Simplicity 20 x 16

While taking Gregg Kreutz's workshop last month many of the women were discussing Roseta Santiago's workshop. I looked at her new book once again and after seeing one of the women in the workshop paint in a similar manner I decided I had to try and make a more simplified still life with a more contemporary look for myself. I think I will probably paint more of these set ups in the near future.

Red Bowl 8 x 10 SOLD

Anita and I found this little red bowl near the sink in our class and we decided to add it to our set up. We started the painting weeks ago and then came back to it last week and completed our paintings.

Glass Bottles 12 x 16

My art friend Anita brought in the objects to paint in our class. The green bottle was found in a general store in Mississippi that had closed and the bottle was actually had a lot of character. For time I had to simplify the bottle. The black pottery bowl was made by her daughter when she was in school. When taking this picture I was having a hard time getting rid of the glare. As you can see there is a glare and the blue bottle looks more electric then it is in the painting. At this point it is so much easier to paint a painting then to figure out this camera!

Full House 16 x 20 Update: SOLD

I posted this painting in September and it sold at the Chastain Art Sale. I don't know who purchased the painting, but wanted to say Thank You!

Chastain Art Center

If you live in the Atlanta area please come by the Chastain Art Center's Sale. There are many great paintings and pottery for sale. Chastain is located off Roswell Road at W. Wieuca Road. If you are coming from 285 go inside the perimeter and make a right onto W. Wieuca Road go thru stop sign and Chastain will be on the right. Thank you for your support.

Candler Street, Gainesville, Georgia 9 x 12

On the last day of the workshop Gregg painted a plein air demo that you can see in a post below. We then had a short time to paint a plein air painting. The weather started to change that day so we had to paint quickly.

Flow Blue 8 x 10

I painted the oranges and the flow blue container at the workshop. One of the women in the workshop set up the still life and I painted with her. She sets up fabulous still lifes and is a quick painter so even though I thought I painted quickly I really had to move at a quick pace.

Gregg Kreutz and Myself at the Oil Painting Workshop

I had to get a picture taken with Gregg. It was a great workshop in that we painted still lifes, portraits and plein air. This picture was taken outside yesterday. As you can see I am standing on a curb so I look much taller then I actually am. The painting Gregg is holding is his plein air painting that he painted yesterday. The artist taking the picture bought it from him.

Peace 12 x 16

This green vase was really fun for me to paint. I love the money plant, although I found it difficult to paint. One of the women in the workshop brought in the money plant for a few of the other artists. I was able to take a few branches home so hopefully I will be able to take some of the seeds and have the plant grow in the backyard. Maybe it will bring me some real money also.

Thanksgiving 12 x 16

The pottery in the painting was made by my coworker Roberto. I have painted the vessel a few times, but this time the color was different. I had never painted this plate and love how it turned out. I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week while painting this at the workshop I was just amazed at how fast time was moving this fall. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Harvest 12 x 16

The lady apples finally showed up in the grocery stores last week right before my workshop with Gregg Kreutz. I bought the canister at a flea market and was waiting to paint it at the class. Usually canisters are easy to paint, but this one gave me trouble for some strange reason. The workshop was great with Gregg and many concepts were similar from my workshop with David.

Balance 8 x 10

This was the third painting at the David Leffel Workshop. He was able to critique this painting. When I painted the oranges mine were too detailed, so David went back and painted them the way they should look so therefore the oranges in this painting are his. The plant is called popcorn and can be found on the coast. The same student that brought the bittersweet also brought in this plant and let me have some for my painting.

Sanctuary 12 x 16

This was the second painting from the David Leffel Workshop. This painting felt peaceful to me while painting it. When I was getting ready to set up this still life the lights in the room changed so I had to move my area because of the glare. I was able to find a corner of the room that was not occupied, and it was quiet compared to the rest of the room.

Harmony 16 x 20

This was the first painting from the David Leffel Workshop in Gainesville, Georgia last week. It is similar to my "Full House" painting. I wanted to see how David would arrange a painting differently. Once we set up our still lifes he came around and adjusted them. It is helpful to see the slight adjustments and you wonder why you didn't think of that set up.

Full House 16 x 20 SOLD

3 pears and 2 little apples that makes a full house. I wanted the black canister to melt into the dark background so that you could only see highlights. With this painting I was trying to get ready for the David Leffel workshop that starts tomorrow for 4 days. His dark objects always disappear mysteriously into the background. Once again this photo of the painting may be a little brighter then it is in person. For some reason the lights show up really light.

Waiting for Halloween 16 x 20

All I have to say is that I Love Halloween! To me it is the start of fall with the leaves changing color, the pumpkins and the cooler weather. In the neighborhood where I grew up all the kids were around the same age so we would go for miles collecting candy. Back then you would get the full size candy bars and packs of bubble gum.

Luna 11 x 14

This leek painting was inspired by the work of Sarah Lamb. She has a painting with leeks, avocados and onions that is just beautiful. Mine is in a looser style with not as much detail. My friends and I set up this still life in a class that we were in last winter.

Roberto's Ceramic Vessel 14 x 18

This is my latest painting. My coworker Roberto made me the vessel in his pottery class. It is to hold paint brushes. I loved the colors so much that I had to paint it. I think this piece of pottery will turn up in future paintings.

Mildred 12 x 16

This antique wine bottle belonged to my Aunt Mildred. It is a beautiful spa color and I have painted it several times. I like the simplicity of this painting. For some reason the white on the table is much lighter then it is in the actual painting. I have now taken several photographs, but it is still showing up bright.

April 11 x 14

I painted this still life in April at a David Leffel workshop at the Scottsdale Artists' School. It was a week long workshop and an experience of a lifetime. In 3 weeks I have another opportunity to take a workshop with David Leffel in the Atlanta area and I am looking forward to watch him paint and to hear him speak. It is magical.

Virginia 11 x 14

This blue bottle belonged to my grandmother and now it belongs to my mother. Today, September 24th was my grandmother's birthday. I thought in remembrance of her I should get this posted today.

Good Morning 11 x 14

I painted this pitcher and the melons back in 2006. Looking back on it I wish I had painted the painting on a bigger panel. The pitcher ends too close to the top of the panel. The painting was done in a class with one of the best teachers and artists I have ever known-Karen Appleton. You can get to her website under my links. She would set up 3 still life's and we could pick which one we wanted to paint. Each still life she set up was done with artistic perfection.

Eggplants

This painting was done at a workshop in August up in New York. The workshop was at The Grand Central Academy of Art and the teacher was Sarah Lamb. This was the first time I had used Claessens #13 on gatorfoam board. It was a different texture for me and the paint seemed to go on more like watercolor. At the top you can see where I taped off the canvas because the still life looked better 12 x 9. This is the first image I have posted and I haven't quite figured out how to take pictures with my camera so that there is no glare. This is the only picture I took that didn't have a glare and it looks a little sideways. By the way Sarah Lamb is a fantastic artist and wonderful teacher and if you ever get a chance to take a workshop with her do so! It was a fantastic experience.