Blue and Yellow Cups

This weekend was a busy one, but I managed to find some colorful crockery that I thought would make nice subject matter for a small oil painting. I bought several, in primary colors.

The small 8" x 8" oil painting on canvas panel that you see here was a challenge, since I deliberately chose a reflective base on which to arrange the cups. I wanted to allow the reflections to be an intricate part of the design.

I think that I achieved this, and would like to try similar challenges, using this reflective surface. I still see a little glare from the photography, as the light tends to make the oil gleam. Rest assured that this is NOT part of the painting. I will try another photograph in natural light (when the weather is not so inclement).

Perhaps I will use all three primary colors tomorrow, in a new "reflective" painting.

White Horse: Work in Progress

Something a little different today...

I thought that I would show you a large horse painting that I have worked on for several days. I hope to finish this 30" x 40" canvas this weekend. I took it as far as I could, and let it "rest" for a while before deciding exactly how I want to portray the horse's mane.

I want to add a flowing mane, but I don't want to obscure any of the musculature, which I intend to be the highlight and main focus of the acrylic painting. This dilemma was cause for a respite.

I still need to paint in the shadows, too. I may minimize the mane, and simplify the bright background a bit. But I am pleased with the cool hues of the horse.

Please stay tuned as I attempt to finish this latest project.

The Final Peppers (or Big Red and Big Green)

Okay, I don't want anyone to think that I am obsessed with peppers, so I promise that I will change subject matter really soon. But the light effects on these colorful objects are simply very inviting as a painting subject. I just couldn't resist...and since the peppers were out of season when I bought them, I naturally want to get my money's worth!

I hope you enjoy this latest exercise, which I am calling "Big Red and Big Green". This is a small oil painting, 5" x 7" on panel, which I am considering framing in similar dark frames as with the others in the "Pepper Collection". As with the other square shaped panels, this painting was completed alla prima.

Thanks again for visiting. A new challenge begins tomorrow! (Probably???)

Red and Green

I used my light box to highlight these small red peppers nestled against the large, dark green pepper. I enjoy these two colors together, even outside of the holiday season.

I completed this small 5" x 7" oil painting last night, and attempted to photograph it in natural light. I still think that I can improve on the photography, but the colors are fairly true. I think I may frame a few of these pepper pictures, and offer them for sell as a set. I am debating the frame color, though. I don't want the frame color to compete with the intensity of the oil colors in these brightly painted works.

I don't believe that these paintings will require a varnish. The oils that I used were very consistent.

Please contact me with any questions or comments.

Until tomorrow, Ciao!

Picked Another Pepper to Paint

"Green Pepper"


8" x 8"


Oil on Panel



My final pepper from the recent raid that I made on the produce section of my local grocery store was this large green pepper. (I think it is a poblano, but I really don't know for certain). I plan to also paint this alongside some very red chili peppers, to celebrate the juxtaposition of these two vibrantly colored veggies.

I chose a decidedly warmer background than with my previous pepper pics, to make the greens stand out in this darker, "cooler" subject. I am pleased with the results in this exercise...but, tomorrow is another day...

Comparison of Light Effects

A friend suggested to me that I was doing my art an injustice by photographing and posting it in artificial light. I knew that natural light was best, and I had purchased a special "natural light lamp" and bulb, hoping to get that pure white light effect without hauling everything outside for photographing. Still, I noticed that my paintings, once photographed, looked a little "washed out", as they did not always reflect the true, pure colors that I used in the painting process.

I now conclude that there is no substitute for natural white light. As an illustration, I photographed the Big Red Bell Pepper a second time...this time in natural light. I see that the colors look much truer, richer, more accurate.

This is very important, because I want to show my art as realistically as possible, with no surprises to the buyer, or viewer, when they look upon the actual work. I pledge to improve my art photography skills henceforth!

Big Red Bell Pepper

Well, I guess the title says it all!

I am now running out of produce. Hmmm...there may be one more green pepper in the fridge awaiting its portrait. Maybe tomorrow...

Anyway, I am trying to learn to paint these single objects with a very few brushstrokes, yet still lend some realism to the object. Basically, I am trying to master quick broad brushstrokes while working on these small 8" x 8" oil paintings, alla prima.

It is really fun to finish these paintings in a single setting. I enjoy the color contrasts of the strong red and green, as well.

Not So Peachy Keen

Oil Painting
6" x 8"

I had a real struggle with this peach. It was such an unusual color and shape, that it really did not look like your typical peach. The colors were more yellow and purple than a typical "peach" hue,and there was very little fuzz and no stem. On top of that, it had a large bump on the bottom.

I thought that it might make for an interesting painting; however, I am still on the fence about the outcome. I just really want to go ahead and add that fuzzy texture (that isn't actually there) so that it will look more like a peach than a nectarine.

I think that I will move on, though, and try painting that poblano pepper I bought 2 days ago. I'll go ahead and tell my mother that she can eat the peach, as she has been threatening to do, since I bought it!

Two Red Hot Chili Peppers

Decided to paint something a little colorful. So I went to the grocery and stood staring at the vegetable bins, trying to decide what would make the most interesting small painting arrangements, in terms of color and structure.

Since red is my favorite color, the choice was rather easy...these brightly colored chili peppers. I also chose a large poblano pepper, a red bell pepper, and a medium peach. Well, it took me a little time to find the precisely appropriate perishables, so let me tell you that I got some really strange glances from the produce manager, as well as a few fellow customers. But, no worries! I approached the checkout counter as proud as a new parent with my carefully selected, colorful incredible edibles.

