Lean on Me

8 x 10 oil on hardboard

This was painted quickly today because I really worked most of the day on a small portrait study of my granddaughter and some of her friends at her birthday party.  I still haven't finished that one but took the reference photo for this when my daughter still had all of her wedding gifts on display.  I placed the pears on a copper platter she received.  I loved the glow of the pears on the rich copper color but didn't want to render the platter - just used some of the colors.

Beach 2012

10 x 12 oil on canvas panel

I wanted to try to see if I could "suggest" the people in the water and it's ok to me.  The photo was not very good (no lights and darks).   I love it when you can get a good snapshot and the lighting is right.  Those paintings seem to paint themselves.  I re-worked Monday's painting after seeing it on the blog.  The background looked too stark so I added a little more detail and,  to me,  it works better.

Restaurant Study #1

12 x 12 oil on stretched canvas

I don't know what is more difficult - painting the picture or naming it.  I can't come up with good names at all - so I tacked on a boring title!   The scene appealed to me because of the back lighting.  I had my IPhone with me and snapped it while we were in a restaurant a month or so ago.  

Beach Bird

6 x 6 on hardboard

Today has been gloomy and rainy so I decided to paint this seagull on a sunny beach.  The day I took the reference photo there were hundred of these birds on the beach in Fairhope.  They were swarming around the beachgoers wanting the expected bread that they always feed them.  After I painted this I dropped it face down on the carpet so I have a little retouching to do tomorrow and some major spot removal for my carpet - Thalo Blue is tough to get out,  it's such a strong color but I love it!

Who's Got An Attitude?

12 x 12 oil on cradled gessobord

These chickens appealed to me because they both had personality!  I haven't painted much lately but had wanted to try these to get the feel of thicker paint again.  

Pointe Work

8 x 10 oil on canvas panel

I have been working on these for 3 days!  After this little exercise, I think I will leave satin alone.   While painting it, I found myself overworking for a realistic look - something I really don't want to do at this point.

Docked at Phillips

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel

I finally got back with my painting group today after being away for several weeks.  I really get inspired there but I am SO rusty.  I just haven't been in the groove lately for painting and I have had many wipe offs!   I finally decided to just keep going with this one.  It needs a little more work and I see, after photographing, that I must have scratched the surface on the lower left some how so it will have to be repaired.

Fairhope Beach

14 x 18 oil on canvas panel

Another try at a landscape.  This photo was taking along the beach at Fairhope, Alabama.  It is so pretty there with ducks, geese and sea gulls congregating in the area.  

Hydrangeas II

 12 x 16 oil on stretched canvas

Still working on painting hydrangeas.....and still haven't gotten it yet.  They are blooming so beautifully now, I wish I could capture their subtle color changes.

Canton Tomatoes

11 x 14 oil on stretched canvas

These are some tomatoes that my daughter's father-in-law grows and generously shares with our family as well as many others.  He has a large garden at his house and grows squash, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, eggplant - you name it - and it is all so good.   I painted the sides of this canvas before I photographed it and what a mess I am - covered in blue paint plus I have dropped it several times also.  I won't do that again; I'll photograph it first!