Reflections

When I was a little girl, it was my job to polish my mother's silver tea service for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. This is her sugar bowl and painting it brought back many memories.

Reflections on metal are fascinating. Silver is painted much darker than you would think and the best way I have found is to forget what you are looking at and simply paint the colors you see. Tip: Turn off the left side of your brain and give free rein to the right.

Works for me!

Sugar Bowl and Rose   6"x6"

Planning for Winter

The weather has turned and rather than spend those days when plein air is not possible working totally from sketches/photos/memory, I am going to rediscover still life (subject matter that I haven't visited very often in the last few years). I have set up a corner with a light, various fabrics for draping, and have started a collection of different objects to paint, including some crocheted doilies that have been in the family for a while.

I seem to gravitate toward kitchen objects at the moment, and I like to raid the refrigerator for fruits and vegetables.

The little 6" x 6" painting below is a Granny Smith that pleased my eye. After I was done painting, I ate it and it was delicious!

Granny Smith    6x6

Little Bit of Heaven

I always encourage anyone who will listen to visit Alaska if they get a chance.  I have seen no landscape more spectacular. Denali guides get to see such sights as this, painted from several photos my son brought back from one of his expeditions.
I was struck by the graphic, abstract qualities of the landscape and tried to think of composition before subject matter. I will probably never make it to this altitude in reality, but maybe I can get there on canvas.

Josh's Office   9" x 12"  oil on canvas