Cherry Perfume

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Day 26 of the painting challenge.  It is getting down to the final few.  I am hoping to continue to paint regularly but not daily.  I don't want painting to be a chore.  Also, I find I am not spending as much time with a painting as I would like.  I will probably go back to a number of the pieces I have done over the past month and add some more to them.  With the oil paint I would like to give it a chance to dry before I add final details and trying to finish one each day means that the paint is too wet to add any details.

Lean on Me

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

Day 25 of the painting challenge.  Another song going through my head as I am painting gives it the title.  I should have done my whole thirty paintings based on song titles.  Maybe next time.  I don't have much time for painting today so I decided to do another pear.  The background color is different for me and it gave me some trouble so it took me longer than usual.  I just notice as I am writing this that the shadow for my stem in the front pear isn't right.  That's what happens when you are in a hurry and don't spend time with the painting.

Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Day 23 of the painting challenge.  Is there a saying 'Life is like a bowl of Cherries'.  I kept singing it while I was painting it so I couldn't call it anything else.  I am caught up again and only 7 more to go.  I really admire the true daily painters.  It is a real commitment to keep this up for a long period of time.  I think I could manage Monday to Friday, but I really get behind on the weekends.

On the Slope

8" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

This painting is for Day 22 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I am a day late today.  I had a show to do yesterday and thought I would get a chance to do some painting but it was busier than I thought it would be.  I sold some paintings, met some new people, and listened to some great music.  It was a little cool yesterday but it did turn out to be a great show.  Now I have to paint one for today. 

Snuggle

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

We are in Day 19 of Leslie Saeta's Painting challenge.  I have a show this weekend so I will be doing some pears the next couple of days.  It only takes me about 45 minutes to do a pear and I am short on time right now getting ready for the show.  I will be painting during the show as a demo, so I should be able to get a few small ones done then.

Antique Crock

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Day 16 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I am quite happy with this painting.  Normally with small paintings I would do a close-up of an object and have stayed away from complete still life setups because I thought they may prove to be too difficult on a small canvas. This wasn't too bad.  It took me just over two hours to complete.  I think I will try some more!

You Can't Fit in Here

8" x 10"

Oil on Canvas

Day 12 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I find it is getting easier to keep up.  I guess I am getting more scheduled.  I am not thrilled with the apples in this painting but I do love the way the small bowl turned out.

Tomatoe on Glass

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

 

Day 11 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I have used the Canadian spelling for tomatoe.  I thought this would be an easy one but I had a bit of trouble with the glass.  I look doing glass on a darker background, I think it is easier with more contrast.

Antique Lantern

6" x 6"

Oil on 3/4" Stretched Canvas

 

My husband has collected antique railway items.  This is one of his railway lanterns.  They can make some nice reflections with the different colors of glass.  We have a red one, a blue one, and a clear one.  I have done a painting of three of them together reflecting the different colors onto the wall behind them.  I have posted a picture of this on my Facebook page.  Please like my page if you visit. 

Works in Progress

Here is the second day of working on Lemons and Herbs.  I worked on bringing some dimension to the crock and the antique box.  Next I will establish more values in the background and foreground cloth.  I really enjoy taking my time on a painting.  I am the type of person who likes to sit back and look at the painting and think about what is working and what isn't. 

This is the second piece I am working on.  I am working from a photograph I had taken at the Rockton Fall Fair. I didn't take any pictures at the block in stage, it is a bit further along.  The piece is 30" x 40".  The sheep look like they are floating at this point but they will be grounded in hay.  For me this is challenging because I always have trouble painting folds in white fabric.

"Lemon and Herbs" Block In

I have started working on some larger pieces and I thought I would post their progression.  I have been painting everyday but because I am working on larger pieces they won't get finished in a day.  I have been working on another piece 30" x 40" the last few days but I haven't taken pictures from the beginning so it is quite far along.  I will post that one tomorrow.  Above is the block in for Lemon and Herbs and below is the still life set up.  My viewing angle is slightly different than this photo I have taken.

I am doing this piece for an auction at a local art school in our town.  Once a year they have a large silent and live auction to raise funds for the schools operation.  Over the years it has become a large scale auction and attracts many people.  I like to donate a few pieces each year.

Red Pepper

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

 

This is Day 27 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  Her 30 paintings in 30 days challenge has been fun and it is great to connect with the other artists in the challenge.  I am finding I am painting a bit faster with each piece, getting used to my palette and not having to think about color mixing as much.  I wish I could think of catchier titles for the paintings!

Cherry Triplets

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

 

This is Day 26 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days painting challenge.  I am getting a little more caught up and not posting as late today.

Resting

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

 

This is Day 25 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I am keeping up, but barely.  I like to paint on the gessoboards now, but I ran out.  I painted this on a stretched canvas and it has quite a different feel after painting on the gessoboards.

Hide and Seek

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

 

This is our cat Goodwin.  He loves to climb in the cupboards and this is him peeking out from behind a cupboard door.  I have had cats my whole life and this one has the most personality of any I have had.  Unfortunately he is a sick cat and the medication he takes will shorten his life, but we love and appreciate him for the time he is with us.  Below is a picture of him with my Husband.  He loves to climb up and cuddle when he is reading a book.

Baby Mallard

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

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I found a family of Mallard ducks near the water on Lake Ontario.  I was somewhat hidden by bushes so I was able to get some great photos of the babies with their mother without them being bothered by me.

Storm Over Lovesick Lake

8" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Sold

Storms come up fast and sometimes furious on the lake.  It can make for some pretty dramatic skies but you have to capture them fast.

Lone Pear

8" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Sold

Triplets

8" x 10"

Oil on Canvas

$100.00

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When I shop for pears, I like to see if I can get any with leaves still attached.  I spend a long time in the produce section searching for the right pears.

Abandoned

12" x 16"

Oil on Canvas



I have collected many bird nests from our cottage each season and they are amazing to paint.  Each one is different and can be made up of many materials.  Unfortunately I have found abandoned nests with egg shells inside or on the ground.