Ginger Jar

Ginger Jar 16x12 oil on stretched canvas

This painting reminded me of a reference made by an artist whose blog I follow. Her name is Kate Stone, her paintings are wonderful, and her blog is:  Painting Stuff To Look Like Stuff

Kate cites the 80/20 rule, which alludes to the fact that often it's only 20 percent of your painting that makes you drink 80 percent of that bottle of wine. This was one such painting for me. Even though most of it came together swimmingly, it took me AGES to correctly capture the color and texture of the plums. More than once, I almost tossed the whole shebang. For the sake of the 80 percent that was working, however, I soldiered on.

Here are some steps in my struggles along the way:

Sketch in oil

Beginning underpainting

Working on dynamics of all fruit

Color of grapes and plums is too similar 

Plums now too blue, green grapes too vibrant

Green grapes developing, plums still too blue

Ginger Jar finished 16x12 oil on stretched canvas

The Humidor

The Humidor 16 x 12 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas NFS

This is one of several paintings I'll be exhibiting in an upcoming Muskoka Arts and Crafts Members' show. I'm happy to say that a smaller, similar version sold earlier from DPW, so hopefully this one will fare well in the show.

Plums and Jug

Plums and Jug 9 x 12 acrylic on gessoboard

Plums are just the most fun to paint, and still life paintings are all about enjoying the textures.

Plum Happy

Plum Happy 8 x 10acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

Based on a set up I've painted various ways, and enjoyed every time, "Plum Happy" was done for a fund-raising event.

Plum Royale

Plum Royale 8 x 10  acrylic onstretched canvas  SOLD

I know, I know, it's that brass pot again!  Just can't resist an old favorite -- it's always such fun to paint.

Heirloom Humidor with Fruit

Heirloom Humidor with Fruit 10 x 8 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

I loved painting this acrylic still life.  It was all about celebrating the varied textures and jewel-like colors. The turquoise and gold humidor is a family heirloom. It was hand-painted in the 1930's by a family ancestor, Anna Patterson Hatfield-Adamson, who apparently was quite renowned. She often painted on pieces of classic porcelain including Limoges, and some of her pieces have been auctioned at Christie's and even appeared on the Antiques Roadshow.