Just Apples

Lately I've been exploring the art of Quang Ho where he discusses "local tone" vs. "light and shadow"....i love the light and shadow...but I know what he means when he says many artists confuse the two...and a painting ends up being neither 'light and shadow' nor local tone...resulting in a lost painting. Today I made the effort to paint local tone. It was really difficult...but I think I did it. I set up these apples in a beautiful hand thrown ceramic bowl...and let just the natural light hit them...no additional light source. It's a real challenge to paint like that...every value and temperature has to be correct. I realized how really dark my studio is..if I don't provide additional lighting.

The Red Vase

I wanted to paint something red so I set up this still life in my studio. I love Cadmium Red Light and this vase is it!!!! You can see this painting at the Morris Graves Museum of Art now through the end of December. I entered it into the Humboldt Arts Council's member show and yesterday it was juried in :)

Nigerian Girl by Frances Kuta

I finally got around to painting this beautiful model from a photo I had taken of her a couple years ago. My impression of her was pure strength and a quiet serenity. I have to say...what an improvement from the sketch on cardboard below.
9" x 12" oil on linen
CLICK HERE if you would like to bid on this painting.

color sketch for Nigerian model

This is a quick color sketch I did...preparing for a larger version on canvas...it is on a torn piece of white cardboard. I always like my sketches better than the final piece...I guess because it is fresh, casual and loose. I also love the way the paint feels and moves around on cardboard...you have to really push it...like sculpture.

Tired Model

Last pose of the day! oil on linen 6" x 8"

Ferndale's Golden Hour

I know this painting looks different from my other landscapes but I like it much better. More pure color, a few more hard edges. As I was standing out there painting this...I just couldn't seem to get that bright warm green...finally I just "went for it" and laid on pure cad yellow & lemon...on top of the light green i had put down originally...aaaahhhhhhhh...it was so much fun to go that bold! This is Ferndale, Ca where the fairgrounds are. Evening.
6"x 8" on linen panel. You can CLICK TO BID on it if you would like to have it :)

Cool and Warm

Nectarines are so good this summer. I had one left in my fruit bowl and decided to put it into a painting before eating it!