Gwen Bell's Studio

Kshama

2012-02-03T08:34:00.001-08:00

6 x 6" oil on canvas panel
Bid at DPW Auction

This is Kshama, another gorgeous tiger who resides
at In Sync Exotics Rescue. She is one of the lucky few
who end up at this incredible refuge.

Please take a moment to visit their website and Blog to
read about the wonderful work these angels do for all
species of exotic cats. Donations are always needed and go
a long way in assuring the health and comfort of the animals.

20% of the proceeds from the sale of this painting will go
to In Sync.

Party Animal IV

2012-01-20T12:06:00.001-08:00

6 x 6"
oil on canvas panel SOLD

This little party girl doesn't seem too happy about
it, but then, every party needs a Wallflower. She
belongs to fellow Artist and Pug-lover Nancy Medina.
Thanks Nancy for the use of your photo!

Here's a little background information from Nancy:
"This is Winnifred Wigglepants, my most precious girl
I lost to GME encephalitis 3 years ago. This is the outfit
she was wearing the day she won the silver cup at the
Spring Bonnet Contest for the Bluebonnet Pug Club of Texas.

Winnie Wiggles was a diva in every sense of the word, and
finished in the show ring as a full champion before we adopted
her to give her a family home for her retirement. Winnie Wiggles
was my little velcro muffin, she was small, but mighty, and an old
soul who I was so honored to have in my heart and my life. One
of her sons went on to become one of the top 10 pugs in the nation,
and I have her brother, Howard Pee Pugpants, here with me today,
to remind me every day of how special she was."

Party Animal III

2012-01-11T13:21:00.001-08:00

6 x 6"
oil on canvas panel
Bid at DPW Auction

Party's on! Here comes another little guest.
I think it's so funny that these little dogs are
completely oblivious to how ridiculous they look!

Party Animal II

2011-12-31T12:33:00.001-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
Bid at DPW Auction

This little guy looks like he really knows how to
party and can't wait to get to the action! He's only
the second in the Series but I think he's already my
favorite.

I only have a few more references for the Series so
if any of you or your friends have some silly pet
photos, please send them my way!

Grumpy

2011-12-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

16 X 20 oil on canvas
nfs

This big guy isn't part of my Party Animal Series,
but he could have been with that personality!

Grumpy was a beautiful 20 year old Tiger who past
away this last summer. He belonged to the wonderful
angels at In-Sync Exotics Animal Rescue in Wylie, TX.
They are a non-profit that is the last hope for these
exquisite rescued animals.

They acquired Grumpy in the summer of 2010. He was part
of the "Leona 6", 6 Big Cats that were rescued from deplorable
living conditions in Leona, TX. Although Grumpy only lived
another year, his last year was spent in comfort and happiness
for the first time in his life.

I am excited to say that I have received permission from the
owners of In-Sync to paint more of their beautiful cats. I will
try to figure out how to link a Donation button, but until then,
please hit the link above and visit their Website and Blog.

Party Animal

2011-12-23T11:12:00.001-08:00

6 X 6" oil on canvas panel
$75.

This little kitty looks like he's saying "Where's the
party...am I late?"

I hope to make this a new series called "Party Animals".
If any of you have photos of your pets wearing this sort
of festive collar, please email them to me!

gwen347@gmail.com

"Nectarine Reflection"

2011-10-05T19:29:00.001-07:00

10 x 10" oil on canvas panel SOLD

I've been wanting to paint this dark brown cup for
the longest time and finally found the fabric to go
with it.

You know how I am about food props. This nectarine
barely had time to touch the ground before I gobbled
it up!

"Savory Roots"

2011-09-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

10 x 10" oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

This combo didn't last long. It's Spaghetti Sauce now!
The purple thing that looks like a beet is a red onion.
Don't know why it was shaped that way but it was and
you know how that goes...paint what you see.

"Milk & Cherries"

2011-09-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

10 x 10" oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

This painting started out a little bit differently. It
was a dress. I don't know what possessed me to
take on a dress (with an invisible zipper...and lining)
after nearly 30 years of not sewing. It was a disaster!
But I did need some fabric to go with this bright red cup,
so not all was a loss.

"Radiant Turquoise"

2011-08-18T16:00:00.001-07:00

6 x 6" oil on canvas panel SOLD

The thing that kept popping in my head over and over
as I painted this was "Take better care of your toys!"

It's a life long bad habit. I must say I'm better with the
brushes than I used to be. The ones pictured are at least
6 months old. They are Dinosaurs compared to the old
days when I would forget to wash them and return to
find them petrified with dried paint. Acrylic at the time.
Eeeeeewwwww!

~ Submission for DPW's "Paint What You Paint With"
Challenge. Better late than never!

"Missing Slice"

2011-07-19T12:53:00.001-07:00

10 x 10" oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

At first glace the missing slice might be obvious.
It's on the table, right? But on closer inspection,
the missing slice is actually on the apple.

When I was doing the set up, as usual, I got hungry
for a little taste of what I was painting. I took another
sliver off of the apple and continued painting. It was
only after I was well into the painting that I realized
that the slice on the table no longer matched the
slice out of the apple. Duh! Of course it changed it!
There was no going back. I tried to paint it back in
but it looked all wrong, so I returned it to it's original
missing piece.
No excuse, it was a case of stomach over mind.

"Mango Salsa"

2011-07-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

10 x 10" oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

Well, slowly but surely I'm getting back in the groove.
Feels good to be painting again.

It's hotter-n-blazes here in Big D and nothing cools
you off quite like Mango Salsa. I forgot to add the
Chilies and lime to the composition, but not in the
real deal. Also, you're really supposed to use Jalepanos
and Cilantro in the recipe, however, this time I tried
it with little Thai Chilies and Basil. It was still yummy!

"Watermelon Reflections"

2011-06-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
$80.
free shipping in US
email me for international rates

This DPW Challenge was...well...challenging! The
assignment was to paint the image upside down.
If that wasn't hard enough, there was the additional
challenge of painting it reflected in glass.

I've done this kind of thing before but mainly with
drawing skills. Viewing a subject upside down makes
the negative areas pop out in ways the eye doesn't
ordinarily discern. It's a great exercise for practicing
portraying what you see and not what your brain tells
you it should look like. If you've never done it, try it
sometime. The results will amaze you!

