Pear-fect!

Pear-fect!
6x6, Soft Pastel

Pear-fect!  While not actually "perfect" (it had quite a few bruises by the time I got to it),  it was sweet little pear that sat snuggly, nestled in the table cloth waiting to be painted.  Then of course I ate it.  At this point, I'm thinking I should take up painting desserts!  How fun would that be?

I Love Stella...Whoever She Is

I Love Stella...Whoever She Is

12 x 3.5, Soft Pastel

Well, I confess the painting above isn't precise...nor my best work.  At all.  But, there's a really good reason why. I made a very big mistake on this one...that is, I started it AFTER I had opened and started drinking it.  BIG mistake for someone who was really looking forward to a "cold one" after a long day of painting. 

If you know me, you know I don't drink much, at most maybe one a day (sorta like a vitamin) but I do love an ice cold Stella!  So, I was forced to paint it exceptionally fast (didn't want it to get cold you know). 

Sweet Treat

Sweet Treat

6x6, soft pastel

Most artists paint fruit.  I suppose it's because we typically have fruit in the house and they provide great color for a still life piece.  With just the right lighting, a piece (or pieces) of fruit can glow.  These seedless green grapes were doing just that...glowing from the sunlight.  I'm not particularly proficient at painting fruit...but they sure are fun to try. 

Top Shelf

Top Shelf

6x6, Soft Pastel

This is a painting I've been wanting to do for quite awhile...and I'm not sure it turned out as well as I'd like...but, that's the way it goes sometimes.  Painting it larger might help...or giving myself more time than I did (this one was done on the same day as the green grapes...so I was a bit pooped by the end of the day).  I continue to paint things halfway between Impressionism and Realism (not really sure what to call that...Cindyism I guess). 

Plump and Juicy

Plump and Juicy

6x6, soft pastel

What is it about a simple little peeled orange that seems so irresistible?  I set this still life up just like a photo I saw a couple years ago with dramatic lighting to emphasize the translucent qualities of the orange.  I knew while painting this little guy that I would eat it for breakfast...but since it was my first attempt at painting an orange, breakfast time turned into lunchtime.  It took several hours so I was very hungry the whole time. But, I knew I was finally on the right track when the painting began to be as mouthwatering as the real orange.  

Sole Survivor

Sole Survivor
8x6, soft pastel

Sole Survivor was just that...the very last sunflower on my small little pot of sunflowers growing in the front yard.  I like these sunflowers since they stayed small and didn't overtake their space.  I also loved that the all the blooms lasted throughout the summer (I'm used to having to deadhead flowers but not these)...they didn't dry out even a little bit until September.

Frontyard Bouquet

Front Yard Bouquet 

12x9, soft pastel

Day 3 of the Challenge.  I had to resort to picking the few flowers left in the front yard to get the variety of flowers. The red-orange flowers are from a Canna plant and because of the long stalks with flowers along the entire stalk I actually had blooms fully submerged in the water casting all kinds of delicious colorful reflections.  At first I wasn't sure I liked the finished painting but looking over some of Van Gogh's florals, I decided what the heck, the blue background could stay.