Laila's Platter, Ella's Glass

Sometimes you look down, and right under your nose is a still life all set up for you and everything.  That happened awhile back when I was doing the dishes and became captivated by the repeating patterns, strange fluorescent lighting and the interaction of heirloom dishes with my common, everyday Corel ware (and a very mundane plastic yogurt lid in the corner).  It did to me what art can so often do, and that is it transported me to a place not describable except with a painting.

Laila's Platter, Ella's Glass, oil on panel, $175 click here to purchase

Day 18 - Janies Frog

Don't have too much time to post now and will elaborate later... Todays painting in the 30 in 30 challenge is a frog  that my aunt in law sent a pic of last night.  Love this guy!  Thanks Janie!

Update... a word about photographing my artwork-
I posted the bottom image last night and had to do it quickly as I needed to leave for work.  Consequently, I snapped a picture in my studio under my studio lights, which happen to be LED daylight bulbs.  I knew then that the colors weren't quite right and I would have to re-take the picture today outside.  Artwork is best photographed in natural light. That being said, it is not always easy finding the perfect spot with just the right light.  Sometimes the light is dappled by shadows. Direct sunlight is too harsh.  Shade sometimes alters the color of the painting by what ever is causing the shade (i.e. a green tree).  I have found the the perfect spot to photograph my paintings is in a west facing corner of my house that has a white wall and white gravel on the ground.  But, as I found this morning, it also is best in the late afternoon... Although the colors are correct in the top photo this one shows quite a bit of glare, which I couldn't seem to avoid, no matter how I turned my painting.  Yes, the painting is still wet, but in the late afternoon, it is as if there is a sweet spot of perfect lighting to photograph my paintings.  Maybe I'll take another one later today and post that to compare!

Janie's Frog, oil on panel, 6"x6",
to purchase, please click here
Photographed in natural light

Janie's Frog, photographed under LED lighting

Day 14 of the 30 in 30... The Fish Head

Today's painting was inspired by a Daily Paintworks weekly challenge.  The DPW website (one of the places I sell my artwork though) has a weekly painting challenge.  It could be anything from stormy weather (last weeks challenge) to painting a fish (one from the end of May).  I've never done one before, but I was perusing them last night and liked the look of this guy.  Thought he would be fun to try. So, here is my entry for the 30 in 30 painting challenge I am participating in with Leslie Saeta (and over 2000 other artist worldwide) and for the paint a fish DPW challenge.  I must say, blending the colors on this fish was definitely a challenge.  You may notice that the picture uses a complementary color scheme of blue and orange.  Great challenge for me today.   But anyway, lets get down to business.... Anyone want a fish head to hang on their wall?  ;)

The Fish Head, oil on panel, 6"x6"
to purchase, please click here