Jacqueline's Iris

Here we go. This is my latest oil painting and I like the way it turned out. I usually like to paint from my own references but this time I got some help. This painting was "completed under the direction of Jacqueline Gnott's dvd". What a privilege to be guided by such a wonderful artist.

Not finished yet! Getting there slowly.

If you are wondering what I have been up to?.........this is the painting I have been working on for......weeks and it is progressing very slowly. I have had many interruptions, such is life. As you can see, I am in the process of finishing the "grisaille" stage and I should be able to start putting the colours in the next few days. However, I am going away to Sydney, for a  conference this coming week end so I will have to put my brushes away......and this painting is still far from being completed. Anyway, as far as this painting is concerned, I am making the pleasure last....or is it a way of procrastinating?
I wanted to post this, even if the painting is not finished yet. It shows how much work goes into each piece I create. There are no shortcuts and hopefully this painting will be finished soon.

Zen Callas

 

I did this painting feeling......Zen! and am happy with the blue vase and the shadows. Painting always takes me to places......in my head that is. But like any travel, one must plan the journey and sometimes nice things happen, just like this painting. I do like this one a lot.

PS: Thank you SweetBaby from WetCanvas for the reference image.

Pomology



I do find painting apples relaxing. This one is not a real apple but one of those fake ones that I have had for years in my studio. It was just sitting there, a little dusty and looking at me. So there you go, a deceptively fresh looking apple. I love the simplicity of this painting.

By the way, I am going to France on holiday next week for about a month so I will not be posting for several weeks. I hope to come back with renewed inspiration........



Sweet surprise

Have you ever received or given one of those to someone? It is a wonderful way to show your affection.
While painting this "billet doux", I thought of the people close to my heart. Ah!.....isn't love beautiful?

Royal Escape

Royal escape?...... Why?....I hear you say.......because this apple is "Royal" (Gala).
Simple idea, simple pleasure, simple joy and such happy feelings when I look at this painting. I could eat this apple!

All wrapped up

Here is my latest oil painting. I have enjoyed painting this one a lot. I like the way the sticky tape is coming off the wrapping paper. What is inside the parcel I hear you ask? ........I used a painting that I had painted a while ago and simply wrapped it up. Well, now you know!

Unfinished

Unfinished......well, as you can see, it is. I am still painting this little baby. As it is progressing slowly, I thought I would show you how the process goes. I am usually shy to show my paintings like that to anyone but perhaps someone is going to find this interesting. I used a rich red as my first layer. Once that layer is dry, I can start the painting with very thin paint. I then keep on building the layers from thin to thick paint. This is called fat over lean. I have a long way to go in order to finish this painting but this is what I love, the process of doing it......

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Here is my painting for this week. I really like the strong effect of the white against the background. When I see those flowers in the garden, I know that beautiful spring is here.

Before nightfall

I thought I heard them say: "Come on! It is time to go to bed....close your petals and go to sleep".
Well, spring is upon us here down under. What a wonderful time of the year. Tulips are beautiful at the moment and amazing to paint.

Behind the fruit bowl

What are those two lemons doing behind the fruit bowl?..... Hummm..... I wonder..... perhaps they are simply surprised to see their own reflection. What tremendous joy this painting has given me while I was painting it. I guess this is why I love painting. I felt like a kid again.

Champagne?

This is my oil painting for the week. Simple.....but I love it! As a prop, I used a bottle of Bollinger champagne. That is what is inside the wrapping paper. This bottle of French champagne was given to me recently by my friend Pam, who is a wonderful actress. Cheers to Pam and all of you.

The Gift

I would like to dedicate this painting to my very best friend Marie-Anne. She had her birthday on Friday. We have been friends for 35 years, so I have filled this box with all of my friendship to her, all the things we have done together. Come to think of it, I should have used a bigger box.

Coffee?....Tea?....Me?....

What is the story here? I suspect this cup is begging to be filled with something you like drinking. Perhaps a herbal tea? I enjoyed this week painting very much. I never thought painting a plain cup, a saucer and a spoon could be so "pleasuresome!".

Not pared yet!

This pear is getting riper by the minute. It has not been pared yet, hence the tittle. I have turned around the knife to get a different composition from my previous painting. Pears are beautiful fruits and pleasurable to paint....... and to eat!

Pare me!

Here it is! "Une bonne poire!" Are you going to pare it or not? The white plate, the pear and the paring knife have been fun to paint. I feel contented.

Me?.....hot!

Me?.......hot! Here is my painting of the week. I like the shadows, especially under the tips of the chili peppers. As much as I enjoyed painting those "hotties", I like to eat them too.

Once upon a spoon

Once upon a spoon......time to make the apple puree?  Let me tell you, the spoon has been a challenge to paint but I love the reflection of the apple and the paper bag in it. I'm so glad this painting worked out as well as it did.

The great escape

This painting has been a joy to paint. It is one of those paintings that just flows......what a feeling!

Hooked

I got back from New Zealand on Friday. It is such an inspiring place, so beautiful. For this painting, I used acrylic paint to speed up the process and then glazed the cherries with oil paint. I love the way those two cherries seem to like each other. It has been a real pleasure doing this painting. It made me quite happy.