Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Tulips - Final, SOLD


Tulips ~ 6" x 6" ~ Oil on stretched canvas ~ SOLD

Here it is...the completed tulips. I refined a lot of details. Mainly the leaves and repositioned some of the blue flowers in the background. Hope you like it.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Tulips - 5

The flowers now come alive with the details in the center. Need more work on the leaves.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Tulips - 4

Here I worked on the background. I did not want the bright yellow flowers in the background (from the reference picture) to compete with the main tulips. I used the complement blue flowers instead. I can't wait to finish the center of the flowers.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Tulips - 3

I started with water-mixable oils and began with the yellows first, then orange and then red. I blocked in the background with dark and light greens.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Tulips

My new work in progress. These look more like yellow tulips at this point. Sometimes I use the yellow underpainting to give warmth. These will eventually become reddish orange tulips. This first layer is in acrylics.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Tulips

I will be painting this next. Feel free to use the reference picture if you want to paint.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Plein air session - Kingfisher

"Kingfisher" 6" x 6" Acrylic on stretched canvas


On Saturday, I went to the Field Museum of Natural History with a group of artists from Lake County Art League for a plein air (painting on location) session. Even though my paintings on location never look finished, I keep going because I enjoy the whole experience. This time, I am very happy with the result. I guess sometimes you get lucky!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Purple pansies - Final, SOLD

Here it is, the finished piece. "Purple Pansies", 6"x6" acrylic on stretched canvas. As you can see, I have changed some elements from the original reference. Do you know which ones? You can write to me in the comments section as to what you think has been changed from the reference, and whether you like the change.

I will share the answer later.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Purple pansies

Work-In-Progress... I am painting this on a stretched canvas 6" x 6" in Acrylic medium.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Purple pansies

I visited the Chicago Botanic Garden over the weekend, my favourite place in Chicago. I took this picture of purple pansies, so fresh and colorful! I will be painting this next. Feel free to use the picture if you like to paint it yourself. I can send you a bigger picture if you need one.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Peruvian Vase - Final

Here is the final version. Smoothed out the background, put highlights on the flowers and the lip of the vase, darkened the shadow under the vase etc., etc... Finally, signed it! I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed painting it.

The painting is 9" x 12" on Raymar canvas panel.


Saturday, May 2, 2009

Peruvian Vase - Details




I completed the lace, the shadows and the pattern on the vase. I like the colors on the vase a lot! That's what got me to paint it in the first place.

I always love flowers, that's a different thing.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Peruvian Vase - Evaluation

I had initially decided to go all white lace below the vase. But after evaluating, I felt that the painting may look top heavy (because of the darker background). So I decided to show the background at the bottom so that the painting looks anchored and balanced. Then I was really looking for a simple lace pattern. Decisions, decisions, decisions...