It was a great deal of fun painting red against green, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Today I may graduate to the poblano...stay with me...

Lakeside Color

Another busy weekend, but I did manage to crank out a new landscape. This one is 12" x 14", oil on panel.

I am really enjoying the buttery, flowing texture of this medium. Working with it just never gets old!

This landscape was drawn from a number of memories of my days living in Colorado. I loved the myriad of colors that each autumn would bring.

Yellow Flower

It rarely snows in this southern region; however, as in many American cities this winter, we experienced this phenomenon over the last couple of days. Maybe that is why I decided to paint a sunflower, which is perhaps the antithesis of the white, colorless wintry view from my front window.

This small oil painting is an 8" x 8" panel that I categorize as another of my "daily paintings", which I have enjoyed creating over the last couple of months, and plan to continue to post on a regular basis.

As always, comments and suggestions are welcome!

An Apple a Day...

Abstract Apple
8" x 8"
Oil on Panel

I bought a huge bag of Red Delicious apples, which are really the only apples that I find consistently tasty. But they were the darkest apples that I had ever seen. I first tried a realist painting approach, but the apple looked more like a dark plum to me. I ended up rubbing that painting right off the panel.

One more attempt delivered virtually the same results.

Next, I decided to go with this abstract approach. I am pleased with the colors in this very simple design. However, it seems I am still battling the glow of the oil when it comes to photographing the art. I plan to resolve that this weekend...I am on a mission!

Little Lady Lucy

Last night I tried to figure out a way to photograph this 12" x 12" oil painting of my boxer, Lucy, so that the glare from the oil would not distract from the details. While this attempt is better than yesterday's effort, there is still glare.

I am simply going to have to use all natural lighting. These expensive "daylight" bulbs are not doing the trick when it comes to photography. My light box didn't prevent the glare, either.

Obviously, photographing my paintings is a journey, not unlike the actual painting process. I shall just keep trying until I find a method that works for me!

As for the painting itself, I worked from a photo that I took of Lucy on a trip to Florida last year. As I painted, I became very aware that my doggie has gotten quite gray in the face, where she previously had worn a "black mask". I guess it happens to all of us, sooner or later.

My Mom loves the picture, since Lucy looks as though she is smiling...people are always telling us that Lucy is smiling at them, so it seems appropriate to capture the expression in oils. This painting was especially fun for me!

I will be back soon, with another daily painting.

The Red Cup

Happy Monday! I had such a productive weekend, I am surprised at myself. I completed 2 oil paintings, cooked a turkey, packed moving boxes, and watched the Super Bowl game...for me, that's a big weekend!

For my daily painting, I completed this simple red cup with spoon, a small oil painting. I deliberately used large brushes and kept the strokes loose. I did the opposite with my second painting, as I truly wanted to catch the details in the face of my ten year old boxer, Lucy. Unfortunately, I am still dealing with the glare that I am getting off of the oil whenever I take my photos. It was cold and damp outside, though, and I couldn't use the natural light. I will attempt another photo of the "Lucy" painting prior to posting.

I am still trying to decide which style I enjoy the most - whether the loose, minimalist, painterly approach, or the tightly rendered realistic approach. I know that most artists make a choice, but I honestly enjoy both styles, and choose the one that fits my mood when I stand at the easel.

I hope that you enjoy these paintings. I welcome your opinions!

Pretty Potted Purply Pansies

The groundhog didn't see his shadow? But it is so cold now! What about now?

Actually, I am really fortunate to be south of most of the cold weather. I decided to get out the oil paints and paint some cold weather friends...Pansies! These delicate, lovely flowers are among my very favorites. It really makes me smile to see them peering out from under the frost every morning, defying the cold weather. (Of course, here cold weather means any time it falls below 40 degrees).

Bright Pansies

10" x 10"

Canvas Mounted on Panel

Still, I enjoy these multicolored blooms every year, and was inspired to record them in this small daily oil painting.

Thanks for looking!

Another Daily Painting

I love to paint horses. I know that is no secret for anyone who knows me or reads my posts. But typically my horse paintings are quite large. Perhaps that is why creating "The Sad White Horse" was so satisfying for me - it is only 8" x 10", and it was completed in a single session.

Initially, I thought that the horse looked scarier than sad, but sadness trumped because I was reluctant to take credit for "The Scary White Horse".

I enjoyed the looseness of this oil painting. I think the brushstrokes and colors make for a moody painting.

The Sad White Horse
8" x 10"
Oil on Panel

Please keep watching. More daily paintings to follow...

Chasing the Light

I went on a mission to find some bottles that I could paint. My goal was a detailed study of reflective light. Unfortunately, all I could find were these clear bottles, and none of them were actually empty.

Chasing the Light
12" x 16"
Oil on Panel

But, I settled for this arrangement. Now I wish that I had klept on looking, because the reflections that I captured were not quite what I intended. I realized during the process that I had way too many light sources. This made for much confusion, especially after the sunlight decided to wane.

Eureka! This actually turned out to be a positive experience...I was finally motivated to create a light box to enable me to control my light sources. I love it. Over the next few days, I will show you several small new paintings that I have created with the use of this light box.

Thanks for looking!