Black Grapes, Original Oil Painting Still Life, 10x8

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I had to get with it and paint the grapes again before they shriveled into raisins. This is another small painting, oil on canvas panel, 10x8 inches.

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5-Day Challenge, Day 5: Big Ole Vidalia, 5x7 Oil on Panel

This is the final day of the challenge to paint a small artwork in 20 minutes. So happy that #ArtWorkLivingChallenge has done this online exercise. People did some beautiful things in a measly 20 minutes! It makes you have to plan and think, instead of just jumping in. Thanks, Mary Gilkerson.

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More 50-Stroke Paintings

 I did more paintings in only 50 strokes, as it is great practice for me since I tend to overdo details if I'm enjoying myself too much. It takes a great deal of concentration to limit my strokes and still arrive at a recognizable result.

I highly recommend this exercise for any painter who wants to simplify.

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Onions, 7x5 Oil Painting on Canvas Panel Still Life

 $75

The Challenge for this month for the Pieces of 8 group is to paint a painting in 50 strokes. I've been enjoying that exercise. Below is my 50-stroke painting of these onions, smudges and all. I decided to refine it to a finished painting. Which one do you like best? I think the 50-stroke one is more exciting. 

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A Gift from the Sea, 8x10 Original Oil Painting Still Life Coastal Decor

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When I lived in Bermuda I collected antique bottles. In the old days Bermudians used to dispose of bottles by tossing them into the sea or burying them in shallow holes. It's great sport there to dive for bottles, and I lucked out finding this one, a Cobalt Blue Castor Oil bottle, pre-1900s.

This is oil paint on a metallic gold background.

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Blueberries, Small Daily Painting of Fruit Original Oil on Canvas

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This little painting is a favorite of mine, not only for the colors, but for the fact that it is the sum total of my blueberry crop. My little bush produced these berries then withered and died. I know blueberries can be grown in Florida, but they must be a certain kind, and maybe they are not salt-tolerant; maybe I'm too close to the beach. Just another gardening experiment gone awry.

Speaking of gardening, would someone please tell my weeds it's winter? As the planet gets warmer many of my weeds continue to grow when they should just hibernate. Could I please get a weeding break? On the plus side, I have flowers blooming in the middle of winter. 

Red Shoe, 8x10 Collage on Canvas

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This collage is made of torn magazines; can you tell Derek Gores was my teacher? Collage is a lot of fun, and a lot of work. It is very messy and challenging, but I really like the results.

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Succulent, 4x5 Daily Painting, Oil Painting on Canvas

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This is a very old painting, circa 2009, just a quick little miniature. I was reminded of it when my niece, who has a wonderful nursery, brought me a lot of very beautiful and unusual succulents at Christmas. A lot of them have fantastical blooms, so I'll be glad to see those when Spring arrives. Below is a picture of one of her Huernias, a genus from Eastern and Southern Africa. This one is called Elvis. See more at Paradise Found Nursery online.

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SALE: 20% Off, Oil Painting Still Life, Radish Bouquet, 6x8 Oil on Canvas Panel

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I'm offering this little still life for 20 percent off and free shipping. I love free shipping, don't you? Most of my original oil paintings are on sale until December 20. 

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The Old Folks, 5x7 Oil Painting on Canvas

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These little people were gifts from my son when he was stationed in Okinawa. They are two of my favorite things, and so cleverly done. I really enjoyed painting them. 

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Watermelon and Iced Tea, 14x11, Collage on Canvas Panel Still Life

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This collage is made entirely of paper torn from magazines and fixed to a canvas panel with liquid medium. It makes me think of a summertime barbecue. I must thank my friend Fay Picardi for finding all those beautiful pink pictures in a fashion magazine. They were perfect for my watermelon.

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Onion, 5x7 Oil on Board, Still Life Daily Painting

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Sometimes the simplest things are my favorites. I like the brushstrokes and the colors in this little painting.

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Apple on Pink, 6x8 Original Oil Painting Still Life

The Pieces of 8 painting group was practicing painting different objects on different-colored surfaces, and I like this apple enough to finish it; however, I didn't like the background color at all. Since I am busy with my current job, I haven't had time to paint, so I took the above picture, then used Photoshop to try out different background colors. I like this one (below) a lot better than that background color above.

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White Pitcher, 11x14 Still Life Oil on Canvas Panel

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I'm trying to be more colorful with still life painting, especially when there is a subject with a lot of one color, as in this white pitcher. I had to depend on shadows and reflections for added interest.

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Blue Pitcher, 11x14 Oil on Canvas Panel Still Life

Donna, Carol and I just returned from the Elio Camacho workshop on Amelia Island, and it was exhausting and fulfilling. Elio is a master of color and kind critiques. We had five days of demos, lectures, intense painting, and shrimp. This was my first effort:

Once again, we ate shrimp at every meal. Fried shrimp, shrimp salad, shrimp chowder, shrimp tacos...I sound like Bubba in "Forrest Gump." Our favorite place was Timoti's, where they displayed this sign:

Now it's time to start preparing for Thanksgiving. Back to the real world!

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Still Life, Radish Bouquet, 8x6 Oil on Canvas Panel

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This would be such a nice picture in a kitchen. Radishes are such colorful vegetables, they beg to be painted. 

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Purple Posies, 5x7 Oil on Panel Floral Painting

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After my last painting, which was quite complicated, I felt the need for a painting that freed me up, so I selected this from my bouquet. This is a very "floral" week, with Mother's Day flowers and visiting Bok Tower Thursday with the Pieces of Eight painting group. I grew up a few miles from Bok Tower, and when I was young the Big Three tourist attractions were Silver Springs, Cypress Gardens and Bok Tower. Of course, Disney changed all that. Bok Tower has no thrill rides, just beautiful gardens and a gorgeous building. Below are a few pictures from our very pleasant day.

The postcard view 

The Golden Door

The last Spring blooms of the azaleas

Window on the Pond

Garlic, 5x7 Oil on Wood Panel, Still Life

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If I wrote a song about my favorite things, garlic would be near the top of the list. It must be my Mediterranean blood. It's healthy too, which I tell myself when eating delicious garlic knots at my favorite Italian restaurant. I like painting garlic and onions, because they are so layered and interesting. 

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Red Grapes, 5x7 Still Life Oil on Panel

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This Spring weather just makes me want to be outside. I think it's time for some plein air painting. We don't have a very extreme "change of season" here in Florida, but my yard certainly comes to life. I have one Frangipani tree with leaves and no blooms, and a huge one with blooms and no leaves. Very odd. 

Been thinking of new challenges for the Pieces of 8 painting group. How about ten-minute plein air paintings? That sounds hard. Just what we need!

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Ten-Minute Paintings, 5x7 Oil on Panel Still Life

I've been doing lots of practice paintings to loosen up; first, 30-minute ones, then ten-minute ones. As I previously mentioned, my painting group did ten-minute exercises the last time we met, and it was a lot of fun.

I also did a yellow pear, and I'm not showing that one. Ick. It was, however, delicious.

Carmen