Apple Pie Ala Mode-SOLD- (Click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD
After thinking it over, I decided to paint from the shots I had already taken. The last thing I needed was another apple pie. Click on the image for a larger view

The Last Piece-SOLD-(Click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD
We bought a pie a couple of weeks ago and I took a bunch of shots hoping to come up with a nice setup to paint. Can't remember, but I think I was worried my apple pie setups looked too much like the eclair. So I decided to paint the last piece instead. Click on the image for a larger view.

Hold the Pickles-SOLD- (Click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

I was intending to do an ice cream on apple pie piece, but after browsing through my files I came across a shot of the sandwich I ate the day I also shot the reference for the coffee break piece from last week. I really like the contrasts in textures from the bread to the plates, and especially the shiny pickles. Click on the image for a larger view.

Strawberry with whipped cream-SOLD-(lick here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is a 6"x6" oil of a single strawberry with whipped cream on top. I thought I posted this correctly the other morning at around 6:45 am. Instead of designating a start time of 7pm PDT, somehow it didn't submit, so this will be ending at around 6:45 am central time, next Friday morning. No problem, I'll be up.

Where's the Mustard-SOLD- (Click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD
There was a resturant in Yankton S. D. that my wife and I tried to find some old fashioned fixtures, but it turned out they were just another cafe with semi interesting decorations. This dramatic neon lit scene was pretty interesting tho. We're planning a trip to Edgar's old fashioned Soda Shop in Elk Point S.D.sometime, and we're hoping we'll have better luck.

Rx an apple a day-SOLD- (click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is actually a revised painting that I posted for auction a few minutes before it went online. We've been bumping it for about three days now, and slipping something else into it's place. That's why it's out of sequence on the Blog. My wife kept telling me it looked more like a rotten, half eaten apple, and wondered why anyone would buy it, so I figured out a way to finally add more concept and content to the piece, so now it's finally in the auction. Now it's a doctors prescription based on the old addage...An apple a day will keep the doctor away. Click on the image for a larger view.

Eclair #3 (not for sale) commissioned

This is the second eclair commission I did, and the third painting of an eclair overall. I think this is it for me on this layout. If I do any more eclairs they will have to be another composition. I do like this one better than the original tho. The lady that commissioned it knew alot about art and design. She wanted the handle of the cup to not be cropped off, and also the whole composition is alot lower with more air on top than the bottom. Click on the image for a larger view.

Hershey's Kisses -SOLD-(Click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is a smaller 5x7 piece that was fun to paint. I actually remember painting a large Hershey's kiss as a project for an advertising company 15 years ago. That wasn't so fun because it had to be a simplified version of the real thing. These paintings are what I want them to look like for the most part, with the only rule being that the drawing has to be as correct as possible. The color and design is right for me. I'm sure there's at least a million different compositions and color schemes to explore. Click on the image for a larger view.

Eclair #2 (not for sale) commissioned

This is the first commissioned piece I did since starting to sell these paintings on eBay. The first eclair was done as a 5" x 7", and the next two were both 8x10s. This one actually had the cups, saucer and fork changed to match the setting picked for the wedding. Click the image for a larger view.

Lime stll life (not for sale) commissioned work

This is a commissioned piece that I painted in the last couple of days that I was really happy with. Hopefully the lady that commissioned it feels the same. It was more fun to do this one, than the other two that I'm also going to post. The other two were based on a painting I had already completed and in a way each painting is a puzzle that is fun to put together the first time, but after that it doesn't have half the fun attached to the project. As long as I have time to do them tho, I will continue, but would hope I could change something to the original to make it fun. Click the image for a larger view.

Caramel Apple-SOLD-(click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD
We went to a local Carnival and found a ton of figurative images to paint, but we also passed a few booths that sold the old favorites. I've got a few ideas for future paintings that I can't wait to get to after tonight. Click on the image to see a bigger view.

Buttered Corn-SOLD- (click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

I wanted a low point of view to see the butter dripping over the sides, trying to keep all the color on the corn and the melting patty of butter. Click on the image to see a bigger picture.

Half eaten Apple (click here to bid on eBay)

I wanted to not only paint more apples, but some in a more dramatic old world look, trying to keep it simple, and all about the apple's textures.

Half an Ear (SOLD)

Available on this blog for a minimum of $100.

I'm a big fan of sweetcorn. I wanted a simple pqrtrait in dim light so I didn't have to render each kernal. Didn't exactly turn out that way, bit I tried to keep it somewhat indicated. Click on the image for a bigger view.

Apple with 2 cores (AVAILABLE)

Available on this blog page for a minimum of $100.

This is my first apple. Tried to keep it simple because it's a 5 x 7.

Lemon with two wedges--SOLD--(click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is a 5 x 7 that I painted from shots I took. I'm trying to get a little more dramatic with lighting. Click on the image for a larger view.

Slippery edge-SOLD-(click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is a larger piece, 12 x 24, that I painted in the studio from shots I took at Point Loma near San Diego. Click on the image for a larger view.

Rubber Ducky-SOLD-(Click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD
I always like the idea of doing bubbles. There's a great piece of art in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, that has one of the best paintings of just two kids blowing bubbles. From what I remember, it was a mid 19th century piece, so the wand for blowing bubbles was home made, and from what I remember the bubbles were made with about five perfect strokes.

