avocado on toasted bagel

Saturday morning - avocado on a toasted whole grain bagel.
6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

avocado comfort

After days of family and business obligations, my friend Marilyn Webberley noticed by email that I had been at my computer from morning until night. She advised me: "...you are sitting at your Mac toooooooooooooo long today! Have a cup of tea and go paint for a little while." So I did. This is comfort painting, a favorite food with easy shapes and familiar color. I feel better. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite

cherries

These first-of-the-season cherries got out of control a couple times. When Rainier cherries are available I'll try them...earlier in the day when I have more natural light. 6x8 inches, oil on panel.

pepper

Painting one of these little oils in a single session is definitely better than stopping and coming back to a painting in progress. The work looks fresher (no pun intended), more spontaneous.

In all my years as a colored pencil artist, only once did I slice the fruit or vegetable. I'm not sure why I didn't but now I find myself at the grocery store looking for the next thing to cut up. The inside of this orange pepper is so beautiful. And, I love that I was the first person in the whole world to see inside. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

grapes

After a 5 hour lunch/catchup date yesterday with an old friend, I returned to my easel and these grapes. I think my vision is clearer (and it shows) if I don't start, stop, restart. I look forward to beginning a new painting and to finishing it in one session.
6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

mango

Today's little painting is a mango. Halved, peeled and quartered.
6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

avocado comfort

The link to exhibitions I've been in (and upcoming) is connected now. I'll still post text about new shows in this daily journal.A beautiful, sunny Sunday morning.Today it is avocado. I love the contrast between the buttery flesh and leather-like skin. Avocado on toast for breakfast. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

bouquet

A few days ago I received this bouquet in appreciation of work for Women Painters of Washington. Such a nice "slice of life" needs to be painted. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

Soon, I'm going to create a link for the show cards I've been posting to this journal. Watch for it under Links.

mango madness

I haven't painted for days and it really felt like it as I worked on these mangos and one yellow pepper. The most interesting thing about this painting is that I just found out the plural of mango can be spelled mangos or mangoes. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

lemons in water

The perspective on this glass of water, as well as the first blue sky in months, caught my attention. Slices of lemon - again.
8x6 inches, oil on masonite.

lemon slices

More lemon slices today because I have a huge bag of them from Costco. After painting, slices go onto a cookie sheet and into the freezer. Then, into a bag for glasses of water with lemon. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

I was pleased to receive an Honorable Mention Award in this show, the 2008 NPS Members' Exhibition. Click image to enlarge.

Here is information on an upcoming exhibition and an image of the painting I'll have in the show. Click image to enlarge.

lemon, halved

Today, Saturday, is a day for experimental painting. Lemon (sliced) was painted from life instead of from a reference photo on my laptop. After about an hour, I decided to just use up the paint on my palette, wipe the painting off, and try again tomorrow. Someplace in there, the phone rang and when I got back to the lemon it had a few redeeming qualities. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

strawberries

I guess I'm back into red today with first-of-the-season strawberries. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

radishes

Slices today are radish. Bunches 3/$1. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

All my little slices of life are lined up in my studio. It is very satisfying to look at them and see what happens when I have time (make time?) to paint daily. Click image to enlarge.

The second, and probably the last, banana I will ever paint is headed for banana bread. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.

artichoke

Sliced artichoke today. These colors were a refreshing change from yesterday's palette. My fourth day of painting daily - an unusual luxury to have this much time in one week. 6x8 inches, oil on masonite.