Scallions and Two Radishes Revisited

I painted this back in Sept. but didn't have a good image so I took another photo and, liking it, I decided to submit it to this month's DPW's Monthly Contest.  The judge is James Coulter. 
Check out his work and wish me luck!

Asparagus

My goal with this bunch of asparagus was to accentuate their woody stalks and make an interesting painting. Of course after breaking off their lower stems we ate them and they were delicious. They were farmed and shipped from Peru. I'm thinking globally today and wishing everyone a happy holiday and peace on earth.

Broccoli

This summer I purchased two yellow fluted plates from a little consignment shop in town. At last, I had a composition that would work with the larger one. And later we had the broccoli with dinner. All in all a successful day.

The Goldfinch

I downloaded this image off Wikipedia. 

Yesterday I went into NYC to see the Dutch Masters exhibit at the  Frick Museum. There were 15 paintings in the exhibit from the Mauritshuis Museum in the Hague but three in particular were moving, the Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius and two half-length male portraits by Rembrandt.  The New York Times had a good review and made me think about daily painting. Sounds funny but a fact the article mentioned was there were 5 million paintings painted in Northern Netherlands in the 17th century.  If 1,000 artists produced 50 paintings a year over 100 years that would equal 5 million. The sad part is that less than 10% survived.  I loved that little goldfinch.

Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Hals: Masterpieces of Dutch Painting from the Mauritshuis - See more at: http://www.frick.org/exhibitions#sthash.Oyr4rGeL.dpuf

Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Hals: Masterpieces of Dutch Painting from the Mauritshuis - See more at: http://www.frick.org/exhibitions#sthash.Oyr4rGeL.dpuf

Morning Joe

This week's DPWs "The Window Challenge" was on my mind.  How was I going to do this? As I sat drinking my coffee and looking out into my backyard this morning, I saw it come together. Thank you Jo for this fun challenge.
 

Blue Pitcher and Fruit

Here's the finished painting. 

I think it's light, airy and colorful. 

Simply fun.

Blue Pitcher and Fruit Almost Done

I've worked on this for the past two days. It's almost done. The last thing to paint (and I've saved the best for last) is the pitcher and a few touch-ups. Painting big is challenging because there is more to lose. It's been a struggle. However, my husband has this quote by Samuel Beckett, "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." 

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
Samuel Beckett
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/samuel_beckett.html#WOL3VbqcKi3fEAzO.99

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
Samuel Beckett
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/samuel_beckett.html#WOL3VbqcKi3fEAzO.99

Blue Pitcher and Fruit Continued

I'm painting this still life in sections as if it were a daily painting. My favorite part will be the base of the pitcher. I know that from painting it before. It's all about the swirls, reflections and highlights.

Blue Pitcher and Fruit in Progress

I decided I needed to try and start painting larger again. It's been over a year since I did something larger than 8 x 8 inches.  I making a 2014 New Year's resolution to do one larger painting a month. I'm keeping this one simple and clean, just trying to think about what makes painting fun.

Hand Soap Bottles

I'm inspired by Janet Fish's earlier paintings like "Windex Bottles". They're so full of light and I like her simple everyday subjects. These soap bottles were challenging because they were so pale, I had to push the values.

Lemons and Scallions on Blue Plate

Sold

During my visit to Paris I was able to stop at the famed Charvin art store, where I purchased a tube of Lemon Yellow. Of course, I had to try it out on some lemons. I like the color combination of the lemons with the scallions and blue plate.

Through the Glass Challenge

I'll be hosting this week's painting challenge on Daily Paint Works. It will run for the week starting Saturday Nov. 30th. There are new challenges every week and they are as unique as the artists who create them.  Here's a link to find out more about them.
This is what I submitted for my challenge below.  Have fun!

The  challenge goes like this:

Through The Glass Challenge

This week's challenge is not to paint a glass object, but rather the shapes and colors that make up the representation of it. The goal is not to think of it as glass, but as value and color spots next to one another. Be a little abstract, loose and have fun with it.

Here are some tips to help you get started. The first layer is made up of a mixture of the glass color (unless clear) and the background color/s. The next layer is of reflections and highlights from the surroundings; keep it simple. Last, the shadow is not a solid color but a combination of the foreground color and glass (if colored) and filtered light. 

Patron of the Arts

This dog was patronizing the Cafe des Beaux Arts while we ate lunch in Paris. Can't you just imagine him in a french beret?

Blue Pitcher and Cups

Here's a painting I did a while ago and after a little fixing I decided I liked it and would post it.

Hoping everyone is having a nice Thanksgiving.

