"Keys" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Keys" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

Keys.  What can I say?  This pretty much speaks for itself.  Go Pats!

"Keys" is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options.

"Strawberry Frosted" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Strawberry Frosted" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas

Day 11 of the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" Challenge.  Today was a double duty day since I completed a painting and finished a commission all in one shot.  Now that's a good day!

I appreciate all the comments and encouragement from everyone...thank you!   I'm trudging along and will finish this challenge if it kills me :)

"Slices of Vitamin C" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Slices of Vitamin C" - 5 x 5 inches - oil paper

I'm exactly 1/3 of the way through the 30 in 30 challenge.  I almost always opt for back lighting in my paintings (meaning that I'm looking into the light as I paint).  Look at the way the shadow falls to figure out where the light is coming from.  In this case the shadows come forward.  When I have transparent or semi-transparent objects, I use this lighting to allow the object to glow.

"Slices of Vitamin C" is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options.

"Bubbies" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Bubbies" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

Some people are addicted to drugs, some to alcohol.  I'm addicted to Bubbies Bread and Butter pickles.  Ok.  I said it.  It's true.  And now you know.


"Bubbies" is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options. 

"Take Out" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Take Out" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

My son works at a local Chinese restaurant.  One perk of the job is that he gets free food.  So, when he is working, my refrigerator is stocked with a variety of take out.  I really like the geometric shapes created by the box and thought it would make a fun subject to paint. 

"Take Out" is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options. 

"Cadmium Orange" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"Cadmium Orange" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

I didn't have to look beyond my studio to find inspiration for today's painting.  A simple tube of paint and a couple of brushes.

"Here Comes Honey Bear Bear" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on canvas

"Here Comes Honey Bear Bear" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

Day 6 of the 30 Paintings in 30 days challenge.  

Back to the honey bear that I recently painted in a different set up.  I just love the golden amber color of this little guy.

In other news, congratulations to Tag Vennard who won my January give-a-way.  Because he is a resident of Westford, I have him a copy of my book, Paint the Town.   For those who don't know, each month I randomly select someone from my email list and give them a gift.  It could be a set of notecards, a calendar, a copy of my book, or, even an original painting.  Sign up by clicking here.

"Here Comes Honey Bear Bear" is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options. 

"Striptease" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Striptease" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

I'm not sure why clementines make me think sexy thoughts.  I just kept thinking "striptease" as I peeled the skin so I had the title long before the paint hit the paper.  My first crack at clementines was entitled "Undressed" and you can see it by clicking here.

If you want to see a complete breakdown of my painting process, keep reading....

"Striptease" is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options. 

MY PAINTING PROCESS

I thought I'd take some time to explain my painting process for this "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge.  So here goes:

I set up my still life next to my easel and adjust the light until I'm satisfied with the shadow.  My preference is natural light but I'm doing most of painting in the evenings.

I select my paper.  I treated watercolor paper with 3 coats of gesso (a sealant) and then painted them with a coat of acrylic for a colored ground.  I have a variety ready to go in all different colors.

I now have to transfer my still life set up onto my paper.  I use a plexiglass square to view my still life and trace what I see using a dry erase marker.  The plexiglass is permanently marked with a box divided into 9 squares.  I created this tool using red acrylic paint. 

I attach my paper to a board with bulldog clips and prop it up on my easel.  I place 4 dots on my paper where the 4 intersecting lines are on the plexiglass.  I could draw the grid onto the paper but 4 dots will suffice to give me a frame of reference and make less mess.

I transfer the image from the plexiglass to the paper using the dots and lines as a guide.

I start by blocking in the darkest areas first.

I continue adding the middle values.

I added the white rind to help define the form and then added the stem on top.

I worked on the texture of the fruit and then started on the shadow...

...and then the background color.

 

The final step is signing the painting.  I use a rubber tipped "wipe-out" tool to scrape the paint away and leave my signature.

"Red Pepper Green Shadow" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Red Pepper Green Shadow" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

Day 4 of the "30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge."  I'm cranking along and enjoying my little still life set ups.
 