"Balancing Act"

2011-06-16T12:22:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Finally...a new painting! It seems like ages since I've
painted something new. This is my submission for
the latest DPW Challenge . I found it to be a fun subject.

I tried doing this composition on my usual patterned
background but it didn't work out at all. It was busy
enough with all of the cups. Must admit it was MUCH
less labor intensive. Maybe I'll stick with simple
backgrounds until I get my chops back.

"Japanese Maple & Orange" revisited

2011-05-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

10 x 10 oil on canvas SOLD

When, oh, when will this painters block END???
I've gone from patiently waiting to abject panic.
Maybe the Painting Fairy, or Muse, or wherever
the magic comes from, has permanently left the
building. *sigh* If it doesn't end soon I'm going to
have to think about... dare I say it... getting a
real job. Ooooooh. That gives me chills. Never
mind. I think I'll hang on a little bit longer.

What is the longest some of you have gone without
feeling the urge to paint? For me, it is usually like the
need to eat, constantly there, so this is very strange.

"Mr. Pepper" revisited

2011-04-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on masonite nfs

This little piggy was one of the first paintings I
posted 2 years ago when I started my Blog. He
and his piggy wife, Salt, belonged to my dear
Grandma. I played with them for hours on end
and still consider them to be among my most
prized possessions. I know...weird. Let's just say
it doesn't take much to make me happy!

"Green Frisbee" revisted

2011-04-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on masonite SOLD

I painted this precious little boy several years ago.
He was playing Frisbee at the park with his Dad. Or
at least his Dad was trying to play with him. The little
boy was so mesmerized by the Frisbee itself that he
didn't want to throw it back. I like to think he was a
budding artist and was checking out how cool the light
looked reflecting on that bright green!

"Asian Delight" revisited

2011-04-05T02:25:00.001-07:00

8 x 8 oil on canvas panel SOLD

I had completely forgotten about this Sake cup.
It is so cute so I don't know why I only painted
it this one time. As I remember, this painting
was also what got me going on objects reflected
in other objects, an exercise that I still find to
be infinitely rewarding.

"Odd Man Out" revisited

2011-03-29T20:55:00.001-07:00

6 x 6" oil on canvas panel SOLD

Gosh, I feel like a broken record. I'm STILL not
able to paint! Hope you don't mind seeing yet
another painting from a while back until I can
get my brush in gear.

"Egg & Ginger Tea" for Japan

2011-03-23T08:38:00.001-07:00

6 x 6" oil on canvas panel SOLD

This is my submission for the daily paintworks Japan
challeng e. All of the proceeds from this painting will
go to the Japanese Red Cross. You can bid on the
painting at the DPO site. I painted this a few months
ago but thought it fit the "Home" theme since it includes
my Mom's antique teacup which is very special to me.
I love knowing that the proceeds are going to
such a worthy cause.

The bid for this painting starts at $75.00. There are many
beautiful paintings on the site. Together we can give a little
relief to the grief in Japan!

"Sliced Pears" revisited

2011-03-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

Yep...still crazy around here, so I'm posting yet
another older painting. 2 more days of moving my
sister, then a garage sale, then hopefully I'll be
able to get back to painting sometime next week.

Although I didn't get a chance to participate in this
weeks DPW Challenge, "The Color Of White", I
thought I would at least post a painting that reflects
the subject. I am bummed at missing this one since
reflecting patterns in shiny objects is sort of my thing.

"Modi"

2011-03-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

8 x 10" graphite on paper nfs

This is a drawing of my gorgeous friend, Modi. I did it
years ago before I ever thought about painting or Blogging.
I am so glad I took the opportunity to draw her, here in her
native Ethiopian dress, because we've lost touch over the
years. She has the most incredible bone structure of anyone
I've ever known! I always told her she reminded me of the
model Iman although she modestly never acknowledged her
own striking beauty.

I am back to posting older work again for a while. What a
crazy year it's been already! This week and next I'm helping
my sister and brother-in-law pack and move. That girl has
some stuff! The entire day yesterday was spent going through
her clothes closets and prying hangers from her fingers. In the
end, I must say, she did very well and let go of a stack that
piled 4 feet high, some of which dated back to the 80's.

I was the fortunate recipient of some of the wardrobe
she was purging. I've always called her my Fairy Godmother
because she has outfits for any occasion imaginable. Luckily
for me, we wear the same size. I, on the other hand, am a
Minimalist and have what I call "uniforms"...mainly covered in
paint. I wear the same old things over and over and over and
over until they either wear out or get paint on them, then I buy
more. I thoroughly expect those rude people from "What Not To
Wear" to show up on my doorstep and abduct me along with
my hideous clothes!

"Orange Scissors & Oranges"

2011-02-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

6 x 6" oil on canvas panel SOLD

Here's this weeks submission for the DPW Challenge.
This time it was Carol's "one color per stroke" exercise.
Quite the challenge! I stuck to the rules with the
exception of switching to a smaller brush around the
tighter areas.

I must say it was a very nice...and much needed change...
to do a plain background. The crazy patterned backgrounds
have become my signature, but every once in a while it's
a nice to take a break from them. I had forgotten how much
time they take. This seemed like a breeze in comparison!

"Orange Reflection" revisited

2011-02-15T19:58:00.001-08:00

12 x 12 oil on masonite SOLD

I'm having a crazy week and haven't been able to
paint anything new. From the looks of it, it may be
next week before I can get back to work, so in the
meantime, here's a revisit of an older painting. Keeping
my fingers crossed that I'll be back at it sooner rather
than later!

"Story Time"

2011-02-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

6 x 6" oil on canvas panel
$75.
free shipping in US
email me for international rates.

Here's a little different take on this weeks 10 minute
Challenge on Daily Paintworks. I decided to do them
in a way that it could be turned into a finished painting.

These kinds of exercises are always so helpful! Painting
the same subject again and again...and very quickly...
really helps zero in on the basic values. The actual painting
of the oranges took roughly 10 minutes and the background
another 10.

