Busy Painting!

I haven't posted in a while, but I have been very busy painting. Here's just a few that I've been working on. I have three more that I'll post soon.

5"x7" canvas panel - in progress

This was one of the paintings I had started during my last plein air workshop. It looked nothing like this. I took a picture and I've been working on it in the studio. I guess that's where I feel most comfortable. Not that I'm going to stop painting plein air. I'm more comfortable getting a color study vs. something finished. I have another painting that I liked that I've been working on as well. I'll post that soon.

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "Grape Scott" in progress

Still working one grape at a time on this one. The grapes are starting to get that glow that I want to capture.

16"x12" oil on canvas - "Shadow Boxing" in progress

I still need to work on this one a bit more. I like how the leather is looking. The actual painting is much warmer than this photo.

A Few Small Paintings

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "Grape Scott" in process

I thought I'd show a few small paintings I've been working on. The title of this piece, well, my husband's name is Scott and I couldn't think of anything else. The grain of the wood has been fun to paint. I'm daunted by the grapes. But, I'll take it one grape at a time...

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "pearing up" in process

I love painting pears. It's been a while since I've painted them. I love the yellow-green pears with the soft red blending through the skin. It's always a fun challenge to capture the soft dots on the skin.

8"x6" oil on canvas panel - "Bug" in process

It was hard to capture a great photo of my 5 month old. He finally stopped moving to allow me to photograph him. I'm not sure if this will be the last painting of my little bugger. It's not the most creative pose. But, it's not a blurrrr like the other shots.

"Shadow Boxing" in progress

16"x12" oil on canvas

I'm liking how this is coming along, almost done. I've started a few new small pieces in between the drying time for this. I wish I could figure out how to paint wet on wet. I try but always pull off the color. I have another plein air workshop next week and I hope I can focus on being loose and learn to paint wet on wet. Habits are hard to break. Not that I'm trying to change the way I paint but, I truely enjoy trying new aproaches to painting. The end result can be awesome (or disappointing). The fact that I give it a whirl is what counts in the end.

"Shadow Boxing" in progress

16"x12" oil on canvas

Underpainting complete, now for the fun part! I'm not sure if I want to keep the brush strokes loose or get tight with it. I guess the brush will guide me.

"Shadow Boxing" in progress

16"x12" oil on canvas

I've been kick boxing since last May, and I love it!! Yes, this turned into another one of my goals...bikini this summer! I know, I know, your saying what, at your age! Why not. I came across a photo of an old pair of boxing gloves and thought it fitting to paint them. I'll show you this painting in its entire process.

"Bird's Nest" finally completed?

12"x12" oil on canvas

I believe that this is finally completed. This photo doesn't give this painting justice, as the colors of the nest are richer with many different browns and the blue is actually more teal. I'm hoping to invest in a better camera this year, maybe that will help.

Like yourselves, I have many personal goals for this New Year. Top of my list is painting, painting and more painting. I hope to get myself out and about more with the possibility of selling some of these. I have a goal of having a showing in November at my house (I need to start somewhere). I'll be inviting my friends and neighbors to show them I'm not really a recluse. I notice that some of the blogs I follow mention they want to paint a certain amount of paintings within the year. I probably should have that kind of goal as well.

Happy New Year!!