Growler and Peanuts 6'x6' #311 oil

I have been painting on canvas and am back to panels which I like so much more because of the slick surface. I tend to get get much softer edges with canvas and I am sure it is from my inexperience. I would have to do many layers of gesso on canvas to get it to where I'd like the surface, so panels are a good option. I like this painting and submitted it to the "Reflections" challenge on daily painters. I feel like this painting has the elements of things I learned in Qiang Huang's workshop and is still in a style I am comfortable with.
I am also re-posting the painting I put up yesterday because the photo was so underexposed. This version is much closer to how the painting looks.

Yellow Rose of Texas 6"x6" #229 oil

This painting was a direct result of the assignment I gave myself last summer to do a painting a day. We drove to Boston and back with things to do in the middle, and it was a really early and long day so I knew I only had energy to quickly whip out a painting in 1/2 hour or less. It is also a response to Qiang Huang's Daily Paintworks challenge of painting a rose, something I have seldom done. So, armed with a 3/4" brush and a 1 1/2" brush I did this very loose rose thanks to my friend Dan Hale who grows exquisite roses. It didn't turn out how I imagined it would, but I love the big, loose and direct brushstrokes.

Bad Hair Day 4x4" oil #113

This one was a real challenge. I think it might have been easier to do on a larger format, but getting all the highlights on the ribbons was difficult. It reminded me of how I feel when my hair just looks goofy.

Happy Halloween Toes 4x4" oil

Happy Halloween weekend. I am getting to go visit my grandson this weekend so I suspect a few pastels will be done while I am there. I have found that pastels fit into uncertain time schedules, are easy to transport, easily available and just a fun way to paint when I am away from home. I don't quite get why it is called painting though, it is really drawing. I really did have my toes painted for Halloween, something I would not have done except for the generosity of my good friend who treated me to a pedicure. I liked putting all this detail into a small space. The cover is actually an oil cloth I made to cover my coffee table. It is heavy weight canvas with a 10 layers of gesso underneath and 4 layers of polyurethane on top. #111
sold

Koko 5x7 oil

This is James Kangoroti. James is known as Koko at the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center (www.carvingstudio.org). He is a wonderful Kenyan artist who did a residency there this summer. Mostly he sculpts exquisite pieces from wood, like this abstracted horse. He also is a really nice, and funny guy and his trip to Vermont this summer was his first outside of his native country. It was a challenge for me to get the texture of the wood right...it was still at a "choppy" stage. #87

Brandy Sniffer 4x4 oil

I was inspired to do this brandy sniffer after the Carol Marine workshop. Several artists did glass vases and they were so beautiful I wanted to give it a "shot." Here is my attempt and I am happy with it. My friend and fellow painter Heather Shaw suggested that I close the gap on the right side, but I like the lost edge and that is really how I saw it. Carol suggested painting glass like it is not there....really good advise. #68

Lime, Apple, Orange

This is another painting I did at Carol Marine's workshop. She really worked with us on getting the values and reflected light right and I am happy with how this turned out. At first I didn't like the orange because we had done exercises all morning and I painted an orange 10 times trying to get it right, so by the time I did this one I honestly hated oranges! I like them now and I love the shadows on this orange. Compositionally it looks like a giant moon revolving around two little planets! #65

Dancing Feet

I love this one with the strappy sandles, leggings and swishy skirt of filmy material. #59

Casual Feet

These are the casual feet of my friend Mary. There is a certain relaxed but commanding posture to her feet. She is one of those really kind, and funny people that everyone should have as a friend. #58

Playing Feet

I am really enjoying doing this series on feet. Someone suggested I call the series "Foot Fetish." I am not too sure about that one. This is one of those scenic binocular stands you pay for on the ferry to Martha's Vineyard. These little girls couldn't actually reach the eyepiece, but they had a great time playing on the stand. Kids know how to entertain themselves in any situation. We adults have something to learn about this. #57