Drama in Purple

More drama. Ha! What can I say?

I don't know what kind of flowers these are,  but they grow in my mom's garden. 

This was the musical inspiration while I painted. Turn it up!  (Right click on the colored word 'this' and go to Open Link in New Tab to continue looking at the art while you listen.)

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Tuned Out

I appreciate all the positive comments about yesterday's painting process demo. I love seeing how other artists create and since my painting occurs while I'm alone, it's nice to be able to share the process with you. More to come...

First today's painting...then a question. Here's my entry for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge. If only this young woman knew all the times she's been painted...wouldn't she be surprised...and delighted? At first I focused on her being tuned in to whatever device she was using. But then I thought about the trade off of being tuned out to everything going on around her. Could work both ways.

In yesterday's post (see below) I mentioned my limited oil color palette which I relish the simplicity of. Having said that and being passionate about color, if there's a color you just can't live without, I'd love to hear about it! 

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Foreign Shores

We have lots of beautiful shells on our Maine beaches, but none of these!  I do own some though and have painted them several times. Gee... there are a ga-ZILLION colors in this one! 

Thought I'd show you the process for this particular piece. 

My palette (which I learned from Carol Marine) typically consists of six colors (Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Cad Yellow Light, Cad Red Medium, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine, and Phthalo Blue) plus Titanium White and Burnt Umber. When I can't get a bright enough pink or orange, I occasionally add Permanent Rose or Cadmium Orange. There's also a little blob of Liquin at the top to help paint consistency and speed drying.

Depending on the complexity of the subject, I sometimes choose to work out the composition and details in an initial sketch and transfer it to my panel. This allows me to focus on color and value once the painting begins...which are the things that REALLY excite me.

First, I under painted the panel with Permanent Rose. I always begin an oil painting by reserving my lightest lights so I don't "lose" them (which is the opposite of what I did in working with soft pastels for ten years.)

For the middle stages of a painting I work back and forth among the values. This helps me keep them accurate in relation to each other. 

 

 

 

 

I put in the background table and cast shadow...

...and the background.

 

A couple more tweaks to the shell's shape and a few values...and I'm done. 

This is how my palette looks when I'm finished.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"
SOLD

She Sells Sea Shells

I always like the broken shells better than the whole ones because you can see the cool whorls inside. Thanks to Molly, my brilliant, sparkling, talented daughter ( she's looking over my shoulder as I type this) for the title.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 ( with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Out of Season

I know it's the wrong season for an amaryllis...but I was looking through some old reference photos, came across this one and really felt like painting it. How nice to be able to paint whatever we choose whenever we want! 

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Triplicate

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Blinded by the Light

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Peace by Piece

The crane is a symbol of happiness, good fortune and peace. I recently had the pleasure of participating in the Paper Cranes for Japan project to aid relief efforts. Click on the link to read more about this cool project. A couple of years ago I learned to fold paper cranes here.

The colorful crane in the painting was folded from recycled metallic wrapping paper. I was trying to capture that shiny quality in the painting...not sure if I did.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6" SOLD

Nature's Compliments

This is my entry in the Daily Paintworks Challenge for this week. You can read more about it by clicking on the link. I'm loving these challenges!

Oil on panel, 6" x6"

SOLD

Double Vision

I like how this color combination turned out and am pleased with the subtle glass bowl.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Converging

I really enjoy painting stones. I liked the lines of this one...and, as always, the colors.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Testing the Waters

I've painted a similar arrangement before...but I like to change things just a bit or try a different under painting. This one has a Cadmium Red under painting.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Balance

I like the translucence of these Granny Smith apple slices and the way the bright pink plate reflects on the white flesh.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Spiral Staircase

More fractured fruit. I loved the shape of the cast shadow on the plate...and of course I LOVE that bright orange plate!
This is a taste of today's musical inspiration. (Right click on the colored word 'this' and go to Open Link in New Tab to continue looking at the art while you listen.) I always paint standing up. How else could I danc..I mean, step back and evaluate? CRANK it up!

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Find Your Core

Another piece in the 'Fractured Fruit' series from last week. Still a couple more to come...

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

What the Cluck?

I had already finished painting for the day, but remembered that a new Daily Paintworks Challenge was posted on Saturday. I was curious to know what it was. When I saw Carol Marine's challenge photo for this week, I ran to my easel! Chickens are such a fun subject to paint. Pardon the title, it was either that or Finger Lickin' Chicken.

Oil on panel, 6" x6"

SOLD

Good Fortune

This one was fun to paint. I wanted to do more still life set ups with these and similar objects, but before I had a chance, our dog ate the empty container. Ah well...I'll just have to order Chinese take out again soon. :o)

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Porcelain Daisy

These are some of my favorite mugs and cups. I'm not a coffee drinker,  but I do enjoy a big mug of creamy steamy cocoa in the morning, a big scoop (or three) of ice cream in the blue cup...and of course a big ole mug of wine at the end of a satisfying painting day. Ahhh...life is sweet. The title is more about how the handles all look coming together from above.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 + $10 domestic shipping

Drama

I love playing with dramatic light. I tried to have these flowers emerging from the shadows into the light. The background's a bit more teal colored and darker than this shows.

This is the musical inspiration while I painted. (Right click on the colored word 'this' and go to Open Link in New Tab to continue looking at the art while you listen.) Crank it up...bet you can't help but dance.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Gone Round the Bend

I tried Carol Marine's Daily Paintworks Challenge this week. This is from a photo she took in a German village. I've never been to Germany, but thanks to Carol, I get to paint it, too. 

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Survivor

I bought a bunch of twenty daffodils at the store last week. This is the only one that actually opened. I figured it deserved to be painted.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Signs of Spring

These signs of spring came from the grocery store...not my yard, which received 14" of snow a few days ago...and more snow today. Not to worry. We Mainers know spring's coming...some day.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Delicate Balance

I painted this for someone very dear to me. As she tests her wings, I've no doubt she'll soar.

Oil on panel, 5" x 5"

NFS

Segmented

Another fractured pear...hmmm...I think I just came up with the title of my next pear painting...

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com