Vibrating Pears - Small 6" x 8" pear paintings that celebrate color

These are the first two in a series of 6" x 8" pear paintings that explore and celebrate complementary color. The goal is to "push" the color while maintaining the realistic aspects of the pears. I find myself ignoring any imperfections in the pears as I concentrate on colro, value and form to maintain the illusion.

Sauder Village paint out with OPAS August 16, 2010

The Ohio Plein Air Society, of which I am a proud member, sponsored a paint out at Sauder Village in Archbold, OH last Saturday. It rained all week and cleared up for the weekend so I was grateful as I was a co-sponsor of the event. I did two paintings: a scene of the adjoining farm in the morning and later after a group critique I took my bored daughter home and returned to the village green where an Antique Car show was in progress. I quickly chose a bright red car as my subject and set up the French easel (my speed at setting this up is improving--- really, it is).
Knowing I had exactly 1 hour and 45 minutes before the Village closed gave me a deadline to finish and I always paint better, faster and looser if I know there is a deadline. Here is Don's 1929 Cabrolet (sp?) which he purchased as soon as I finished.
Below it is the landscape, which I brought home and tweaked a bit. The horse was not recognizable as such until I worked it a bit more.
All in all, a great day of plein air painting.

Is the economy picking up?

After a slow month in April I started this week out by selling five paintings and one print! Three in one day! Okay, I have dropped my prices pretty low just to move some inventory because I am a prolific painter. But even considering that, six is a lot and I am thrilled.
One problem I have at my studio, which is located in my home, is where to put all these wet paintings. Sometimes I paint two in one day, but almost always 3-4 a week. I have solved the problem for small pieces painted on linen and mounted to board-- I just purchased some boxes from Phil Pidcoe of http://pidcoefamilyfurniture.ws I found Phil on etsy and he is a great woodworker. He made me some custom wet paint carriers, which I use when I am painting outside and also for general storage around the house. With three cats who like to rub up against things and compete with one another to see how high they can jump it is safer for my wet paintings to be store out of the way instead of leaning up against bookcases as they usually are.
Here is a picture of the boxes I ordered from Phil. Notice how he included my signature on the boxes. Now that would make it difficult for anyone to just walk away with it, wouldn't it?
Here is a picture of my latest painting-- it is sold already--- hooray!
6" x 8" oil on canvas panel