Tweaking Paintings

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase info Haven't you seen this painting before? Yep! I made some changes to things that were bugging me. During a demonstration for a large group, I'm painting while talking at the same time, answering questions, and working much faster than I normally do. Oftentimes I feel they are not my best work. So I tweaked a few things on this one. It is now for sale. Just click on the purchase link above. Also below, I reworked the figure in "Deck Work." This is a plein air piece I did last summer for Just Plein Fun, an invitational on Balboa Island. I decided that a red shirt would bring the focus to the figure that the painting needed. This piece is sold. By the way, I'm very happy to report I have been invited to participate in the same event on Balboa Island this year, August 1-7. Thank you, Debra Huse Gallery!

Still Life Demo -sold

oil 8x8 inches magnify Friday's demo for the Carlsbad Oceanside Art League was so much fun! In the morning I judged their monthly exhibit, then they treated me to lunch in Carlsbad village. During my afternoon demo the group was very interested and asked great questions. What a pleasure! Thank you, COAL for inviting me. Liz won my donated painting, "White Pumpkin." She was so happy, and I was happy that she was happy! Then Marie bought my demonstration painting. We were both happy! Five or six very kind ladies stayed and helped my get my gear into my car, because I've had terrible trouble with my back for several days now. Too much lifting, unpacking, etc.

Here are some more progress shots of my studio.

Mediterranean Diet -a still life demonstration in oil -SOLD

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase Thursday night's demo for the Yucaipa Valley Art Association was a blast! What a welcoming and responsive group of artists. Among them were my friends Carol and Joan, pictured below. Thank you, Alan for inviting me. I'm very happy with the way this painting turned out. It's always a bit tricky finishing the next day at home where the lighting is not exactly the same. The Graber olive oil was like liquid gold in a bottle! Such beautiful color. Very exciting! I had my greens pre-mixed as I do for plein air, and they worked here as well. Cad Yellow Lemon and Payne's Gray. One pile with more yellow, and the other with more gray. For the very bright greens, thalo blue and cad yellow light. As usual, the painting looks better in person. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Fruit & Flower -a still life demonstration in oil -SOLD

oil 8x8 inches magnify/purchase Monday night's demo for the Orange Art Association. I painted much faster than I usually do because time was short, then finished it yesterday in my studio. I had used gray drapery which allows me to swing it warm or cool, and in this case violet. I painted the shadows first, then at home had to adjust them so they read right with the cloth in light. Someone asked me about how to determine the color of your shadows. Here's my usual reasoning, although not a hard and fast rule. Consider the local color of the object the shadow is falling on (the cloth, grayish lavender). If the light source is warm (spotlight bulb), the shadow will be cooler (temp.), darker (value), and a bit duller (intensity). So for the shadows I used hardly any white (darker), added more blue (cooler), and a bit more of the complement yellow (duller). I use the same principle with watercolor. With practice you can SEE what color your shadows are. Ask yourself how the shadow color compares to the part of the same object in light. Darker, cooler, duller?

Demo At Artists of the High Desert

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
Here's my demonstration painting for High Desert Artists--a friendly bunch who share a pot-luck lunch before their demonstrations. My kind of people! Food is good. Not wanting to venture into uncharted territory in front of people, I chose subject matter I've been working with for the last few days. It was too much fun painting and talking at the same time...my two favorite things to do!

Viki the orchid loving artist won the raffle, and chose "Three Little Orchids". Thanks, High Desert Artists, for your warm hospitality.