Still Life in Cobra Oils

Still Life in Cobra Oils 8x8

It has been a while since my last post.  Some health hiccups have gotten in the way and slowed me down somewhat.  Although I have been painting, I've not been at my easel as regularly as I'd have liked. Happily, my larger gallery paintings have been doing well, but my smaller "daily" paintings have been few and far between.



This 8x8 still life on gessoboard is one of the first I have painted with Royal Talens Cobra brand water-miscible oils. These rich buttery oils are a great alternative for painters who, like me, want to avoid solvents. In the past, I had  tried other w-m paints and found their consistency imperfect.  Often rather dry and stiff, they required medium to increase the flow.  The Cobra paints, however, very closely resemble conventional oils right from the tube.  I still love my acrylics, but it's so nice to have a slower-drying option.

The subject is one I have painted several times, in both oil and acrylic paint.  All previous incarnations have been sold, however, and I wanted one for myself -- this is the result.

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

Teacup and Grapes

Teacup and Grapes 6 x 6 acrylic on stretched canvas SOLD

Each year a gallery with which I'm associated holds a show called "Small Art, Big Cause" that benefits the Muskoka Children's Foundation. Local artists donate 6x6 pieces, and I usually contribute two little canvases. It's a wildly popular and lively event, with artwork literally snapped up as quickly as sales can be processed. Adding to the excitement, there's often a draw when a painting attracts multiple buyers. This year, we were delighted to hear that we raised $4000!

Here's a photo of our collective effort...

Fruit and Brass

Fruit and Brass 16 x 20 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

This 16 x 20 acrylic painting is larger than many of my still life pieces, but I did enjoy having a bit more elbow room. There is a bit of glare on the lower left of this final photo.  The shots of the painting in progress show this section to greater advantage. It's also evident as the painting progresses whether I was working in daylight or evening/artificial light.

Grape Doodle

Grape Doodle 4.5 x 7 acrylic on stretched canvas

I've been busy with a couple of portrait commissions, but painted this little bunch of grapes just to keep in touch with my "still life self."  It's actually just doodling with a paintbrush. 

Demo in Acrylics

Demo at Muskoka Arts & Crafts Spring Show 8 x 10 acrylic on gessoboard

This little painting is the demo I did at the 39th Annual Muskoka Arts and Crafts Spring Members' show held this past weekend. The show features hundreds of pieces of artwork and runs from Friday evening through Sunday night. It was great fun and I was thrilled when my three acrylic still life paintings received the show's penultimate award for Best Use of Media. 

I often do a demo at the show. It's very informal, and really involves painting between chats and QandA with folks who attend the show. Usually it's a three-hour session of painting/chatting, but this year  -- to my dismay -- I accidentally left home with everything EXCEPT my paints! Fortunately, I'm married to a treasure of a husband who dashed home again to retrieve my paintbox. Here are some photos, including some shots of the little painting in progress.

Fruit and Bowl

Fruit and Bowl 8 x 10 oil on stretched canvas

This is water-miscible oils on stretched canvas. I've not used my oils in a while, but lately had a hankering for that soft, juicy texture. The subject is a familiar favorite, but what I painted was beside the point. It was the medium not the message that concerned me. I wanted to 'play' with oils for a change.

I paint a lot in acrylics, and there's so much about them that I like. Clean up is quick and easy, no solvents needed, and layers can be added in minutes. Even painting white over black is no problem. I use heavy body acrylics, and keeping them from drying on the palette can be a battle. I get focused on the painting and forget to "spritz" with my spray bottle. The stay-wet palettes don't work for me. In spite of my efforts to get just the right degree of moisture, my paints soon become too fluid.

So, every so often I long for the buttery richness, and slower-drying blendability of oil paints. But since I'm spoiled by the easy clean up of acrylics, I reach for my water-miscible oils.

Black and Gold

Black and Gold oil 12 x 16 on gessoboard  SOLD

Rich tones and luscious textures -- that's why still life paintings are such a joy.

Abundance

Abundance 10 x 8 acrylic on gessoboard  SOLD

I know what you're thinking... another brass bowl with grapes, Helene, really?!  Can't help it; I so enjoy painting the varied tones as light passes through grapes, and a brass bowl just adds more sparkle. Gotta lo-o-ve those textures!

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.

How D'Ya Like Them Apples?

How D'Ya Like Them Apples? 8 x 10 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

Thanks to a miserable summer cold, I've been away from my easel for what seems like ages. Just so I'm not totally forgotten, I'm posting a little still life that sold from a gallery. Hope to be back in 'real time' soon!

Vino Classico

Vino Classico 18 x 14 acrylic on canvas  SOLD

This is one of my larger gallery pieces. I really enjoyed painting the reflections in and on the wine bottles, as well as the varying light that danced through the rich dark grapes.

Green Trio

Green Trio 8 x 10 acrylic on canvas  SOLD

This is a small demo painting. One of many of my still life pieces that features a favorite brass bowl.

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.

Apples and Jug

Apples and Jug  16 x 20 acrylic on stretched canvas SOLD

At 16" x 20" this is one of my larger still life paintings. The brown pottery jug is a favorite. It has a simple, satisfyingly-balanced form. It also brings a warm earthy touch that contrasts with the jewel-tones of the apples and grapes.

Bountiful

Bountiful 9 x 12 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

Another classical still life, this time with a dark background. Crisp apples, purple grapes, and a brass bowl comprise a bounty of color and texture. This 9x12 acrylic on canvas is already framed in a contemporary natural wood floater frame. 

Wine and Grapes

Wine and Grapes 16 x 12 oil on gessoboard  SOLD

A traditional still life in rich greens and golds, ideal for living or dining room. Grapes are always a favorite subject, and the light that pierced through these deep purple gems was especially fun to capture.  This 16x12 oil on gessobord is a standard size for ready-made framing.

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.

Juicy and Crisp

Juicy and Crisp 11 x 14 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

Crisp apples, sweet grapes, and a shiny brass pot make up this traditional arrangement. This 11" x 14" acrylic painting is on 1.5" gallery-wrap canvas, painted on the sides.  It may be hung with or without a frame.

As always, due to the variation in viewing screen settings, actual colors may differ slightly.