"Too Many Things" 17" x 20" oil on gessoboard

I thought that I would paint something large for a change. I pick among the things that I have in my still life cupboard. I don't consider my style suitable really for a boat load of "things" crowding the table, but thought the change might be good. I'm also working with improving my compositions through placement, colors, values and patterns. Painting orbs I find a challenge. I'm particularly happy with the reflection on the surface of the big cobalt jar. Although the visuals there are all on the surface of the glass, to me it reads more three dimensional. My show in Rowayton at Brendan's 101 comes down tomorrow and don't know where I will store all these paintings. Guess to Etsy they go!

"A Reflection On Grapes" 8" x 8" oil on gessoboard

I thought of messing around with the photo from this painting in Photoshop. I'm wondering if I should have gone a little easier on the color somewhere, perhaps the pink background. I'm thinking that all the objects have too much intense color, where I should have been more selective. Also, I think that the reflections should have been darker and more grey than the items reflected. However, still trying to post most all of my paintings....the good, the bad and the ugly.

"Seeing Double" 8" x 8" oil on gessoboard

I'm finally trying to "get it" each day I paint by planning out my course of action. This time I did a value study in pencil of the set up, hoping by doing this I could feel (almost) certain that the design and composition were OK. Most of the time I'm just so psyched to get started with the painting that I skip this step. Then half way through painting see that the picture just is not working. This one, I think, is a bit more cohesive. So I'm off now, after mailing in my taxes, to try it again. Think design first!

"Seeing Through" 8" x 8" oil on gessoboard

It was late in the day yesterday and the light was still good. So I really needed to create something. I finally listed my latest quilt on my etsy shop here. The setup idea for this painting I got from another artist, who had a similar set up.... different items, same colors. I love to paint all three of these items, especially the glass. 

Happy Easter to everyone. The weather is absolutely beautiful here in New England. 

"Daffodils and Oranges" 8" x 8" oil on gessoboard

I'm reading a book now on how to improve my painting, and I really tried hard to "listen" to what the book says. There is this "one rule of composition", that when used makes your paintings more readable through the colors and the values (lightness and darkness of a color), and makes your composition exciting. I still find the setting up part so difficult and such a task.  I normally just want to get in and begin painting. And thus begins my downward fall.....or steep decline.....or rugged descent...! I have another painting to post tomorrow that was composed before  reading the book. More details to follow.

"Angus 2" 12" x 12" oil on gessoboard

Well, I'm still working on the dogs and loving it. I love the shape of Angus' head and snout and the whole graphic thing going on. Snickers is the lab that has taken partial residence in my home over the last month. She has such a sweet personality and is so happy all the time!

"Snickers" 8" x 8"  oil on gessoboard

I've loved doing these and just need to get myself out there on some bulletin boards. But I do have some more paintings to post. 

The big news is that I have a show currently on exhibit at Brendan's 101 in Rowayton, Ct. I have 21 paintings hanging of still life work exclusively. Not that I'm doing any landscapes anyway. All will be hanging until April 18th and do hope some sales come out of all the work that went into it. So there isn't much in the etsy shop for sale now.