A Tiny, Tiny Portrait

2" x 2 " oil on wood

I think this is the smallest oil painting I've done and the first one of an animal. This is Gaucho, our dog that died this year. I painted it for a gift for my husband for his birthday (which was yesterday).  We found Gaucho in 2006 in dire condition in our neighborhood.  We were able to nurse him back to health and when he was fully recovered he turned out to be a funny, smart and spunky little dog. He was a mutt, we think predominantly chihuahua. My husband is really tall and Gaucho was a wee little guy; they made a sweet pair.  We were all heart broken when he died in June and he is missed dearly.  The painting is in the top of a small wooden box that opens to reveal inside his leather collar and tag.

Stamped on the plaque under the painting is "GAUCHO   JUNE 4 2011". The entire piece is about the size of this picture.  I like that it can fit in your pocket.

My Dusty Reading Glasses

watercolor, graphite, & charcoal on paper

5 x 7 inches, oil on canvas panel

These are my reading glasses I often neglect to wear.  I had intended to just do a sketch of them but then I couldn't resist trying a painting too.  But now that I see this posted it looks blurry--- HA, maybe I should be wearing my glasses!  I guess it's back to trying to take a new picture! Or... wearing my glasses.

Good Resting Spot

6 x 6 inches oil on panel

Another pomegranate pose...  this one a little more refined.  Such a great looking (and tasting) fruit.
Note: I replaced the photo I posted yesterday which was a bit washed out.

One Pomegranate with Company

6 x 6 inches, oil on panel
SOLD
I'm realizing that this time of year I'm not going to be able to paint/post everyday---just too much going on and not enough hours in the day.

Single Garlic Flower

7 x 5 inches, oil on panel

Couldn't get on the computer yesterday--- this is the garlic flower I finished recently.  My model had dried up so I had to finish from memory.  Again, photographing these dark backgrounds is a real challenge.  When I get a chance, I'll try to get a better photo.  I'm working the Cherrywood Art Fair this weekend so I haven't been able to paint. Hopefully tomorrow....

Sweetness

6 x 6 oil on panel, 1/2" wood frame (sold)

One of the new frames at work.  In real life, the wood is not so blonde (it has a slight warm yellow tone) nor is the painting completely baby blue. I see the background more lavender than blue, but the camera doesn't.  The painting I did this past spring.  I brought home some garlic tops from a farm near by that after a few days of sitting in a vase exploded into these flowers, a complete and delightful surprise. I did three paintings of them. This is the only one I finished at the time. The third I just finished the other day. I'll post it tomorrow.  The first, I don't like it so much.

Frames, frames, frames

I didn't have a chance to paint today but I did get to sand, and sand, and sand by hand---which I actually like to do.  I'm finishing out these raw, pine frames my friend Chris made for me in preparation to frame some of my small paintings.   If I had all the available hours in front of me, I would sand down to 400 grit to make the wood feel like silk and expose all that subtle grain.  Alas, I haven't that luxury but I did get to sand to 150 grit which is still nice and smooth.   I had hoped to post a framed painting (another one I had completed this past spring) but the frames won't be ready until tomorrow. Another bit of sanding needs to be done before the final finish is applied.  So, until tomorrow....

Two Peaches

6 in. x 6 in., oil on panel
SOLD
I did not paint this today.  It was my son's 7th birthday and with all the going-ons I didn't get a chance to paint or draw, so I thought I'd share a painting that I had done this past spring. These were tiny peaches from our peach tree. The previous year we had harvested a huge crop of fat peaches but this year,  guessing with the drought, we only got six or seven very little, but tasty, ones.  This painting also took me a couple long days to do in which I still could not get it right, but I do like the parts of the plate, the shadows and sections of the peaches.  I'll try and take a better photo of it to replace this one in the next couple of days.

Bowl of Tomatoes

6 x 6 oil on panel

A mixture of subdued and bright...

Tomatoes on Blue

5 x 7 oil on canvas panel

Brighter colors are definitely a challenge for me, I feel more comfortable with more subdued ones. I'm not too happy with this composition, I want to push that plate back.  I miss judged the ellipse and then had to correct it so much it went off the canvas.  Whoops.   I do like the shadows of the tomatoes,  especially the back one.

Two Tomatoes Waiting

6 x 6 oil on panel

I'm not sure what they're waiting for, maybe they're just relaxing and hanging out.  Thinking about trying another painting with these guys with a different, brighter background...

Roma Tomato Study

2- 6 x 6  oil on gessoed crescent boards

I found some great Roma tomatoes with bulbous bottoms and nice stems.  My intended four quick studies turned into eight!  I set up a still life with just two on a plate but wasn't able to finish it. Tomorrow....

Rose Study with Alligator

6 in. x 6 in., oil on panel
SOLD
I don't really think of roses blooming in December but maybe because of our extended drought coupled with our recent rains (it rained all day today) and a so far mild winter we get flowers---not too bad AND they smell great.  I cut these from my mother-in-law's bushes.  Thank you Ingrid!

Vessel #2

5 1/2" x 4" porcelain, leather hard stage

Some clay today...