A CHAMPAGNE TOAST

TO LAURIE 6X6

My daughter went through a rough patch recently and was fortunate to have a great friend by her side. Her friend recently had some tough times too. I was going to visit and it was her friend's birthday. I painted her this little champagne toast as a birthday/thank you and a reminder that brighter days were ahead.  Paintings can be more personal, I think, than something purchased in a gift shop. Laurie had been admiring my  paintings so it made my decision easy. She was thrilled.

Some recent still life work

 When the peonies bloom, I am compelled to do at least one painting of them before they fade away. In the painting below, the big luscious blooms and the subtle colors begged me to paint them. Peonies are one of my favorite flowers.  I like to make them the focal point of my painting with some supporting elements that pick up the color in the flowers. The dark background provided a good contrast with the flowers. In the second painting, it is the grapes and the light that command attention. This still life was a bit more complex and took 3 sessions to complete. The subject matter was brought  from a foggy beginning to a strong highlighted finish. The hydrangeas were layered from blocked in shapes, then more defined form, with the  final layer of pink blue and yellow petals adding visual blending by the viewer to emphasize  their color subtleties The grapes actually shriveled up before I finished.  I replaced them with ones that were a bit fuller and had a stem which I  highlighted  to draw the viewers eye into the painting. The bright light hitting the yellow pitcher is repeated in the grape reflections adding warmth and a glow to make them jump out and feel accessible to the viewer.

Peonies with cherries/11x14/2017

Grapes and the big yellow pitcher/11x14/Oct.2017 

Starfish still life

"Starfish, baskets and lantern " 11x14 oil still life

My obsession with the sea makes nautical still life subjects appealing to me. 

Collecting starfish is a pleasant childhood memory. Those were carefree days spent with family and friends at the seashore. The vintage lantern and baskets, for me, evoke the sense of times passed with a rhythmic and sensual feeling to them. The palette was limited to unify the painting with a warm color harmony of blues and oranges.

Painting the Still Life

Margarita Time 11x14 oil

   

Muffin top 11x14 oil

 Working with still life setups hones observational skills and keeps a focus on composition and color harmonies. Although I thought I would never do another after 36 years of teaching, I have come to appreciate how helpful they are in keeping me focused on the elements of design. I also enjoy painting objects that I have a connection to, often because of personal experiences or family connections. Is it hard for others to connect for these same reasons?

 

Still life with Starfish 11x14 oil

Still life variations

"Havest Glow "

"Tea for Two"  11x14 oil

My focus recently has been to try to bring more exciting light into the painting. Moving the paint around, playing with edges, exaggerating colors and pushing the contrast has all been part of my experimenting. I am always drawn to reds and like the warm feeling it imparts.

Still Life whites

"Ready to Relax" 11x14 oil

"Time will Tell" 11x14 oil

A few items grouped together can suggest a moment or a mood. Fresh fruit and flowers can be carefully combined with other objects to make an appealing composition and, at the same time, have a visual appeal that triggers a memory or desire that relates to a viewer. After deciding on a color harmony and the best  angle for viewing, I make a thumbnail sketch to familiarize myself with the values and relationships before blocking in. Next I block in my values and large masses. After that, I start to bring the shapes into a recognizable form before finally adding the details.

Warm and Cheery

"And the star is..."  11x14 oil

"A Colorful Spread"  11x14 oil

Using warm colors and subject matter, I wanted  to impart  a cheerful, positive feeling to the viewer. Surrounding oneself with positive energy is, I think,  important. My lifelong love affair with the ocean and beaches attracted me to the starfish as the center of attention for "And the Star is...", and I could visualize the painting in a summer home near the beach. The range of colors in "Colorful Spread" is a  little different for me, but again I was drawn to the positive feeling and warmth it imparts. Maybe it was the long snowy winter, but these little beauties made me smile.

Spring flowers-always beckon.

Bleeding Hearts, Bottles and Apples

Dorothy's Duck with rhododendron

 I noticed as I started looking at the gardens the abundance of pinks and reds surrounded by the lush greens and earthy tones. The flowers are so beautiful and their beauty is so fleeting. Capturing them requires a certain decisiveness in putting the paint down. Mostly I try to capture the essence of how they feel. Once cut they don't last, but their image makes an imprint on my senses and I try to savor the few days they are at their peak. With a storm forecast for tomorrow, I knew today was the day to paint peonies. And we connected. Looks like the red green harmony is in season.

Peggy's Peonies  11x14
Update-happy to say this painting has been selected for the Zullo Gallery's 19th annual Juried Exhibition
in Medfield, MA Sept 21-Nov. 9, 2013

Vintage!

She's got her eye on him!  11x14 oil

Vintage cars aren't my only interest in the past. Both my grandmother and mother were antique dealers. I grew up learning the history of so many items and their connection to us personally as well as their  connection to the past in general. Being part of a gallery  opening in an antique mall this past month, I was drawn to these items and the story they might tell. There was a photo of a woman that wanted to be in the still life but just didn't seem to fit. I resolved that by putting the woman's reflection in the mirror. I imagined her watching her man as he prepared to groom himself for the upcoming day.