"Paintings from Life" — Exhibit Opening

As some of you know, I have spent the last year creating over 25 new paintings for my exhibit at Lizzards Art Gallery in Duluth, Minnesota. I have posted images of these works on this blog during the past year. Exhibiting with me are Richard Gruchalla and Carrin Rosetti who create amazing and beautiful raku pottery. Jeff the gallery owner did a wonderful job of hanging the paintings and arranging them with the pottery. We had a fun opening reception on Thursday, July 18th. The exhibit hangs through August, 28th. To learn more about Lizzards, go to www.lizzards.com

Shapes

After spending weeks exploring the idea of space and atmosphere in still life paintings, I decided to think more about shapes. When I composed these three paintings, the way the colors and shapes of the objects work together was my primary concern. I think they have a more contemporary feeling. There still is a sense of three dimensional form, but the compositions 
seem flatter.

"Eggs & Books", 8" x 8", oil on linen

"Rainbow Jars", 8" x 8", oil on linen, Sold

"Flammable", 8" x 8", oil on linen, Sold

Favorite Themes

In recent months, I've enjoyed painting these small works. The square format is a nice change, too. In these four paintings, I returned to some favorite themes and objects — water glasses, donuts, straws and my favorite 
blue mug.

"Lemon & Glasses", 8" x 8", oil on linen, Sold

"Coffee & Donuts", 8" x 8", oil on linen, Sold

"Straws #4 ", 8" x 8", oil on linen, Sold

"Mimi's Teapot", 8" x 8", oil on linen, Sold

Vanity with Sunglasses

In this larger painting, I incorporated some of the same objects I used in the earlier small paintings. I wanted the vanity to be cluttered, but I tried to compose the objects in a way that leads the eye into the painting. There are two mirrors in this one and I added a clock. Seems time is always running a little short when I'm getting ready.

"Vanity with Sunglasses", 16" x 20", oil on linen, Sold

Atmosphere

We usually think of atmosphere and space as elements in landscape paintings. In recent months I've been studying paintings by 18th century still life painter Jean-Simeon Chardin as well as work by 20th century painter Walter Murch. Both artists created still life paintings with a strong sense of atmosphere and space around the objects in the composition. It gives their work a certain mood. I've been working with that idea in some of my recent painting. It seems that keeping the dark backgrounds transparent helps achieve the feeling of space.

I decided to start with a traditional still life subject — apples. I've painted a lot of apples over the years, but I learn something new each time.

"Still Life with Apples", 14"x 20", oil on linen, Sold

This composition is about contrasts. The bright yellow lemon opposes the ancient black pot and the airy transparency of the water glass contrasts its heaviness.

"Chinese Pot, Lemon & Glass", 11" x 14", oil on linen, Sold

The Japanese saki bottle has a very graphic quality with its black calligraphy. The mandarin oranges created orange reflections on the pottery and made the whole arrangement glow.

"Saki Bottle with Mandarins", 12" x 16", oil on linen, Sold