Friday 20th February 2009 - still life again

In the background of one of the Richard Scmidt still lifes that Ray showed me were a couple of paintings and drawings and I got the idea of putting one of my own paintings in the composition.

I was back on duty at the gallery on Friday so i set up the still life as before (without the rose - it was pretty wilted) and took a painting off my display wall. I chose the one that looked the most like Taos to continue the theme of art and Taos. I like that my signature is on the painting in the painting rather than in the corner.

Thanks Ray, I think it is a better painting - tell me what you think!

Still Life with Champagne - oil on canvas - 20 x 20" - not for sale until after the competition.

Tuesday 17th February 2009 - wine still life

Later in the year we have an event called "The Toast of Taos" which promotes local wine growers and local artists. Every year they run a painting competition for the image they use on the publicity. I decided to enter this year for the first time.

I was on duty in the gallery on Tuesday and set up this still life to work from. I chose a romantic theme, a New mexico "champagne" called Gruet (yum!) and flutes and a red rose that was still lovely left over from Valentine's Day.

4 - 6th August - Dorothy Lampl's Workshop

I attended Dorothy's Still Life Workshop last Summer and learned a lot, so I was excited about doing it again this year. As well as being one of my favourite painters, Dorothy is one of my favourite people too!



We started off with a single piece of fruit or vegetable and worked up to arrangements of objects.



Practising still life painting is a wonderful way of improving painting technique for all other kinds of painting.



I really wanted to improve my flower painting and brought these white lilies with me to paint. Dorothy said I had picked about the hardest flower to paint! I really enjoyed catching the different colours in the white of the petals.



onion - 5 x 7" - oil on board - sold
grapefruit - 5 x 7" - oil on board - sold
Still Life with a Plum - 12 x 12" -oil on gesso-board - $575
White Lily on Dark - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas-board - $750
White Lily on Mid-tone - 12 x 12" - oil on gesso-board - $750