Fun Times

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I wanted another go at these apples and the plate. And yes, the fork too. Which reminds me of an email I got a while ago from a "fan" asking me if I had to include silverware in every painting, and daring me not to. Isn't it funny how those kinds of comments just eat away at us. I have to admit, I feel like apologizing every time I stick that fork in there. Well, it's time to stop apologizing! I like forks (and spoons and knives). They are such perfect compositional elements, to be added wherever needed. Do you have something similar eating at you? Join me in tossing out the apologies!

Three Different Apples

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When I first started painting apples I had a tendency to paint them all the same, even when they were quite different. It was easy - I saw the same general colors and hey, I had it on my brush already, so - what the heck?! I like to think I've graduated to a higher level of apple painter since I can now see (and paint) the subtle differences between them. But, to be honest, I might simply be a better apple buyer, choosing the ones specifically that are quite different. Only my Fred Meyer produce person knows the truth!

Sunshine and Lemonaide

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Summer is over, officially, and it's definitely feeling like it here in Eugene, but I'm clinging on by painting sunflowers and lemons. By the way, this is my favorite of this sunflower series. I was trying to do darker backgrounds for contrast against the light petals, but really the lighter background is my favorite.

Flower Fun

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These flowers were in my spendy bouquet, so I thought I'd give them a go (not one to waste). I think they're called spider flowers? Anyway, I wasn't quite sure how to paint them, so I did my regular - squinted and painted what I saw.

Drinking Tea in the Sun

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You can see I'm trying to get the most out of these sunflowers! But they're still holding up. Maybe next year I should grow some myself. Duh.

Sharing the Red Dress

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Here are two more of my spendy sunflowers, along with a red vase from the thrift store. I've painted the vase once before, from above. Glass depends entirely on the little subtle shifts, and most importantly, the highlights! If you over-do/exaggerate any of it, it ceases to look like glass, in my experience.

Too Sexy For My Bottle

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I had to buy a whole bouquet of other flowers just to get some sunflowers. The ones that were just sunflowers were sad and dilapidated. You can picture it, right? Me, shuffling back and forth in front of the flower section trying to make up my mind between the cheap, sad flowers and the perfect pricey ones. Arms crossed. Brow furrowed. I am so cheap. But in the end, art persevered!

Late Summer Grass

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This is my entry for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge: Paint the Grass, which I am hosting (btw, if you have an idea or image for a future challenge, please email me). I photographed this wild clump of grass in the front yard of a fellow Eugenian recently. I am baffled by grass in general, so I thought this would be a good exercise. If you'd like to see the reference photo and join the challenge, please visit the grass challenge page. Also don't forget about the monthly DPW contest - the prizes are big!

Places Everyone!

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Don't these guys look like actors in a colorful play, just before the first act? Well, I thought so anyway.

Bottle Guardians

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I guess I'm on a bottle kick. What I really need is to run to the store to pick up some new still life subjects. All I've got are a few tomatoes. But my folks are visiting so my painting is minimal. I'll get back to it soon!

Glass on Glass and a Flower

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Last week was particularly busy in my world, and part of that included judging the first ever, monthly Daily Paintworks contest. I can't even begin to tell you how difficult it was to narrow down all the terrific art that was submitted! Here are the top 3 winners:

You can see bigger versions, and the other winners on the contest page. In case you're thinking about entering this month, the top 3 winners receive $750, $500 and $250, respectively, and the top 15 are featured artists for a month on DPW, and get that month's membership free (we actually had 19 this month because 4 of the original winners were already featured artists). Enter here.

Workshop Announcement

May 5-9, 2014 - Advanced Workshop (you have to have taken one of my workshops already) - Dickenson, TX - email Sue or call 713.851.5316 or 281.337.4147 to register.
FULL w/ wait list

This is a special place. I've taught there once before and the atmosphere was like a grown-up art camp with the most fabulous food. We were all best friends by the end. If you can make this one, I highly recommend it! It's going to fill up fast.