Long Legged Bug SOLD

        I collect dead bugs to paint.  I had this one in my freezer for several months because I knew I was going to paint some smaller paintings for a miniature show in December.  Technically not really a miniature painting since it is not smaller than life or 1/6 scale;  this bug is painted life size.  I wound up using a very small brush to paint those very long legs.    This painting is mounted on a gray board and framed in a very narrow metal frame with the outside dimension of 6" x 6" On my ETSY store

Red Grapes on Gray

Not very red grapes; more like pinkish with green and gold and bits of magenta.  I put the spotlight above and slightly behind the grapes which makes them glow from within, and also casts lovely lights and shadows on the grapes and the stems.  The problem was the grapes were very tasty and my subject material kept getting smaller as I positioned and re-positioned the grapes.  I tried to create a "hole" in the middle to allow the viewer to enter into the space.  A slightly smaller painting 5" X 5"  On my ETSY store. 

Blue Teapot with Sunflowers on Gray SOLD

This beautiful blue enameled teapot was a gift and had to be painted.  I like the shape and the color and enjoyed painting the yellow flowers.  I placed this pot at eye level so I had to suggest roundness with shadows and highlights The sunflowers are the last of the season; I chose them for contrast with
the dark blue pot.  This one was fun to paint.  On my ETSY store

Blue Enameled Teapot - Teapot with Flowers - Sunflowers and Blue Pot SOLD

Another painting in a small format - this one is for the masters in miniature show at the Blue Heron -Vashon Center for the Arts gallery coming up in December.  I like the top lighting and the warm gray color that contrasts with the cool blue pot.
This one is 4.5 inches square.

Plums on a Branch - Italian Prunes - Still life of Plums- Blue and Purple Fruit

I painted these plums several weeks ago from the last of the Italian plums that were in the orchard.    There were so many plums that the tree branches were bowed down from the weight and touched the ground.  They looked like clusters of grapes. 
I like the dusty blue and how the dark purple shows through the light blue.  Painted in a smaller format 4x4. On my ETSY store.

Holiday Art Studio Tour

The Holiday Art Tour is seven weeks away and I just got a copy of the brochure cover from the tour manager.  And that's a detail from one of my paintings on the cover, so I'm showing it off and letting everyone know well in advance that I'm showing paintings in December at Quartermaster Cottage in Burton along with Jan Wall and Donna Botten.  Put it on your calendar.  The painting of the red ferry will be at the show - along with other paintings of ferries, island scenes, still lifes, and more.

Three Cherry Tomatoes SOLD

Three cherry tomatoes from my garden - we're having wet and rainy now, but these are in the greenhouse so they're still doing summer.  I like the strong dramatic shadows.  Created from a still life I set up in my studio - in a bit smaller size.  I'm sending three pieces to a small painting show and he frame can only be 6" on the outside so this painting is 4" x 4." I am trying to make the painting simple and readable from across the room, but, because it is so small, I want to pack it with detail to make it interesting close up. 

Six Green Onions on Turquoise - Scallions in light and shadow - Spring Onions - Kitchen Vegetable Art SOLD

These scallions are from the grocery store and have short stubby roots.  The ones we grow in the garden have long tresses that are difficult to paint--it's too easy to get caught in the details and try to paint every root hair.  So I actually like the store-bought ones better (for painting, anyway).  On my ETSY store
 

Pewter Jug and Four Tomatoes - Kitchen Still Life - Metal Pot and Vegetables -Cherry Tomatoes and Reflections SOLD

The season for cherry tomatoes is almost over.  Here are four Sun Gold tomatoes posed with a small metal vase.  I like the glow of the dull metal and the diffuse reflection of the orange tomatoes.  I put a cardboard shield between the spotlight and the jug and threw the back of the painting into deep shadow.  I like the lost edges where the pot disappears into the shadows.  On my ETSY store.

Small Vase of Zinnias Leaning Right - Two Zinnias in Square Glass Jar SOLD

The dark shadow in the background breaks up the space into two unequal parts and makes the painting more interesting.  The diagonal shadow leaning left opposes the flowers leaning right and makes a nice balance.  I like the dark pink centers of these pale peach zinnias.  On my ETSY store.

Pewter Pot and Three Tomatoes - Bright Cherry Tomatoes and Metal Vase

Dark shadows hug a small pewter pot and leave three cherry tomatoes in bright light.  The metal pot picks us warm colors from the tomatoes.  I notice when I paint that sometimes the edges of dark shadows have a halo of orange or magenta.  I'm not sure if it's really there or if it's a product of the lenses in my glasses bending the light at these areas.  I notice it, so I put it in.  But I can't remember seeing this in my youth before I wore glasses or bifocals.  Do other people see this?