"Almost Guacamole"

2011-02-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

10 x 10 oil on canvas panel SOLD

This is almost Guacamole...but not quite. I forgot
to include the lime and onions. We Texans are purists
when it comes to our Guacamole. No fancy sauces or
Mayo added. Just lots and lots of creamy Avocados.
Sometimes I add some garlic but for the most part, it's
just the basics. It's still crazy cold here so I'm about to
make some nice hot Nachos with plenty of cheese and
homemade Guacamole. YUM!

"Pass The Cherries"

2011-01-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

10 x 10" oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

I've painted these little elephants before but they
are so cute that I just had to do it again. This time I
thought I'd get playful with them and let them toss
around some toys.

"Big Red"

2011-01-21T19:00:00.000-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel $125.
framed
available at The Farmers & Merchants Gallery
fmgallerypilotpoint@gmail.com
1-940-686-2396

This is my first palette knife painting. I've voiced my
concern about getting too tight with all of the wild
patterns I usually paint. Several have suggested that
I force the issue with some palette knife work. Today
was the day. I took a deep breath, loaded that knife
and went for it! It was so liberating! I thoroughly enjoyed
it and will definitely try it again.

While I have always appreciated palette knife paintings,
now I have a brand new admiration for the skilled
Artists who use this form as their standard style!

"Lil' Dude"

2011-01-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

5 x 8 oil on canvas panel nfs

Ok...I'm going to be in so much trouble with
this post! I rarely do figure painting. The last
one I did was of my oldest son, Mike, in his Superman
T-Shirt. I promised my daughter-in-law that the
next one would be of my youngest son, Mark
And I really wanted to! But when Angela Elledge
posted that the theme for this month's challenge
on her site, "Some Texas Artists Like To Paint" was
"Cowboy Up", I immediately knew the photo reference
I had to use. I'm sorry, Alisha, but I didn't have any photos
of Mark in a cowboy hat and boots! I looked through all of
my photos hoping to find one I could adapt of Mark but knew
this one of Mike was perfect for the challenge.

My Dad always wore his cowboy hat and boots. Mike idolized
his Grandpa and as soon as he could talk he started demanding his
own hat and boots. This photo was taken when he was around
2 years old and it's one of my all-time favorites of him.

Mark, I promise, I'll do 2 paintings of you to make up for the imbalance!

"Teal Times Two"

2011-01-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Some fabrics are harder than others to paint. I didn't
think this one looked too difficult since I've done
busier ones, but it really drove me crazy!

"Morning Milk"

2011-01-11T20:08:00.000-08:00

5 x7 oil on masonite nfs

Not quite through with my current painting so
thought I'd post this one that I did about 10 years
ago. It was my first oil painting. At the time it was a
Miniature. I found it extremely difficult because my
Mural work was always so large. Seems funny now since
practically all of my work is 6 x 6" instead of 8 x 10 feet!

The scene itself was from a photo I took in
London where they still used glass milk bottles.
I am old enough to remember when all of our milk
products were delivered. Wish they still were, particulary
since the refillable bottles make so much more sense
than the wax-covered non-recyclable cartons or plastic
bottles that our disposable society uses today.

"Jalapeno Butterfly"

2011-01-06T19:28:00.000-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Couldn't help thinking this Jalapeno looked like a
a hot Butterfly. I can't take credit for it...saw the
image on a friend's Facebook page and had to paint it!
I superimposed the image on some of my fabric.
Thank you, Larry Schlemer, for the use of your
very cool photo!

"Green & Brown Eggs"

2010-12-31T18:32:00.000-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

I got these eggs out and thought "Hummm...where have
I seen this color combination before?" Oh yeah! I have
some fabric with the exact same colors. Have you noticed
that green shelled eggs are turning up more and more with
the Organic ones?

Oddly enough, I already had this fabric out to use with another
salt and pepper set. Deer heads this time. They are really cute,
but I can't help thinking they look decapitated since it's only
the heads of a Buck and a Doe. Didn't want to do another weird
one right after the naked Island Girls!

"S&P Luau"

2010-12-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas
$85.
free shipping in US
email me for international rates

I was determined to paint these Island Girls. The Salt
and Pepper pours from their bosoms. I think that is
hilarious! After many set ups I finally settled on this
one. Thought the Batik fabric and drink umbrella
tied in with the Island theme.

It's a dreary,rainy day today so I could not get a good
photo. Took this one indoors. Will get a better one soon.

"S&P Circus"

2010-12-21T17:30:00.000-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

My cousin, Joan, has the most incredible collection of
S&P shakers! She started collecting in her
early 20's and I'm not exaggerating when I say she
probably has 100 sets. One of the qualities I love most
about her is her quirkiness and keen sense of humor.
Believe me...this is no ordinary S&P Collection!

On my last visit to her home I was drooling over the sets
when the idea hit to paint them. She kindly allowed me to
bring home as many as I wanted. Thought I'd start out
slow with a dozen! I don't know if I'll find the magic in all
of them, but I certainly loved painting the little Elephants.
They are by far my very favorites!

"Corinna" again

2010-12-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

8 x 8 oil on canvas

Still under the weather so here's another older
painting from way back. Corinna was one of my
first Pet Portraits. I've always liked her spunky
little attitude and backpack. She looks like her
senses are on alert and she's reverted back to
her ancient Wolf roots...ready to hunt!

"Happy Eyes"

2010-11-27T08:11:00.001-08:00

6 x 6 oil on masonite SOLD

This is a re-post of a painting I did last year. Got
tired of looking at the storm clouds and just had to
post something else. I am beginning to panic a little
at my "painter's block".

I've only posted 3 painting this month...the least I've
ever posted (not counting 3 weeks for surgery a year ago)
since I began Daily Painting. Yes, I've been busy and
distracted with Mom's move, but it's become
more than that. I've forgotten how to paint! I'm 5 for 5 on
wipe outs. Obviously, my brain is telling me to take a
break so I think I will listen to it. For the next few days
I'm not thinking or attempting to paint. Hope it works!

"Scary Weather"

2010-11-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

8 x 10 oil on canvas panel SOLD

And now for something completely different!
I haven't painted clouds in probably 5 years. I
painted so many clouded ceiling murals that my
neck hurt at the mere mention of clouds! But thanks
to Angela Elledge's group site, "Some Texas Artists
Like To Paint" monthly theme of "Skies", I found
myself painting clouds again and enjoying it...probably
because it is 8 x 10 inches instead of 8 x 10 feet.

