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

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

Day #19 in the "30 paintings in 30 days" challenge.  "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..

For those who have been following my blog, you completely understand why I had to paint Bubbies pickles again.  (If not, click here).  This angle was very challenging.  My favorite part of the painting is the lid and that one pickle with the seeds showing.  Mmmm...I'm starting to salivate.

"Bubbies II" 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.

"Scrub-a-dub-dub" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Scrub-a-dub-dub" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

Day 18 of the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge.  Well, you never quite know what will inspire you.  I just liked the composition of the spigot, drain pull and drain.  (I pulled my easel into the bathroom and happily painted this one).  It is a quirky subject but those are the ones that I like best.  One of my favorite all time paintings is of my bathroom sink.  You can view it by clicking here.

"Scrub-a-dub-dub" 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.

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

"Core" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on canvas

Day 17 of the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge.  I started this painting at 10 p.m.  I don't usually paint that late but I had a busy day and didn't have a block of time to fit in a painting.  I had planned to paint something else but was hungry so I ate an apple before I started painting.  The apple core made for a perfect subject so I satisfied my hunger and created the perfect model.

"Lemon Cupcake on Plaid" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas

"Lemon Cupcake on Plaid" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas

Day 16 of the "30 Paintings in 30 days" challenge - I'm over the hump and more than halfway finished...I can see the end in sight!

Back to cupcakes.  This painting drove me crazy.  It drove me crazy since I could smell the most delicious lemon aroma from the cupcake as it sat under my warm spotlight.  And, unlike the last cupcake I painted, I ate every last crumb.  It was crazy delicious!

"Lemon Cupcake on Plaid" is an 8 inch square painting and is available for $95.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card/Paypal or here for other payment options.

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

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

Day 15!  Half way through the "30 paintings in 30 days" challenge.  I'm feeling energized and looking forward to creating the next 15.

This rotary phone is a funky orange-red color. It probably went well with the 70s decor in my parents home.  It still works but the receiver is so heavy it isn't comfortable to talk on for any length of time. I remember the pens with the ball on the end that were designed for dialing instead of using your finger.  Growing up, I spent a lot of time talking on this phone to my friends ... fond childhood memories.

"Rotary" 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.

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

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

Day 14 of the "30 in 30" challenge.  Almost half way there....  

"Jam" 20 x 20 inches - SOLD!

This is Gilbert. He is a funky looking stuffed dog that was a gift from a friend when I was facing surgery.  Gilbert hung out with me during my recovery and I still pull him into bed with me on occasion when I'm not feeling too spiffy.   

Exciting news!  My painting "Jam" sold to a client of the Quidley & Co gallery in Boston.  The "Urban Intersections" show ended in November but the gallery director contacted me a few days ago to see if the painting was still available.  Yeah!


"Gilbert" 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.
 

"Sweet Stuff" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

"Sweet Stuff" - 5 x 5 inches - oil on paper

Day 13 of the "30 in 30 Challenge.  The most amazing part of this painting is that I didn't eat the cupcake after I finished the painting. I actually threw it out.  Maybe I'm coming down with something.

"Sweet Stuff" 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.

"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.