Swinging on a Star  oil  8.5x8
sold

Part of the beet bondage series.  Painted this one three times. Played with the placement of the tops of the onions and the values of the bulbs.  Decided on a swingier line for the middle bulb tops and darker value for all three bulbs, especially the far left. I also started the painting as a 10x8 but decided that it needed to be cropped in.  Mitch Albala in his landscape book talks about a flexible picture window.  Basically you paint on a larger canvas that you think you will need and have the ability to crop in and out as the composition demands.  And it's often quite demanding.

Cherries Squared Two  oil  4.5 x 5.75
 click to buy

Another painting of cherries and cherries.This is a small one, but I'd like to do one that's 8x16, so the cherries are thrown like dice across the fabric. Maybe tomorrow.

Rolling Away  oil  8x8
 click to buy

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.

 Sliced  oil on cradled wooden box  8x6
 click to buy

Painted this one with a student. Next week I'm going to start a new series based on a cookbook I'm writing. There will be many more vegetables in my future. This coming weeks I hope to be doing a bunch of plein air.

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.

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
 click to buy

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.

Desperadoes  oil 6x8
 sold

So if pears are my favorite fruit, beets are right up there in the vegetable category. I often use a shallow depth of field in my set up to maximize the shadows on the back walls.  I think of the still life set up as a theater stage, with lights, paint brushes and action.

 Counter Suspension   oil on wooden box   8"x6"x1 3/8"
click to buy

Third post and I think it's time to introduce vegetable bondage. I work in several different genres- still life, plein air and portrait.  And within those genres I've developed several different themes. One of those is vegetable bondage.  I can make interesting shapes by tying up vegetables. And yarn and wire can create still more movement and tension.