A Few Watercolor Paintings

I decided to try out watercolor painting....sold one already (the Cherry Pie) to a fb friend from my hometown. Still working on skills and finding the right products and how to stretch paper properly!

Each one of these is done on a 6x9"piece of Arches 140 lb paper. These were all 2nd tries. I'm pretty happy with them so far.

Red Onion, Chili Pepper, and Carrot painting

Second of 4 vegetable still lifes I'm working on. Acrylic paint on a 12 x 16" stretched canvas.

Eggplant, Mushrooms, and Chives Painting

First one of 4 vegetable still lifes I'm working on. Going to enter it in the Erie County Fair.

12x16" on stretched canvas, acrylic paint with gloss.

Birthday Cake Still Life Painting

I made this cake for my boyfriend's birthday (50) and within 24 hours it became a model for a still life painting! 

It's acrylic paint on a 12" square stretched canvas. Done in one afternoon! I like doing quick paintings--leaves less time for mulling it over, artist block, and negative thinking to creep in. Just set it up and DO it! That's what works for me lately. 

Rice and Beans Still Life Painting

Another still life done at my kitchen table. I like doing this "pairs from the pantry" art!

Acrylic paint on a stretched canvas, 12" square. Textured with gesso then painted from life.

Peanut Butter and Fluff Still Life Painting

I've been so depressed for a week now. None of my paintings I started in the last few months are coming out. Seven failures. I felt like giving up. I wrote some not so positive sentences in my journal and then wandered into the kitchen to make a list and go shopping.

But I'm too depressed to go anywhere. I stood there looking at the loaf of bread on the counter. I opened the lazy susan. There was a jar of peanut butter and the fluff to go with it, sitting there, looking quite attractive. The next thing I knew I was setting up a small still life on the table and painting...and this little 9 x 12 acrylic still life was the result!

I took photos every 20 minutes to see how much progress I made in intervals. I did it in one sitting too! I've also never "painted from life." I'm glad to see I can do it! And I love this messier style. Total time was 2.5 hrs. Yay, I'm out of my slump.

Changed the muddy background.

Yellow Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles

 I guess it's kind of self-explanatory. Another bigger-than-life-size dessert painting. Acrylic on 18 x 24" stretched canvas. Makes me hungry...but I'm counting calories! 

Closer-up

Chocolate Cake!!!

Acrylic on stretched canvas. 18x24". First time I'm painting "white" with color in the shading and highlighting rather than just brown. Probably could've done it with more intensity, but I'm just getting started. Next, I have to finish my pair of yellow cupcakes!

 Close-up