily painter.

"Quick" - SOLD

I tend to paint rather slow. When I tell people each painting takes between two to three hours, some seem surprised. But really, even if my brush strokes appear loose or quick, I actually try to deliberately place each piece of paint. There are, however, some really great painters who can lay down a painting in twenty minuets. I've watched the videos, and they amazes me. But, I like the comfort of working slow.

"Crowded"

I had more apples on the table but these two apples took up all the room, so I guess it's a bit crowded.

"Basics" - SOLD

Oh man, I had a tough last week. I ended up wiping down a bunch of paintings. But now I'm back.

"Tamarillos"

I saw these at the store and their skin color begged to be painted.

"Onlookers" - SOLD

"Pyramid" - SOLD

I was at the grocery store and fell in love with the deep red on these beets, and had to paint them. But, when I brought them home and set them up they kept drying and turning a redish, brown color. So, every few minuets I had to sprayed them with a bottle to maintain their initial color.

"Black Top" - SOLD

I really like when I get just the right amount of paint on the canvas, where the brush starts to slip just a little. Thats when some interesting marks start to form. My problem is that I keep going (cause I am having so much fun) and cover up some of those marks. I have two thoughts at the same time: 1.'Oh I like that', and 2. 'That was fun, I wanna do that again'. Sometimes, Unfortunately, I listen to the second thought. But, I am happy with how this turned out.

"Blue Streak" - SOLD

I love any time I can get color to bounce off of another surface, like the apple in the teapot. Most everything will influence the surrounding, and I have always been interested in how light and color will bounce around. Even dull surfaces will absorb color. Take a red and green apple and place them on a white cloth, that cloth will have some red below the red apple, and green below the green. Its just a cool phenomenon.

"Kiwi" - SOLD

It is interesting how you can get familiar with certain object. But, painting kiwi for my first time was a little harder than I expected.