Big Banana Sings Bass

 

Big Banana Sings Bass  oil  8x8 inches

Purchase info here. 

Sometimes I think a still life painting is like a choir.  Every fruit has its own part.  Here, big banana in back sings base, the oranges sing alto and the grapes are sopranos.  When I sang in a church choir years ago the director changed me from an orange to a grape.  I was pretty upset, but soon discovered I had really been a grape all along.  

Bananas & Grapes

 

Bananas & Grapes  oil  6x8 inches

Purchase info here.

Bananas have a funky shape as far as fruit goes.  I enjoy painting the subtle value differences of their planes.  Black grapes are really a very very dark violet.  

"Toast & Jam" Made The Cut! -SOLD

 

Toast & Jam   oil 12x12 inches

Available through Reinert Fine Art, 

Charleston, SC April 1-30

I'm thrilled to announce that my backyard plein air piece has been juried into the American Impressionist Society's 5th Annual National Small Works Showcase in Charleston, SC April 1-30.  This is my sixth consecutive acceptance into an AIS National Show.  I'm truly grateful to be included again.  There were 1,357 entries, and 154 were chosen.  

Kettle & Color

oil 9x12 inches Purchase info here. My brand new super shiny tea kettle was perfect for creating reflections in this still life. I have a beautiful antique silver frame that's perfect for this painting if you'd like to purchase it ready to hang. Let me know through email. The PayPal link to purchase is for the painting only. IN OTHER NEWS: I still have three openings in my workshop THIS COMING WEEKEND! If you'd like to jump in, just send me an email.

Grapes & Clementines -sold

oil on canvas panel 4x6 inches
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Red and orange again...I can't stop myself! This time I went with blue instead of violet. Painting translucent grapes is a blast. Sorry about the spots of glare on the photo.
The Randy Higbee's "6 Squared" show in Costa Mesa is fabulous! We had a great time at the opening on Saturday night. It was so exciting to see the work of some daily painters I've been following for a few years such as Michael Naples, Justin Clayton, and Carol Marine. It was great fun meeting fellow Fresh Painter Dana Cooper and seeing her beautiful work in person . The show will hang until Dec.23rd. Don't miss it if you're in the area!

Pear With Black Grapes SOLD

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches

This is the last in my pear series...at least for now. In my previous painting, "Just Fruit", the values are all pretty close, so I wanted to try a light surface with those lovely purply black grapes to punch up the contrast of light and dark...so here we have a loosely cruciform composition involving complementaries yellow and purple. I may make some changes to the pear, but I'm happy with the grapes.

Just Fruit-sold

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
click here to bid
What would happen if the brightly colored fruit alone were placed on a neutral earthy surface? Here it is. I added the "Black Grapes" for dots and lines. They are interesting little gems: so dark purple they look black. Sometimes you see deep crimson glowing in them. I especially like how the grapes and reclining pear turned out.