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.

 

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.

 

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.

635 Fuyu Family

 Fuyu Family

oil on canvas

6x18"

$166

     Little orange fruits! I love to paint them. I was so happy to find these at Trader Joe's all carefully packaged so that their crazy little leaves were not scrunched. Sometimes they dry out and break, ruining their perfect beauty for my painting, but not this time. Even when the leaves turn brittle, the fruit still tastes good. I like mine with a wedge of lime.

634 Cameo Crisp

Cameo Crisp

oil on canvas

8x10"

$176

     When I cut into this apple for lunch, I gasped at the beauty of the colors in its glistening cut surface. So I hurried to take some pictures before I ate it.

     It tasted pretty good. It is a Cameo Crisp (never heard of it before). Fujis are my preferred apple, but I like to try new things, and I am glad I did because it gave me a whole new painting. Thank you.

631 Spilled Cherries Closeup

Spilled Cherries Closeup

oil on canvas

12x9"

$238

     Summer fruit always yields new paintings. And then you eat.

     Fall is here. I am hoping something beautiful and delicious comes my way.

629 Crayons

 Crayons

oil on canvas

8x8"

$140

     This is the box of crayons I keep in my studio with all my art supplies. They are fun to use and you never know when a budding genius will show up wanting to spend time with you. And, ah, the sense of continuity with the past, knowing Crayola still makes magenta.

623 Two Red Camellias

Two Red Camellias

oil on canvas

10x8"

$176

     It looks like flowers will defeat me, and still I attempt to paint them. When I see them in real life, they are so beautiful that I cannot resist the desire to paint them, but so often they end up looking amateurish. I cannot decide if this one is good or not. It seems constrained, uptight. I like the stem in the jar though.

 

610 Satsuma Branch

 Satsuma Branch

Oil on Canvas

13x8"

$230

     This branch with one satsuma was hanging over the edge of the table. The setup had several oranges and a lovely white teapot, but this little hanging branch is what looked beautiful to me. I especially loved the cast shadow against the table cloth.

595 Jar of Camellias

 Jar of Camellias

oil on canvas

10x8"

$176

     More camellias. Last spring was good for them. Looking forward to next spring, hoping the deer don't get them before I do.

     

594 Pink Cam

 Pink Cam

oil on canvas

10x8"

$176

     I love pink flowers. Red makes a bigger statement, but pink is my favorite, no question.

     I am trying to paint as briefly as I can. I want each stroke to stand on its own and not get lost in overworked places. Fresh!

589 Teacup with Rose

Teacup with Rose

oil on canvas

8x10

$176

     Roses do not last long in my neighborhood because the deer just love them. This little bush grows on an upstairs deck, so it was safe for a few blooms. It looked very pretty in Aunt Hazel's china cup.

 

591 Kitchen Sunflowers

Kitchen Sunflowers

oil on canvas

11x14"

$338

     These big ol' sunflowers were a gift from friends to warm my new kitchen remodel. I knew immediately that I would try to paint them because they would serve my still life endeavors. I tried to see less (squint) and connect shapes. Such a lot to learn, even after you think you know everything there is to know.

     The kitchen looks good and the flowers looked good in it.

587 Traveling Raspberries

Traveling Raspberries

oil on canvas

9x12"

$238

     These raspberries are from a bush originally from Oakland, CA, the yard of the the sister of my friend Jay.  I planted them at my old house, and then when we moved here, I brought them with me. They are doing fine because the deer do not eat them. 

     Painting raspberries is a good thing because as they continue to ripen and fall off, I can just pick them up and pop them into my mouth.

585 Toyon

Toyon

oil on canvas

8x10"

     Toyon grow wild just over the split rail fence in our backyard. There are only four lining the property line, but I wish they went the whole way. Some people call them Christmas bushes. Very cheery red berries in the winter.

582 Fuyu Line

Fuyu Line

oil on canvas

8x24" 

$288

     This year's series of persimmons has been fun. Next week we go to the Mandarin Festival in Newcastle CA where I hope to find my favorite little oranges with stems and leaves still on. I will be needing new material for next year.

     

Persimmon Crowd

oil on canvas

6x18"

$162

     Sometimes when I paint these little orange fruits, they begin to take on personality. I think of them as individuals, people, boys and girls, friends. But at dinner time I don't think about that.

577 Red Zinnia

Red Zinnia

oil on canvas

9x12"

$216

     I believe this is the most difficult piece I have done all year! It was not the white on white that was the problem. It was all the little bitty details in the phone itself. And I left most of them out.