Two Peonies One Open

 A 6 x 8 original oil still life painting of two pink peonies lying on the tabletop. One is just opening, and one is completely open. The peonies are fragrant and lush, and remarkably sturdy. I like the way the light touches the flowers - I used a cardboard shield to control the shadows and throw the background into shadow. The shadows give a nice sense of volume.   On my ETSY store

One Peony, One Bud, Silver Vase

One flower, one unopened bud and a silver vase to add some shine.  I kept everything in the shadow except for light falling on the pink peony and the tabletop.  The opened peony is very pale, but I had to deepen the shadows in order to make the highlights stand out.  I like the soft edges on the metal vase, and I like the light that just skims the open flower.  On my ETSY store.

Peony and Bud on the Table

I filled the table with leaves and shadows, but left the peonies in light. There's a silver pot in the background shadows.   On my ETSY store

Pink Peony Bouquet, Spring has arrived!

Pink peonies remind me of childhood - we had a peony bush beside the garage that came back year after year. The fragrance of iris and lilacs and peonies would compete to announce the arrival of spring.  I like the lushness of the blossoms and their delicate color.  Even though they are soft, they are hardy and have lasted in my studio for a week!  On my ETSY store

Red Onions Silver Bowl

I posted this one several years ago, but recently did a little work on it.  I added some darker values to the tabletop and reflection in the bowl and simplified some of the painting in the onions. I like the simplified colors.  The painting is stronger when I use fewer colors and rely more on value to create the drama in the painting.   This one is on my ETSY store.

Mock Orange on Brown

The mock orange has bloomed and I managed to pick a couple of bouquets and paint them in my studio.  The house was filled with the heavenly fragrance.  I like the simplification in the masses of flowers.  On my ETSY store

Mock Orange on Blue

The flowers are pretty, but the smell is wonderful!  I only paint them so I can have that delicious scent in the studio for days.  I like the simplification of darks and lights in the flowers.  For such small flowers it's easiest to paint them as one mass with darks and lights in it.  Mostly do a lot of squinting.On my ETSY store

Orange Slices and Green Plate SOLD

This small square dish is a lovely yellow green color with just enough room for three slices of orange.  I like the many greens, yellow green for the plate, minty cool green for the tabletop and shadow and deep green for the background.  All complemented by the oranges and the orange stripe.  I also like the perspective of the plate and its shadow. 

Glass Jar Red Onion on Green

I like the lost and found edges in the glass jar.  The red onion is a nice contrast to the dominant green and the color is repeated in the red brown in the background and in the reflections on the glass.  This is a low key painting, the only whites are the highlights.  On my ETSY store

Kiwis and Glass Jar on Green

Kiwis have such lovely color on the inside; intense chartreuse.   The outside of the kiwi is not exciting -brown and fuzzy but the skin is thin and light will go through - like the translucent skin of a grape.  I like the contrast of greens and the loose painting of the jar.   On my ETSY store

Blue Metal Teapot with Dandelions, Blue Pot and Yellow Flowers

You have to paint fast to paint dandelions because they do NOT last.  I sketched the teapot in pencil and painted first on the dandelions because they were wilting and closing and otherwise would not make it to then end of the painting.  Another painting of my favorite teapot in strong top light.  On my ETSY store