A Pear on Wednesday  oil 5.75x4.5
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I painted this one for my class last Wednesday. I usually let all the students find their own subject matter and lighting.  This last Wednesday I thought I'd make the suggestion that the new students try this set up.  I created it to demonstrate a light against middle value, a dark against middle value and two dark values against each other with the corresponding lost edges.  All the students decided to do this pear against a blue background.  A very successful class with the students leaving with a better understanding of values and edges.  They would like to do it again-maybe this Wednesday we will do apples with cut edges.

Against the Wind  6x8  oil
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I find pears to be the most human of the fruit. No shapes are parallel, the curves are better expressed with straight (ish) lines, and they are bigger on the bottom than on the top.  I also love the negative shapes that form betwixt and between.

Two Cut Edges  oil  5.75x4.5

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The third pear.

Cut Up   oil   8x6
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I've been trying to paint down my stash of oils so I can switch to water miscible oils. I came across some alkyds and have been using the white.  Wow, it dries so fast, paint it in the morning and by evening it's pretty dry.  Don't really like it.  I'm finding my edges are too tight.  At least I'd like to blame on the materials.

One Pear   oil   5.75x4.5
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I haven't posted for a week.  I've been doing 3 days of teaching this fall and have many figure drawings done but less painting.  I need to figure out how to better maximize my time in the studio when I have so many classes to teach.  And I forgot to sign it.

I'm starting a pear series-the recipes to follow. I find the composition on this one a little uncomfortable. The pear feels a little crowded in the upper left corner.  I'll do another one with a different layout. The scarf is from my friend Martha who passed away last week.  Wish she were here to see 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.