Peppers make a really interesting subject to paint with their curves, bumps and crevices.  I also love the green stem contrasting with the bright red pepper. 

"Red Pepper...." is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/paypal or here for other payment options. 

"1 Tsp Almond Extract" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"1 Tsp Almond Extract" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

Day 3 of Leslie Saeta's "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge.  There are about 250 artists participating in this challenge.   

I rummaged around my kitchen to come up with this subject.  Surprisingly, vanilla extract is nearly opaque so the almond extract made a much more interesting subject.


"1 Tsp Almond Extract" is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options. 

"Take 2 and Call Me in the Morning" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Take 2 and Call Me in the Morning" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

Probably not the most popular subject for a painting, but I really like orange color and the way the light shines through the bottle and illuminates the pills.  


"Take 2..." is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40 (unframed).  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options. 

"Sensodyne" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Sensodyne" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

I decided to take a 30 day challenge to paint 30 paintings in 30 days.  For this challenge, I set up a few rules for myself: 

1) Paint with oil on paper.  I've always wanted to try painting on paper so I decided this would be a great time to try. 

2) Paint from life.  I paint from photos a lot so I wanted to force myself back into painting from life.  I've set up an area next to my easel for staging my subjects.

3) Keep it simple.  Because I'm painting 30 paintings in 30 days, I need to keep them relatively small and simple.  I plan to use everyday objects from around my house and hopefully I won't run out of inspiration. I'm using a 5 inch size paper since they fit nicely into a stock 5 x 5 frame.

My first subject: my trusty toothbrush and toothpaste.  It was one of the first things I picked up this morning so it made for a great start.  I think my dentist would agree :)

"Sensodyne" is a 5 inch square painting and is available for $40 (unframed).  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options. 

"Honey Bear" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

"Honey Bear" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

Happy New Year to everyone!  "Honey Bear" was actually my last painting for 2012.  I spotted the little guy on my dining room table.  The light from the window made this little bear glow with the most delicious amber colors.  I'm sure I'll paint him again sometime.

You'll be getting a lot of emails from me in January.  I've accepted a challenge to paint 30 paintings in 30 days.  I've decided to paint on paper -- something I've always wanted to try.  So, I prepped some watercolor paper with 3 coats of gesso and I'm ready to go.  Because I plan to finish one painting each day, I'll keep the subjects pretty simple.  I'm looking forward to this challenge...something I've been thinking about for a long time.  Stay tuned...


"Honey Bear" is a 6 inch square painting and is available for $60.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using paypal or here for other payment options. 

"Pink Frosted" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Pink Frosted" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

Who can resist a frosted donut with sprinkles?  Not me!  I started off by painting my canvas with a wash of pink and then allowed to color to peek through.  This was a fun one to paint as I ate the model shortly after the painting session was over :)

This is likely my last email for 2012 so I just want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and I hope 2013 brings you good health and much happiness.  Thanks for sharing my artistic journey and I appreciate all your kind words and encouragement.

With warmest regards,

Laurie 

"Coming and Going" - 10 x 10 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Coming and Going" - 10 x 10 inches - oil on canvas

Last Saturday, I spent the afternoon at a "Buy Local - Read Local" event where I sold copies of my book, "Paint the Town!  An Artist's Perspective on Westford, Massachusetts."  It was a fun afternoon of chatting with customers along with other local authors.  I decided to paint during the event since many people are curious and enjoy seeing a painting in action.  I had started the painting the day before and was able to almost complete it during the afternoon...it just needed a few finishing touches at home.

I have exciting news to share.  On Thursday, Dec. 20 at noon (EST), I'm going to be co-hosting a radio show called "Artists Helping Artists."  Leslie Saeta started the show back in 2010 and it is a great resource for artists - lots of topics on marketing, sales, social media, etc.  The topic for Thursday is "Organizing Tips for Artists … Getting Ready for 2013."  It will be a new experience for me and I'm looking forward to it!  You can listen to the show live, or a recorded version afterwards, by clicking here.