PB&J sandwich-SOLD-(Click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

Here's what I did with some of the home made jelly. I planned a few extra shots of this, you know, a half eaten setup, but I just couldn't stop after the first bite

Dirt Path-SOLD-(click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

I painted this from a photo I took while golfing one afternoon at Wispering Creek Golf Course in Sioux City Iowa. Great course and nice rolling hills for scenery all around. This piece was inspired by another artist named Julian. I admire his quick study ability that he has for landscapes.

Strawberry Jam-SOLD-(Click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

We've had a jar of my mom's home made jam in the fridge for just a while now, and I kept checking to see how low I wanted the level. It would have been a good portrait no matter what the level was, but I was shooting for below the logo somewhere. This stuff is so sweet. It's hard to get rid of.

Coffee Break-SOLD-(Click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is a painting I did from a shot I took at a local coffee shop. I liked the composition and the surfaces. Shiny cups and glass are always fun to paint. Coffee shop coffee can never have enough cream to get it to a golden umber. I didn't show the other three empties. My wife uses twice as much.

Orange wedges-SOLD-(click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is a painting of two orange wedges sitting in the sun. It's a little unusual as far as format (4x8), which made it a nice change from the 5x7's I've been doing. I tried to keep this a little more painterly, and with constant care, I'm going to try to paint all my pieces in this fashion. There's a daily painter named Julian, that lives and paints in France, whos still lifes are amazing. I'm trying to edge closer to what he does, away from what my illustration tendencies have kept me. I have a long way to go yet. Next step...thicker paint. There's a link to Julian's blog on the right side bar. Julian Merrow-Smith.

Tomatoes in the Sun-SOLD-(Click here to see auction results)

SOLD

This painting reminds me of my mom's house. She always had tomatoes ripening on the kitchen window sill.

Four berries-SOLD-(Click here to see auction results on ebay)

SOLD

This is my second attempt at painting strawberries. They're tough. You want to put in the details of the seeds and small highlights on the skin, but the more you render them into the image, worse it looks as a painting. That's the lesson I'm trying to learn as a painter. QUIT BEING AN ILLUSTRATOR!!!

Watermelon wedge-SOLD-(click to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is my first of 6 paintings in a row that I'm putting up for auction on eBay. This watermelon wedge won't be active until 9pm central tonight, on the 12th. We bought a bunch of fruit and vegetables for me to paint. It was either that or start buying another wardrobe. Last month I was painting eclairs and cherry pie, and it shows. I never did paint the apple pie and ice cream set-up, but we did eat it.

Lemons and orange (SOLD)

SOLD

This is a similar setup of a previous piece I put up for auction. I wanted to leave the first lemon painting in California for my daughter-in-law Katie, but liked the looseness so much, that I wanted to show and sell it. Well this one isn't so loose, and may not have the same appeal, so Katie may get some lemons afterall.

Strawberries #1-SOLD-(click to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is a 5"x 7" oil of a group of strawberries, one with whipped cream. I've been looking for something different to paint, so Kerry and I took a trip to the produce department on Sunday. Looks like I'm going to be a vegetarian for a while. Next up...Watermelon!

Crashing Surf (AVAILABLE)

AVAILABLE ON THIS BLOG for minimum $100.00

This is a 5x7 oil on panel of a shot I took while painting at Point Loma. I'm trying to capture the effect of the place as quickly and accurately as possible, without trying to render the detail of the rocks and water. I'm getting closer to the feel I'm looking for. It will take pracice. This one was painted while looking at my monitor, so I didn't have the accurate color in the lit areas, or the shadows at the same time. You can't trust the camera to give you the same relatationship to those two elements. I reworked parts of this piece while it was up for auction. The image above is what it looks like now, but if you click the title (bid button), you'll see what it used to look like

Peeled Orange-SOLD-(click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This is a return to the first subject I painted for sale on eBay. Oranges have alot of different textures to concentrate on, from the juicy meat of the center to the bitter yellow matter inside the peel. Create that in dramatic light, and you should have a nice still life.

La Jolla #5 (AVAILABLE)

AVAILABLE ON THIS BLOG PAGE FOR $100 MINIMUM

This is a second plein air I painted on the second time Dave and I went to La Jolla to paint again. We actually passed up a chance to paint in Elfin Forrest, an area near Esondido that turned out to be a great canyon setting with a running creek. Can't wait to get into some of that photoshoot.

Desert painting-SOLD-(click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD

This another scene from the desert near Phoenix. I'm in the midwest but for some reason I hate green. I'll get some midwest painting in here eventually, but with all the great golds and violet cliffs of the desert, who has time.

Tomatoes-SOLD- (click here to see auction results)

SOLD
Here's my latest attempt at fruit. That was an interesting argument in our family once upon a time. I don't know how it's classified as that way. Maybe because it's red and kinda looks like an apple. Just kidding.

Superstition #4 (AVAILABLE)

AVAILABLE ON THIS BLOG FOR minimum $100.00 bid


This is another desert piece, also 5x7 inches, that is of the same Superstition Mountain. I may never run out of Superstition paintings!

Superstition #3 (SOLD)

AVAILABLE ON THIS BLOG FOR minimum $100.00 bid


This painting is a 5x7 miniature of Superstition Mountain, east of Phoenix Arizona, that has been a regular source of inspiration to me. The jagged profile, the raking light, and odd color of the desert in the late afternoon is a neverending fascination for me.

Radishes-SOLD-(click here to see auction results on eBay)

SOLD
This is my attempt to create an intersting composition out of a vegetable most people can't stand. I worried about them looking like beets.