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6" x 6"
Oil on panel

This was painted for an artist's challenge on the website http://www.dailypaintworks.com/challenges. The idea was to paint a person sitting. It was a quite difficult to paint figures this small!

Orange Pepper

6" x 6", oil on panel
When I picked up this bright, orange pepper I was reminded of the the crayon boxes I loved as a kid.  The blue green plate just upped the color wattage.

Double Tomato

Double Tomato
6" x 6"
oil on gessopanel

I have been painting and trying some different ideas. Posting has been delayed due to my new camera, Fujifilm X10. It is a great little camera but it is a little fussy. I think I am getting the hang of it!

Caravaggio at the Columbus museum of Art

 Since artist live in art communities I thought I would write a bit about what is going on in my piece of the art world which is Columbus, Ohio. The intention was to engage with  local art and instead I find myself starting with an Italian artist who died in 1610.  Large billboards around my town have been reminding me that the Columbus Museum of Art is presenting a show centered around one painting; "Behold the Man" by Caravaggio. And because I had made my family march all around Rome looking at various paintings in multiple churches a few years ago,  I certainly couldn't ignore the one in my backyard. A single painting isn't much of a show, which meant that the museum was challenged to produce a bigger story. The museum brought together, in one space, paintings produced by artist from the 17th century which demonstrated how each emulated his style and/or imagery. I do find the work of curators interesting, and in this case, I found that concept of the show was more interesting than many of the paintings. That being said it is impossible to ignore Caravaggio's legacy as chiaroscuro, his method of describing form, is one of the guiding principles taught in most art schools.

Turning the corner from the Caravaggio room I saw this painting by another Italian artist, Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964). Obviously this work comes from a much different time and place.  I enjoyed seeing the painting as Morandi has interested me for many years. He painted simple objects such as bottles and jars, and these objects were always placed in the center of the table. His paintings seem to have a mixture of  humor and innocence.

There were many paintings that I enjoyed, many old friends that I hadn't visited in awhile. The last painting that I wanted to mention was this one painted by Matisse(1869-1954). He and Morandi were contemporaries and each painted a table top but not the same table top, and not the same world. I like this interior full of playful color. It is an image that I want to wrap around myself as I face another cold, gray, wet day in Columbus.

Three apples

I was challenged to see if I could loosely capture the red green apples in the background. I am pleased with the results.

6" x 6" oil on gesso panel

I am learning everyday my way around the internet. Hopefully this week I will roll out my website and possibly start using the Dailypainter website. One step at a time, I keep reminding myself.

I have found some really lovely work on the internet and if the artists agree I will be offering links to their blogs.

Yesterday I had hoped to go to a gallery in downtown Columbus. The Riffe Gallery has a show that will only be up one more week. I cruised around looking for parking, but no luck, the lots were full as were all the pay meters.  Oh well,  I went to my studio instead to work on a painting.

This is a 6" X 6" , oil on gesso panel.
I like the painting and will  apply varnish as soon as it arrives in the mail. I have not varnished a lot of my paintings but paintings with a dark ground really look better with at least one coat.

Painting fruit

Every Christmas we receive a beautiful basket of fruit from my brother-in-law. We enjoy it very much so this year I decided to make him a painting from the basket as a little thank you.

Pear 6" x 6"
oil on panel

The tree is down and the winter months are facing us. This new project has energized me and I am excited to get to my studio each day. Painting in small bites keeps it fresh.

Red bell a gift

Having painted abstractly for years I needed to brush up on my more realistic painting. This red bell caught my eye and in addition I decided to play with reflective surfaces. I did feel rusty as I painted but it started feeling better as I continued. I don't think I will be whipping paintings off in 1 hour, as some of the daily painters can, but that's fine with me. This project is about the journey.

The painting is oil on panel, 6" x 6". The recipients loved it.

I am hoping, before I corral my husband into taking down the tree, to get some quality painting done today.

New Year and a new view of art

I am finally going to start this blog. I have been circling and thinking about it for at least a month but with the beginning of the New Year I decided to take the plunge.
My blog coincides with a new direction in my painting. I have been reading and viewing the daily painters on line and think that is has much to offer. So I am going to use this blog to explore this form of painting.

I am also interested in giving a glimpse of the world of art in central Ohio. All of this is a hope and a challenge to myself.

I did begin this process with some small still life paintings the first one I made thinking of all the tomatoes my husband grew in his garden this summer. It is small 6" x 6" and is oil on a gesso panel.

I was surprised how much I liked it and plan to do more.
 

Wishing you a New Year full of art.