Study of Three Tangerines

3 3/4" x 6 1/2", oil on linen mounted on panel

A Long Stem & Two Tangerines

4 x 7 1/2 inches, oil on linen mounted on panel

So this one I painted during the day again with two natural opposing light sources and again really struggled with the colors. And, I tried a mixture of black and blue for the background which is very different for me---I seldom use black. Maybe I should of scrapped this one but there are parts I like: the leaf on the right, the stem, the 2x4.

Conjoined Tangerines

4 1/2 " x 4 1/2", oil on linen mounted on panel

Our friends let us raid their tangerine tree that was so laden with fruit it made the tree looked more orange than green.  Now I have a whole bowl of subjects all waiting to have their portraits done...

Survivors

oil pastel on paper, 9" x 12"

These are two broken off pieces from my outdoor plants I was able to rescue before they froze.  I've been admiring them on our dining room table for about a month now.

Working with oil pastels is something new for me. I came across a nearly unused box in my drawer a few months ago and thought with the busy holidays and not much opportunity to paint I could maybe use these.  They were---are---great.  I kept them on the corner of the table with my sketchbook so they were always easy to get to when I knew I had a little window of drawing time.  Very little prep and very little clean up---perfect for very little time.  The two below are some of my first attempts I did in October.  The one above I did yesterday, I wanted to try nicer and bigger paper.

oil pastel, sketchbook 11/2013

oil pastel, sketchbook 11/2013

Background Test- Tangerine

6 x 6 in. gessoed crescent board

These are two quick studies (on the same board) to play with the background color.   I had intended to do another longer study of the same two tangerines from yesterday after I determined the background, but the day got away from me. Plus, the leafs were really curled and browned by this afternoon so I think, sadly, I shall retire them.  I'm liking the lighter background though, at least at the moment.

Two Tangerines

6 x 6 in., oil on panel
SOLD
Happy New Year!

San Antonio tangerines straight from our friend's tree.
Thank you Dave and Shannon---they were perfect models!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and productive 2012.