Watermelon

8x10 oil on gesso board

I walked by the mini seedless watermelons about thirty times on Saturday.  I have always wanted to paint one, I just was not sure I could do it.  The green stripes particularly worried me.  Now I'm glad I decided to try.  This painting did not take all that long (about 2 hours). I started by just getting the generall form and color variations on the watermelon while ignoring the stripes.  Once the watermelon started to get its form, I went in and added the stripes, which I think really bring out the roundness of the fruit.  From there, I went back in and darkened a few spots and lightened others. Finally, I added the background, starting with the base. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you like it.

Apple with Shadow

5x7 oil on clay panel

I decided to use my last clay panel.  Although I cheated.  I took a palette knife and coated the panel with a ton of gesso hoping it would stop the clay from sucking all the oil out of my paint.  It worked.  I really like the finished result of this one.  Originally, I started with two apples, with one on its side.  For whatever reason I just could not get it to work, so I wipped it and started over with just one apple.  Catching the color and tone variations across the top of the apple was really a challenge.  Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you like the painting.

Mango #2

5x7 oil on clay board

Finally yesterday I picked up my brushes again.  After nearly a month off from painting I was itching to get started again.  And I was also a little rusty in my technique.

I like this mango much better than the one I painted a few posts back.  However, this one was much more of a challenge.  I like to paint on small 5x7 gesso board panels.  However, I ran out a while back and all I have been able to find were larger 8x10 panels at the local art store, which is fine for a weekend painting but a bit large for a one-sitting painting on a week night (at least for me, because I paint slow).  Yesterday, my wife called me and said all the art store had in stock were 5x7 clay panels. I thought, what the heck, I will give it a try.

Well . . . the clay panels were unlike anything I have ever painted on.  It was almost like painting with acrylic.  The panel literally sucked the oil out of the paint within a few seconds, leaving only the dry chalky pigment behind. I had to constantly go back and open the paint back up. it was a challenge to say the least.  Despite the trouble, I am generally happy with this painting.  I like the colors and feel that the background is much better than on the last mango.  My Iphone picture really does not do it justice.  I have one clay panel left.  maybe I will give it another try.  Not sure yet.  Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you like the painting.  Comments (both good and bad) are welcome. Here is another larger picture

My Prolonged Absence

No no, I have not stopped painting.  I have just been crazy busy moving my wife and children from New Orleans to Shreveport, which has given me absolutely zero time to paint the last few weeks.  It has been one hurdle after another.  However, we are starting to get settled and I hope to steal some time this week to paint. I will try to post something as soon as I can.  Bear with me.  -Thanks  -Charlie