Artificial

6x6 oil on masonite

238 Bird practice

6x6" oil on masonite

I found another bird figurine at an antique shop. Normally they seem to want upwards of $5-7.00 for such things, which I think is outrageous. but this one had a chip on off the beak, which doesn't bother me since I'm just going to use it as a model, so it was priced at 75 cents. Better still I think my mom had one like it when I was growing up.

Anyway, this is a practice board, a great way to learn how to paint complex objects. The size of the board is 6x6" as you already know, and I subdivide it into 3x3' quadrants. Each quadrant contains a single 10 minute exercise in capturing the subjects' likeness. This method really reduces the stress of painting. Which is great as I can get a little stressy about things. Thanks to Carol Marine for introducing me to this exercise.

I love my practice boards. I can't imagine anyone wanting them, but I also can't imagine selling them.

237 Summer

8 x 8" 

oil on masonite

 Bonsai

12 x 12" oil on masonite

I've been looking at the work of Jan Devliegher. 

He did a series of paintings of plates call "Treasury".  Each painting is about 5' tall. Impressive!

And the brushwork is divine. I'll keep his work in mind and try my own version later.

I liked this one enough to post, but on enough to offer it for sale. 

Also, these blues are scanning a little "hot". It's not this bright in person.