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

Nympheas

This was painted for a challenge on Daily Paintworks.  It's a subject I've painted before and always enjoy.  The challenge is trying to make all the lilypads recede in perspective and to lay flat on the water.  The trick is to remember that no matter the shape of the lilypad, it is an oval on a plane and the oval doesn't really tilt to the right or the left unless the plane also tilts. Its the same problem as drawing a bowl or cup on a tabletop- ovals that are closer to the horizon become thinner and flatter, and ovals that are at the bottom of the page in bird's eye view are closer to a circle.  A bit larger 24" x 30".  On my ETSY store

Oranges in a Silver Bowl

A simple composition of warm oranges against a cool green background with a cool silver bowl.    This painting doesn't have unequal (dynamic) divisions of space - the edge of the tabletop divides the panel in half and the bowl is centered on the page.  But still it is interesting because of all the reflections and shadows. 

Oranges in a Glass Bowl on Green SOLD

When I look back at my old posts, I can tell the when the painting was painted from the subject matter.  These satsuma oranges are in season in the middle of winter.  I usually buy them by the box or bag, and because I have so many, they wind up in my studio as well as the kitchen.  I like the orange and blue green together. 

Silver Bowl with Limes

Limes are tropical and summery even in the midst of power outages and wet fall storms.  These are painted from a still life I set up in my studio.  I used a piece of cardboard to cast a shadow over part of the bowl and put the background in deep shadow.  This painting has a very limited color palette mostly shades of green, blue green, and yellow green, with just touches of orange and brown for contrast. 

Limes and Pewter Teapot SOLD

The soft glow of the pewter occupied most my time on this painting.  It was actually fun to try to represent the dull shine.  It opens up a whole new window for painting subjects.  Painted from a still life I set up in my studio.  This one will be at Plum Lodge Painters on the Vashon Art Studio Tour on December 5th and 6th  and December 12th and 13th. Plum Lodge is located at 14210 SW Reddings Beach Rd. 

Camellias in a Pewter Pot

The camellia sasanqua is blooming just outside the front door and cries to be painted.  It has large white single flowers with stunning yellow centers and a tropical fragrance.  I like the stiff dark green leaves against the soft white flowers.  In our garden,  the most fragrant flowers are from this time of year.  Sort of a bonus to offset the short days and rain.

Sun and Smoke Ferry Vashon

The Ferry Tillikum leaves the north end Vashon ferry dock.  Sunlight streams through smoke as the boat slowly pulls away from the dock.  Painted from photos I took from another ferry on the same run.  I just put this painting in the Heron's Nest Gallery on Vashon. 

Opening Daffodils

Spring has been early and this is the last of the field daffodils from the supermarket, though we still have many other varieties in our yard.  I can't resist these, they are so inexpensive and such a glorious riot of yellow.  I painted this with a cool dark gray background, but when it was done I added yellow ochre to the still wet gray to warm it up and make it all more harmonious. 

Blue Green Smoke Ferry SOLD

Another Vashon ferry painting.  The ferry is such an iconic image of Puget Sound.  I spend a lot of time muddling through what would be both a good painting and a clear representation.  I enjoyed the lost and found edges, the softness of the smoke and the way the ferry is sharply contrasted on one side and softly disappearing on the other. 

Red Camellia, Round Jar SOLD

This camellia is just fabulous and flamboyant.  The leaves are stiff and shiny and the flowers have such strong contrast between the red petals and the yellow stamens.  Red is a difficult color to paint because it is so intense; to paint a dark red in shadow, the shadow has to be almost black and the light struck areas aren't really pink, they're still red.  It's as though the colors are vibrating in a spectrum that can't be captured by mere paint. 

Misty Day and Pushki

Another small  painting of pushki.  These large plants have white umbrella shaped clusters of flowers and are common in Alaska.  This painting will be in a show at Artique Ltd gallery in Anchorage in September.

Red Carnations with Green Wall

A painting of red carnations with a bit of green in the against the wall.  I've kept the colors minimal; red and green are complements and when you mix them together you get gray.  I like the light striking the flowers. 

Glass Jar and Crocuses

We have been having warm weather while the rest of the country is inundated in blizzards and snow.  Here the crocuses are blooming.  My daughter planted lots of bulbs from tiny species flowers to these giant hybrids.  I put a shield above the still life to throw a shadow across the background.  The lights hit the front of the vase and the tops of the petals and make interesting shadows on the tabletop.
See on my Etsy store

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. 

North End Ferry

The ferry dock on the north end of Vashon juts out against narrow strips of beach and high, tree-covered cliffs.  The high cliffs shadow the beach and dock, but the sun shines on the ferry.  A view painted from photographs I took from the sister ship that travels the same route.
Click here to see this On my Etsy store

Westport Marsh View South

A scene near Westport, WA - one of many inlets and sloughs on the south side of Gray's Harbor.  I like the many different shades of greens.  The colors are cool and soft, and show it was a hazy day near the ocean.  This will be in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery in September. 

Daisies - Just Opening

Daisies again - these are just opening and the petals still bend upwards.  I like the glass jar and the way it disappears against the tabletop. 

Pale Rosebud on Harmonious Grays

Painted several weeks ago when the pale pink roses were still blooming.  I left the background a high key and very neutral gray so that the pale pinks and pale greens are all very harmonious.  I enjoy the splotches of runny paint in the background. 
On my ETSY store

Blue Harbor and Sailboats

A view of sailboats at anchor on a sunny day in Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon Island.  The dark green hills are reflected in the water and sunlight bounces off the white decks.  I like the overall light and the saturated colors.  (Every now and then it's fund to use the colors undiluted.)  Painted from photos I took on location.   This painting will be in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Winslow Washington in September 2014.  Click here to send me your post office mailing address if you'd like me to add you to my postcard mailing list for the show.  (The mailing list will be used for show postcards only)