Friday Inspiration

{grouping of turqouise and orange}

Hello dear friends ~

I am heading off to my drawing class taught by Robert Liberace this morning and wanted to share with some links with you.

} International Guild of Realism 2009 Annual Juried Exhibition

} a wonderful blog post on the Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese exhibit

} R. Garriott recent work of produce in a box it fun and reminds me of a modern interpretation of Gustave Caillebotte's Fruits sur un étalage

} I really enjoyed Jerrry Point's new landscape "In the Clearing" for its loose brushstrokes and handling of color.

} I have also been enjoying Anna Spiro's new blog on tumblr, she is an Aussie interior designer that shares the most inspiring photos.

Have a lovely weekend and see you on Monday!

Liz

Tomato {a daily painting}

Tomato – 6" x 6" (15.25 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel

Eggplant {a daily painting}

Eggplant – 4" x 6" (10.2 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

Mango #5 {a daily painting}

Mango #5 – 6" x 6" (15.25 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

Friday Inspiration: Little Bits

{little bits of my world}

Hello~

This week went by fast, and I only have a few links to share with you today.

Have a nice one, Liz

} This week I discovered Jala Pfaff's blog, she works in a variety of styles and has the most adorable kitten.

} I like this pairing on the Noticing Project {2009}

} Check out this post about an oil plien air setup by Fawzan Barrage

Black Eyed Susan {a daily painting}

Black Eyed Susan – 7" x 5" (17.8 x 12.7 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

Black Eyed Susans are one of my favorite flowers, they are cheerful and friendly in their shape and form and I cannot help but smile and appreciate them when viewing them.

Cherry Quintet {a daily painting}

Cherry Quintet – 4" x 6" (10.2 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

Hello,

I figured out how to photograph dark paintings without getting too much glare and reflection, use a polarizer filter. It does not completely eliminate the reflections but is really an improvement from previous methods.

Have a good evening, Liz

Apple in a Bowl Still Life {a daily painting}

Apple in a Bowl – 6" x 6" (15.25 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

When the entire circumference of the rim is not included in the picture frame I sometimes skew the perspective. I also worked to keep the brushstrokes loose, especially on the porcelain bowl.

[Update 22 July 2009: The previous text was a mouth full and kinda confusion. I now know better not to write something when I am so fatigued…

Have a nice evening, Liz]

Habanero #2 {a daily painting}

Habanero Pepper #2 – 5" x 7" (12.7 x 17.8 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel

I am finding painting peppers are fun. I am drawn to the wrinkles and how highlights will be on the crests and in the valleys. This photo does not really do it justice, same for the first pepper, because the texture in the dark background is just really setting off a bunch of interference reflections and this competes with the intense color of the pepper. I am working to figure out a way to overcome this hiccup, if I can get a better photo tomorrow I will share it with you.

Friday Inspiration: New Projects & Links

{borrowed still life props from dear Chrish}

Hello~

How has your week been? DC has been having such a lovely summer, days averaging in the mid-80s and sunny, sunny, sunny. All this week the windows and sliding door have been left open, letting fresh air in.

I am working on some new painting projects using Morroccan bowls borrowed from a good friend who has lived in many places and has some beautiful treasures. As I am keeping these paintings under wraps I thought it would be nice to share with you a photo of two of the pieces.

Here are the links I came across this week, hope you find them interesting:

} Two separate posts about creativity and process. Anna T. posted about exploration and going with the flow, which I find to be so crucial when experiencing art and here is a series where I was exploring in a similar way. While Lisa Call's new blog about art business had a great post on motivation by accountability. Different focus but equally thought provoking in my mind, I have been pondering this week how to retain a level of both of these ideas while going about the process of creating art.

} This is a post about design and home decor, and I beleive what Shannon Fricke discusses about how to start a design project is similar to creating art, that is the best way to start is just to begin.

} Nina Johansson posted a beautiful watercolor, with the main hue being purple.

} Michael Naples posted a lovely daily painting, I like the painterly effect of the sky and the line quality of the power lines.

} Kerri Settle has been using Cad. Orange to great effect in her recent paintings. I love it when a new tube of paint is added to the palette and the new adventures it brings life, this week I have just added Chromium Oxide and I love it!

Have a wonderful weekend, and if there are any posts or items of interest that have particularly inspired you this week, please share :)

Habanero Pepper {a daily painting}

Habanero Pepper – 5" x 7" (12.7 x 17.8 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel

Strawberry Tart {a daily painting}

Strawberry Tart – 5" x 7" (12.7 x 17.8 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

Today I was working on a 20” x 16” painting and when stepping back from it I noticed that my painting was way too tight for my liking. So with an effort I tried to achieve the painterly affect I so value in other artist’s work, like Karin Jurick and Julian Merrow-Smith while continuing to work on this larger painting.

Later this afternoon when I started this painting, a constant thought in my mind was to keep the brushstrokes loose. Because the goal was to keep things loose, I paid more attention to value, capturing the value changes in the main shapes, and using color and value to convey the information where it was most important.

