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.