Lunaria annua 2

Turned the branch of this dried Money plant upside down, and tried again, this one 5x5. Happy Halloween!

Shell Values 1

This is my entry for last weeks challenge from The Daily Paintworks. A value study from Carol Marine using only burnt umber, rubbing out for mid value, laying in more paint for the darks, and using thinner or a q-tip to lift for the lights. I've been painting shells for a week, so it only made sense to try this value exercise with some more shells. Will paint it again in color-this time it's on a blue cloth.

Shell Study 3

Enjoying this shell,looking at it from various angles,seeing how the sea and rocks have broken it, wearing it smooth,then jagged. Beauty in imperfection.

Shell Study 2

Another day with the same shell. I believe that the more I paint a particular subject,whether a still life or outside plein air, the greater my powers of observation will become. I often want to flit from one subject to another, am trying to change this about myself. Think about Morandi and how he painted those bottles again and again. There is no way we can say, "There is nothing inspiring to paint!" It lies in how we see what's in front of us.

Shell 1

It has been raining and foggy for a week, so when I got to the studio this morning I wanted to be transported to blue skies and warm sand. Painting this shell did just that,while listening to Bob Dylan covers celebrating his upcoming 70th birthday.What a songwriter. He's also an artist.