Silver Pot and Oranges in Side Light SOLD

This shiny silver pot is such a good subject for reflections.  I used a shield to throw a shadow across the left side of the still life. The shadows add more drama and make the highlights more exciting.  I especially like the red reflection on the rim of the lid.  This painting will be in the Vashon Art Studio Tour the first two weekends in May.  Link to map of Vashon Spring Art Tour  I will be showing my paintings at Stop # 23 in Dockton.  See you there!  In the meantime, this painting is at my ETSY store

Three Cherries on Gray with Reflections SOLD

Three cherries lined up in a row, but with a little bit of variation; a wider space on the right, a taller stem on the left.  I like the soft edges where the reflections on the cherries are close to the values in the background.  I deliberately lost and painted out parts of the stems so that they would disappear into the background.  It makes the stems look like they are curved toward the viewer.  The cherries cast a shadow to the right, but reflected vertically.  Where the reflection and the shadow intersect is the darkest area beneath the cherries. 

White Cup Stack and Five Cherries

Sweet dark cherries are in the store now and I have to paint them while they are in season.  I really enjoy their shiny surfaces. The color of the reflection in the cherries is actually rather dark; a mix of the local color of the cherry (dark red), the additional darkness from the shadow, and a bit cool white from the tabletop.  

White Cup and Three Dark Cherries

It's cherry season again.  These are early sweet cherries - so dark they're almost black, so I paired them with white and gray for strong color harmony and threw in just a touch of red and gold in the lightest areas of the stems and fruit.  Although the cup is white and is sitting on a clear piece of glass that is on a white tabletop, the painting is mostly gray, so that only the few highlights are actually white.  I like the little bits of red in the cherries, they seem to glow. 

Sunset Ferry on Dark Gray Green SOLD

Sometimes the Northwest weather is so colorless that everything seems made of charcoal.  And then a sliver of sun peeks through late in the day.  Just enough to light up the side of the north end ferry at the end of the ferry dock. 

Top Lit Limes in a Silver Bowl

Another exploration of dramatic lighting and deep shadows.  The limes are top lit, the tabletop is lavender and a small orange reflection from an unseen object adds contrast and drama.  I especially like the shape of the reflection of the cast shadow on the underside of the bowl.
On my Etsy Store

Lime, Lime Slices and SilverBowl

I'm experimenting with deep shadows and top lighting.  I like the way the silver bowl melts into the shadows. 6" x 6"
On my Etsy store.

Six Garlic on Gray and Gold

These garlic were from a huge bargain bag.  But because we can't eat garlic fast enough, they were starting to sprout.  So I get a new painting subject.  I like the gradations from dark to light in the background and foreground.

Tangerine on Black

Another small painting (4" x 4") of the tangerine with its leathery green leaves and slightly pear shaped body.  I like the leaf shadow on the round tangerine

Click here to see this on my etsy site

Three Persimmons Silver Pot

I like the leaves of the persimmons.  They are flat and leathery and dull in color and it's easy to put in too much detail to try to make them look like leaves.  So I struggle to simplify the shapes, leave it unfussy, and still convey the idea.  That's what makes painting fun!

Artichoke, Square Glass Jar. on Black

One of Joe's artichokes.  They keep well if you put them in water.  I like the reflections and colors inside the glass jar. 

Bowl of Lemons on Black and Teal SOLD

The yellow color of the lemons harmonizes with the deep green of the background.  I like the reflections in the glass bowl that obscure the lemons and the dark background.  Most of the lights were painted by wiping out.

Silver Bowl and Red Cherries

This painting originally had lots of gold and orange in the tabletop and in the silver bowl.  I decided that it would be more harmonious and dramatic if I reduced the colors and simply made it black, gray, white, and red.  It's fun to go back and try a new idea on an old piece. For those of you who want to see the original, it was posted on August 13, 2011.  Which one do you like?

Red Pepper on Black

I bought a bag of yellow and red peppers last week.  I managed to paint this red pepper before it went into last night's dinner.  I like the strong shadows created by the top light.  This composition reinforces my opinion that a limited palette makes a better painting.