Shell

Shell #1, 4x4", oil on stone.

Here's another shadowbox painting on stone, from life.  I wanted to get the fine detail on this shell, so I took 2 sessions to finish this one.

Filigree Ornament - Green and Gold Egg

Green and Gold Filigree Ornament, 5x7", oil on panel.

Here's another of the filigree egg ornament paintings just finished - I have one more of these yet to finish and that should be all for this season.

Painting on Stone

"Yale" 4x4", oil on stone

I've just found a really interesting new painting surface - marble and granite countertop samples!  These 4x4" blocks have just the right amount of texture, and once gessoed, make a fun painting surface.  I'm also using a shadowbox now for some small daily paintings, and have just finished these two paintings tonight.

"Stone on Stone on Stone" 4x4", oil on stone

Artists as Problem-solvers

Mythbusters' Adam Savage on artists as problem-solvers and the creative process.

Eggs and Pitcher

Eggs and Pitcher. 11x14", oil on panel.

Available

This is a painting I started nearly 3 years ago as a still life setup.  I agonized over it for quite a while, and then finally gave up and put it away.  A few weeks ago I brought it out, saw how it could easily be completed, and had it finished within half an hour.

The moral - don't give up!  Learning painting skills takes time.  What seems impossible now will be a piece of cake in a few years.  Painting requires a lot of motor memory, study, and learning techniques.  There are no shortcuts to putting in the studio hours.  However, time and practice will eventually pay off, if you put in the effort.

Ornament - Green and Gold Ball

Ornament - Green and Gold Ball.  5x7", oil on panel.

Available

In keeping with the December theme, here's another ornament for the collection.  I must say, I'm enjoying painting these shiny baubles a lot!

Candles Alla Prima

Plum Candle Alla Prima, oil on panel, 5x5.

 
So I've been "borrowing" candles to paint from Beatrice Taylor Candles, located next to High Hand Gallery.  Here are a couple of recent efforts, done alla prima from life with a few touchups afterwards. 

Mandarin Candle Alla Prima, oil on panel, 5x5.

Filigree Ornament Paintings

Filigree Ornament - Blue, Red, and Gold.  Oil on panel, 5x7

 Last year, the folks at one of the galleries I'm with requested that each artist create ornaments for the holiday season.  With that request, I set about making ornaments.  I worked with polymer clay, and spent several days trying to get ornaments that were good enough to display, with no luck.  Frustrated, I stopped - and then realized I had *painted* ornaments a few years prior.  (You know how they say, "Do what you're good at?")  Long story short, these were submitted and sold well last year, so I plan to do holiday ornament paintings every year.

These three paintings are currently on view at High Hand Gallery in Loomis, CA, through December 2012.  This is a great gallery with many talented artists; stop by if you're in the area!   

Filigree Ornament - Red and Gold.  Oil on panel, 5x7.

Filigree Ornament - Purple.  Oil on panel, 4x4.