A Bad Start To The Week

 I cannot paint foliage correctly. This morning's work ended up being a muddy mess that I had to wipe off with a rag; I took a break and went back to it and painted the trees at upper left a luminous yellow color, but the actual scene has a lot of orange, red, and green. I just can't capture the mass of the boughs. Maybe I should leave it like this.

                               Resting Place,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view) 

Moving on, I worked the foreground on the painting below, and at least had some meager success there.

               Variations On A Theme 2a,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)   

Not Feeling It

 Is it the dog days of Summer? Or what? I just can't get a rhythm going. And God help me if I ever try to paint a piece that has a doily in it; a surefire energy drain.

               Chocolate Mousse,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view) 

Fixed It

 Went back last night and worked on this some more. The skin does look more believable now.

                Baby Needs Shoes,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view) 

Blazing Heat

 It is really hot out there today.  I managed to do some necessary yard work, and then came into a cool house to paint. Added more of the backlit yellow to the long landscape, and worked on "Baby's" legs, which now look a trifle too red to me. Maybe some glazes in lighter and cooler colors next session?

                 Resting Place,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view) 

                Baby Needs Shoes,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

 

I Knew I'd Screw This Up

 Okay, last week, when I was trying to decide whether to add the three green rings to the rim of the plate, I should have listened to my sensible self and left the painting alone. But no, I had to try for the impossible, and here's where it got me. Now I have to let it all dry and try again.

                 Six Layer Indulgence,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

Just Moving Forward

 Not a lot to say about this; just filling in some gas, adding color and dimension here and there. I'd like to get this painting finished before the end of the year, so am planning to concentrate on it more than usual.

                 Straight Ahead,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view) 

And So Another Week Begins

 Made several changes or additions to this one this morning, paying special attention to the way the color changes on the plate from one side to the other. 

Each one of these little dessert paintings brings back memories of meals with friends and my special person.

                 Pot De Creme,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

More Mulberry

 This painting beckoned to me again this morning, so I worked on the reflections on the window (including a red car) and the interior setting, which shows a brick wlll and some upturned restaurant chairs.

                                   

                  Untitled Mulberry Street,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

All In A Day's Work

I only painted small areas on the three dessert paintings today, did slightly more work on the interior space on the Mulberry Street piece.

 

                  Untitled Mulberry Street,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view) 

 

                    Creme Brulee,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)    

 

                    Cherry Cobbler,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)    

 

   

                    Six Layer Indulgence,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)    

 

Backlit Trees

 I'm trying very hard to make the tree branches look natural. I think of the way Peter Poskas paints them and try to keep that in mind; branches break off from the limbs at odd angles sometimes. Besides the careful drawing of the branches, though, there was the fun of painting in the light, bright yellow leaf clusters. This one is beginning to shape up.

                    Resting Place,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)    

 

Polishing Off Another Dessert

 Finished! Now both of the Hot Fudge Sundae pieces can be shown together.

                    Hot Fudge Sundae I,  © 2021 (click on image for larger view)     

Summertime

 It's hot out, so we are feeling lazy, and the music of Ralph Vaughn Williams is the perfect background. I'm listening to The Lark Ascending right now. If the painting below ever needed to be shown in concert with an orchestral piece, that would be the one.

                    Variations On A Theme 2a,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)    

Back Again

 Took yesterday off, since it was a legal holiday. Today, back at the easel, but this is the only thing I felt like working on.

                    Straight Ahead,  © 2021, work in progress (click on image for larger view)