Bird, Bottle, Egg, Round Two, 6x6"

It's time for me to move on. I've learned that this bird has a tricky face to paint, when I look directly at it. I've learned that "white" and I don't get along just yet. But, I'm about to embark on a color adventure, with play and discovery through exercises my main goal. Color charts? Maybe not yet!

I discovered Kathryn Townsend, www.kathryntownsend.blogspot.com, who's been creating wonderful paintings using a limited palette, based on Peggy Kroll Roberts' dvds: http://www.krollroberts.com/index.html. Kathryn's observations about what she's learning are also interesting. I love that I'll be able to paint still lifes while learning about color in a more systematic way. If you have ideas on how to learn more about color, feel free to share. I hope the links I've included here work!

Homework? 6 x 6"

Well the Bird, Bottle, Egg painting is drying and I'll post it soon. Sometimes you are where you are and you hope a painting becomes a stepping stone to better things. Sometimes you're just too close for perspective! So, I decided to turn around and paint this quick sketch of my son, while he was doing homework, (or was he playing?!), on the computer. Anyway, he was kind enough to linger just long enough. I love painting from life and seeing the nuances of color and light. It's capturing them that's the challenge!

Bird, Bottle, Egg, 6" x 6"

I'm going to tweet, I mean tweak the bird a bit, but since it's been awhile since I've posted a painting, (they're drying, really!), I thought I should introduce this one. It was a bit of a challenge to capture the objects against the dusk. Here I had two lighting effects: cool, outdoor snow and dusk, with warm, indoor, incandescent lighting. I'd like to try a warmer, brighter white on the bird and see if it's more what I had in mind. So, do come again and see what happens. In the meantime your comments and technical suggestions are welcome. I think of this painting as an experiment. Back to the laboratory!

Bird and Pitcher, 8" x 10"

Here's the black and white value study I painted several months ago of my bird sitting with a pitcher. I was very interested in honing my ability to understand values. While I work on my second truck painting (yes, there is another one underway), I may do a few 6 x 6" still life paintings featuring my bird. Stay tuned!

Wishful Thinking, 6" x 6"

I painted my bird on gessoed illustration board—a very different surface for me. The texture reminds me of the way moisture sort of "pebbles" on a window. Next time I paint a 6" x 6", I'll sand the gesso beforehand to see how I like it.

For whatever reason, I love the subject of birds...It could be a symbol for the spirit, the idea of flight and the imagination, or freedom. Sadly, this bird won't be going anywhere, tethered as it is to its base. I sense its desire, though, for all sorts of possibilities!

Months ago I painted a black and white value study of this bird and a pitcher. I'll post it tomorrow. Feel free to comment or critique! I'd appreciate reading your thoughts on them. Thanks for stopping in today!

Truck and Pear, 12 x 12"

Well, what can I say? This subject matter is a bit of a departure for me, perhaps, although an earlier still life that included a toy truck has gone the way of other "learning" paintings and was collected by a different kind of truck some time ago!

One thing that links this painting to others is my interest in the subtleties within colors, whether they are the whites of garlic, the reds of a truck, or the yellows of a pear. I experimented a bit with the application of the paint, to reflect the rough and tough qualities of the truck and suggest the wood of the table and some reflections. I was also very interested in capturing the quality of light on the passenger pear. I'm realizing I need to draw more often; it was a challenge to get the truck drawn just so!

Garlic in Bowl, 10 x 8". I've been thinking a lot about color.

Did I mention that I'm an older person, but a "young" artist?* Although I majored in painting as an undergraduate in college, it was during the heyday of abstract expressionism and conceptual art—visual and not-so-visual approaches very far from my own sensibility. I often feel like I'm trying to fill large gaps in my art education.

I set up this still life because I loved the colors. I also wanted to focus on the subtle shifts in the white of the garlic, as well as the temperature and color shifts in the distressed interior of the bowl. I learned a lot from this challenge and may try it again with the goal of using thicker paint and fewer brushstrokes. While I continue to paint during the next month or two, I plan to do color charts (finally, for those who know me), and other color experiments. Anyone want to join me? We could create a color chart support group.  : )

*James Gurney encourages older artists on his blog: http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2010/12/elder-mad-man.html    Keep on painting!