The Old Ships Block SOLD

Remembering Dave.
November 23rd, 1948 to January 1st, 1996
Keep Well, Val

Three Apples SOLD

Well today I am back in my studio. So painting should go better, right? Hmmm this is my second attempt today! I am also trying some new techniques to photograph the paintings and I am afraid this one has some glare that breaks up the darks. I really like this piece in real life however! Its 6" by 8" and like the others, is available from me directly.
Thanks for Looking!
Val

Tea with Lemon SOLD

My son and daughter in law gave me this wonderful little cast iron tea pot for Christmas. I immediately thought it would be great to paint! It has been a challenge to get into my painting "zone" with so much activity around the house. I have attempted a few other paintings that were not good enough to post, humbling reminders of just how much focus and concentration painting demands. This one is 5" by 7" on masonite panel.

Thanks for looking, Val

SOLD...Thanks!

Mango steins

I am excited to be back painting after the hectic pace of Christmas celebrations! My son's girlfriend brought me some wonderful fruit to paint. These Mango stiens have a beautiful dark purple shell and curvy dried leaves. I had to expand my usual limited palette in order to get their rich colour. Now we get to eat them, yumm!
Holiday Wishes to all,
Val

Peeled SOLD

Not so many posts lately as family time definitely trumps painting time! Both my sons are home and their partners are coming for the holidays as well. One son is moving into my studio space so I am thinking of doing some views out the house windows. Think lots of snowy trees! Hope I can pull it off.
This piece is 6" by8" on masonite panel.
Thanks for your interest!
Val
SOLD, Thanks!

Simply Persimmons SOLD

Buying these was kind of fun. I picked through them carefully for colour while a fellow shopper was giving me directions on just how to serve them up! The cool background colour is a departure for me but I thought I would try the blue against these brilliant orange persimmons.
Hope you enjoy. This is 6" by 8" and is available from me through the email link on my website.

Holiday Cheers, Val

Pomegranate

This pomegranate was just too fun to paint! All those little seeds and the pale pink membranes.
This blog is developing a life of its own, somehow these smaller paintings are more important than completing my current larger pieces. I will have to strike a balance soon or I will have some very empty walls in my February show at Arts Underground!
Our daylight hours are getting so short that it is sometimes hard to find any natural light in the studio. My setup is a homemade still life box with a 3oo watt bulb to light the subject as well as my painting support. I usually need to turn off the overhead lights to maintain the light and shadow patterns on my subject, so with this low winter light it can feel like I am painting in the dark!
Again thanks for taking a look and please pass on my blog to a friend or two. If you subscribe you may need to change your settings to allow my emails through your junk filter.
All the Best, Val

SOLD, Thanks!

Red and Gold

A little Christmas painting for you today. I am getting excited about the holidays because my sons and their sweethearts are arriving soon. We will have a busy household and so I will not get to my "dailies" as often......lots of cooking and visiting to do!
This piece has a fair bit of glare on the surface. I tried a new fast dry medium that improves the gloss of the paint but unfortunatly leads to a problem with photographing the image. I think it looks a lot better in real life.
Holiday Wishes! Val

Two Apples SOLD

Double trouble today! This is my second painting for today...the first one was not working so I wiped it off and started again with a new subject. My goal was a strong a composition with clear light and dark patterns. Sometimes I loose sight of the dark and light composition as I get involved in rendering specific objects.

Oops my last few posts may be sitting in your junk box because I wrote in purchase information. So just know these pieces are available unless otherwise stated.

This one is 6" by 8" on masonite panel.

Thanks for looking! Val

Well Red Apple SOLD

I put a few more compositional elements in this piece. The books are from a small collection of very old books that I have painted before. Their perspective is challenging to draw! Let me know what you think, I enjoy your comments.... just click below the image in my blog to leave a comment.
This is 8" by 6" on masonite panel and is for sale for $65.
Thanks for looking!
Val

Chinese Jar

We bought this ceramic and silver jar in Vietnam a few years ago. I don't know much about the function or history of such vessels but it proved to be a very challenging subject. Lots of silver carving to simplify! I almost quit but now I think my persistence paid off. Let me know what you think, I appreciate your comments. And please pass on my blog to others and encourage them to subscribe, feedburner subscriptions are very secure. Thanks!
This is 8" by 6", on masonite panel and is available for $65. You can contact me through the email link on my website.
Thanks for taking a look, Val

Bree's Christmas Angel

I imagine the puppy she is holding is a Golden Retriever, like my dog Bree. So I think of her as Bree's Christmas Angel.

Just like painting the figure, the shape is defined by where the light meets shadow. With these little pieces its very hard to decide when to stop! This is probably good practice as it is easy to overwork any piece by fiddling with it instead of stopping.

She is 6" by 8" on panel and she is available for $65.

Thanks for looking! Val

Pear on a Placemat

A painterly paint application....that was my goal here. Evident brush strokes and fairly thick paint. The shine of the thick fresh paint creates a bit of glare in the photograph though.
As I was painting the warmth of the spotlight on the pear released the most delicious fragrance into my studio! Again this is 6" by 8" on panel.
Hope you enjoy, Val

A Pair of Peppers

Plenty of colour changes to describe all those curves! This piece is 6" by 8" on panel.
THANKS SO MUCH to all of you who have been so supportive! Almost every painting has sold.
I am grateful to have such a following.
Again this piece is $65 directly from me. There is a link to my email from my web site. In a week or so I will place them on Ebay as most of the daily painting bloggers do.
All the best and thanks for looking.
Val

Orange on Red SOLD

Christmas Oranges on Red for Dec 1st. Lots of full strength pigment in this painting! It was difficult to get the photo image to match the painting...this image is somewhat more red than the actual painting. All my "daily paintings" are available for $65 direct from me.
Have a great weekend.
Val

SOLD, Thanks