The weather here in Texas is extremely unpredictable.
It can be 80 degrees one day and 32 the next. Blue skies
turn into angry dark storm clouds in a matter of minutes.
Sometimes the tornado warnings go off before you even
know it's supposed to rain. No kidding! We are trained
to watch the weather report daily in order to get a sense
of what might happen. I'd say they are right about 60%
of the time.

I suppose everyone of a certain age went through the
Duck & Cover drills in school. I'll have to ask Angela (she's
a teacher), but I'm pretty sure they still do it here in Texas
because of the real risk of Tornadoes. I can't tell you how
many times in my life I've grabbed the kids,the dog and a
mattress and headed for the bathtub. Apparently, Twisters
don't like plumbing.

"Apple Blossom"

2010-11-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
$125. Framed
free shipping in US
email me for international rates
available through The Farmers & Merchants Gallery
fmgallerypilotpoint@gmail.com
1-940-686-2396

This will probably be the last painting I post for at least
another week. I am in two back to back Art Shows this
weekend and next week I am moving my Mom across
town to a different Assisted Living facility. Whew!
Plus, I will be spending a lot of time with her until she
gets oriented to her new surroundings.

"Hide-N-Seek"

2010-10-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
$85.
free shipping in US
email me for international rates
available through The Farmers & Merchants Gallery
fmgallerypilotpoint@gmail.com
1-940-686-2396

I imagined the Pomegranate on the bottom with one of it's
stems pointing up might be looking for the other one, thus
"Hide-N-Seek". Ok...it's a stretch!

I've noticed that Pomegranates in the store are a strong red
color. However, the ones growing around here are burnt orange
which worked out fine for me since it goes better with the fabric.

"Prickly Pear Pears

2010-10-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel $125.
framed
available at The Farmers & Merchants Gallery
fmgallerypilotpoint@gmail.com
1-940-686-2396

I know a lot of you have seen Prickly Pear Pears, but
have you ever looked inside one? Once you maneuver
around the tiny black seeds, the pulp is delicious. It
tastes quite similar to strawberry. Prickly Pear Preserves
is really yummy. I have only made it once because the prep
time takes a while. Not only do you have to deal with the
seeds, but the skin has fuzzy hair-like spines in the little
white bumps. If they get in your finger they can be lost in
there for days!

Lucy & Gabriel

2010-10-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

10 x 10 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Just finished this commission of this adorable
pair. This was just one of the lovable poses
their Mom sent me for reference.

Gabriel, the cat, is the oldest and is completely
accepting and accommodating to his new rambunctious,
ever growing playmate. Don't you love it when dogs
and cats get along? If only more humans were this
inclusive of others and accepting of the differences!

Another note about Gabriel...he is black as coal but
has white whiskers and one stray one that grows out
of this eyebrow. So unusual!

"Teal Mug"

2010-10-15T19:08:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Tried this same fabric a few weeks ago with yellow
flowers. I find it so interesting that a big bold pattern
can look completely different by using different props.

I played around with the lemon placement for quite a
while and finally decided I liked the little moment of
light coming from behind the cup and spotlighting it.

"Persimmon & Heart"

2010-10-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Found this lonely little Persimmon on a walk. I finally
know the difference between Persimmons and
Pomegranates thanks to the Pomegranate paintings
I've been doing.

This was a really crazy pattern. The scalloped designs are
part of a dragon body. Very Oriental. I could not get it
to photograph with the correct colors. The creamy looking
areas are actually a light Ocher that matches the dish. I was
able to tweak the dish to the right shade, but when I tried
the fabric areas it made the purple lines turn red. Oh well.

"Spaghetti Ready"

2010-10-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

10 x 10 oil on canvas panel SOLD

This was one of those happy situations where a
painting composed itself. I dropped the tomatoes
and garlic into the bowl straight from shopping bag,
then plopped in the freshly cut Oregano and Basil. I was
just about to start cutting everything up for Spaghetti
Sauce when I realized...hummm...the placement was
pretty good. The only thing left to do was find a fabric
for the background.

"Olive Mug & Pomegranate"

2010-10-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Here is another painting of the gift fabric
from Irit Bourla. She picks out the coolest
stuff! Thanks one more time, Irit!

I love being surprised by fabric. It forces me to
rethink what I might have originally done by
being confronted with an entirely unplanned pattern.
So if any of you see a fabric they think would be a
good fit for my cups, send it on!

"Yellow & Blue"

2010-10-03T09:44:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

"Morning Tea"

2010-09-29T06:47:00.000-07:00

6 x 6, oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

I know this looks like morning coffee, but it is
strong tea. I recently stopped drinking coffee and
the headaches were horrible. This strong Chai
Tea really hits the spot! Gradually moving toward
Green Tea as the withdrawal gets better.

"Lemon Slices"

2010-09-22T14:21:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

This is another fabric gift from good friend Irit Bourla.
Thanks, Irit! The design is actually embroidered onto
the fabric. It's really quite elegant in person.

I started out on a white fabric with yellow roses but the
composition seemed to fade out. That's when I decided
to try it on the Paprika color. I really liked the way the
red reflected into the shadows.

"Paisley Plums"

2010-09-17T16:35:00.001-07:00

10 x 10 oil on canvas panel SOLD

I received this cool fabric from dear friend and
fellow Artist Irit Bourla. She also sent me 3 other
very pretty fabrics that I can't wait to paint!

I really enjoyed painting this. The fabric was light
enough that it allowed the red glass to glow in the
shadow. Challenging, but oh so fun!

"Jacy"

2010-09-13T10:21:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

Finally feeling better and back to painting. Ahhhh.
When you paint nearly everyday, skipping almost
a week can seem like an eternity.

If there's one thing harder to paint than black dogs,
it's white cats! Jacy was a delight, however. He has the
most beautiful, clear, sky blue eyes. He lives with Oddball
and Lucky (the next portrait to come in this series.)

