Cans #2

At last, my second can painting. After painting "Cans #1", I decided to do a series. It has taken me almost a year to get back to it. In the mean time, I've assembled a great can collection! Unlike "Cans #1", I set up a strong value contrast in the background and added a big rectangular turpentine can to the round cans in this painting. Reflections still were the dominant theme. I continue to be excited about this subject. It would be fun to experiment with color in the background and how it reflects throughout the set up. I'll keep you posted.

"Cans #2", 16"x 16", oil on board

Plein Air Painting

For the first time in many years, I joined some friends to plein air paint this summer. We scheduled the sessions for Monday mornings and took turns choosing the sites. It was a great experience. I enjoyed the camaraderie of my fellow artists and learned a lot from painting with them. 

We decided to paint the lupines that were abundant in our area this spring. One of the biggest challenges for me in plein air painting is dealing with the natural light. Unlike the steady bright light I shine on still life subjects in my studio, natural light is always changing and often overcast. That morning the sky was gray with very few cast shadows. Instead of painting, I decided to take some reference photos and do black and white value studies on location. I went back to the studio and using the photo and sketch above, created "Morning Lupines".

"Morning Lupines", 20"x 12", oil on board, SOLD

The following two paintings were done almost entirely on location. The garden wagon was done during our last session in artist Diana Randolph's garden. Notice how these "landscape" paintings are looking more like still life paintings. I'm not sure I'll ever be a vista painter. After we finished painting in Diana's garden, she treated us to a delicious lunch. She is a wonderful cook as well as a great artist.

"Milk House", 8"x 6", oil on canvas, SOLD

"Garden Wagon", 8"x 6", oil on canvas, SOLD

Blue Moon Art Tour

On Labor Day weekend, we held our 5th annual Blue Moon Art Tour. Approximately 350 folks visited my studio over the two day event. It was fun to chat with old friends and meet new ones. My friend Melisa Morales photographed my demonstration. I showed how I begin painting a floral still life of nasturtiums, my favorite flower. The block-in is on my easel. I'm holding a completed painting of a similar set up. You can view more photos of the tour at www.bluemoonarttour.blogspot.com


Thanks to Melisa for the photos, my husband Bruce for manning the refreshment table, friends Jody and Kathi for helping me greet visitors.


Mark your calendar for next year's Blue Moon Art Tour — 
September 1 & 2, 2012

"Glass of Nasturtiums", 6"x 8", oil on linen, SOLD