Weekend Still Life

Had buttermilk left over from a pie this week, so I made biscuits which ended up being the still life subject matter for a cold Saturday. (Made a buttermilk cake, too - it was great! email me for the recipe!)
I'd like to do more of these little still lifes this winter - for years I've been watching Duane Keiser and his brilliant evolution both as a painter and as a promoter of his work via the internet. He made a long series of little paintings, and began using his blog and Ebay to distribute his artwork to collectors. Regular people were (and still are, although his prices have justifiably risen) able to collect some world class artwork, Duane covers his expenses, and it's been really fun to watch. Don't know if I'll be able to maintain the focus and consistency that I'd like to, but watch for more of these little "Saturday Still Lifes". Another inspiration for food art has been Elizabeth Brandon... I drool over her paintings monthly on the cover of Cook's Illustrated. And to think some people buy that mag for the recipes!

Tom's Bridge II

I've been fussing with this one for a long time. Finally called it "sufficiently overworked" and stuck it in a frame. It's big, for me, 18x24, and the only reference was a small painting I made on location, but I changed it a bunch from the reference. I've made a painting from this little stretch of the New Fork every August now for three or four years - maybe longer. This one is something of a walk on the wild side for me, it's hard to see from the photo but I've used lots of reds and lavenders in the dark trees and bridge to try to simulate strong backlight - been studying the way Kevin Macpherson does that so well. Lots more gray tones than I usually use, too. I hope I'm becoming a little more sensitive in my use of color over time - not always "killing bugs with a sledge hammer" as some workshop instructor once told me I have a tendency to do.

Coyote WIP

Working over an old one that was in the do-over pile here. It's from a photo reference that my Dad took in AZ, and I really liked the coyote - the photo doesn't show it but he's really nice shades of blue, lavender and yellow. Then I proceeded to totally ruin it with a choppy harsh colored background, and I fussed over it until I couldn't stand the painting anymore. I dug it out this week, though, and decided to try to salvage. I've run a very neutral wash over all the background, and am debating how much detail to put back in. This will definitely be a "less is more" painting. Sometimes those are the hardest.

Beetle Kill on Fall Creek

One of my favorite places, changing fast. Lots of dead trees up there now. Left this painting pretty loose, but just couldn't make myself work it over at home.