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.

Hot Stuff

Hot Stuff 6x6 acrylic on canvas

A quick 6x6 acrylic demo that sold. Bright red peppers and a cheerful green plate.

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

Oranges

Oranges 6 x 6 acrylic on stretched canvas  SOLD

This is my second little painting sold at the "Small Art, Big Cause" charity show. I love the color combination, and those great shadows. I have a similar daily painting featuring pink grapefruit sections, but I suspected that orange sections might work even better.

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.

Apples and Bowls

Apples and Bowls 8 x 10 oil on stretched canvas ON HOLD

As I recover from cataract surgery, I've not done many small paintings. I've been slowly finishing up some larger pieces for galleries, charity shows and such. This is a re-post of one of my early DPW pieces. Those who follow my blog will likely find it familiar, but for others it might be fresh. In any case, thanks to everyone who gives it a look!

Sunshine on a Plate

Sunshine on a Plate 8 x 8 acrylic on gessoboard AVAILABLE

Citrus sections on a turquoise plate makes a great color combo. Add sunshine and the shadows are luscious. Just looking at it makes me feel bright and happy.

Apples with Brown Jug and friends

Apples with Brown Jug 16 x20 acrylic on stretched canvas NFS

 

I'm very pleased that three of my still life paintings have been selected as part of  "ART YOU CAN SINK YOUR TEETH INTO"  (September 30 to October 15) at Martins Gallery, Bracebridge. This toothsome show will be part of the third annual  "What's Cooking," a  smorgasbord of food and entertainment-related events. For two weeks a variety of local venues will serve up a packed schedule of cooking, tasting, and entertaining experiences that feature celebrity chefs and foodie notables. 

The 16 x 20 acrylic, Apples with Brown Jug, will be accompanied by two previously posted 8 x 8 acrylics, Celebrating Oranges and Too Big for the Bowl.

 

Celebrating Oranges 8 x 8 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas AVAILABLE

Too Big for the Bowl 8 x 8 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas  SOLD

Clivia and Shells Redux

Clivia and Shells 30 x 24 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas  NFS

I am delighted that my award-winning painting Clivia and Shells (30"x24" acrylic on canvas) has been selected for the Muskoka Arts and Crafts show at the Canada Summit Centre (Canadian spelling) in Huntsville, Ontario. I delivered the painting this week to this beautiful venue where it will be displayed through mid- November. The Centre is a fabulous showcase for art, but it was originally built for the G-8 summit in 2010 and serves as a multifaceted community center.

Too Big for the Bowl

Too Big for the Bowl 8 x 8 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas  SOLD

Just the fragrance of strawberries conjures up summertime for me, and they are abundant here right now. This 8"x8" acrylic is painted on 1.5 inch deep gallery wrap canvas, so it can be displayed unframed. Here are a couple of progress shots...

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. 

Celebrating Oranges

Celebrating Oranges 8 x 8 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas AVAILABLE

This was a good exercise in tonal changes. I'm trying to become more adept at capturing the unique texture of an orange peel.

Clementines and Blue Bowl

Clementines and Blue Bowl 5 x 7 acrylic on stretched canvas

These little clementines seem perfectly suited to pair with this small blue bowl. A small still life in complementary colors -- 5 x 7 acrylic on canvas.

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.

Clivia and Shells

Clivia and Shells 30 x 24 acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

This is the third of three paintings I'll have at the Muskoka Arts and Crafts 39th Annual Spring Members' Show. The show begins with the opening reception and awards presentation Friday night and runs through the weekend. I've been part of this wonderfully-diverse showcase for more than 15 years. Sunday afternoon I'm doing a demonstration -- something I always enjoy because people come by to chat as I paint.

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.

Trio Plus Quartet

Trio Plus Quartet 10 x 10 acrylic on canvas  SOLD

This is a demo I painted during one of our local art guild's group shows. We find it's a great feature to have various artists show how their work is created, and I really enjoy chatting with folks who attend. Happily, this little painting also found a home.

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!