One Navel

I painted this one on Bristol vellum, underpainted with a dark blue-violet. I wanted the white ground to have a little more painterly quality to it, and I knew it would make the shadow easier to paint. I just worked around it, as you can see. The label was a necessity, IMHO, to add color, texture and impact! Hope you agree.

Two Navels

I was given a huge box of navel oranges fresh from the grove in California, so when I began to look for subject matter there they were right in front of me.

This painting is on black Pastelmat, a current favorite of mine. I really enjoy using this paper. The gouache builds up in slow layers but retains a nice texture throughout.

I'm starting to picture a wall full of these little paintings framed in simple moldings, hanging in the kitchen.  What do you think?