Still Life with Toast and Plum

I've finished my still life and am pleased with how it came out. There were a couple of days that I couldn't work on it for all sorts of reasons, mostly for lack of vision and confidence.  But, I took someone's advice and put it all in perspective. This happens to me every once in a while; it must be part of the creative process.

Still life with Plum and Toast

I haven't done a larger painting in a long while. I started this painting last weekend and only worked on what you see. It was going well, I felt like I had a lot of confidence and was pleased with how it was coming out. That was my problem! Yesterday, suddenly I lost my way. I said to myself "You are going to screw this up." Luckily an appointment took me away from it and while I sat in the doctor's office (just a check-up) I figured out what was going on. I realized I wanted to rush through the background. So I came home and wiped off what I had done. A quote from Richard Schmid's book Alla Prima ," Imagine that you are a mountain climber making your way up the face of a sheer cliff, and you must think and measure before each step-or else. Does being careful like that make climbing less exciting?" I'll start back today and take my time. 

Flowers, Vase and Plum

Sometimes I change course in my painting and it isn't intentional. These objects, as with my last post, are thickly painted and darker in values.  I like them and they were fun to paint. But what is funny is that all the while I've been thinking about painting a larger still-life in pale blues and naples yellow.

Three Plums on Checkered Cloth

These plums were very reflective and I had to make decisions as to what reflections I included on their surface.  I'm not sure of all my decisions but I tried different options and ultimately decided to paint what I saw.

The Things We Carry

This montage of daily paintings is based on the book The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. In the book Mr. O'Brien writes about the Vietnam War, it's aftermath, and what the soldiers actually carried in their backpacks and the emotions they carried both during and after the war. After reading the book, I was intrigued by what women carry in their pocketbooks both actual and emotional. I'm pleased that this painting was awarded 1st place at the 60th annual Stockade Villager's Art Show in Schenectady this past Saturday.

Mill Road 4

Another pretty spot in upstate New York. 

Blue Glass Goblet and Tulips

I'm painting all my glass objects.  I painted this blue glass yesterday and today a yellow one. I think that's it for colored glasses. I still have a blue pitcher and some bowls if I feel like continuing the trend. The Stockade Village's Art Show (my favorite) is on Sat. but the Mohawk river has flooded its banks and I'm not sure it will run.  I'm thinking positive thoughts........

Squash and Green Goblet

This green glass goblet was bought over a year ago and never painted. To be honest, I never had the courage to paint it. But, painting regularly has given me the confidence to try new things.  This squash is another matter. It's part of my CSA pickup along with an eggplant the size of a football.