Randomness  oil   7x5

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Another one I painted with my student who is working on painting flowers. She brought in a few geraniums and a glass.  Couldn't have been more simple.  I love the suggestion of the petals and stems.  It's an idea of flower.  That appeals to me.  Not fussy.

Cozy   oil   10x10

click to buy    $200

There's a show Friday evening at the Oak Park Art League, Muses and Mentors.  My students from painting and figure drawing will have work in the show.

Snow Bound Slate  oil   10x8
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In honor of winter coming I'm going to post some winter paintings.  Painted this one in Crested Butte standing on the bridge across the Slate River, looking up into the mountains. Reflections, shadows and snow, it was gorgeous. Particularly attracted to the complementary colors of the weeds and the blues of the snow and ice.

Side by Side  6x6  oil

Summer light at midday with all things two by two-flowers, windows and chairs.

Patty's Gate  oil 6x6
sold

In the green thumb neighbor's backyard.  I wanted this little painting to not be about flowers but shapes of color.

Farmer's Market Saturday Morning   oil   6x6
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Saturday morning with the Oak Park Art League. The gladiolus were beautiful and the cast shadows caught my eye.

Sweeping Upwards   oil   16x8
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Part of the beet bondage series.  I'll be posting more tied and strung onions. There's something vaguely compelling about them.  This one has a faintly Japanese air.

Perfectly Simple  oil  10x8
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Another house from Crested Butte. I'm interested in entrances, front steps and windows, what the front of the house has to say for itself. I hope to do a show next year called Front Steps and Stories.

House at the Corner  oil  10x8
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This house is in Crested Butte.  An old mining town in the mountains of Colorado. Every year this house catches my eye. It's deserted and the red trim has faded to pink. The windows are dark but reflect the sky and trees around it. I  particularly enjoy playing with the colors. I'm attracted to the trim in the light and shadow, the way the roof and trees cast shadows on the white wood, the yellow dandelions in the bright yard and in the shadow of the trees. I've been working on my evergreens, I find them challenging to paint. As always, less seems to be a bit more-less contrast and fewer strokes.

Goldfinch Heaven  oil  12x9
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Here's the rest of Bob's garden from a plein air perspective.  The goldfinches love the sunflowers and everything was glinting with gold, the flowers and the birds. I went twice to catch it all.  Apparently all the sunflowers are volunteers.

Into the Clear Air  oil  7x5
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A friend's yard.  I was trying to capture the effect of the flowers against the dark foliage in the light, with the foreground in shadow. And there were light flowers in the foreground too, adding to the challenge.  It's the idea that the dark t-shirt in the light areas will be darker than the light colored newspaper in the dark.  Clear as mud?

Next spring and summer I'd like to do a series of "Other People's Gardens".  Did a few this summer and found it very satisfying. It's kind of a collaboration- their garden artistry and your painting.

Rolling Away  oil  8x8
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This is a study in white, white garlic on white paper, but I always see so much color.  Can't wait to paint some more.

Red Trim  6x6 oil
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A sunny morning at 9000 feet. I've admired this little deserted house for several years, especially the way the red has faded to pink on the east face. The morning started sunny and within an hour a storm blew in and I had to run for it.  I guess I've been looking at this house long enough that an hour was enough-good thing I started with the sky.

Some Scrap of Shadow  6x6 oil
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Another plein air from this week.  I've passed this house/bungalow many times in past 2 or 3 years.  It hit me as I drove by today that it was the perfect time to come and paint. Did you know that you can eat nasturtiums? Delicious in salads.

Green Energy  oil  6x6

Same garden different view from yesterday's post.  My friend and neighbor has a very green thumb. I've wandered over in the afternoon to paint for several days. The garden gate depending on the light is a wonderful graphic element.

Radishes for E  8x6 oil

More radishes with the white in the shadow.  I planted many this summer, but too close and didn't get many beauties.  The grocery though has some really good ones.  I have a cookbook project in mind, then the radishes will get their day. The challenge is always the red (dark value) and the contrasting white interior.

Shining Leaves  oil 8x6
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The gingkos in my neighborhood turn a beautiful golden color in the fall.  I collect them, put them in a jar with glycerine and stick them in the fridge.  During the year I pull them out and play with them until I hit on a still life setting I want to paint. Again, this is a shallow stage to take advantage of the shadows on the wall.  I also love painting white, you get so many great subtle colors in the reflections and shadows.

Sprouts  7x5 oil

This painting was donated to the Telluride Aids Benefit.  The little Kathmandu bowls make a third appearance and more cut vegetables.  It's all about shapes and shadows.  That's the actual name of this blog but I haven't figured out how to fit it in the header of the blog in an attractive way.  Soon.

Rising Joyfully oil 8x6
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I tell my students that the sides of the paper and canvas are magnetized and every object, limb and branch is being pulled horizontally and vertically.  They need to fight the pull to right angles.  It's hard, I feel the pull and am always trying to resist it.

Composed of Curves  8x8  oil
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I love painting pears-the most human of the fruit. The tiny bowls from Kathmandu make another appearance. And I'm working as always to make each brushstroke count.