Oranges

This small painting was done with making an interesting composition with limited objects the goal. I painted with broad loose strokes avoiding blending as much as I could. The transitions from lighted areas to areas in shadow was accomplished by subtle changes in value and hue rather than 'mushing' the colours together in those transitional areas. This is difficult as the natural tendency for me is to obliterate all the edges and make everything nice and smooth, which ends up looking perhaps more 'realistic' but bland, overworked and lacking any personal signature. One of my artistic goals is to grow toward producing paintings which are loose and lively, and interesting as well as pleasing to look at.

Red Tulips

Marina had a georgeous boquet of tulips, they were irrisitable in their blue and white Mexican vase. Her daughter Toya painted with us and we had just a great time. I'm going to miss painting with my friend for the next month. She is off to Mexico on a painting workshop with a truly remarkable painter, Frank Gardiner, and for some R and R.

Asters

These were the last of the flowers in my garden, some asters I picked in late November just before the snow fell. The painting was done on board that I sealed with shellac.

Ruby Red Grapefruit

I was at Marina's to paint again this Wednesday. She had some big grapefruit and we decided to see if we could produce and interesting composition with the fruit and a simple plate. I started by blocking my composition in with burnt umber, which has lent a warmish tone to the painting, and then laid in greyed down tones of the colours of the objects. I think this treatment of the subject has given the piece sort of an antique look.

Arrangement in Green and Pink

This is a piece I painted yesterday after several days of 'Wipe-offs'. I finally acheived the looseness I wanted as my other attempts lately looked fussy and overworked. I want to work more on the design of this piece and intend on redoing it in the 8 x 10 inch format.

Winter Roses

This painting was done with a painting knife instead of the usual brushes I use. It gives a very different surface to the piece because the paint is layered on much thicker. The turquoise colour comes from a combination of Pthalo Blue and Yellow Ochre, one of my favourite mixtures.

Lemon with Pink Bowl

This is a little different look for my paintings. I used a birch panel and painted directly on the wood, which has a very lively texture. I also used a very limited palette of Lemon Yellow, Alizaren Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White, and Ivory Black, not my normal colours.

Apple and Cup

One of my favorite cups with one of my favorite fruits. I really like the sage green background with the warm red apple.

Flowers in a Cream Bottle

These yellow flowers are almost the first to bloom in my garden in the spring. They are in an old fashioned cream bottle that I remember as a very young girl our milk man used to deliver every morning from a bright yellow horse drawn milk wagon.

Oranges, Lemons, and Mangos

Feeling a bit restless yesterday I called Marina. She invited me over to paint and we did this still life together. It was a great afternoon with tea and talk and painting, and a critique at the end. The basket is one she bought in Charleston last fall, hand woven by some local women from the sweet grass that grows in the marshes around the city.

Anemone with Oriental Bowl

This Japanese anemone grows in my garden, but always makes me wait until mid to late September to see its large magenta blossoms. The flowers sway and dance in the breezes looking so fragile and graceful but are actually quite resiliant. I have two varieties of pink anemones and am thinking of planting a white variety this spring. The bowl is Chinese from the market area in downtown Ottawa.