Apple Stack and Chrome

Apple Stack and Chrome. 6x6, oil on paper

Unfortunately, I've had to cut back on my painting time these past few weeks. I had been maintaining a solid schedule of one or more paintings everyday, but other projects have come up and I've had to cut back to only doing a few a week. I turned out this piece a few days ago and was pleased with out the reflective can turned out. It has a real juicy look that can only be gotten with alla prima painting. 

Besides these daily paintings, I have also been keeping a regiment of drawing from life. I have filled several sketchbooks over the past year of figure drawings and anatomy studies. Hopefully, I'll be able to photograph some of the best of them and I'll post them soon.

Salvation Army Cup

Salvation Army Cup. 6x6, oil on paper

I got this thick glass cup from the salvation army for a dollar. Its nice to have variety, especially when you paint as often as I do. Making a painting is a lot easier if you're excited about the subject and composition. Taking your time to find a set-up that you're happy with is essentially. If you don't find the work exciting, then its doubtful others will.

Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of champions. 6x6, oil on paper

Two cups of coffee and a hard-boiled egg, that's how I like to get my day started. Of course, enjoying that fresh cup of joe is a even better if you happen to be reading a copy of Kurt Vonnegut's iconic Breakfast of Champions as well. We're both avid readers in this house and Vonnegut is one of our favorites. 

Gateway to Luna

Gateway to Luna. 5x7, acrylic monotype

I made a series of monotypes one afternoon this month that revolved around that crescent moon, which is a shape I've returned to time and again over the years. The moon symbolizes the subconscious and the mysterious, two themes I have always found fascinating.

Sometimes my gerbils take baths in that purple ceramic

Sometimes my gerbils take baths in that purple ceramic. 5x7, oil on panel

I've been painting that purple ceramic since I started doing still lifes. It and the blue vase were in my very first alla prima painting. I like to return to these subjects because its helpful to compare the old and the new, but I also just love these colors. Adding the yellow cup is what really brought this composition together.

And yes, sometimes I fill that purple ceramic with sand and let my two gerbils take a sand bath in it. They love it.

Tasty Fruit

Tasty Fruit. 5x7, oil on panel

Juicy fresh fruit are a joy to paint. Truly, delicious snacks make for delicious art. I try to find really good looking fruit when I'm at the grocery store. It has taken me a long time to learn how to get those saturated colors using alla prima methods. When I first started painting this way, I would usually mix too much white into my paint and get chalky color or else I would fuss with the paint so much that the colors lost their punch. Big shapes, pure colors, and no fuss, thats the key....that and strong values of course.

Two apples and a silver cup

Silver cup and two apples. 6x6, oil on paper

This piece took just over an hour to complete. My wife wanted to do some drawing so I set up this little still life to paint while she worked on the apple. I liked vibrant it turned out, the saturated blues and reds really read well together. And silver cups are always fun to paint.