Bronze Baby Shoes 6"x8"

These bronzed baby shoes were probably worn around the year 1915. They belonged to my husband's mother. I love the little buttons, and that one of the buttons is missing. I thought I'd try something different, and painted this in oil on a gessoed piece of vellum bristol paper.

More Fruit

Oil on 5"x7" Canvas Panel
This fruit brings to mind a warmer climate, and sunshine, and the colors of summer. All the things that are missing right now. It snowed today.
Sorry the clip holding the panel is in the picture, but no time to retake it right now, maybe tomorrow.

"Strawberries and Pear"

Oil on 5"x7" Gessobord.
I had the day off yesterday and spent the afternoon painting this, and I finished it today. I used some thalo blue for the green mixtures, which was a fun change from ultramarine blue, or viridian, or thalo green.

"Cups" Study

Oil on 5"x7" canvas panel
I have been wanting to paint in a looser style, I want the colors to mix on the canvas, I want the brushstrokes to show, and have some kind of rhythm. For some reason, I can see in my head what I want, but then I don't see it come through on the canvas. I have to force myself not to blend my brushstrokes, and in the end, I see that I did just that, and flattened everything out. These cups are a good start toward what I am looking for. I like how they came out.

"Coffee and 1/2 of a Cannoli"

Oil on 5"x7" Hardboard Panel
I liked the look of this white on white composition and after I finished painting it, I realized that I could have used the same palette to paint the scene outside. Nothing but snow out there, white ground, white sky, white street, white on white. And a little bit of brown for the trees. It must be in my subconscience.
Oh, by the way, the cannoli did not go to waste, as many of my subjects do as they sit for days and get stale, or over ripe, or whatever the case may be. Just as soon as I was satisfied with how the cannoli looked in my painting, I ate it.

"Toast and Strawberry Jelly"

Oil on 6"x6" hardboard panel
I had a bit of a slow start getting back into painting again this new year, but I finally got one done that I like. And then there was the problem of getting a good picture. I can't go outside and take pictures anymore. Our snowless streak has ended in a big way.. it's been snowing for days and days it seems... my dreams of a mild winter were quickly dashed as the weather man still calls for more snow and very low temps in the days to come, but Anyway, I took this picture while the painting was on my easel. I had 2 separate lights pointing towards it on either side, and moved them til the glare on the painting disappeared. It worked out quite nicely I think.
Thank you all for your great comments! You make my day!

Quick New Years Message

I'd like to start this new year off by thanking everyone who have come by my blog for a visit during this past year, and those who have left comments and also those who have purchased my art!! God Bless you all, and thank you for the encouragement you all bring me. I wish you all a great new year. I hope to get some new paintings done soon, as soon as I get my studio back in order. I've been moving things around, trying to get a better arrangement of light vs. easel vs. subject vs. me....