Tomato and Stripes {a daily painting}

Tomato & Stripes – 6" x 6" (15.25 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

Today I felt like revisiting this striped dishcloth. Last year I painted two different scenes (here and here). Sometimes it is just a good idea to go back in investigate a favorite topic.

Also, I almost forgot ~Happy Bastille Day!

Three Apricots {a daily painting}

Three Apricots – 4" x 6" (10.2 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel

This summer apricots are my personal project to figure out how to paint them in a painterly and convincing manner. I am drawn to the pale orange/yellow and how the fuzzy, matte finish will sometimes catch light in places contrary to the way shade and shadow fall on spherical shapes under normal conditions.

Lemon and Lavender {a daily painting}

Lemon and Lavender – 4" x 6" (10.2 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

Hello,

Lately I have been beat by the end of the day. I so enjoy writing about the creative process and what I have been focusing on, though recently I have been mentally too tired to articulate what has been going on in my brain while painting. I think this is because I am currently juggling several different projects while also striving to maintain frequent postings of “daily paintings”. In the future there may be times when I only post an image and basic information about the daily painting. When my verbal side of the brain is in sync, I will share more with you about the process.

Today’s painting was started on Thursday, but the light faded before completing it. This afternoon, I changed the setup slightly and started over. I think having a few days to contemplate it helped out, deciding to lighten the foreground some and capturing the lavender in a more impressionistic method rather than being too literal in copying reality. I also made the entire painting more high key in value, to emphasize the feeling of summer and sunshine, two things that lavender and lemons remind me of.

Have a nice evening, and thanks for stopping by, Liz

Friday Inspiration: Summertime and Links

{studio window sill}

Hello ~

The week has been a blur, whizzing by with time painting and events ending. On Sunday, Artomatic closed and this week has been focused on trying to get some of my wall taken down and also scheduling and re-scheduling a time to volunteer during de-installation.

Summer has also been in full swing this week, with beautiful weather. Several artists have been recording their impressions of different summer activities. Here are a few of the images and posts that I wanted to share this morning.

1) the echoes group on flickr, 2) the noticing project, 3) Susan Abbott's Provence watercolors, 4) Ambera's clouds, 5) Isabel's 4th of July experience in the mountains.

Have a nice weekend, Liz

Three Olives {a daily painting}

Three Olives – 4" x 6" (10.2 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

Apricots in a Rice Bowl Still Life

Apricots in a Rice Bowl – 8" x 8" (20.3 x 20.3 cm)
SOLD

Hello ~

I just finished this painting! Sometimes I get so excited when a painting is completed, immediately I photograph it and start blogging about it, this is one of those times. I worked with the square format again, I like its specific form and how it lends itself to compact composition.

Have a wonderful afternoon; I am going to start work on a new painting!

Liz

Bing Cherry {a daily painting}

Bing Cherry – 4" x 6" (10.2 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel

Healthy and fresh looking bing cherries were on sale for 2.99/lb which is the only time I will buy them. Here in DC cherries tend to look a little sad and beat up, so this was a special treat. We ate them with everything and I only got this painting out of the whole bunch.

Hope you had a nice Independence Day! Liz

Apple Half {a daily painting}

Apple Half – 6" x 6" (15.25 x 15.25 cm) – Oil on Gessoed Panel
SOLD

This painting was completed on a gessoed masonite panel with some texture on the ground, I think it lends a rustic sensibility, almost folkish in style. Just another aspect of investigation.

The holiday weekend went by so fast; I hope it was a good one for you, your family, and your friends.

Friday Inspiration

Hello my friends!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend and happy 4th of July!

{Randomness on my studio desk }

Before signing off for the weekend here are a few links I wanted to share with you...

} Ester's blog is always full of beautiful drawings, and this red magnolia

} Susan Abbot's watercolors are always so clear and bright, and this one of her current trip to France is bright and sunny

} Linnea's recent trip to South America makes me want to visit there soon! She shared her legs of the trip in seven installments {1} {2} {3} {4} {5} {6} & {7}

} I also came across this post about writing and creativity, I am glad others believe it takes time to be creative :)

Clementines in a Bowl {a daily painting}

Clementines in a Bowl – 5" x 7" (12.7 x 17.8 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel
SOLD

It has been a busy day. My love has been under the weather, so some time has been dedicated to his comfort while also spending time in the studio. I have been outfitting a cigar box pochade, much like the ones Fawzan Barrage showed in this video. Today I dropped by a cigar shop in the middle of the day and was surprised to see about ten men hanging out smoking cigars and gossiping about the news. I had no idea cigar shops had such regular clientele and doubled as social clubs. It was fun learning about this whole new avenue of life and society.

Have a wonderful evening. Liz

Apricots & Mug {a daily painting}

Apricots & Mug – 6" x 6" (15.25 x 15.25 cm) – Oil Canvas Panel

I am still focusing some time and thought on how to capture apricots; it is a joy to figuring out how to convey the soft texture and creamy colors. There is still more to learn and gain through experience, but it is pleasant how being creative can fill me up like nothing else can.