Here is a little background on Jacy provided by his owner:

"Jacy was the head honcho and was here before Lucky and
Oddball. He is bigger in stature and longer legged than either
of them and although he doesn't fight with them he is top cat/dog.
He is the most affectionate cat we've ever had and everyone
comments on his quiet sociability. He was an indoor cat until he
learned to use the doggie door. His favorite thing is being the
driveway sentry at night. He sits on the driveway like a statue
and watches for an hour or two and then he comes in for the night.
His biggest fan is Lucky who is so happy when Jacy sleeps near him.
We got him from a rescue group and we think he's a Turkish Van or
part thereof."

"Passing By"

2010-09-07T20:04:00.001-07:00

6 x 6, oil on masonite
$125.~ framed
available through The Farmers & Merchants Gallery
fmgallerypilotpoint@gmail.com
1-940-686-2396

I kept trying to get my newest painting finished but I've
been under the weather so decided to post this one from
a while back.

It has always been one of my favorites. In fact, I had it
listed as N/A for the longest, intending to keep it for myself.
I like the casual way the bodies of these two complete
strangers passing on the street seem to merge together as one
for that brief moment...a nod to how connected we all really
are regardless of whether we acknowledge it or not.

"Pomegranates & Pear"

2010-09-04T19:59:00.001-07:00

10 x 10 oil on canvas panel
$225.~ framed
available through The Farmers & Merchants Gallery
fmgallerypilotpoint@gmail.com
1-940-686-2396

I really admire all of you out there who paint
stripes on a regular basis and make it look so easy!
I had such a hard time with the perspective. Blame
it on my Mr. Magoo Astigmatism.

I found these Pomegranates on my walk around the
neighborhood. Two looked too sparse so I added the
pear for color contrast and shape variation.

I've always gotten Pomegranates and Persimmons
confused. Probably started at a young age because
they are both long words that start with P.

In fact, I had to rename this painting and rewrite the
entire post because once again I confused the two! I see
native Persimmon trees everywhere so mistakenly thought
that's what these were since the foliage looked like one.
I didn't even know Pomegranates grew here in Texas!
These 2 in the painting are obviously not ripe because
the Poms I usually see in the store are bright red.

Thanks to the many Followers who pointed out my mistake!

"Oddball"

2010-09-03T15:30:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

Meet Oddball! He is a Mini-Dachshund who was named
for his mismatched eyes. What a precious little face!

When doing a Pet Portrait, I spend so many hours looking
at their photos that I tend to imagine what sort of
personalities they might have. It is fun to see how close
I come to the actual thing so I always ask the Owners to
tell me a little bit about them.

My impression of Oddball was that this demure, sweet
little dog probably had a bit of an attitude. "Yes, I'm cute...
but don't push me!" His Mom says that while he can be the
vocal one in the group that he is in reality a very Good Boy
who loves playing with his brother, Lucky (coming up in the
next Portrait), and sleeps every night guarding his 12 year
Best Friend (the owner's daughter).

"Pepper"

2010-08-30T21:05:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Here's Pepper, a beautiful Black Lab. He is the first of
four Pet Portrait Commissions I'm working on. I always
find black dogs to be a real challenge to paint, but that's
part of the fun too. Pepper's smiling expression made this
a delightful experience!

Here's a little background on Pepper: He is a Country Dog
who never meets a stranger. He loves his ears, chin and
back scratched - and belly too. He loves to sit in chairs
(he barely fits) and watch what's going by outside. He
lives in Canada with a Mom who loves him very much!

"Tea Stack"

2010-08-26T18:32:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

I love the shiny gold handle on these tiny Vintage
tea cups. Just had to paint them! I have one more,
a red one, so you may see several versions of this.

"Blue Vase"

2010-08-21T18:40:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Got all ready to paint this little blue vase and realized
I had not purchased the white flower I planned on
putting with it. It looked too bare by itself so I decided
to dress it up with a necklace.

"Yellow Teapot II"

2010-08-18T20:01:00.001-07:00

6 x 6, oil on canvas panel SOLD

Went fabric shopping today. It took me forever to
find something! I anticipated one stop shopping,
but instead, I nearly had a heat stroke searching
through 5, very hot, un-air conditioned Fabric
Warehouses...on a 104 degree hell on earth Texas day.

The plan was to buy several different Tea Towel fabrics
but apparently no companies here in the States make
them anymore. They are all made in India and China.
This one and one more (that I didn't like) were IT.
Out of 5 warehouses. I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

"Limes With Green Ribbon"

2010-08-15T08:37:00.001-07:00

10 x 10, oil on canvas panel SOLD

After all of the patterns I've been doing, I found
I was in the mood for a more monochromatic
palette. For some reason this photo looks a lot
tighter than it actually is. Maybe because of the
reduction. Maybe I've gradually gotten tighter
due to working on the busy backgrounds. Don't know.
Whatever the reason, it certainly didn't feel tight
when I was painting it.

The green and white cooled me off, at
least psychologically. It's got up to 104 again today.
We are now going into our 4th week of triple digit
weather. Unusual even for the hot Texas Summers!

"Some Me Time"

2010-08-10T17:51:00.000-07:00

6 x 6, oil on canvas panel SOLD

I am nowhere near to being a Girly Girl, but I do enjoy
some bright toe nail polish and a soothing cup of tea.

"Red Tiki"

2010-08-08T11:34:00.001-07:00

6 x 6, oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

Here is another surprise fabric that was sent to me
by Kim Rempel. This time a dark navy Batik. I
thought it made a nice backdrop for this red Tiki
Umbrella. The black coffee cup is not exactly part
of the Polynesian theme, but I really liked the way
the busy pattern and the bright red reflected in it.

"Bottle of Groove"

2010-08-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
$65.
free shipping in US
email me for international rates

Fellow Artist and good friend, Kim Rempel, knows I
like crazy patterns and so she surprised me with some
Uber-cool fabric in the mail! And what a groovy experience
painting this trippy material that seemed to have no
repeat in color combinations. Thank you for the fun gift and
challenge Kim!

I know the title is kind of "out there", but I started thinking
if I put all of these little ellipses in a blender and poured the
concoction in a bottle, what would I call it? The unusual bottle
seemed like a good fit for a unique potion/lotion like that.

"Sequestered"

2010-07-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

10 x 10, oil on canvas panel SOLD

I've been wanting to paint this mixing bowl for a
while now and these large, shiny apples were just
the incentive to bring action. Yep...same tea towel.
I am sure I'll get sick of painting it one of these
days, but for now, it's a joy to solve the puzzle
of the pattern.

