Christmas festivities out of the way and the family are all back in their own homes so I was able to get back to the easel with some of the seasonal fruit - clementines again. There is something relaxing about working on these small pieces, I'm beginning to understand why the 'painting a day' movement gained momentum. 'Painting a Day' introduced me to the work of Duane Keiser. Consequently I've been looking at a variety of other exponents and enjoying what I see. It was the Julian Merrow-Smith site that first caught my attention but I've now had the chance to explore quite a few more. Mention of Carol Marine by my blogger friend, Linda Roth, got me into discovering the Daily Paintworks site (Carol Marine and her husband run it) and the subscribers who post there - maybe a personal challenge for the future?

So here is today's effort.

Clementines and bowl - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"

Plums

I'm really in the zone as far as these small still life paintings are concerned. Today I had a real feeling that I was starting to concentrate and see shapes in a way that I wasn't just a week ago. Daily work has obvious benefits and I am determined to try to become more disciplined in painting/ drawing on a daily basis.

Plums - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"

More Fruit

The kitchen is currently supplying my painting inspiration and subject matter for the practise of my brush strokes. When the holiday period arrives I'm hoping to be able to sit down and review the learning that these small studies have provided.

Lemon and Clementine - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"

Raiding the Pantry

This last week the pantry has been the source of my inspiration. The weather here has got cold and my aching bones rebel at trying to paint outdoors which leaves the option of painting indoors and using whatever is available so the pantry gets raided.

Aubergine, chilli and shallot - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"

Shallots and Vase

Another little piece to keep the brushes working. These quick studies are a lot of fun and hopefully they are going to hone my technique.

Shallots and Vase - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"

More Fruit

Another quick painting before the fruit get consumed. It is such a pleasure to do these quick alla prima pieces. I think I might uses these as warm up pieces before working on more considered pieces.

Clementines and lemon - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"

Alla Prima Again

Another happy hour spent with the paints and a clementine. Main concern getting paint on the board and avoidance of too much time spent in attempting to refine it. 

Now that I've had a couple of hours to reflect on it there are myriad improvements that I could make but they will have to wait till next time. Issues that come to mind are variety of edges, stronger value changes and better colour mixing, particularly in the greens.

After that an apology for a less than perfect photograph, a bit too much reflection in the background darks being the main problem.

Tomorrow a variety of fruit!

Clementine - Oil on gesso board 7" x 5"