favorite subjects

(5x7)

A small white flower painting: this subject never loses it appeal.
Below, two done (except now I see I need to darken slightly the lower part of the front dinghy in the first ... one more wash) boat paintings that I may put in the show in April.

warm and cool

(7x10)

Freehand attempts to paint the same bouquet of flowers using predominantly warm and predominantly cool palettes.

I didn't finish the cool one, wasn't sure where to go with it ...

chiles and lemon

 
(11x15)
From a beautiful reference photo by Sylvia Lang at Paint My Photo.
I think I'd like to try it again, holding on to more whites in the peppers.

fishing boats

Three 5x7 fishing boat scenes in three stages: done, not-quite done, nowhere-near done.

an old dpw challenge

(5x7)
From a DPW photo.
I don't usually use mask; I can never seem to adequately integrate the white it leaves back into the painting and I can see from this photo that some of these whites need to be toned down ... But I want to start trying to paint more cats.
Just a couple of years ago I had four, three oldsters and one kitten, but I could never get good photos of them. I'd try to sneak up and get the photo but as soon as one my cats would see me, he or she would come running over for some kisses. So have a lot of blurry photos of big cat heads.
I was at an art show last week where I saw the most beautiful painting of two cats ...
Here comes my sole little cat now for some petting. Gotta go.

magnolias preview

 
(7x11)
More magnollias, from photos. I can't wait for my magnolias to bloom this year--I now have two.

I started this intending to paint a dark background to make the flowers look whiter, but decided the background space was too large and just added some leaf shapes to define some edges.

A couple of smaller studies done earlier.

 
(5x7)

 
(5x7)

1-day workshop

(11x15)
I did a 1-day workshop yesterday with my Monday teacher, Marie Natale, She has a showing hanging in Hammonton, NJ, about 90 minutes from me, of paintings from her trip to Italy last year and the workshop focused on Italian scenes, specifically on painting aged stucco facades, which is fun since they have so many colors and irregularities.
I started out a little apprehensive since--although I have no problem painting other people's "challenge" photos--I don't usually paint places I haven't been; I don't know, I think I worried it would feel inauthentic ... But then, it's just shapes and color on paper ... and it was fun.
Also, I had a fabulous lunch at a wine bar across the street from the art center. Typically contrarian, I had beer, Ommegang, and a fabulous little plate of three fried polenta triangles topped with tomato brushetta, black olive tapenade, and mushrooms sauteed in butter and sherry.
I got lost on the way home trying to find a Greek restaurant that I thought was on the way and had to go home without the taramasalata I'd been looking forward to all day.
Painting makes me hungry.

 
(11x15)

Practicing stucco: each square has blue, red and yellow (some have "foliage" at the bottom), with a different predominant color in each vertical row.

glad

 
(5x9)
Last summer a white gladiola bloomed next to my deck. I had no idea how it got there--I had never much cared for gladiolas, but I started to draw, paint, and photograph this one and became a convert. Last fall I planted bulbs for several varieties, including some flaming orange ones that I hope come up.
I think I confused the structure here a bit, but I had fun painting it.

Where I stopped last night:

Thank you for the great suggestions re finishing the dinghies painting: I'm going to work on it today.

a nos pinceaux challenge

 
(10x12)
From a reference at A nos pinceaux. I love this pitcher, so Cezanne-ish. I spent much of last night trying to acquire one like it on eBay. No luck there, but I will be scouring the consignment shops.

 
(in progress)

I'm going to be included in a group show in Cape May in April and have begun to draw and paint some boat- or shore-related works in hopes of selling and being asked back.
This one is nearly done, I think, but it needs something ... Right now, I don't know what!

white daffodils

 
(7x11)
More white on white. I found this one, which was more subtly lighted, more difficult that the magnolia. But I am enjoying the white on white problem.

DPW challenge

 
(4x8)

I painted this for the Daily Paintworks's White on White challenge using Mary Van Arsdel's photo at Paint My Photo. "White on white" seems to be cropping up everywhere I look ... As usual, there are some really great interpretations of the challenge at DPW.
My own personal spring challenge, every year: daffodils. I started this without planning or drawing, just painting the flower shapes. I felt I had to add the darks, and now realize I need to bring them (or some other color, a background?) out to the sides ... and also to break up the line of flowers on the left: that's what happens when you don't plan!

 
(7x11)

practicing

A little practice just putting down paint, trying to remember to press down on the belly of the brush.
My art room is so cluttered I can't settle down to do anything ... so today will be devoted to tidying in hopes of, tomorrow, painting.

slow starts

 
(11x15)

Two paintings I've been nervously dabbing away at ... I wish I could just sit down and keep at them until they were done, but I keep hesitating. On the portrait it's pure fear: I'm just afraid of making mistakes. On the boats, although the water may already be overworked, there isn't much left to do ... I think I'll make it.
My teacher Marie Natale has asked me to contribute a couple of paintings to a show in Cape May in April-May and I have been planning to complete a couple of paintings of boats, hoping they'll find a (buying) audience.

 
(11x15)