663 Shannon's Apples

Shannon's Apples

oil on canvas

6x18"

$243

     I cut these apples from the tree in Shannon's yard. Apples are such a common fruit, supermarkets piled high with them, but when the branch comes straight off the tree, they become special.

 

656 Garbo Dreams

Garbo Dreams

oil on canvas

6x6"

$100

     In my love of painting faces, I come back again and again to Garbo. Did you ever notice she has a little cleft chin? Is that an imperfection or does it make her more perfect?

 

662 Gingko Branch

Gingko Branch

oil on canvas

6x8"

$120

     At this time of year our Gingko tree is loaded with pretty little leaves. They make a delicate, ruffly pattern I enjoy painting. Soon they will turn bright yellow and fall, covering our yard with yet another beautiful pattern.

     I have spoken of the Gingko in earlier posts. It is a remarkable tree. (I think it possesses magical properties.)

     

 

658 Mandarin with Leaf

Mandarin with Leaf

oil on canvas

8x10"

$200

     A single mandarin is not much going on in a painting. As simple as it is, it took some effort to paint anyway. 

 

657 Western Bluebird

Western Bluebird

oil on canvas

6x6"

$90

     I love to see that splash of bright blue when they fly low across the yard. This bluebird is a member of the thrush family. In this painting he is perched on the rim of the birdbath, a favorite spot for him to rest and for me to watch.

 

660 Marlene in a White Hat

Marlene in a White Hat

oil on canvas

6x6"

$100

     It is funny how difficult it is to paint a face at a slight angle. Your eyes and brain just naturally want to straighten everything up, so I think Marlene might not be lined up as perfectly as she should be.

     Too bad I had to paint her hollow cheeks so dark,  but she just was not herself until I did.

     She was so amazing in the old movie, Judgment at Nuremberg.

 

655 Little Finch

Little Finch

oil on canvas

8x8"

$160

     We love the birds that come to our bird baths, especially the ones who turn to give you a sardonic smile. We laugh when they splash wildly and happily in the water. This one is saying, "Doesn't take much to amuse you, does it?"

 

654 Brooks

Brooks

oil on canvas

6x6"

$100

     I love painting Louise Brooks. Have done her several times and will probably do her again. She and Greta and Marlene are my top favorites.

 

652 Persimmon Fadeout

Persimmon Fadeout

oil on canvas

8x16"

$320

     These are last year's persimmons. In fact, I painted this last year and am posting it only just now.

I was trying for some perspective to show the distant persimmons very distant and fading out. Don't know how well it worked, but I love painting the little orange fruits.

     Persimmon season is coming. I can see them on the tree down the street. Soon new ones to paint. And eat.

 

649 Oregon Apples

 Oregon Apples

oil on canvas

8x6"

$120

     What a gift to be able eat an apple you picked right off the tree! But before you can eat it you have to photograph it for later in the studio.

     So glad to be going again to Oregon again next month to see loved ones. I also get to eat fresh blueberries while I am there.

     

644 Red Point Maple

Red Point Maple

oil on canvas

10x8"

     A very tall Red Point Maple grows in my yard. It is a joy to see it in all its colors throughout the year. As I observed it last year I was charmed by the small branches of colorful leaves. So pretty just hanging daintily and slowly changing day by day. 

     It sure drops a thick layer of leaves in the winter.

 

636 Persimmon Pile Up

 Persimmon Pile Up

oil on canvas

8x16"

     These are the same persimmons as in Fuyu Family, but it is not the same painting.

     I love painting little orange fruits like persimmons and oranges. Just about the time I think I have painted enough of them, another harvest comes and I must paint again. 

641 Cut Bartletts

Cut Bartletts

oil on canvas

9x12"

$238

     Paint them whole or sliced, lying down or standing up straight, with stems or without. Pears have so much to offer. Especially that pretty little star when you cut them across.

 

647 Oregon Morning

Oregon Morning

oil on canvas

9x12"

$270

     

 The morning light hit the low hills across the meadow, making them glow. Only a few minutes later they were a different color, and that went on all morning. One might think I exaggerated the bright color in the painting, but I did not. Such a fine way to enjoy your morning coffee.

646 Hwy 20 Hill

Hwy 20 Hill

oil on canvas

12x12"

$360

     I am studying landscapes. Not strong in this department.

     It is fun though to go on field trips, taking a picnic lunch and the dog, to gather material.

     This scene told me I did not know how to paint clouds. I enjoyed researching that and found that there are many, many, many ways.

     This view along Hwy 20, near Bridgeport, is a typical California scene at this time of year.

 

645 Mendocino Cliff

Mendocino Cliff

oil on canvas

12x12"

$360

     I am enjoying learning about Tonalism, so I am trying my hand at it. I hope to do more because I find it very interesting and moody. I am also trying the new thing for me which is landscape on square canvas. I like this one. I think it is cute. (Can something be both cute and moody?)

     

 

642 Resting Deer

 Resting Deer

oil on canvas

16x12"

$422

     I looked out and there she was under my window, looking right at me. She hung around while I got my camera and then lingered even longer as the morning passed. I left her alone to let her rest awhile.

638 Cherry Bowl

 Cherry Bowl

oil on canvas

8x8"

$140

     This is the final painting of last summer's cherries. I painted this one on an old canvas that had been washed down so many times I did not know if paint would even stick to it. It was pretty slick. I had a little trouble with it because of that, but it turned out that the worn out old canvas was good for something after all.

639 Bartlett Pears

Bartlett Pears

12x9"

oil on canvas

$238

     Pears have been a favorite subject of mine since the very beginning of my painting endeavors. They still charm me with their shape, color, stems, variety. Actually, any painting of a pear turns out kind of good no matter who paints it.

637 Ginkgo

Ginkgo

oil on canvas

9x12"

$240

     "I found this on the web:

'The seed of the Ginkgo is used for food, especially soup, the wood is used for religious furniture, and the leaves and nuts are used for medicine. 

GingkoBellarmine Universityhttps://www.bellarmine.edu › faculty › drobinson › Gi... ' "

What a tree!

In the painting the colors are somber, and there is hardly any point of interest, just one leaf among many. It was hard to do, and I thought about washing it down, but something told me not to. I am glad I listened because now I like it.