"Contemplation"

"Contemplation", 10x8", oil on panel

Mary Williams Fine Art

In my last post, I talked about how I will change my technique to "fit" different subjects.  A lively, colorful subject (like the peaches in my last post) will likely get a very impressionistic approach with lots of thick paint and color, perhaps with a bit of palette knife application while I'm there.  I'll also change my approach to fit my mood.  With these white roses, I decided to slow way down and really see my subject.  The color shifts and the edges were full of subtlety, so I needed to be patient and build the painting gradually.

Today's art market encourages artists to find a certain style and stick to it, making that technique their recognizable trademark.  Try as I might, I can't stick with the same approach to all of my paintings.  For me, art is an exploration and I'm constantly seeking new subjects and new ways to approach them.  

Thank you Sherri Burritt, fellow artist and green thumb extraordinaire for sharing these home grown beauties with me!

That's Just Peachy

"That's Just Peachy", oil on panel, 14x11"

Mary Williams Fine Art

I enjoy experimenting with different painting styles.  Sometimes I feel that the subject calls for control and quiet colors, and sometimes I like to go a little crazy, as I did with this latest piece.  I started with a bright green underpainting, and I tried to let it peek through in the final version.  I think that these little hits of bright color give the painting a bit of excitement.  Using as few brush strokes as possible, I laid on the paint thickly and quickly.  You can probably tell that the peaches in the back were built up and destroyed a few times.  This softened their edges and pushed them into the back, and yet they still have a feeling of energy.

This painting is in the Mary Williams Fine Art Gallery in Boulder, Colorado.  I'm so happy to have a relationship with Mary and her beautiful gallery.