Au Revoir Paris

My husband and I were in Paris last week.

 I love Paris, why?

Wonderful Restaurants

 French Pastry like Pistachio Mille-Feuille

Pretty Little Food Stores

Beautiful Architecture

   Classic Art Stores like Sennelier and Charvin

And lots of Museums

I'm so fortunate to have gone there and "je t'aime" to my husband and mother.

Pet Portrait Commissions

If you would like a portrait of your dog or pet for the holidays, click on my website link below for information on how to commission one.

 http://robinrosenthalspaintings.com/petportraitcommissions.htm

Into the Wind

I saw this dog on the beach at Hilton Head.  She was enjoying the wind in her face as she ran on the sand. I asked her owner if I could take her picture and he agreed but I had only seconds to catch this image before she barked and took off.

Hilton Head Vacation

Sunrise on the Ocean

Sunrise on the ocean

Morning Stroll

Sand Dunes

Sand Ripples

Sixth Hole at the Oyster Reef Golf Course

Last week we had a family vacation at Hilton Head Island SC. We did a lot of walking on the beach at sunrise, biking the beach in the afternoon and playing golf. It's a beautiful Island and at this time of year it's fairly quiet. I tried to paint but oh darn it, just couldn't find the time.

The Four in Four Challenge Part 4

This is my final entry for The Four in Four DPW's Challenge. I've used all four sheets of colored paper in this composition and found that with each painting I was able to see all the colors more clearly.  This challenge pushed me to be more creative and to get the colors right.

The Four in Four Challenge Part 3

This painting was done for The Four in Four DPW's Challenge. This is the third composition I created with these three blue bottles.  The fourth item is color which has been changing. What I like about  painting glass is the combination of broken light, reflections and highlights.

The Four in Four Challenge Parts 1 & 2

These two paintings were done for The Four in Four DPW's Challenge.  These are two of the four compositions I plan on creating with these three blue bottles. You should know that the fourth item is the color. This is a fun challenge and a great opportunity for me to paint glass.

Tomato and Scallions

At this time of year I'm torn between painting and working in my garden.  I've started painting earlier in the morning around 8:30 and then leave the afternoon for cleaning up my flower beds and bringing plants inside. That nesting instinct to get ready for winter has kicked in.

Cheese Squash

I painted this for DPW's Paint the Fall Challenge. The farmer's market vendor called it a cheese squash. I liked it for its color and like the seasons here in the northeast, I love the fall foliage colors of yellows and oranges.

Five Oranges

Here's a nod to Arthur Stern and his book How to See Color and Paint It. Its guiding prinicples are always on my mind. I'm happiest when I think about simple arrangements and spots of color.

In Formation

Sold

I started today with a review of the principles that guide me when I paint. Mostly it's about taking my time, and looking at the objects and their colors.  No making stuff up. Just looking and of course picking something colorful to paint.

Best Buddies

I found these two stuffed toys months ago but didn't paint them until now. I don't know why but I'm going through a tough time. For the past several days I've wiped off and thrown out every thing I've painted.  Out came the stuffed toys and I think I'm working through it. It could be they are a less serious subject and I relax.

Lost and Found

This dog ran onto our deck and to our back door. Never having seen her before we read her tag and called the owner. While waiting for him to arrive I took the opportunity to take some images. The owner told us that she will unlock and open their screen door and make her escape. This dog is clever and itching for adventure.

Orange Slices on Blue

It's good to be back painting. I know it's going to take a couple of days for me to get back into the zone but having gone through this before, I'm less concerned.  This painting was inspired by an earlier painting I did where the oranges were half in shadow.

Piper

Piper is a commission. She's a terrier/shitzu mix. She was rescued from a home at 4 months where she lived with 20 kittens!  She's now a little 9 month old who I'm told is curious like a cat.

Pastel Paintings

Olana Red Barn

Olana Hudson River View

Above are two of my pastel drawings from Susan Ogilvie's workshop at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops. The workshop started on Monday and each morning she begins with a sketch and then a pastel drawing demonstration. It's so helpful to watch her. I'm definitely getting the feel of using soft pastels and her insight on colors is so helpful.

The Art Critic

Here's a little dog from the Stockade Art Show. It happened that this art critic allowed me to take his picture. I think I captured his excitement as he walked around looking at all the art. I could tell he was on a mission.

Orange Rose

Happy Birthday Mom

I love you.

Stockade Art Show 2013

It was a chilly start to the day.

There were lots of people.

Two old dogs and a display for dog portraits.

I couldn't resist taking an image of this happy fellow.