Paint Table, 6 x 6"

Here's a change of subject, painted in a limited palette. I have discovered that of my paintings, the ones I usually like the least are those that muddle in the middle. Meaning, the value range is narrow and there aren't extreme lights and darks. Sometimes, that's great to evoke a certain mood. In this painting, I was aware that the scene would be mostly in the middle, but I tried include the dark and light accents. Do they offer enough contrast and interest? I'll give this some thought (and maybe play with it on my computer, to see). On to the next!

Remembering Snow, exercise, 6 x 6"

 

We've been getting so much snow here, just north of Boston. The piles outside are at least 4 feet high! This is a memory painting of sorts...remembering the snow, but taking liberties with the landscape. Much more on the way...snow, I meant. But I could do more paintings of it. Why not?  : ) 

Keep On Truckin' 2, 9 x 12", cropped

Why, you ask? Why another truck with eggs? Because, I'm learning!

I think the drawing here is more accurate and perhaps the composition feels more comfortable than my original 12 x 12" painting (still to come in it's finished state). I was more aggressive in the colors I used—there's more contrast in the lights and darks of the eggs and the blue background is more saturated. I'm not saying it's better overall, just stating what's different. Do stay tuned, if you dare, to see the final 12 x 12" painting. I'll post new paintings after this, for a change of subject. Whew.

Keep On Truckin', color study, 6 x 6"

 "Keep On Truckin'" is still a work in progress. In this small painting, I was testing out the color of the eggs, the background, and the value of the table (thus the patch of darker, more alizarin color on the table). I am constantly challenged and intrigued by the effects one area of color can have on another. Here, the eggs have been warmed up a bit. I'm just about finished with the larger 12 x 12" painting and will post it once it's dry. Time to move on!

Keep On Truckin', 12 x 12"

Here’s the second of my truck paintings and once again, I feel something's not quite right—aside from my photo being a little soft-focused. I may need to adjust the “whites” of my eggs. I'll let this painting sit a bit so I can regain my strength and determination! I’d love to achieve the subtle effects I envision, but this is the best I can do right now. Gotta keep on truckin’!

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!