making applesauce

 More apples - this one started rotting but I will spare you the sight

An Apple a Day

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away what does 2 apples do?  I like the value better but  since I rushed the colour version.  I wanted to get to the dog.

I received a phone call from my daughter saying that she wants the black and white Mully version, yet I felt I must paint this dog.  Here is version two in colour.  I started very loosely and I tried to put many layers of  glazes but that lasted about 20 minutes.  I just don't have the patience.  You can't fight who you are. I am gong to put it away for the night before I screw it up.

And speaking of screwing up, I accidentally dumped the palette on the floor but I didn't notice that paint also landed on my shoes and pants. I was cleaning up and spreading a mess at the same time.  There is a reason I don't work in a china shop

The yolks on you

 I am continuing withe the value studies but I just had to paint a dog.  I did the black and white today - 4 values and I will put the colour directly on top tomorrow.

My habit last week was to clean my studio at the end of the day.  I did it every night except for one.  I love coming down to a clean room in the morning.  My bucket is filled up and I have nothing to do but just jump in and paint.  The one time I didn't do it I felt a difference.

This week's habit is cleaning and closing the paint tubes right after I use them.  Sometimes I can't find the caps afterwards or you accidentally put something down on an open tube and it spills or it dries up.  This is a going to be very hard  for me to change, I have a tendency of leaving everything open but I am going to try.
"do or do not.... there is not try"
Oh shut up Yoda, I am going to try.

Everything goes better with garlic

 This is better than yesterday

Even the coloured one isn't bad.  I would work on it but the Oscars are calling me.

you’ll walk a little taller in some high heel shoes

John Cage: I have nothing to say and I am saying it.
I think I will let him have the last word

Salt and pepper

Tr

I  like the value study I don't like  the colour one but at least it looks like an orange slice or at least I think it does

First you see it now you don't

First it was a mug

Then it was a pear.















If you ask me why it changed, I will use the words of  Worf when asked why Klingons don't look like they do later - he replied "we don't talk about it".

I don't talk about either

Who moved my mug

Weird things are happening - yesterday the mug turned into a pear tonight it just moved over.  I have committed myself to doing this everyday for at least a month.  I was really busy today.  I did the value in the afternoon and I am pleased.  I really rushed the coloured version  at night and I think it shows.

I was at a painting group and our guest teacher - Rita Briansky - set up a still life go along with the  Peru exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine arts.  I know the painting, well to put it in artistic terms sucks and I am going to gesso over it. But what I find amazing is there is no white used at all.  I forgot to bring any and  I am sure (at least I assume so) someone would have lent me some, I took it as a challenge to not use any.  Two lemons in the front glow.  Hmm something to think about.

Soap thingy

 I have to work on the really darks, but I liked the coloured version

When we were forced to redo our bathroom it took on a retro look.  This soap dispenser fit in.  The problem is it gets stuck and I can't refill it. Then I buy a cheap soap dispenser but keep this more expensive one because I like it.  So if anyone wants to know why I have two soap thingys, that's why.

Good to the Last drop

This attempt was better.  Definite distinction between the dark and the light.  

The coloured version wasn't bad either.  I continuing fudging the date.

No bananas today

I am continuing with the value studies but I haven't posted them.  I am not completely satisfied actually I am not satisfied at all, but I'll keep doing them.  I am not getting the feeling of distinct values.  In the value version it looks like a pear I have not idea what it is in the coloured version.

I am fudging the dates so it looks like I am posting everyday.  What a fraud

If I had a hammer.....

"If  the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail" Abrahma Maslow

Well I started with a value painting, moved to colour and then added a pear.  There is always tomorrow

I am trying to make a new habit every week.  this week it is cleaning up my work space so it is ready in the morning.  I did start 2 days ago but it doesn't feel right starting something new on Friday, so I will continue it for the next week.
Getting ready for the next day means all paints put away, brushes washed, 3 boards gessoed and the water bucket refilled.  It means I have no reason not to jump in and paint the next day.

I Rely on the Kindness of Strangers

This is my value study

I think it is pretty good for 18 minutes work time
Then I came across Liz Wiltzen's value study

Hers made so much more sense then mine, a definite distinction between darks and lights   (I did ask permission to post it and this is what she said: "Hi Suzy, you are welcome to post my image if you link it back to my blog post with a name credit. Thanks so much for asking  :-)"
Doesn't she sound nice.  I would love to take a course with her but she says you have to go up stairs and tolerate a golden.  The stairs I can take but the golden might be a problem - who can paint when there is a golden to play with.

This is actual blog post
http://lizwiltzen.blogspot.ca/2011/10/still-life-value-study-6x6-demo-couple.html
I am not sure what she means by a name credit and I feel stupid asking so I am just going to say her name again "Liz Wiltzen" and here is her web site http://mountainartist.com/.  Doesn't mountain artist sound so much better then artist in the basement in the suburbs.
This is the value study without mixing.

 I like her method because it makes you determine where the lights are, the darks etc. which should make it easier to translate to colour

I then painted the subject with  the Zorn palette (yellow ochre, cadmium red, black and white)
Thank you Liz
I am going to do it again tomorrow