Anna's Apples

(oil on gessoboard; 6"x 6")

This is another painting in which I am trying hard to use fewer brushstrokes.  I was looking at one of Carol Marine's books and I thought I would try apples.  She is the master and makes it look so easy!  I lost focus after a while and started to overwork it.  Note to self:  take a break when 80% done.  Most of the time I will realize I can stop there.

Pepper Go-Round

(oil on gessoboard; 6"x 6")

I like the sense of movement in this composition - it adds some fun to an otherwise "still" life.   I did this one in painting class.  Someone brought a big bag of red peppers and they looked so juicy and delicious that I had to try and paint them.  I was consciously working on putting in the object highlights without resorting to using pure white paint, and I think it worked well here to use yellow - I think the value is true to life. 

Lemon Light

(oil on gessoboard; 6"x 6")

This is a painting exercise I did in Carol Marine's wonderful painting class.  It has sentimental value because it was the first time I tried oil paint, and I got hooked.  The assignment was to paint the fruit using the fewest brushstrokes possible.  It's a great way to force yourself to be intentional about each brushstroke.