385:Kingdom

12" x12" oil on canvas

# 384 High Seas

12" x 12" oil on canvas

# 383: The Mustard Seed

12" x 12" oil on canvas

# 382: Heart Strings

12" x 12" oil on canvas

# 381 Excuse Me

12" x 12" oil on canvas

Doing caricature unusual for me and is something that I aim to explore mere. These two characters came out of an abstract painting that I was working on...they just seemed to appear and once I saw them it was impossible to un-see them. Therefore I decided to flesh them out more.

# 380: Daybreak

12" x 12" oil on canvas

# 379: Dare Devil

12" x 12" oil on canvas

# 378: Rope dancer

12" x 12" oil on canvas

Oh my. It has been a very long time since I posted last. I really need to rename my blog.
 I was a little preoccupied with putting a show of my work up at the Huntington beach library. It was a bit of a paint, but well worth the agony. Thanks to all of you that came to see it!

# 376 Christina

18" x 24" oil on canvas

#375: Flight

12" x 12" oil on canvas

# 374: Butterfly Effect

12" x 12" oil on canvas

# 373: Overpass

12" x 12" oil on canvas

# 372: Warrior Road

12" x 12" oil on canvas

#371: Here and There

12" x 12" oil on stretch canvas

# 370: pollside

12" x 12" oil on canvas

# 369: abstract

12"x 12" oil on canvas

I decided to start posting some of my abstracts. looking at my blog, one can tell that my heart just isn't in the still lives anymore. I am trying to work into my still lives what I am learning from doing these abstract pieces, but I tend to fall into old painting habits and they end up quite dull.

I would love some feed back on this and some title suggestions.

# 368: It Has a Heart

6" x 6" oil on canvas

The artichoke is an ugly flower. But it has a big tasty heart!

367: Trio

6" x 6" oil on canvas

# 366 Country Lemons

6" x 6" oil on canvas

wow, I haven't posted for so long! I have been painting almost everyday, but not small still lives. I have been working on larger works and I am still having trouble getting it all to pull together. I have also been working on an abstract series. Still, I really must get back to doing the little works or I will have to change the name of my blog.

# 365 Grannies and Galas

6" x 6" oil on canvas

I finally got around to doing a still life this week.  I have been mainly working on some abstracts....which has been getting better but it is still a nice break to paint a little still life.

# 364: Jam and Tea

9" x 12" oil on stretched canvas

# 363: Melon Wedges

8" x 8" oil on canvas

#362: Mellon Bowl

8" x 8" oil on canvas

I found establishing the contrast in the orange a bit difficult and the wedge shapes were tricky, but for the most part the painting process went smoothly and I love the orange/green combination.

# 361: Red Bouquet

6" x 6" oil on canvas

# 360: Egg Delight

8" x 8" oil on canvas

Pinocchio has gotten a lot of play time lately

# 359: T-Ball

12" x 12" oil on canvas

Another abstract painting attempt. I had a lot of fun with this one and it makes me happy to look at it and so I guess that that is something.

# 358: Drift

6" x 6" oil on canvas

# 357: Flight

12" x 12" oil on canvas

I haven't posted for a while, but I am back to it. Here is a small abstract that I did a few weeks ago. Instead of starting with a photo, I began with an abstract drawing. I do need a launching off point for these abstract paintings. The blank canvas tends to be intimidating but for some reason doing the drawings...not so much. Probably because there is not color and little value to be concerned about.

# 356: Cornered Plum

5" x 7" oil on canvas

# 354: Block Party

 

18" x 24" oil on stretched canvas

This is the work I did in class today. I decided to work large and set the still life on the floor...hoping that I would be forced to be more abstract with my approach. I guess that it sort of worked in that the brush work is a little bit more expressive...but I still get too caught up with getting the drawing right (though that triangle is a bit off) and then forget about my original intention.

# 353: Tight Fit

6" x 6" oil on canvas

I have been getting into the habit of completing a couple of quick 4" value studies and a color study before starting my paintings. It helps to work out the kinks defines clear values and shapes.  The final painting ends up going a lot quicker as well and so it is well worth the 15 to 20 minutes spent on the warm up.

# 352: lady-like

11" x 14" 

I am doing some studies for a show with the theme "self-identity" I decide to focus my paintings around shoes. Shoes are a great subject for painting.

# 351: Green Apples

8" x 8" oil on canvas

I have been getting back to doing more still lifes again. My endeavors into abstract have been on hold...but I have not given up!

# 350: Pots and Pans

9" x 12" oil on canvas

# 349: Expresso

14" x 10" oil on canvas board

My little  espresso pot has moved to the prop shelf since I have stopped drinking coffee. This is a quick one hour study from my painting class.

# 348: Shiney Toaster

12" x 12" oil on canvas

This started of as a quick sketch but then I went to "finish" it and as usual it got a bit tight. The reflections were interesting in that there is a lot of lee-way when painting them and there is a balance to be maintained..reflection vs surface.

# 347: Two for Tea

8" x 8" oil on canvas

# 346: Tools of the Trade

8" x 10" oil on canvas

I have been forgetting to post at night. This is still one of studies form the speed painting session.

# 345: Lindt-orama

14" x 11" oil on canvas board

Another 1/2 hour study from my speed painting frenzy. Not as satisfying as the shoes..needed more time to really capture those shiny wrappers...I took too long on the golden bag, trying to capture that sheen.

#344: Sneakers

 

11" x 14" oil on canvas panel

We did some speed painting in my class today. The instructor only gave us 1/2 and hour to on each still life. It was a blast!

# 343: Parts of a Whole

6" x 6" oil on canvas

# 342: Banana Union

7" x 5" oil on canvas

# 341: Little Cactus

10" x 8" oil on linen

This is a cactus in friends garden which I have been allowed to use for inspiration. The atmosphere was great and I think that I am getting better at painting outside which has been a challenge for me due to the constantly changing light and the fact that I seem to get color blind painting under sunny skies.

# 340: Up

12" x 12" acrylic on canvas

I have been working on a series of paintings inspired by a piece that I did about a month ago. Focusing on expressive color, lose paint application and parent/child bonding.

# 339: Blue Electric

7" x 5" oil on canvas

# 338: Orange Cabal

8" x 8" oil on canvas

This painting was inspired by a piece by Carol Marine. I love the color and looseness of her painting. I have tendency to overwork things and to get tight and so once in a while it is a good exercise to try to match the spirit of her work.

# 337: Hot Rod Central

8" x 8" oil on canvas

336: Cherry on Top

6" x 6" oil on canvas

I have not painted Miss pig for a long time and so this was a pleasure. The is a great subject because her spherical nature. Seems simple...and a frontal view seems like it should be simple. don't be fooled...because of the lack of visual information frontal views are always simple not easy to pull off.

# 335: Wedges Inside and Out

6" x 6" oil on canvas

# 334: Lemon Bowl

6" x 6" oil on canvas