"Sunny Day at the PCA II" - 10 x 10 inches - oil on canvas

I wish I had taken a picture midway though this painting.  To mix things up a bit, I decided to go completely funky with the colors and try to get a pop art type of look.  I painted the building various shades of purple, the sky was yellow and green, the grass and trees were pinks and reds.  I HATED it.  It just didn't work.  So, I let it sit for a few days and decided that the funky colors were my under-painting and I'd just go ahead and paint it using realistic colors.  After all that, I'm quite happy with the final result.

In other news, congratulations to Susan Taylor who won my monthly give-away for December!  Each month I randomly select someone from my mailing list and give them a gift.  Click here to sign up for my mailing list for your chance to win!

"Sunny Day at the PCA II" is a 10 inch square painting and is available for $140.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using paypal or here for other payment options. 

"Where's Kit-Ten?" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Where's Kit-Ten?" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

I occasionally do some cat sitting for a friend.  I'm not entirely sure that she still has a cat.  In my last 4 day cat sitting job, I never saw the cat.  Every time I saw that some food was missing from the bowl, I was relieved as I figured that cat was still alive.

One afternoon, I went searching for "Kit-Ten" (a.k.a. Stanley or Smudge) and spotted the light streaming in from the living room window.  Great light...I knew I had to paint it.  I would have preferred to have Kit-Ten sitting on the couch to add some interest to the painting, but that wasn't going to happen.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday.  As a reminder, there is still time to order a house or pet portrait for the holidays.  For more information on ordering a custom painting, click here.  I also have 2013 Desk Calendars available and for folks with connections to Westford, MA, my Paint the Town Book makes a great gift.
 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't have a new painting to post this week but just wanted to share a bit of news on a few topics.

Photo by Pat Alto

"Sunny Day at the PCA"

First off, in my last post, I forgot to give credit to Pat Alto who took the photo of the antique chandelier.  The PCA's art auction fundraiser was a great success and raised almost $4,500.  My painting, "Sunny Day at the PCA" was well received and found a new home with Lizette and David Greaves.


Marie Doctor won my monthly give-away for November ... one of my 2013 Desk Calendars...congratulations Marie!  For those who don't know, sign up for my e-mail list and you're automatically entered to win in my monthly drawing.


Finally, I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! 

With warm regards,

Laurie

"Sunny Day at the PCA" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Sunny Day at the PCA" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas

very sad chandelier

This coming Saturday, the Parish Center for the Arts is holding an art auction fundraiser to raise money to restore the original chandelier that hung in the main hall many years ago (see photo above).  

The original pulley system is still in the attic.  The chandelier had to be lowered down to light it (first candles and then oil) and then pull it back up.  We don't know its exact age but it was manufactured between 1840 and 1870.  One cool feature you can see in the photo is that the top of the chandelier is lined with glass mirrors which helped reflect the light.  

If you are interested in attending the art auction, you can read more about it here.  It will be a very fun evening and an opportunity to purchase some fantastic art.

"Sunny Day at the PCA" is my donation for the auction.

"How Do You Like Them Apples?" - 10 x 10 inches - oil on canvas

I am still on an apple kick although I'm sad to say that apples are now a bit out of season so the good juicy, crispy ones are harder to find.  I learned a thing or two about painting apples in the past few weeks.  I was a bit afraid of the multicolored apples but then learned to like painting them a lot better than the solid color apples.  I also learned that apples really come in a multitude of colors...pinks, reds, oranges and a full range of green.

For this painting, instead of laying out the apples in a geometric pattern (like I did for Sweet Sixteen), I just randomly placed them.  As always, for added interest, I try to make each apple slightly different in color, size, distance between them, etc.

In other news:

I still have some 2013 desk calendars available...they make a really nice holiday gift.  You can buy them at Art on Main, or, online by clicking here.

And, if you're starting to think about the holidays, a house or pet portrait makes a really nice gift so now is the time to make that request.  For more information on ordering a custom painting, click here.

"How Do You Like Them Apples?" is a 10 inch square painting and is available for $140.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using paypal or here for other payment options.