Fruit practice

Here's my still life station. It is just a cardboard box with two sides cut out of it. This is as far as I got tonight. Maybe I will do more to it tomorrow...or maybe I'll just go to different set-up. It's all--- just for practice.

Oil Study, Celeste Bergin, Fruit Study, oil on 16x12 canvas sheet

Little practice paintings (Thursday)

Our art discussion question was a good one..."challenging subjects" (things you find daunting to paint). In anticipation of the meeting I painted some quick exercises in my still life station. I chose a white bank, a copper tin and my mineral spirits container.  

The copper tin was the most vexing. I think I did pretty well, though it was definitely a challenge to get the colors right.

This mineral spirits tin has been with me from the start. It was fun to paint, and I might do a more complete version someday. 

To see what everyone else brought to the meeting....go HERE

(Oil studies) Celeste Bergin, 3 objects, oil on 6x9 canvas sheet

Thursday!

....An experiment in contrast. I took it to the art discussion today. To see what everyone else brought...go HERE.

(Painting) Celeste Bergin, Across the River, oil on 8x8 canvas panel

Thursday/Friday!

The topic at art discussion was "High Key". This is what I took in. To see what everyone else brought...go HERE. Happy Weekend!

(Painting) Celeste Bergin, Sauvie Morning, oil on 9x12 canvas panel

Friday!

The painting on the left is a painting from a few years ago.  I painted it from a photo reference. I guess when I painted it I wanted to remain faithful to the photograph. But, what a dumpy figure! She wasn't really overweight, but she wore a "puffy jacket" and let's face it, she looked a little like a baked potato. 

 I realized that painting into the background (around the original figure) would effectively revamp the walker to make her more svelte.  (I wish we could so easily trim down in real life)! The topic in our recent art discussion meeting was "negative space" so I took this painting and explained how I changed it. (I also pepped up the color everywhere).

To see what everyone else brought....go Here.

Today Dave and I went to Longview to visit George Broderick. We had lunch and looked at all the fabulous art at his gallery.  A really great visit. (Thanks for the picture, Dave)!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Rainy Day Shopping, oil on 12x6 canvas panel

Monday!

I have a friend in my Thursday sketch group who has been painting (to decorate) his sketchbook covers. He got this idea from Jim Gurney's blog.  I have quite a few sketchbooks and recently I gessoed some of the front covers.  I did this sketchbook cover tonight in just black and white. 

(Sketchbook Cover) Celeste Bergin, Made-up man in hood, oil on 6x9 sketchbook