"Taos Pitcher II"

2010-07-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

6 x 6, oil on canvas panel SOLD

I painted this pitcher on this same tea a few months
ago but I love the combination so much that I did it
again. I can't get enough of that striped handle so I'm
sure this will not be the last time. I'm also doing a
larger version with it's companion sugar bowl and dish.

"Bottle of Bows"

2010-07-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas
$75.00
free shipping in US
email me for international shipping rates

Last week I painted a Bucket of Bows. Now, here
is my little Bottle of Bows. I know I usually do a
crazy patterned background, but this dotted ribbon
seemed to call for simplicity. Instead, I tried to pull
in other circular objects.

I am happy to report that I loosened up on this one quite
a bit. I was starting to worry that I had forgotten how!
Rather than using my usual black ground, I used a
medium rose. I found that the transparent look of
the glass was much easier on this lighter ground, plus
the colors seem to be a lot cleaner. I still prefer the
black for most things, but the lighter one really does
work much better for glass.

"Red Vase"

2010-07-19T20:31:00.001-07:00

6 x 6, oil on canvas panel SOLD

Went hunting for some more patterned fabric and
instead found 3 of these colored glass vases. Each
has a slightly different shape. This one is red, the
other 2 are green and turquoise.

I've been falling back into the the habit of painting
tight again so I made an effort to keep this one
looser. It's still a long way from where I would like
to be but at least it is looser than the past few.

"Yellow Teapot"

2010-07-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

"Watermelon Slice"

2010-07-11T21:31:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas
$65.00
free shipping in US
email me for international rates

It's watermelon season and the feasting has begun!
I can eat my weight in watermelon. For 2 months
now I have eaten a big bowl of juicy red melon every
single day.

My compost pile looks like some kids had a
watermelon fight out there...rinds galore! I'm afraid
I've tamed all the Possums and Raccoons by giving
them this wonderful nightly snack. They eat it all
the way down to the green part.

Featured in Tony Moffitt's Blog

2010-07-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

Many of you are familiar with Tony Moffitt.
He is a fantastic painter and has a blog on
painting Realism...Paintingrealism.com

He contacted me and asked me to write an
article on Setting Up Your Own Home Studio.
I'm not a writer, but I enjoyed it and was very
honored that he asked me!

While I am not actually a Realist painter, I read
Tony's blog faithfully because he always has some
great advice I can use in my Impressionist work.
His articles cover everything from technique to
marketing. Check out his blog...I think you'll find
something of interest as well!

"Bucket of Bows"

2010-07-07T16:46:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

"Olive Mug"

2010-07-05T13:35:00.001-07:00

6 x 6, oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

Well, I've really lost it. I'm mug obsessed. I was
checking out a new Assisted Living facility for my
Mom and this mug was in the office waiting room.
This cloth popped in my head and I knew I had to
have that mug! I could barely concentrate on our
conversation. Practically drooling, I asked the director
"Do you think I could b-b-b-borrow it?" I can only imagine
what she was thinking. Probably that I should move in
and get a room for myself. And then she said the words
I longed to hear..."Keep it."

"Gold Mug"

2010-06-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

6 x 6, oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

I mention my sister quite often in my posts. This
is one. This print is not a tea towel. It's a pair of her
Capri pants! They are fabulous...just like her. This
fabric sums up her personality pretty well; unique,
beautiful and definitely a crowd-pleaser. It also really
exemplifies the differences in our styles. When I looked
through my closet I discovered I had nothing with any sort
of pattern whatsoever. And mostly blues. The closest I came
to a pattern was small stripes. However, there is a method
to my boring wardrobe. Seems everything I own is destined
to become "paint clothes" sooner or later so, really, what's
the point of having nice things?

"Milk & Cookies"

2010-06-25T13:51:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

Milk & cookies...one of my favorite things. The only
problem I had with this painting is that I kept
eating the props!

"Cinnamon Coffee & Eggs"

2010-06-22T07:27:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas
SOLD
My last 3 paintings have been of ceramics on very busy
patterns. In the beginning I was infatuated by the cup
handles. I still am. But something else happened. I
noticed that the concentration it took to follow the
pattern around was very enjoyable. Almost relaxing.
One of those efforts that makes hours seem like minutes.
I enjoyed it so much that I made a little shopping trip to
the Fabric Store and bought several new busy drapes.

I think I've found my new muse...at least for now.

"Taos Pitcher"

2010-06-20T09:51:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

This was another gift from my sister. She gives
me the coolest stuff! It is part of a cream, sugar
and serving bowl set. I love that dark navy and
cream striped handle. Come to think of it, she gave
me the tea towel as well. What a great sister!

This is the same tea towel that I used in "Green Mug".
I thought the colors and design went well with the
pitcher. What I wasn't expecting was the busy
reflection it made it the spoon...a happy challenge.

"Green Mug"

2010-06-16T12:04:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

I have a feeling ceramics are going to be my new "thing".
Every time I paint them I fall in love with the way the light
hits so strongly on the handles. Just the handles.
I know...weird.

I guess it's been coming on for a while because when I
opened the cabinet where I keep still life props, I noticed
it was chocked full of cups! Why haven't I noticed that before?
Evidently, I have been picking up a cup here and a cup there
whenever I see them and then stick them away with the
thought of painting them one day. Now, as if by magic, I find
I have a ton of cups! It's funny how we do things subconsciously
and then for whatever reason one day we see the accumulation
of the little things our mind cooks up.

This green one is painted on my favorite tea towel. It is sure
to turn up again and again as I bring out the cups.

"Green Shell"

2010-06-11T10:26:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel $125.
framed
available through at Farmers & Merchants Gallery
fmgallerypilotpoint@gmail.com
1-940-686-2396

This is one of my favorite souvenirs. My sister brought
it back to me from one of her trips to Hawaii. It must
truly be Paradise to able to find these little jewels right
on the beach! I have had it for years and have always
wanted to paint it.

However, it is tiny...a little over an inch...so that always
seemed to be too challenging. And it was! I still don't feel
like I really captured it's beauty. In life, the pearl areas
gleam with purples, pinks, yellows, greens and blues.
Just gorgeous! Tried as I might, I could not replicate it.

