Not Just Any Apple

A co-worker handed me this apple--a random selection from a bag he had purchased at an orchard he had visited. I turned it around and around admiring its color and shape. I decided to do its portrait. I discovered it to be much more challenging than I had originally thought. Its voluptuous top and delicate tapered bottom rivaled any life drawing in difficulty of execution. Next the color changes were distinct, but had lovely transitions from one color note to the next. I painted, I struggled with transition. I painted again. I scrapped the paint away and started the passage over again. After two evenings of trial and transition, I completed the apple painting. A friend who stopped over and saw it sitting on an end table declared that at first she thought it was a real apple. It is a real apple to me. It represents the apple in paint that I held in my hands and slowly turned around and around to admire its beauty. Paintings to the artist are experiences that we choose to honor and recall. That Apple, The Place, The Season.

L'Homme Du Sunset

Hi. I'm back and able to post on the blog again. Apparently some glitch in the system--computer or brain--and couldn't manage to publish anything, but I persevered.

Working on a new style. More care with the finish. Maintaining a painterly look.

This painting has a new home with the John Colwell family.

Happy New Year!

Wings & Water

 I started this painting 6 years ago. Got it blocked in and then seized up and put it in the attic. With an additional 6 years of observation and painting experience under my belt and help from Instructor Richard I completed the 4' x 3' canvas. I hope it speaks to The Moment--sun going down, wings leveraging, water splashing, and birds about to settle into the water. A place, time, event.

Most of the decisions for this painting were with what to do with the water. Too many darks and plants on the water competed with the elegance of the birds. Once again simplicity wins out in "what to leave in"/"what to leave out."

This is my entry for the juried fine arts show at the MN State Fair. They take about 1 in 5 entries. Cross your fingers that they like this painting as much as I do.

Hotter than Blazes

 

There is always that weird subject matter that you try your hand at and then wonder what am I going to do with this painting? Where can I put it in my house that could startle or humor someone at its discovery? This one moves around the house for my own amusement. It is the "portrait" of a Mexican good luck skeleton, which I don't understand, but local Mexican artists probably sell a number of them as objects of curiosity. Certainly could sell some toothpaste. I had to restrain myself from adding a bit of starburst sparkle to his nice set of choppers. (I posted 3 new paintings today--see more below). 

Life Drawing

 

We have had a number of rainy Saturdays, so this sketch was completed at one of them. Skye is a fabulous model and can stay motionless longer than any other human I have ever met, which makes it infinitely easier for the artists who struggle to do justice to her form and beauty.

Peonies

I took time to enjoy the beautiful peonies in my yard by bringing indoors a couple of bouquets. I can't judge if it was the whiteness or the amazing fragrance that delighted me more! Their presence filled my kitchen and gave it a simple elegance. I took up the challenge of painting their white volume complete with ridges and ruffles with some success. I regret, along with lilacs, the short spring season of their blooms and fragrance adding beauty and fragrance to my outdoor living space.

Veda Flying Free

My 42 year old Amazon parrot is now flying free. His time on earth is done and he has now gone on to the Place of Eternal Flight and Freedom. For him everyday was about discovery, joy and exuberance. His eyes were bright; he delighted in being part of the flock (people). He loved being social and participating in full voice, trying new foods (chicken was a favorite-irony there!), flight training and being outside his parrot mansion (very large cage). Oh, yes, and watching his parrot movie while I was at work.

I believe I learned more from him then he ever learned from me. I marveled at his iridescent feathers, wing construction and movement. He taught me about bird ways and boundaries. I taught him to fly. He taught me great respect for his intelligence and clearly voiced his daily joy and then his pain the last year as he had to be coaxed into expressing an opinion. I finally agreed to let him go.