Oldie But Goodie

oil   8x10                           click to enlarge

I found an old photo last week taken on a drive out in west Marin.  I tried to look up this tractor - possibly a 1940 Case, or a newer model but not too new.  It was fun to paint; spent a couple days on it. S omething about those big black wheels and bright red body reminds me of being a kid and tonka trucks.  If you know more about it - give a shout.

Round Two in Blue....

                        Lia with Mollie in Blue - a study  click to enlarge

I know, I know - you saw Lia and Mollie last post.  I painted another version - it's helpful to use the same subject to play with different approaches and styles.  Yesterday was the actual setting - the bushes and deck.  But there are so many ways to paint a subject... from photo-realistic (which I don't do but admire) to totally abstraction ( something I do rarely).  This is somewhere along that continuum.  The darker areas of the background are the dark shadows in the little bush behind them; the light is where the sun was hitting the outer leaves.  An added plus -knowing your subjects makes for some fun painting.  If you prefer one over the other...  let me know.

Simply a girl and a cat...

    oil    6x6              Lia and Mollie-Cat         click image to enlarge

Wearing a leotard and ballet skirt makes anything you do a little more charming...no?  Even just petting a kitty sleeping in the sun.   Behind Lia and Mollie-Cat is a Japanese Maple turning from green to dark red. I'm getting better at simplifying detail but I have to work very hard at it.

Empty Nests

                      oil  5x5                 Empty Nests         Click to Enlarge

This is an oldie that I forgot I'd painted.  During a painting weekend with pal Linda, we decided to try and paint some empty egg shells.  For some reason seeing them sitting there empty seems a little sad. Do you see that or is it just me?

It was my first time painting shells. Very fun- -the ragged edges, the colorfilled whites and soft shadows within made them really an interesting subject.

This is on a board, not framed but I can frame it too.