My style used to be very tight and realistic and I have
worked hard over the past year and a half to loosen up,
but this subject seemed to call for a tighter technique.

"Gala Apples" and introducing Daily Painter Originals

2010-06-07T15:12:00.000-07:00

Quite a few of us have been lamenting over how hard it
is to gain membership into DailyPainters.com and wishing
there was an alternative. Now there is!

I am proud to announce that Carolyn Finnell heard the call
and stepped up in a huge way by launching
Daily Painter Originals.

Carolyn has done such a fantastic job of setting up the site!
It is in a thumbnail gallery format on a crisp white background
that showcases the artwork beautifully. Having all of the posts
on a single page makes it so convenient for buyers to view all
of the art at a glance. This format set Daily Painters.com apart
from the rest and it is sure to do the same for Daily Painter Originals.

I was so honored that she asked me to recommend a few
of my favorite Artists. I passed that instruction on to a few
and asked them to do the same. All of the decisions
were passed on to Carolyn who had recommendations of
her own. A process that we imaged would take weeks was
accomplished in 24 hours!

One of the goals of the site is to have enough members to
make a nice showing and good support for advertising, but
still small enough to be manageable and maintain high quality
control standards. For now, the membership has been limited
to 30. There are currently 21 members which means only 9 spots
are left. If you are interested in applying, please visit the
submissions page for instructions.

I hope you will take the time to visit Daily Painter Originals
and Subscribe so you won't miss a thing!

"Bono" - in tribute

2010-06-03T13:47:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on masonite

Today I'm re-posting an older painting in tribute to Bono.

This sweet little guy belonged to my dear friend, Clara.
She rescued him from a shelter about 6 years ago and was
the most loving owner a puppy could ask for. On the other
hand, he was the best dog an owner could ask for...super
smart, loyal, feisty and an amazing guard dog. All dogs are
special but Bono was a Super Nova.

He was diagnosed a few weeks ago with inoperable Cancer.
The past two weeks of his life were spent with daily trips to
the Dog Park and car rides to give his little nose a treat.

We said our last goodbyes this morning and took him to the Vet
where he died in his Momma's arms. He was only 7 years old.

Sleep peacefully, Sweet Bono. We will miss you.

"Floral Tea Cup"

2010-05-26T17:09:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on masonite SOLD

This is my last of 3 tea cup commissions. The table
top background proved a bit tricky since it's white and
the tea cup is white so I grayed it down in an
attempt to make the tea cup pop a bit.

"Prickly Pear"

2010-05-20T22:22:00.001-07:00

Here in Texas Prickly Pear grows like a weed. I have
always taken it for granted. This one was not particularly
prickly. While painting this and upon close observation I
noticed for the first time just how exotic and unique this
plant is. Exotic or Alien? It really does look it comes from
another planet!

Each bud bursts into a big yellow flower and after
that, the juicy purple/red fruit appears. If you've ever
eaten Prickly Pear Preserves you know just how delicious
it is...very much like Strawberry. The pulp of the leaf
also tastes great fried and served with eggs or as a side dish.

"Apple Swirl"

2010-05-15T16:42:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas
$125. Framed
This painting is on display and is available
through A Creative Arts Studio.
Please click on the above link to purchase.
or call 940-442-1251

I was trying to peel this so the lines would be more even
but this was the best I could do. Maybe I'll try again on
a larger apple. However, after all was said and done, it
turns out the scalloped shapes of the peeling were
pretty interesting.

That bowl is really bugging me...too light and sort of
unfinished. It looks better in person. Going to have to
go back in and work on it more when it dries a bit and
will re-post. That is one thing I really appreciate about
posting. It shows all the flaws and gives a perspective
that you don't see until it's on the screen

I have had several people ask how I achieve the strong
reflection. I use a piece of clear glass and put the light to
reflect close to the bottom.

"Japanese Maple & Oranges"

2010-05-08T17:43:00.001-07:00

10 x 10 oil on canvas panel SOLD

I have a small Japanese Maple in my front yard.
The leaves are the darkest maroon and green.
I thought they would look nice with an orange.

When I was doing the set up I spaced the orange
slices evenly inside the bowl and intended to do
a birdseye view. However, the reflection on the
side of the bowl kept calling to me so this version
is what I ended up going with.

"Asian Delight"

2010-05-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

10 x 10 oil on canvas SOLD

Edemame and Sake...one of my favorite snacks. I was
enjoying my little snack when I noticed the composition
was pretty good. Always trying to find that next painting!

I love wine but unfortunately it gives me a headache.
However, found that Sake doesn't. Maybe some ingredient
that is not in the rice wine as opposed to the grapes? I always
enjoy drinking it from this cute little Oriental Sake cup.

"Pear Pressure"

2010-04-29T07:01:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

The other day I posted "Peer Pressure" featuring
3 apples crowding a pear. Today the bullying
continues with the pears taking their turn at
pressuring the apple.

"Orange Wedges"

2010-04-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

8 x 10 oil on canvas SOLD

"Lake Morning"

2010-04-26T10:27:00.001-07:00

©2010 Gwen Bell
16 X 24 oil on canvas SOLD

I rarely do landscapes but liked the mirror image
of this scene. Early mornings on the lake are so
incredibly peaceful. No sound except for the birds
and the occasional fish jumping in the water.

My family is fortunate to own a house on 2 acres right
on the lake (Lake Tawakoni in East Texas). It is an old
farm house that my Grandfather built in the 1920's. My
Aunt and Uncle moved the house from Dallas in the 1960's.
The house was cut in half and hauled on 2 huge trailers
in the middle of the night. It was a haven for us as kids
then, and in turn, for my boys.

My sons inherited the house when my Aunt and Uncle
passed. We now spend many fun times taking care of the
place, hiking, looking at the stars and enjoying morning
coffee to a scene very much like the above painting.

"Peer Pressure"

2010-04-20T11:16:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas
SOLD

Those fruit bowl bullies can be so cruel. This
incident caused quite a bit of bruising!

