Avocado

I was about to cut this avocado open when I noticed the gorgeous blush of red-violet across one side and had to paint it. (Happily, I had another one I could eat instead!)

Yes, I painted it from life, as no photo I take could catch those colors. They please me, as do the textures I managed to capture, but I have to say that the slight reflection of the white ground on the shadowed side pleases me the most. (It's the little things that count!)

I think I'll put a grouping of these small horizontal ones together as a kitchen painting. This is just a quick snapshot of the paintings I'm considering. I need to further consider the arrangement, but something like this.

I don't think the two grapes belong side-by-side. Hmmmm... How would you arrange them? Your opinions are welcome.

Vine Ripe

These three just looked delicious sitting in the sun on my table so I had to paint them. I set them on a white sheet of paper so the reds and oranges, contrasting with the different greens and the purple shadows, would just sing out. The squishy highlight on the left tomato pleases me a lot. I think I managed to catch the ripe quality of a soft-yet-firm tomato. Delicious.

As ever, this painting fits in the palm of your hand, 2.5" x 3.5" in size.

Yellow Bouquet Rose

Roses have faces to me. This yellow rose looks you in the eye and smiles, I think. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and just seems to fit in, even surrounded by neighbors that are so completely opposite it.

Hmmm, too much personification? Well, maybe, but I honestly find myself thinking these things as I paint. I like this guy's sunny smile, and if I'd thought of it sooner that would have been the title.

Hope it makes you smile...

Sweetheart Rose

A little different take, more somber and quiet. This little sweetheart was tucked into a bouquet of roses, but seems to have a bit of an independent spirit, heading sideways as it is. I always enjoy yellow roses, even with a touch of blush on them. The Canvas Paper makes the gouache look a little like oil paint, I think. That pleases me.

Remember the scale:

~Deborah

Face the Sun

Another blue sky and pink rose--this one in full bloom. He's actually a companion to Sunshine Rose, as they were side by side in the photograph I used. This one is against a slightly deeper blue sky, a bit quieter and...dare I say more mature looking? :)

I'm pleased with the loose strokes and truthfully I like the striations in the sky. They add a suggestion of movement to it. The big face of the rose looks as if it's just basking in the sunlight to me.

Ah! I don't know about you, but I'm ready for spring. It can't still be winter... Well, soon enough the roses will bloom again, all in God's good time.

Sunlit Yellow Rose

I have some oatmeal paper that I found at Hobby Lobby. As I was painting this one I decided the paper was the perfect color and value, so I left it exposed. I like the swift, juicy strokes in this sunny piece. It seems to say all I wanted to without over-detailing things. Silly, I know, but the paler green leaf on the right side just pleases me next to the variegation of the rose petal. The contrasting darks do their job well, too. All in all, this is one I'd frame for myself, but then yellow roses are about my favorite flower in the world!

I hope you like it too.

I'm including a shot here of some pieces I have yet to post, but I want you to see the scale of these paintings. You may not realize that you're seeing them slightly larger than life sized on the blog, so you can see the details. I think my keyboard will help give you more of a sense of the size. As you can see, these paintings are in their protective plastic bags already, which is why they seem a little dull. I'll give you a closer look at the other paintings here over the next few days.

Sunshine Rose

I love this painting! It's so nice to really love a painting from time to time. Oh, I like them all or I wouldn't show them here. But this one just makes me smile. I wanted to capture the translucent petals, as well as the more opaque ones. I didn't want it to be too tightly rendered, but loosely suggesting all that was there. I love the colors, too.

Yes, you can buy any of the paintings. Go to the tab marked Purchase a Painting at the top for information. Each one is $25.00, plus a modest shipping charge (unless marked otherwise.)