Tulips - a study

This painting is a sort of follow-up on the challenge entry, my focus was on selecting complimentary colours from the Munsell wheel. The composition is almost exactely the same as the previous painting with the tulips substituting for the geraniums and the vase turquoise instead of blue. I greyed down the turquoise table cloth and darkened and cooled the cloth in the background to provide contrast.

Geranium Sprig

This is this week's entry to the Daily Paintworks Challenge. The challenge was to use the colour wheel and choose a colour scheme using complimentary colours. The most difficult part of this challenge was to find paper or cloth props that were the exact compliment of the subject of the painting. I have a whole new appreciation for painters who consistently produce lovely paintings every day whose colours are harmonious, but look like they were loosely arranged - they wern't! I have learned that it takes a lot of time and effort to consistently make great colour choices.

Chicken on the Run - San Miguel

My entry for the Daily Paintworks Challenge this week. Carol Marine posted a photograph of a chicken and the challenge was to either paint her photograph or choose an image of your choice. Marina and I had fun with her pictures of chickens from San Miguel that she took when she was in Mexico with Frank Gardiner on a workshop.

Spring Run-off - sketch

Yesterday was heavenly, the first outdoor painting day with Marina this season. We drove to one of our favorite spots and set up looking over this delightful little 'creek' which only runs in the spring with water from the melting snow. It was one of those gorgeous days in spring, the sun shining on our backs, a bit of coolness in the air, the sounds of the melt water burbling along the ditches - no bugs, and the endearing sounds of the birds singing their hearts out. The coulour of the grasses was difficult as it is a greayish yellow this time of year but I think the painting as whole turned out pretty well.

Spring Afternoon - a study

Yesterday Marina came over to my studio and we painted from the photos that Carol Marine posted this week on the Daily Paintworks Challenge. The challenge is titled "The German Landscape". Carol has a great sense of composition so all we had to do really was copy the design onto our panels and work up the painting.

Teapot - after Kora

This little painting was done at Marina's house last week, the teapot has a lovely highly reflective surface that was challenging to paint. The reference to Kora is because the painting is based on one of her small paintings. The name of her blog is "Small Paintings by Kora Fried", she is an excellent painter and I came across her site by following the links from one of her paintings in the Daily Paintworks Challenge. Check out her blog, she has some wonderful paintings posted.

Teapot - a Study

This piece was one of my earlier attempts at the 'colour of white' challenge on the Daily Paintworks Challenge. I like the teapot but am less happy with the patterened fabric. The fabric does not receed into the background at the top of the painting the way it should, I need to employ both aerial perspective and linear perspective, which I found difficult through such a short distance. Any suggestions?