January 2016 Explorations

 January 1, 2016

Studio Plant, 8" x 10" oil on canvas

Indoor Garden: Longing for colour

February Bouquet, 10" x 8" oil on stretched canvas

Colour, please!  After so much white scenery, I long for the colours of spring.

Day 29: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Carrot Cake, 6" x 8" oil on canvas board

With apologies to Wayne Thibaud, a most remarkable painter of pastries and cakes, amongst other things.  This was fun to paint but hard to look at for a couple of hours without sneaking a bite.  I think I subconsciously omitted a fork from the painting as a way of saying "hands off" to myself.  The glass plate posed a challenge too, to paint, that is! 

Day 28: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Eggs, Bowl and Plate, 8" x 8" oil on canvas board

There was a very dramatic ray of light coming in from the side of this still life composition, so I worked as fast as I could to try to capture what I was seeing before the light faded.  Tricky business!  I remember years ago in a drawing class having to draw 3 eggs on a white plate.  Sounds easy, right?  Not so much!

Day 27: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Cream Jug and Strawberries, 8" x 8" oil on canvas board

I think the composition could be improved by not having the creamer handle cropped the way it is.  It should be on or off.  It's a similar  to shooting a photo where the age old wisdom is not to cut people at their joints (elbows, knees, etc.) because there is something deeply unsettling about that to the human psyche.  Guess it's the same for jug handles?  Sometimes you need to break the rules to get something more dynamic, but I don't think that was the result here.  Well, part of the point in doing this is to learn....

Day 24: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Leek, Scallions and Turnip, 6" x 8" oil on canvas board

This leek had a serious bend in it, unlike your everyday leek that is quite straight. 

Day 23: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Pears, 8" x 8"

Well, the title says it all.  "Two Pairs on a Table" is an alternative, but that's even more obvious.  Really, I could have just called these paintings Study #1.....Study # 23, but I chose not to...there's still a few more days though, so you never know!  There is much to learn in the history of the titling paintings, a study in itself.    

Day 21: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Spools of Thread, 5" x 7" oil on canvas board

Humble subject but still a challenge, at least for me!

Day 18: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Indoor Garden, 8" x 8" canvas on board

Needless to say, many of our garden plants and ornaments move in for the winter to take up abode on various window sills or tables.  Buddha is sharing the spot with some basil while below on the floor a hibiscus reaches up for the light.  Good company!

Day 15: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Fancy Breakfast, 8" x 8" oil on canvas board

Yesterday it was toast, but a fancier breakfast would be a croissant with all the accompanying accoutrements!  The little pink jam jar belonged to my mother, so in a way, she is present in this painting.  That's just a bit of some of the strange stuff that goes through your mind when you are painting!

Day 14: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Toast and Jam, 8' x 8" canvas on board

Reds are tricky business for me.  I was aiming for more of a burgundy for the cloth, but ended with a purple / mauve.  Colour is challenging but oh so fun!

Day 11: 30 Days 30 Paintings

White Jug and Clementine, 5"x7" oil on panel

I love the shape of this little jug.  It has great curves! 

Day 8: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Apple, Plate and Knife, 6"x 8" oil on panel

Those green apples looked very appetizing, but I threw them away after I had finished the painting because of the food recall on Granny Smiths.  Well, they posed very well!

Day 4: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Bowl, Cup and Cherries, 6" x 8", oil on panel

I think I chose a good month in which to paint every day.  It is just far too cold and miserable, not to mention dangerous, to go out and do anything else!  I am enjoying keeping company with ordinary things.

Day 3: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Jug and Paintbrush, 8" x 10" oil on panel

I like the shape of this jug;  truth is, I like most jugs and realized in looking around for things to paint that I have amassed a small collection!  I also like to use colourful napkins and dishtowels or tablecloths in still life.  I found it a bit easier to paint bigger than 6" x 6".   

Day 2: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Fun House Paint Tube 6" x 6", oil on stretched canvas
This was a challenge because of the glass jug and the weird distortion of the paint tube.  I have heard that you should paint what you see, but sometimes what you see doesn't make a lot of sense!   Still, it was a fun challenge, if not the most successful painting.  Onwards and upwards!

Day 1: 30 Days 30 Paintings

Jug, 6"x 6", oil on stretched canvas.
This is my first painting of the New Year.  I am going to try to do a daily painting in the month of January, hence the small size.  I spent a bit of time tidying up my studio space and making sure everything was organized yesterday and then went for it.  I am curious to see how a new rhythm will sort itself out and excited to see what I can come up with.  I didn't realize just how small 6x6" really is...how do some painters fit in whole scenes? 

"Jugathon"

 Three Jugs, original water colour on Arches Aquarelle

 Jugs, original water colour on Arches Aquarelle

 Five Jugs, original water colour on Arches Aquarelle

Jugs in Order, original water colour on Arches Aquarelle

Using a Limited Palettte

Rockport Seascape, 8"x8" watercolour on Arches Aquarelle paper

Paperwhite bulbs, 8"x8" watercolour on Arches Aquarelle paper

It is quite amazing to see the range of colours you can get when limiting your palette to three colours.  The way the colours mix when you work wet-in-wet is quite magical!

Kitchen Confidential

 Robin Hood Inversion, 16"x16" oil on stretched canvas

Mixing Master, 16" x 16" oil on stretched canvas

When in search of something to paint, check out your kitchen!  There are lots of curious shapes and fun stuff to use as still life inspiration, whether it's food or utensils and other objects.