Watermelon Face

I can remember way back when.........drawing class, where we we're learning about color and composition. One of the students complained to the teacher about how such a boring subject could never become an interesting drawing. To which the teacher replied "Its the artist's job to make the subject interesting".
I never forgot that. Sometimes I purposely try a really simple subject, just to see if I can "make it interesting". That's what was behind "Watermelon" 11 x 14. I like the red and green complimentary color scheme, and this subject really lends itself to playing that up.
So I dedicate this one to you........."Watermelon Face"..............as old Uncle Bill used to call ya..

Viva Francais

I wanted to try something a bit grander in scale this time. An actual setting as a subject, just like someone might sit down to. It started with the idea of french crullers, and blossomed from there. The crullers went down first and then I added the tea cup and sugar bowl. Again, I like the way the direct expression of these items, instead of a laborious drafting of them, seems to make them dance on the table cloth.
So here it is......"French Crullers" 12 x 16. Just makes me want to take one off the plate!

This is how we do it!

I've been looking at some diner sites on the internet, and it got me in the mood for some pie. Today's creation is not only an 11 x 14 titled "Blueberry Pie a la Mode, but a step by step recording of how it was done! Hope you like it! Later.

What a Big Bun you Have!

Another breakfast favorite of mine! "Cinnamon Bun" 11 x 14. I like the way the hard lines of the coffee cup contrast with the icing on the bun. I procrastinated about weather to add some utensils, and decided against it for this piece. I consider these food paintings to be food portraits, but always worry about how the reality of the piece will translate to the viewer with no silverware. Do they enjoy the painting, or go "Where's the silverware?" Inquiring artists want to know!

Homer says.....Dooooooooooooughnuts

Donuts! Something I really like.....but you can't get'em here. Not in Hawaii. I used to go to the "Happy Donut" on Battery St., in San Francisco back in the old days, whenever I needed my donut fix. Before that it was "Buckman's Dairy" back in Rochester, NY.
So I've been thinking about those donuts lately, which lead me to this nice painting....."Coffee and Donuts" 11 x 14. The thing I like the best about this is how charming a painting becomes, when you just paint what you want to say, instead of worrying about all the perspectives, and anatomies, and scales of your subject. Another words, all the things you would get "corrected" for in art class.
And the red mug is my favorite coffee cup! Later

Tribute to Sherman's Deli

Last year when we vacationed in Palm Springs, we spent a lot of mornings eating breakfast in a place called Sherman's Deli. Pancakes were always my favorite! Those pancake breakfasts inspired this piece called "Breakfast, The Sunday Edition" 14 x 18. You can't get food like this here in Hawaii....where the joke is........."Best food I had in Hawaii was on the airplane coming over". Unless of course you like spam! (the stuff in the blue can, not the email kind) Later.

Calling Vincent

I've had this painting in the back of my mind for about a week. Once I got around to painting it, instead of trying to figure out how to paint it, this is what I got......."Peach Shortcake and Ice Cream" 11 x 14. This is a nice high key painting with a lot of electricity, something that I wanted to achieve at its outset.
I wonder if Van Gogh would smile if he saw this?

As the Apple turns

It took me a lot longer than I had hoped to get this painting going. I had procrastinated between peach cobbler and this "Candy Apple" 8 x 10 for a long time. Finally I went for this because I like red. Not my best piece, but it looks cool in a little mahogany frame. Peach cobbler ala Van Gogh is next....yum

Blue Plate Special

Here is the full size version, that the previously posted lobster study was done for. I call it "Blue Plate Special" 16 x 20 and I really like the way the color is organized in this painting, and the diagonals that kind of create movement. Blues in the outer diagonals, then yellow inside of that, with the main diagonal, a nice red lobster, all set up on a redwood picnic table.
I think doing the smaller study paid off in the execution of this larger work, and I will have consideration for doing "studys" more often.