Grape Demo

wip
watercolor on clayboard

Thursdays are my teaching days here in the studio. Most of the time my students work on independent projects and I guide them and (hopefully) help them when they need it. Sometimes though, they all decide they want to paint something together. Last week we began this little 6" x 6" painting of grapes on clayboard. I did a little more work on it over the weekend and videotaped my process, so stay tuned!

Have a great start to your week!

It's Thursday . . . Time For Another "Throwback"

"Plum with Grapes"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on aquabord)
$165

Click here to purchase.

Technically this is a "Throwback Thursday" painting, but as I was writing this post I discovered that I had never posted it on my Daily Paintworks site.  Who knew?

This painting began as a demonstration painting for a talk I gave at a local art group back in the Fall of 2015.  I was very pleased with the way it turned out.  I like to say it's a contemporary take on two very traditional still life objects.

Thank you for viewing my work.

Throwback Thursday

"Grape Study"
10.5" x 7.5"
watercolor on paper - matted and framed
$200

Click here to purchase.

I'm turning back the clock and featuring a painting I did a couple years ago.  I've always really liked this painting and think it would look great in someone's kitchen.  It's a crisp study on paper, of grapes matted in white with a contemporary blonde, wooden frame.  I've just always loved the look of it . . . clean and bright.  I wish you could see it in person.  Actually, you can, if you're in Barre, MA -- it's hanging at the Woods Memorial Library in the center of town until the end of June.  :)

Here's a closer look:

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

Grape Study Revisited

Grape Study - 10.5" x 7.5" - watercolor on paper - $250

Click here to purchase. 

I am revisiting this painting in the hopes that it will find it's "forever home." "Grape study" is a painting that I did as a precursor to a much larger painting. At the time I wanted to create a contemporary feel to the traditional subject of fruit.

This painting comes framed and matted and ready to hang.

This painting is framed and ready to hang.

Plum With Grapes

"Plum with Grapes"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on aquabord)

This is the painting I began at a demonstration last week.  I'm working on finishing up a few other paintings as well.  Hope you all are having a great week!

Demonstration

two paintings . . . one on paper and one on aquabord

I would like to thank the Massasoit Art Guild for inviting me to demonstrate last night.  It was a great night with a friendly, attentive group!  Thanks so much.  :) 

"Plum with Two Grapes" - work in progress
8" x 8"
(watercolor on aquabord)

Grape Study

"Grape Study"
10.5" x 7.5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.  Starting bid:  $100

(what this painting could look like framed)

Sitting On It

I'm pretty much finished with this one . . . just a little tweaking I'm planning on doing tomorrow morning.  Thanks for taking a peek.  Have a good day!

Grapes

I'm aiming to finish up these grapes today.  That blue hue on the bottom is not a wash, it's a shadow in the photo.  These grapes are just on white paper -- although the paper's a bit warm.  While I kind of like the cool tint in the photo -- I think the painting looks fine in real life, without it.  But it is intriguing to see it like this.  

Thank you for stopping by the blog.  :)

A Little Further Along

work-in-progress

Some more progress . . .

Getting Started

Grape Study - wip
10.5" x 7.5"

I'm working on a small version of a larger painting I want to do.  I'm also getting back into the grape mindset so I can finish my first large painting of grapes that I started months ago.  Here it is below:

Have a lovely day.  :)

Another Sketch

"Pitcher With Grapes"
9" x 7"
(watercolor on paper)

Click here to bid.

I've decided to post and auction off another "sketch."  I'm trying to find a happy medium between the looser washes and fine detail work, as I love them both.  I'm also working on values and temperatures.  My hope is that these "quicker" sketches will help me become a better painter.

Thank you for viewing my work.

Delivery

"Really Big Shoe"
. . . all framed and ready to go!

Before spending a great day today with my 90-year old grandmother (who ran me ragged, by the way!)  :)  . . . I dropped off these two paintings in Monson, MA for the Monson Art Council's Spring Show.  The opening reception is next weekend, so if you're in the area be sure to come by - the exhibit will be open for a few weekends after.  More information is available at their website.  

"Nature's Candy"
(not sure how this is appearing on your screens - I had a tough time making it look
okay on mine, so hopefully it doesn't look TOO crazy on your monitor)

Big Fruit?

16.75" x 10"
watercolor on paper

I finished this one yesterday and I still think it's done today.  That's a good sign it's probably done, then.  :)  I've been calling it "Big Fruit" but I don't really think that's a suitable name so if any of you have a suggestion, please let me know.  If I choose your title I'll be happy to send you a little "thank you" surprise in the mail.  So bring on the names!  

Thanks for coming by.

Works in Progress

I decided to take last week off from blogging and posting on Facebook.  Sometimes I just feel the need to "unplug."  Do you ever feel like that?  I had a wonderful Backroads Studio Tour and can't thank people enough for coming out, visiting the studio and making purchases.  I sincerely appreciate all the support and interest and am very grateful to be able to work in my passion. 

I did make a lot of progress on these two paintings and a few others last week.  I have a pet portrait commission that I won't be posting until it's done that I've been working on as well.  I like having a few things going on at once (as you know) so I can still be productive, while I ponder the next steps on other paintings.  This system seems to work well for me.  

I'll post some more WIP's tomorrow.  Have a good day and thanks for stopping by.   

Big Grapes - Part 2

work in progress

Just thought I'd post my progress.  I'm moving between projects today -- lots of big fruit to contend with!  Have a great day.  :)

Big Grapes

Big Grapes - wip 1

Big Grapes - wip 2

whole sheet!

I know, I know . . . I still have a whole bunch of wip's to work on, so why start a new one?  Well . . . sometimes I get an idea and just HAVE to jump in.  It's good to get back to some of the studio projects I've begun -- either in my head, photo shoots, or already on paper.  This one just happens to be a project from a photo shoot of grapes and other fruit that I took a few weeks ago.  The photos came out pretty cool I thought.  Very sleek and contemporary - unlike me.  Ha!  I wanted to do them larger than life for more impact and wouldn't allow myself to start until I finished my two commissions.  After today, I'm sure I'll be bouncing around, trying to finish things up.  I have another bigger than life fruit painting to work on too (among many others!)  I'll eventually get to them all.  Thanks for stopping by.

Big Fruit

Here are some progress shots of a new painting I've been working on.  It measures about 17" x 10" so the fruit is larger than life.  I think that always has great impact.  Hope you had a great weekend.  I'm planning out my work for this week.  I'm always very excited on Mondays.  :)

Grapes In White Pfaltzgraff

Grapes in White Pfaltzgraff
6" x 7.5"

(what this painting could look like framed)

Click here to bid

I bought these dishes when I moved into my first apartment back in the mid-1990's.  It was such a cute place!  The dishes are simple and classic and very sturdy.  I have a special place in my heart for Pfaltzgraff as I grew up with my mom's Yorktowne pattern and presently own Villa Flora.  I actually no longer have the white place settings but still have this serving bowl.  It's one of my favorites.

Still Painting -- WIP

"American Summer" (in progress - detail)

"Grapes in White Pfaltzgraff" (in progress)
aprox. 6" x 7"

Helloooo!!  I'm still here and still painting. Forgive me for not having posted anything in the past week.  Here are a couple "WIP's"  (works in progress) . . . for you to look at.  Proof I AM working!  :)  Ok . . . back at it.