Red Patent Shoes

Red Patent Shoes

Acrylic on Board

5x7

Painting #31 - I'm back - I needed a short break after my 30 in 30 and then I wanted to work on some larger paintings. I'm happy with these shoes. I thought achieving the shiny look of the patent leather would be more difficult than it was, however, this painting was just like all others. When I find the slight value shifts in my painting subjects I achieve a greater level of realism.

Nectarine

Nectarine

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #30 - I did it, 30 paintings in 30 days. I wish my last painting would have been a master piece... I need say no more! Oh well, on a positive note... I think the background colour compliments the nectarine. What have a learned by the 30 in 30 process? That it takes commitment and a disciplined focus to accomplish this goal. In addition, I learned the value in painting regularly. Painting is a skill - its like learning to play the piano. I will never improve if I do not put in the time.

Half a Pear

Half a Pear

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #29 - Almost there!! Who knew the inside of a pear was so interesting? I like this painting - its simple but yet can hold a viewer's interest.

Yellow Pepper

Yellow Pepper

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #28 - I'm not seeing the slight value shifts in the pepper that I need to achieve a more realistic form. Perhaps I need to use more dramatic lighting?

Cucumber Slices

Cucumber Slices

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #27 - I think the background colour compliments the cucumber. I don't think I achieved the true colour of the cucumber's flesh.

Half a Lime

Half a Lime

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #26 - Lots of effort trying to achieve the correct green for the lime. Believe it or not it was a combination of magenta and light green and thus, I chose to repeat the magenta in the background.

Penny Candy

Penny Candy

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #25 - First time painting a plastic bag. I need further practice. The bag also looks like its floating - a bit of a shadow on the bottom of the bag should solve that problem.

Is Life a Bowl of Cherries?

Is Life a Bowl of Cherries?

Acrylic on Canvas

8x10

Painting #24 - I like the composition and the light on the cherries in the foreground. I wish the edge of my bowl was a tad bit stronger - it wobbles a bit.

Stack of Caramels

Stack of Caramels

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting # 23 - This painting was surprisingly easy. It was the first time I painted cellophane - a few strokes and it worked! I wish I had placed more caramels in the composition.

Cross-Section of an Apple

Cross-Section of an Apple

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting # 22 - That little section in the middle was difficult to paint - I had trouble achieving the depth of the "seed holder". Is there a name for that piece of the apple? I think the flesh of the apple may be too white.

Half a Tomato

Half a Tomato

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #21 - I have discovered that I like painting the "insides" of things - which would make for a very interesting series. Just think - the insides of people - thoughts, feelings, ideas - are much more interesting than the outsides of people. And then there's food - you be the judge - isn't the inside of this tomato more interesting than the outside (see painting #19)?

Raw Egg

Raw Egg

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #20 - Silly me thought I'd try a raw egg. Not bad for my first one ever but I have too much purple in my egg shells.

Green Onion and Tomatoes

Green Onion and Tomatoes

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #19 - I struggled to achieve the colour and the texture of the green onion. The tomatoes came quickly. Over all, I'm happy with this painting. I think the complimentary colours make the composition strong - perhaps a rectangle canvas would make it stronger.

Summer Strawberries

Summer Strawberries

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #18 - I enjoyed painting these strawberries - the process was definitely an exercise in problem solving. The big question was, "How will I achieve the texture without painting every single detail?" Kristina Steinbring and I were on our annual painting trip and I am thankful for her input.

Banana for Two

Banana for Two

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #17 - I cannot believe how difficult it was for me to get the perspective on the bottom half of the banana, however, I finally achieved it. I could have worked on my shadows a bit more.

Orange Pepper

Orange Pepper

Acrylic on Canvas

5x5

Painting #16 - I'm not sure why painting an orange pepper was so much more difficult than painting a red pepper, but it was. I changed the background colour several times and now the pepper looks like a cut-out on the canvas. Oh, well!