Pink Tulips

I painted this picture from the study "Red Tulips" which was painted a few weeks ago at Marina's. I worked on improving the design and making more interesting brush work. There are still a few details to be worked out but I hope to be finished this piece today. I want to make the leaves on the left more interesting and varied and am wondering if I need to add a bit more weight to the left to balance the composition. This is the reworked painting, I added light green to the leaves on the left side and extended some of the leaves to the left edge.

Snowdrops

I have wanted to produce an all red painting for a long time. It came to me when I saw the first snowdrops in my garden that they would be a great foil for all of the red that I wanted to use in the composition. It surprised me how easily this piece came together, I think having a strong idea in the beginning laid the groundwork for the later steps. It was a joy to paint.

Brushes and Palatte Knives

On Monday I went to visit my friend Marina who had just returned from Mexico from a painting workshop by Frank Gardiner. She shared her experiences from painting in the semi-arid ranch of Frank's to visiting the beautiful city of San Miguel de Allende. We then set to painting a pot holding some of her painting implements for the rest of the afternoon.

Oriental Teapot and Apples

I was pretty happy with the painting of this piece, except I noticed a very hard edge on the main apple after I had taken the photo. I need to go back into the piece and soften this edge, I also might extend the value range by deepening the cast shadow behind the teapot. Photographing your paintings is a great tool for learning, it separates you enough from the work to be able to be more sensitive to minor flaws.
I have posted a new image after working on the painting a little more.

The Red Bowl

I painted this a couple of days ago in my kitchen as I have been wanting to paint this ivy all winter in its beautiful creamy white pot. I just finished a couple of very busy shifts in the ER and I didn't have the energy to pack up my painting gear and go outside to paint even though the weather is incredible for this time of year. Maybe next week I'll get out to sketch.

Red Carnation

I was given this pottery jam jar quite a few years ago and had never got around to painting it. When I saw these red carnations with the deep blue I felt they were perfect together.

Ceramic Bird with Geranium

This ceramic bird is part of a pair that sits on the hearth at Marina's mother and father's house. One wintery afternoon we set up the pair in the basement studio to paint them. Soon, outside the window which was at eye level a flock of about 25 wild turkeys came and were scruffling around in the snow eating the birdseed that had fallen from the birdfeeder. It was amazing to be so close to these enormous beautiful wild birds and have them be oblivious to us.

Apples and Brass Pitcher

This was a fairly quick study of some fruit and an antique pitcher. I like the looseness of the brushwork and the simplicity of the composition.

Carolyn's Garden in Winter

After much driving around looking for a place to paint that wasn't too cold and windy I ended up at my friend Carolyn's place. She made me a cup of hot green tea and after cookies and a catch up conversation, I set up my painting gear and did this quick sketch of a view over her garden. I was happy to be painting outside again if only for an hour or so.