Katie's Flowers

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

This will be the last of the flower paintings for a while. These beauties are past their prime. Luckily more flowers are available when I am ready to paint them again. By the way, Katie is my graddaughter. The first of nine to be born 13 years ago. She gave me the vase and the flowers remind me of her sunny personality!

On another note - I am sure you heard that Tony Curtis passed away. He was in one of my all time favorite movies, Some Like It Hot with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. Even thinking about it will bring a smile! Thanks to YouTube I can share with you a clip from that movie. Click HERE and ENJOY!

Katie's Vase with Flowers

8x6 Oil on Canvas Panel

I wanted to try a different support and found a canvas panel from Raymar in my stacks of panels. It defintely feels different and it took quite a while to become accustomed to a little more texture than the smooth gessobord I normally use. At this point I still prefer the gessobord, but I am going to paint once in a while on the canvas panel as it does bring a distinct texture to the painting. I ordered some panels for Carol Marine's workshop I will be attending next month (can't wait!) so I will have some here to play with when I feel like it. They will be used as well as the gessobords from Ampersand I will bring. What are your favorite supports? Does the size of the painting determine the type of support you use?

Katie's Vase

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

Watermelon

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

I have begun a continuing education class for still life painting at Texas Christian University on Thursday nights. It's wonderful having fellow artists to visit with and share our paintings. Yesterday our instructor, Carol Ivey, brought a big watermelon into class and cut it into several pieces. Each artist took an easel and took a spot around a huge table with watermelon everywhere. This was my perspective. I had a blast!

Green Pumpkin

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

My favorite produce department at Central Market comes through again! They have an unbelievable selection of pumpkins and gourds. This speciman is odd shaped and has beautiful colors of grayed greens and blues. And the stem is thick with a small spiral of the stem twirling down. Of course, I had to grab it and bring out my paints! I want to paint it again and again as there are many ways to paint it differently due to its odd shape. I am soooo happy Fall is here! It is my favorite time of the year! The days are cooler, the light is softened and the colors are warm. And there are new vegetables and fruits to paint!

The Last Three

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

This will be the last mushroom painting for a while. Although, I learned a lot about painting white - the many colors - I think I will go on to other things and paint white again some other time. There is a lot more to learn!

"The hurrier I go ....... the behinder I get." I don't know who said this or when, but that is how I feel. There just seems to be so much to do and I can't seem to catch up! I begin each day with my list in hand (I love to cross out projects!) with high hopes that all will be completed. HAHAHAHA! The good thing is that I know tomorrow is another day and I can begin again. The last few days the list will get a little smaller and then somehow grow. I have no idea what happens, but the list gets longer. UGH! OK enough whining. Just had to vent a little!

THREE DAYS APPLES

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

Apples - the shapes, colors, volume. It seems that apples and other fruits are always a popular subject to paint. I like the practice of painting apples. They are familiar, but at the same time different each time they are painted. Isn't it wonderful that produce from the super market brings such joy?

The weekend is here - ENJOY!

FIVE MUSHROOMS

5x7 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

On Thursday nights I take a continuing education painting class at TCU. Last Thursday we worked on whites. I wiped out my painting from class, but wanted to continue the exercise at home. While shopping at Central Market I found mushrooms, white eggplant, and garlic. This is the first of my white exercises and hopefully there will be more.

FISHMONGER

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

While exploring Philadelphia I found a fish market and took some photos. This is painted from one of those photographs.

Click HERE to see an artist's blog from San Antonio, Texas. Her name is Lorraine Shirkus and I think you will enjoy her work!

COLORS ON PEGS

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

This painting was done from another photograph taken in New York City. These clothes were hanging on pegs in a store window and just called me to take a photograph. I'm glad I did. I haven't even scratched the surface of all the photographs I took while in NYC.

CRACKED TWO

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

I decided to paint the egg shells again. I took a photograph before I finished the last painting and used it here. I wanted to paint them in different colors and practice the shapes again. The shells are sitting on a shelf and I could use more practice so I may set up another still life.

APPLES

6x6 Oil onAmpersand Gessobord

It is the season for apples. My favorite fruit to paint is pears, but apples rank right up there. These apples, I think they are cameo apples, were bought at my favorite grocery store, Central Market. If you ever have the opportunity to just go in and browse, take it because the colors and shapes in every department will inspire many a painting.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK-END!!

SEPTEMBER SUNFLOWERS

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

This is my submission for ARTISTS HELPING ARTISTS September challenge. The challenge is fun, but in addition to that there is good information for artists. I strongly suggest taking a few minutes to visit this extraordinary blog hosted by Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry.

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

Click HERE to bid on EBay.

While Phil and I were in Philadelphia we visited a fantastic market - wish I could remember the name. There were counters full of flowers, pastries, meats, cheese and fish. Shapes and beautiful, vibrant colors were everywhere. It was a delight for the eyes and such a treat! I took lots of pictures and several at the fish counter. This painting is done from one of those photographs. I painted it for SOME TEXAS ARTISTS LIKE TO PAINT September challenge, which is FISH. Stop by and take a look at some creative interpretations!

8th AVE. & W.48th ST., NYC

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

Click HERE to bid on Ebay.

This month Bill Guffey has organized a VIRTUAL PAINTOUT in Manhattan Island. What a treat! After spending a week in NYC in June I recognized a lot of what Google has to offer in their street views. If you are looking for a challenge that is lots of fun visit VIRTUAL PAINTOUT!

CRACKED

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

Click HERE to bid on Ebay.

JUST ONE LEMON

5x7 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord

Click HERE to bid on Ebay.

This is my submission to Rookie Painter. This painting was fun and another exercise in values. The photograph isn't the best - I may try again to get a better photograph and replace this one. We'll see. Take a few minutes and visit Rookie Painter and see some creative works.