Sunday, April 26, 2009

Graniteville Foundry - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

I can easily find beauty in an industrial area that might contain dilapidated buildings, rusty machines and other assorted goodies. I was initially inspired by the light green building that contrasts with the tall red tower. This painting is really all about the shapes created by the awning, the stairs, the pipes and all the other elements. I love the subtle shades of greens, reds and grays.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Tic-Tac-Toe - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas


I think acorns are adorable. They have tremendous personality with their chunky bodies and oversized hats. If you look closely, they're all slightly different - some are almost square with a flat bottom while others are more sleek and rounded. Their colors also vary from a light tan to a deep, almost purplish, brown. As with most paintings, the shadows are incredibly important for both the composition and for creating depth.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Trio - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I recently hosted an oil painting workshop given by Carol Marine, a wonderful artist from Texas. When the workshop was over, students left their still life materials behind so I had a glut of fruits and vegetables sitting on my counter. This trio of pears was neatly lined up on my kitchen counter. I liked how they cast a shadow against the wall and left a reflection on my dark counter top. I painted this one in a slightly different style as I tried to keep my brushstrokes very loose and expressive.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Dreamy Day - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas


This painting is very loosely based on some reference photos of Plum Island. I basically just let the paint flow and tried to create a simple and peaceful scene. A note about painting skies: if you look at the sky on a bright and sunny day, you'll notice that the color overhead is a very deep and rich blue. If you look towards the horizon, the blue becomes lighter and grayer. This also holds true for any object - colors are brighter and richer in the foreground but fade to a grayer (less saturated) color in the background.