Sweet As Sugar

I love fresh strawberries.  Especially when they are ripened just right and sweet as sugar.  This is the latest in the Homer Laughlin Fiesta series.  This Vintage Fiesta sugar bowl was made between the years of 1936 and 1972.  The Roman style handles on the sugar bowl and finial knob on the lid are very strong identifiers for this piece.  I love the bright yellow contrast to the ripe Driscoll strawberries.

Strawberries and Lace

This is a recent painting.  I just realized it's been a while since I posted.. am planning to be better this year and want to thank those of you who have been faithful to check in.

I LOVE strawberries... they are one of my favorite fruits - especially when they are picked ripe.   Because they ripen so quickly, I took pictures of them (in this case, in my vintage Fiesta Cobalt blue comport dish) to make sure I could capture them at their peak.  I used a dummy set up in my still life box and relied on both the set up and the digital picture to get a "real" representation of color.   Hope you like it.  

Homer Laughlin's Vintage Fiesta Juice Tumblers

I'm working on another painting but this one was up in my studio and calling my name...  I had set it aside to study it - something just didn't look quite right to me.  I decided to pick it up this morning and finish it.

Another painting inspired by Homer Laughlin's Vintage Fiesta line, this is of three vintage juice tumblers produced only during the years of 1940-1943 as promotional pieces.   Shown here are the original Fiesta Yellow,  Uranium Red, and Turquoise Blue.   They are in remarkable condition.  I really enjoy having the Fiesta line of dishes around.  Their bright cheery colors make me smile.

Oil on linen canvas - 12x16 

A Fall Pear and Grapes

I'm getting back to painting after a very emotional few weeks.  My Mom passed away.  I'll miss her very much - I already do.

Painting is not only a passion for me - it's a major diversion.  I can sit at the easel for hours on end and completely loose track of time.    This used to scare me - but now,  I treasure the gift and embrase it.

I painted a carafe  with grapes a few weeks ago as a study and feel the grapes lacked depth.  I may rework them and post it later.

Here is my latest - A Fall Pear and Grapes.   I really liked the fact that this painting has all three types (and colors) of grapes...  I also love the new color I've added to my palette - Olive Green...  The pear and grapes are painted life size - canvas size is 8x10.

Three's a Pear

Bought some nice organic pears at Sprouts and decided to do something different in the still life box... used tissue paper to create a backdrop and table top... a different look, quite colorful!  Hope you like it.

Size 8 x 16 (14" x 22" custom framed)

See this at the Framers Gallery in Georgetown, Texas  

"Green Backs"

This is a cabbage (otherwise known as - Brassica oleracea) I recently purchased for some stir fry...  The background I used under the still life was a purple cloth I usually use as a back drop.

The name is reminiscent of the New Year's dinners my mother cooked as I was growing up...along with black eyed peas to bring good luck to the new year, you had to have greens to represent prosperity!

Canvas size 10x10

Half Full

Half Full is one of my tall juice glasses "half full" of refreshing cranberry juice.  It was painted for an art exhibit with a theme of "Perspectives".   I think everyone has at one time or another heard of the old saying... "Is your glass half empty or half full?"