Hibiscus Cat

Hibiscus Cat

12x9"

Oil

$216

DPW $172

     We all know that cats stalk their prey, but when I am visiting my sister, I stalk her cat. She is very beautiful with wonderful markings. I have taken so many, many pictures of her and have painted quite a few. This time I was lucky to catch her peeking out of the bushes with the evening sun making her fur glow. I tried to keep the white as pure from the tube as I could on those illuminated places. I did not adjust the composition. It is just as it was, a gift. I love it when Nature provides.

Fruit Bowl Close Up

Fruit Bowl Close Up

12 x 12"

Oil

$288

DPW $230

     The fruit in this bowl looks very nice when seen as a whole bowl and all the fruit, but I found it more interesting close up. It looked even better the closer I got. Then when I allowed the edge of the bowl to leave the canvas, I really liked it. 

     My friend says to always have part of your shapes go outside the picture frame. I believe she is right, but I must be careful not to cut things in half, and definitely do not go just to the edge and "tickle" the edge of the canvas. Then I must be sure that what I have left is not stuck right in the middle.          

     Composition can be such a juggling act.

     

Cherry with White Teapot

Cherry with White Teapot

6x6"

Oil

$72

DPW $60

     White. Now there is a color for you. What paint do you choose? Certainly not white. 

     In this little painting, I had to work with white and with gray. I wanted the cherry to be brilliantly red. The "big idea" was the red against the white. I did what Carol Marine teaches: I mixed red, yellow, and blue to get a gray. I like the way it came out a little greenish to complement and emphasize the red. So the white is not really white, but green. It also had to be not white so that I could put a highlight on that showed. 

     This white business is very challenging. I will try to do more. I have always enjoyed looking at paintings that have lots of white done well.

Cherries Two and One

Cherries Two and One

5x7"

Oil

$70

DPW $60

     So many non-art duties keeping me away from the studio lately, so I decided to warm up with friendly cherries.

     I have been studying Carol Marine's lesson on color and the importance of gray. I have always known that color stands out against neutral, but I usually end up just painting with color wheel colors.  Here I tried to gray down the shadow on the creamy background so that the red cherries will glow.  I like it, but now what am I supposed to do about that other teacher who said to use warm shadows in a warm painting!?

     If you listen to too many people, you can really get messed up.