Susan Carlin Workshop - phase I

2010-04-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

8 x 10 oil study on canvas

Susan Carlin is one of my favorite Portrait Artists
and a dear blog friend. She had an online workshop this
past weekend! She is such a wonderful teacher with
so many great tips about drawing, painting, values...and
so much more. It was such a treat to see her approach
and learn from this very talented Artist!

I'm pleased with my start. Although the paint is not thick
enough and I haven't worked on the eyes, nose or mouth,
I think I managed to find the values. Susan critiques all of
the students paintings (16 of us!). We will continue to work
on them during the week and regroup for a final critique
this weekend.

Update: Horror of horrors! I worked it to the point that
he was unrecognizable and wiped it! I'm so disheartened.
Susan was kind enough to critique this "Phase I" image and
encouraged me to try again. Going to give it another go
although I must admit that I'm afraid this one was a fluke.

"Mocha Egg"

2010-04-17T06:40:00.001-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel SOLD

Tried to think of something that would make an
interesting reflection and decided upon this egg.
Once I had the set-up arranged I realized the shell
was the exact same Mocha color as my coffee. Love
it when little surprises like that happen in a painting!

"China Cup & Apple"

2010-04-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

Here is a China Cup of my Mom's that I have always
wanted to paint. It is very plain except for the one
bit of ornate pattern inside. I've always liked that
element...a bit of surprise when the cup is full and
the flower barely shows. The matching saucer is also
plain except for the flower in the center where the
cup sits. Very elegant. I sat the solid black cup in the
back just to get some interesting reflections and balance
out the composition.

"Dog Days"

2010-04-03T15:34:00.001-07:00

24 x 12 oil on canvas SOLD

This is a commission for a friend. All four of these
dogs have so much personality. This was the basic
pose but I went through tons of photos trying to
capture all of their unique expressions. I've grown
very fond of them in the past few months!

By popular demand, here is some info I received on
the pack. Starting from left to right:

Sergio is a 3 yr old Victorian Olde English Bulldogge
and the dog aggressive leader of the pack.
His nickname is Kujo!

Willow is a trouble maker with a Capital T.
She is a 2 year old French Bulldog

Bella is also a beautiful 2 year old French Bulldog
who was rescued from a Puppy Mill. She had a
rough life and looks and acts older than her age.
She had 3 litters before she was rescued by this
loving family who treats her like the little Princess
she is.

Maggie is a 2 year old Jug - half Pug/half Jack Russel.
She is a "very good girl" and I'm sure she has a lot of
personality with that mix!

"Green Apples"

2010-03-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

5 X 7 oil on board NFS

This is the first of 5 paintings I'm doing for a
special project. They are part of a promotional
package by Zatista that showcases several artists.
The paintings will be presented in gift packages
to 5 editors from various Art and Design Magazines.
It is such an honor to be invited to participate!

Zatista is a fabulous online Art Gallery that
markets toward Designers and Collectors. If
you don't know about it, check it out. It is a
very cool site! They are fairly new but I've
been told that Nate Berkus just acquired a
large amount of artwork from them so hopefully
he will help get the word out and they will
continue to grow and grow.

"Distant Cousins"

2010-03-22T11:06:00.001-07:00

6x 8 oil on canvas SOLD

Had so much fun with the Pepper that I thought I'd try
another subject I've been avoiding. Bananas. Early on I
tried to paint bananas but they always looked weird so
I stopped trying. However, during my latest trip to the
market I was gathering fruit and noticed that the pears
and almost ripe bananas were the exact same color. The
desire to capture them overcame my insecurity.

I thought of the title because of the similarity in color and
skin sheen and actually tried several compositions to see
if I could make the pear appear to be growing with the
bananas but that didn't work out so I went for an interesting
shadow combination instead.

"Red Pepper"

2010-03-19T09:17:00.001-07:00

6 x 8 oil on canvas SOLD

My first red pepper. For whatever reason I've always been
hesitant to paint one. I guess that inner part intimidated me.
I was pleasantly surprised to find it enjoyable once I got
started.

The red reflection inside the left of the bowl was troubling.
It didn't "look" right. Then I reminded myself that the best
way to mess up a painting is to paint it like you "think" it
should look instead of what is really there. So trusting that
rule of thumb I carried on and hoped the real thing would
work out fine.

"Sliced Pears"

2010-03-13T11:58:00.000-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
framed
available through The Dutch Art Gallery
dutchart1@aol.com
1-214-348-7350

Got this new little white bowl that is just the right
size for my usual 6X6 paintings. I think the fruit looks more
like a New Potato than a pear because of the rounded
shape in the bowl and the splotches on the skin. It was
one of the same pears I used in "Pear Pair" so it was...how
should I put this? Let's just say it was really ripe.

"One Big Happy Family"

2010-02-26T12:45:00.000-08:00

12 x 12 Framed oil on Masonite SOLD

These Shasta Daisies are so happy and bright. Made
me think of a big happy family enjoying their day.
Need to get a better photo of this. These rainy days
make it so hard to get a decent shot!

"Pear Pair"

2010-02-18T10:37:00.001-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

The pears are so juicy and delicious right now. They are
the perfect fruit for practicing Still Life painting. Their
curvy shapes allow for so many different angles.
Goodness knows I need the practice so I'm going to try
to paint these several more times.

"Odd Man Out"

2010-02-13T15:38:00.001-08:00

6 X 6 oil on canvas SOLD

My sister gave me this little dish. It was just the right size
to fit a family of Clementines on, with the exception of
Slow Poke who missed the boat.

I'm trying to "go off" chocolate cake (my Crack Cocaine) and
am using the Clementines as Methadone. It keeps me away
from the hard stuff like...well, chocolate cake and ice cream.
I'm only human though, and they have no idea how lucky
they were to have lasted through a Still Life before I lost my
self-control and ate every last one of the sweet little things!
My grapes in "Four And Counting" we not so lucky.

"Red On Red"

2010-02-08T11:43:00.000-08:00

6 x 6 oil on canvas SOLD

Another apple. Can't get enough of the beautiful reds in them.
This Oriental bowl sits in my living room and I don't know why
I have never thought to paint it before. You know how things
seem to disappear if you see them too often. The reds in the bowl
were nearly identical to the apple. I also played around with lost
edges a bit in this one. Admittedly, they are small but definitely lost.