An Orange Pepper

An Orange Pepper, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Ellicott City, Maryland

Today I finished carving out a very small study of an orange pepper. The luminosity of this subject played a big part in understanding the gradations from light to dark, and the amount of light that played through the pepper was almost stronger than the light that was reflected in the sheen of the surface.

A Tomato

A Tomato, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Elkridge, Maryland

I carved out a small study of a single vine ripened tomato. There is a different quality to the sheen and shine of the skin of a tomato. Maybe it has something to do with the slightly translucent quality of the surface, although when I think about it, those waxed and genetically superior monster tomatoes probably have a much deeper gloss. I think I'll just stick to these less-than-perfect specimens for the real challenge.

A Sliced Avocado

A Sliced Avocado, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Greenwich, Connecticut

I sliced open an avocado, and found a whole new course of study in a new range of color and texture. For some reason I always feel so humbled by a sliced avocado, something about the crisp edges and distinct shapes.

One Red Pepper

One Red Pepper, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Arlington, Virginia

Today I finished a study of a bright red pepper. I'm intrigued by this new world of shine and reflection, and I'm continuing to have some good painting experiences with the subject of peppers.

A Yellow Onion

A Yellow Onion, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Fairfax, Virginia

Just to study every shade of brown and yellow and gold, I carved out a small study of a single onion. This piece started to get fairly heavy and thick, reminding me of the big paintings I used to do so long ago.

A Green Pepper

A Green Pepper, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Greenwich, Connecticut

Today I put the finishing touches on a study of a single green pepper. I'm continuing my education in the study of shiny surfaces, and I think I'm finally starting to learn a few things.

Three Strawberries

Three Strawberries, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Richmond, Virginia

I decided that if three strawberries were going to squeeze together onto a 5 by 7 inch panel, they had to all cooperate and get along. One turned this way and backed up against the other, which patiently stayed in place while the last one huddled in close for the picture. Ok, everyone smile...

A Large White Kettle

A Large White Kettle, 11" by 14", oil on linen board, October 2008
Private collection, Saskatchewan, Canada

Part of my time in art school was spent living in a large unheated warehouse, in the seedy North Avenue area of Baltimore. For three years the only heat I had was from a large upright woodstove. To keep the air from getting too dry, I'd keep a kettle of water simmering on top. For three winters I would stare at this kettle, waiting for the stove to warm up. Even during the warmer months, people would stand around the woodstove in the morning while talking, just by habit, and it was always a nice place to set a cup of coffee. Somehow I managed to hang onto this big white kettle, although 25 years later the bottom has a few rusty holes, and it would never hold water again. My painting teacher once told me I didn't have a good sense of middle grey, so I hammered away at a study of this kettle, and then presented it to the class. I learned a new appreciation of silence that day.

Two Bartlett Pears

Two Bartlett Pears, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Saskatchewan, Canada

While the day grew dark and the rain fell in sheets, I carved out a small study of two yellow Bartlett pears. As fast as they turned from green to yellow over the past two days, I'm sure they continued to grow even more yellow in the few hours I was painting them. I think I'm just starting to understand the nature of shine.

A Pomegranate

A Pomegranate, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Wayne, Pennsylvania

And then I carved out a small study of a single pomegranate. I learned some things, but I'm not sure if I nailed it down. I'll try again another time.

A Porcelain Pitcher

A Porcelain Pitcher, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Greenwich, Connecticut

I finished a nice little study of a small round porcelain creamer. I could easily get caught up in the subtle transitions and hyper realism when I study such shiny surfaces.

Three More Blueberries

Three Blueberries, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I carved out yet another small study of three blueberries. I keep learning some big things while studying some of the smallest things. Blue and crimson are bathed in the warmth of autumn sunlight, so a great triangle of primary colors pivots on a constantly moving balance point.

Two Red Pears

Two Red Pears, 11" by 14", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Saskatchewan, Canada

Just as they were about to turn into dog treats, I decided to carve out a larger study of two of these red pears. Something about the shape of a pear that is so comforting...if only they were larger, and warm, and could cook. I'm just kidding, they're just right the size they are.

A Tabasco Sauce Bottle

A Tabasco Sauce Bottle, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Washington, DC

Today I revisited a Tabasco sauce bottle. I allowed it to remain fairly rough and carved out, just to capture the most basic elements of this iconic package.

A Salt Shaker

A Salt Shaker, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Fairfax, Virginia

Today I carved out a small study of a salt shaker. It didn't occur to me how much this would be a study of nothing but salt, glass and chrome.

One Yellow Apple

One Yellow Apple, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Assorted piles of apples and peppers and dead sunflowers were left over from the weekend, so I carved out a small study of a yellow apple. It's an almost neon yellow that glows from the darkness of the late afternoon light.

A Red Pear

A Red Pear, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

I carved out a little study of a single red pear. Red barely plays into this piece, as the form is so much more a composite of the reflections than anything else. This may be a nice subject to study larger. Always larger...

Habanero Chili

A Habanero Chili, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Today I carved out a small study of a single habanero chili pepper. I was very challenged by the luminosity of the body of the pepper, while capturing a believable sense of light and gloss. I'm not sure how successful I was, and I'll probably revisit this subject again to see if I can't nail it down for once and for all. Shazam.

A Pumpkin

A Pumpkin, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

Today I carved out a small study of a single pumpkin. It's a strange feeling, when I work on a new subject, when I try to see it as a composite of color decisions. It barely feels like a painting, but more like nothing more than a picture of a pumpkin. Maybe I'm just not able to get enough distance from the painting, maybe my studio isn't big enough. Maybe I need to view it through a mirror, or maybe I need to stand on my head, or maybe I need Frank to look at it and tell me it's really a painting that I did of a pumpkin, and not an actual pumpkin. Of course he only sees the actual pumpkin as quite a tempting new toy.

A Sliced Mushroom

A Sliced Mushroom, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

Just when I thought I would never paint certain things, like....for instance, a mushroom, I find myself carving out a small study of a sliced mushroom. Suddenly I discover a whole new course of study in something as profoundly simple as a single mushroom.

A Tangerine

A Tangerine, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

And then I immediately carved out a nice little study of a single tangerine. For some reason I've always avoided attempting to capture citrus fruits. I'm not sure if it's something about the shine or the surface, but I've always felt that I was lacking in capturing anything from nothing but reflections. So, it seems I'm learning something new, again.

Two Strawberries

Two Strawberries, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, San Pedro, California

I carved out a small study of two strawberries. Something about this is very exciting, and I'm thinking about studying this subject on a much larger format.

A Sliced Lime

A Sliced Lime, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

I decided to carve out a small study of a sliced lime. It's a completely different green than I typically encounter on apples, so I'm stuck having to think my way through it all over again.

Three Blueberries

Three Blueberries, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, Alexandria, Virginia

Today I carved out a small study of three blueberries. It's all so fun, and blue. If blueberries came in larger sizes, say, the size of pomegranates, I could really have some fun.

A Prune Plum

A Prune Plum, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, Saskatchewan, Canada

I'm almost back to work again with a small study of a single prune plum.