The Gift 12x12

I am back from Mexico with a tan my dermatologist will have a fit over. Back in my studio yesterday, I put a few finishing touches on this painting. I was also given a beautiful assortment of flowers by my dear friend, Teak and can't wait to begin using them in my still life set ups.

Three Green Apples WIP

I'm posting all 4 stages of this painting which still needs a bit of work but this is the process. Since I took a workshop with the talented and dedicated Carol Marine I've been trying to use her lessons in my own work. Here, I block in with Burnt Umber to get my values and shapes and then begin to add color. Carol's beautiful compositions and color harmonies speak to me and I have many favorite props to incorporate into my own still lifes. I spoke with Carol about my self consciousness in emulating her work and she more or less said, 'Get over it.'  One way to improve your own paintings is to copy work that you love, be it the dead painters or contemporary ones. I say, if you're going to emulate someone's work, emulate the best. Don't sell it though.

Carol's Apples

I have to give a nod to the Maestro herself for this one. This is my version of a painting Carol did in class. I set up the same apples and background and painted it step by step as she did in her demo. I did premix some colors in the beginning which helped tremendously with the process and I didn't fuss with the brushwork. I hope I put some of myself into it too. Tomorrow, I'll post the apple exercise I did in her class along with the finished version of that one. Quite a difference.