Scar - SOLD

Sometimes it can be a challenge finding the “perfect” produce at the store. This pear didn’t have this much character when it was first purchased. However, after a few days waiting in the fruit bowl to be painted it started to reveal the hardship of its journey. For me, this made a much more interesting subject to paint.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x5 inches.

Bananas #2

There are all kinds of strategies artists use when executing a painting. Some work the whole painting at once. Some will work background to foreground. Some will work outward from the main subject and any variation in-between. Some like to start with tightly rendered drawings while others sculpt form with the paint as if carving a lump of clay. I personally like to exercise many approaches so I don’t become too systematic.

Other considerations come into play depending on the medium being used. For example: watercolor artists tend to work light colors/values to dark colors/values in a painting. Oil painters recommend the opposite; painting thinner dark colors to thicker light colors. Acrylic painters have more options by working as thin and transparent as watercolor or as thick as oil paint.

I used oil for this painting however; I didn’t really stick to the “dark to light” approach of oil. After a loose drawing for placement I started with my yellow (light value) subject. Then, I established the red fabric in light before moving to the bigger red fabric in shadow. I was able to work this way in oil because I worked my color and value changes side by side just like putting puzzle pieces of color together. If I tried applying a darker color directly over a lighter one I would have run into trouble.

Medium: Artists quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x7 inches.

Amity

These two Comice Pears are of a complementary color scheme: red and green. I used Permanent Alizarin as my primary red. Permanent Alizarin is considered a cool red because it leans toward blue on the color wheel. To keep the green in harmony with the red I used a blue/green mixture of Ultramarine Blue and a small amount of Cadmium Yellow Light.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x5 inches.

Standing Guard - SOLD

I was thinking about how some animals seem to take turns at standing guard as the other one sleeps or is too distracted while eating. I see this with the ducks that visit our pond and the deer that have made the backyard home.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x5 inches.

"Apple Half" Oil Painting Progression Video

I shot photo stills as I was painting my last blog post “Apple Half” and made them into a brief instructional youtube video. Click the image above or  click here to watch the moive on youtube.

Apple Half - SOLD

I’ve painted a few apples before; whole to partially eaten. They’re always fun to paint. How did I get this apple to stand perfectly upright? I used a toothpick as a makeshift "apple kickstand".

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x5 inches.

Lemon Half 2 - SOLD

To create the reflection of the lemon on the tabletop, I simply “wiped-out” paint with a soft paper towel.

Medium: Artist Quality Oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x5 inches.

Companion - SOLD

It has been awhile since I last posted. However, that doesn't mean I haven't been painting. This post is my proof. Since we’re in the heart of winter here in the northeast; my plein air painting has become less frequent resulting in only a few snow paintings so far this season. I’ll post those paintings very soon. Still-life has made its way back onto my subject list along with a recent interest in portraiture. I also plan to share that with you in the up coming months.

I never get bored painting pears. They have such character and beautiful subtle colors.
With the help of a snow covered landscape outside these two pears were painted by natural window light.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 6x6 inches.

Orange, White & Blue - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.

Painted on: Artist quality masonite.

Dimensions: 8x8 inches.

Apple Bite - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 6x6 inches.

Apple

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 6x6 inches.

Pomegranate 2 - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 6x6 inches.

Impaired - SOLD

Due to my art show season quickly approaching and the return of milder weather for outdoor painting, I will be posting less small paintings per week in order to work on larger gallery pieces, but do expect to still see new works in your email.

Thank you for your interest in my work.

Medium: Artist quality acrylic.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 5 in. x 5 in.

Rendezvous - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 5 in. x 5 in.

Clementine - SOLD

Texture was the motivation behind this piece; from the torn edges of the peel to the intricate pulp webbing my aim was to capture the feel of these surfaces. This was a fun little daily painting exercise.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 5 in. x 5 in.

Pomegranate - SOLD

The deep cool reds of this pomegranate were my inspiration behind this painting. I did very little mixing utilizing rich color straight from the tube.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 5 in. x 5 in.

Two Lemons - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 5 in. x 5 in.

Lime and a half - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 5 in. x 5 in.

Kiwi - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 5 in. x 5 in.

Muted Pair - SOLD

In this painting I was attracted to the muted reds and greens of the pears' skin. This painting has a nice low-intensity somber feel to it; a muted pair of pears.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 6 in. x 6 in.