Painting in Monterey on the 14th

Monterey, CA

Here are a few photos from painting demonstration I did at Gallery i fine art in Cannery row, Monterey on Saturday afternoon.

I'd painted at the gallery before, in the front, but this time I painted in the back of the gallery to entice people in and to give them room to sit and watch. I had one very faithful viewer who stayed with me for the whole afternoon.

I arrived in the gallery with the black 'outlines' blocked in and an under paint wash mostly in red.

Early days...

The painting was mostly completed in the gallery, but I spent a little time the next day (around 2 hours) back in my studio finishing it off. I think my photo of it makes it seem darker than it actually is.

The finished painting - Delphinium, apricot and green vase No2
Acrylic on board Size 20 X 16

I had painted this set up once before about 2 years ago, it's nice to revisit an 'old friend' like this especially when it's being given a new feel and look.

The previous painting - Delphinium, apricot and green vase
Acrylic on board Size 20 X 16

Helianthus on orange
Acrylic on board Size: 29.5 X 24

I've been doing a few landscapes in oil recently. I tend to do these with patches of color, so this has started to show up in the Acrylic Still life painting, note the 'blotchy' background and table cloth. I also do small color outlines within the blotches - little brush strokes of similar colors. Though I'm not sure these are showing up in the photos.

detail.

detail.

Peonies and plums on painted box

Acrylic on board
36X24

Unusual colors for me. (How's that for a short post?)

A couple of oils

It had been a while since I'd done any Still lifes in oils, so I worked up these two.

I've often find I paint to thick with oils, so I did have to occasionally let these sit for a number of days and revisit them once parts had dried, allowing work to continue. This can be frustrating, but it does gives the final work a very unified look re - thickness of paint.

I tried to keep their colors a little understated compared to some of my 'usual' palette choices. In the first one I used the red in the outlines to create some drama.

Peonies and Pomegranates on bird cloth
Oil on board Size 20X43

Detail

Peonies and limes on painted box
Oil on board Size 18X24

Detail

I tried to keep the brush work in this one pretty loose and clumsy, giving the painting a nice energy.

Detail

fruit and flowers on bird cloth

fruit and flowers on bird cloth
Acrylic on canvas Size: 36 x 48

Detail

Hawaii

Recently back from my families first vacation to Hawaii. I probably should have done more work while I was away, but instead spent the time snorkeling with my family and enjoying the cocktails.

Only later did I start to think about some of the wonderful flora and fauna Hawaii offered, some of the orchids were really fantastic! This painting was worked on back at the studio, but the over-sized exotic bouquet was originally photographed in a cafe that we lunched in twice. I just loved the expanse of foliage beneath the flowers.

I used local fruits to fill out the composition including the Noni fruit, which is a pretty awful tasting fruit, but there are many health claims to it.

The Hawaiian arrangement

Acrylic on board size: 48X28

Detail of Noni fruit

Anyway, it all made for a great painting and I have subsequently wished I'd spent some time gathering reference materials and paintings while on vacation. Perhaps next time?

a couple of recent paintings

Here are a couple of paintings from recent weeks. Currently working on a couple of oil paintings; it's been so long since I've done a oil of a still life I feel like I've forgotten how! (results of my efforts soon)

tulips and limes on painted box
Acrylic on board size: 36x24

Iris with Papaya and Lemons
Acrylic on board size: 48X24