Red Onion on a Napkin

Here is the last of that sprouting onion. There's not much flesh left, so I had to hurry to get one more in before it collapses on itself.
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Peeled Mandarine

Here's is yet another Mandarine Orange, and I still have 3 more in the fridge!
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Sprouting Onions

I'm embarrassed to say that I bought these some time ago, intending to paint them, but forgot completely that they were in their basket in the pantry. When I saw the green sprouts though I was actually pretty happy to have something a little different to work on. I hope you like them too. If you would like to bid on this painting, please click here.

Golden Beets

I never would have thought to paint beets! But when my husband brought these beauties home from the market thinking to inspire me, of course I had to oblige. What a wonderful subject! And, what a great dinner they made...sauteed greens and roasted beets. If you would like to bid on this painting, please click here.

Peeling Mandarine

There are so many varieties of these Tangerine type oranges, "Cuties", Tangerines, Mandarines, Clementines. I usually just pick one for the title, but this time I know for sure that they are Mandarines. It said so on the label. Painting the peeled flesh is such a challenge. What value and color to make the membranes is the most difficult part, but still so much fun to try and get it right, and still keep it loose.

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Lemons Side by Side

Love painting Lemons...

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Lemon in Front

I started drinking a little bit of lemon juice in water every morning, so I have lots of lemons available to paint. I never get tired of them either. Here one is to the front, while the other is in shadow...

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Apple in Shadow

Here is another apple painting on a napkin. I love painting this damask napkin, part of a bundle I bought at an antique store ages ago hoping one day to use them in a still life. I'm this close to painting just the napkin...though I'm not sure how interesting a painting it would be. That would be my job though wouldn't it?

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Two Apples on a Napkin

Wow, 2 weeks since my last post! In my defense, I've been working on a bunch of other paintings for some upcoming shows, including trying my hand at a larger piece from a study which I'll post very soon. We finally got around to photographing everything today...
So, here are some lovely apples I found at Trader Joe's. Not exactly Spring fruit, but it's so cool here right now it feels like Autumn. If you would like to bid on this painting, please click here.

Still Life with Lemons & Ceramic Pitcher

Here is the third painting in this particular still life series. This little pitcher was a promotional gift from one of my favorite restaurants, Il Fornaio. My Mom and I manage a trip a couple of times a year and we never get tired of it. If you would like to bid on this painting, please click here.

Mexican Cup & Lemon

Here is another lemon, this time with one of my favorite cups. I bought it quite a few years ago in Ensenada, when my husband used to participate in the 50 mile "Fun Ride", from Rosarito Beach to Ensenada. I would drop him off at the start line in Rosarito, then drive to Ensenada for a short afternoon of shopping. Usually, I would buy plates, but these cups caught my eye and I bought two. Such nice memories. If you would like to bid on this painting, please click here.

Chili Oil Bottle & Lemon

I painted this and 2 others more than 2 weeks ago, but couldn't get around to photographing them until now. I had been thinking of adding more props to the arrangements now that painting the fruits and vegetables is less of a challenge.
I'm still playing around with the lighting, so there will be more variations to come.
I love how the light is refracted through the oil in the bottle, and lemons of course are a favorite subject to paint.
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Shadowed Mandarine

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Mandarine and Lilac

I'm playing around with a new background color, Lilac.
It's a nice compliment with the orange color of the Mandarines. I'm looking forward to using it with Lemons too...
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Hanging Peel

Here is a peeled Mandarine. I love how it curls and twists in the light.
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Two More Mandarines

Here they are again...

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Two Clementines

Here are some more of my favorite February fruit...Clementines, aka Mandarine Oranges, aka "Cuties"...not sure where the last name comes from, but it says that on the box.
I'm trying a new surface to paint on. Instead of linen, I'm just painting on the same composite board, with a couple of coats of oil-based primer. It completely changes how the paint and brush strokes look. I think I like it, and it's a lot easier than gluing linen on all of these little panels...

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View From Peter's Canyon Rd.

This is the third painting I've been working on for the "Paint the Parks" Show we will be having in May. This view was painted at the eastern most point in Irvine Regional Park looking west after the big storms we had a few weeks ago, and shows how full the usually dry creek still was more than a week after the storm.

Storm Clouds Over Fremont Canyon

Here is a view of Fremont Canyon, about a mile east I think from Irvine Park, and one of the areas newly opened to the public. The morning we went to paint it was sunny, but within the first hour dark storm clouds moved in and it began to sprinkle a bit. I had to stop painting the sunny scene I began with, and ended up with this view of the sun breaking through the clouds to illuminate the far end of this little valley. What a wonderful experience to see this land, largely unspoiled. One can't help imagining how it must have been and looked for so many years and realize that the rest of our Orange County must have been as pristine and beautiful as this.

Baker Staging Area - Santiago Canyon

In May, our group will be having a show and sale in partnership with the Orange County Parks and with the Tustin School District. All the paintings for the show will be of the parks in our area, and some newly opened wilderness areas. I've spent the last couple of weeks out painting and working on the next few paintings. This one is of an area adjacent to Black Star Canyon, for you locals. It was early morning.