Comfortable

Comfortable, 6 x 8 in.

Playing with greens and reds together in this one. I've got to work on getting better lighting for my still life set ups--I have light coming from several directions where I paint them, and haven't developed a good way to limit it to one yet, since I rarely painting still lifes.

-julie davis

Steadfast

Steadfast, 6 x 8 in.

And she liked it. My friend, from yesterday's post. :)

It's kind of fun doing some still lifes after working so intensely on landscape as the subject matter for the Davis Gallery show. It really allows one the time to carefully examine a form, much like the trees I so enjoy studying (except this fruit is much smaller, and the light on a still life doesn't change!)

-julie davis

Close

Close, 6 x 8 in.

I have a very dear friend to whom I owe some time--if she's reading this today, she'll know I'm talking to her. So, pal, what do you think of this one? :)

-julie davis

Pear Therapy

Pear Therapy, 9 x 12

This is one I found that I did recently that I hadn't posted. Initially, it was because I was having trouble photographing the darks--the reflections on them were impossible. I mostly solved that, then just forgot to post it. The pears reminded me of a bunch of girls talking, sharing, leaning on each other's shoulders as girlfriends do....

-here' a shout-out to all my girlfriends, near and far. You are all so supportive and amazing, and for you I am so very grateful!!

-julie davis

Gathered Together

Gathered Together-study, 6 x 8

I thought I'd post a little bit of the process today, primarily because I prefer the middle version here. I was experimenting with the foreground in the final product, and it just isn't what I'd envisioned. I did manage to take a few photos while I painted, however, and since I always find it interesting when others post "process" photos, I thought I'd share these.

-julie davis

Peared Up

Peared Up - study, 6 x 8

This is the last of the six I painted on Wednesday, and I made myself "finish" in 30 minutes, good or bad. Sometimes that builds in looseness and is successful, sometimes it's just disastrous. I definitely could've created a better painting, but playing with the gold tones and keeping it loose were my two goals, and I did accomplish that.

-julie davis

Among the Liliputians

Among the Liliputians, 6 x 8 - study

This arrangement at first seemed as if the cherries had a crush on the pear, then I thought it more looked like the pear was Gulliver and the cherries were the the citizens of Liliput.

Regardless, my apologies for the reflection on this photo--the darks never fail to give me issues. I take the photos outside in a spot I wouldn't think gets much reflection, but the darks almost always find it. Anyone have any tricks or suggestions, besides creating a photography studio in which to photograph?

-julie davis

One and a Half Pairs

One and a Half Pairs, 6 x 8

A rarity from me lately--a still life. I've promised a dear friend I'd do three still lifes for her and I'm way overdue. Way, way overdue. So I'll be warming up on still lifes here and there for a while.

Happy New Year to all of you--I'm sincerely grateful to have you all follow and subscribe to my blog--it's a tremendous source of encouragement and community for me. And today my husband and I celebrate 18 years of marriage--a perfect way to end the year. I wish you all the best in 2011!

-julie davis

Sweet and Sour

Sweet and Sour, 11 x 14

I just threw it all in today--lemons, pear, clementines. I experimented with a more neutral background--the girls think the darks are depressing.....ah, the family comments! I still find these days I often rush through. This week my intention is to focus more on methodically setting up my composition and really taking time with my painting.

-julie davis

Orange Crush

Orange Crush, 11 x 14

Originally this was "Pied Piper," but my daughters didn't get it--minor failure as a parent. So, "Orange Crush," being that much more familiar to them, was the winner. The crush clearly isn't mutual.

-julie davis

The Lecture

The Lecture, 11 x 14
sold

No matter whether it's a teacher or parent giving the lecture, the recipient's look is often the same. This pear just looked like it was giving some advice to some not-so-enthused clementines. (And, yes, this is a Taylor's Gold). I'm still enjoying the dark backgrounds, though this time I went with a lighter foreground--I'm finally feeling like I have it (almost) together again. :)

-julie davis

The Interloper

The Interloper, 11 x 14

The pear is the wolf in sheep's clothing--its stem looks ominous having said that. In this painting I was getting the last painting opportunity out of the Star Krimson pear before it became breakfast. My girls definitely preferred the Taylor's Gold over the Star Krimson.....much sweeter. I'll post the last of the Taylor's tomorrow.

Cousins

Cousins, 6 x 6

So many varieties of pears--these are the Star Krimson I posted the other day, and one Taylor's Gold--this morning's breakfast will be a taste test for my girls. As I've really been trying to paint larger even by a little in my daily studies, these 6 x 6's suddenly seem confining. I'm really a creature of habit and whatever I get used to I find comfortable--a good stretching of those boundaries is good for me.

-julie davis

Star Krimson

Star Krimson, 6 x 6

sold

Keeping it simple--a single star krimson pear--you have to love Central Market for the wide variety of fruits and veggies they offer. I'm looking forward to trying this one.

-julie davis

The Lineup

The Lineup, 8 x 16

Who among you has heard of a fruit called quince? I'm certain I'm showing my ignorance, but I picked some up at Central Market today because they looked appealing to paint--hopefully they're just as good to eat. I read that quince is most often used in jams because it can be bitter (the extra sugar masks the bitterness).

I'm still in a funk--struggling to find inspiration and struggling with painting itself. So, I end up doing random things, like this. Odd format, odd fruit, dark.....hopefully it will lead somewhere soon!

-julie davis

Simple Pears

Cold Shoulder, 6 x 6

sold

The more I learn, the more I realize that painters seem to like to paint pears. I'm guessing it's because they have an appealing shape, a variety of color, and make a decent snack after you finish painting them! When I arranged these, their stems were pointing in a direction that seemed to reveal one of them giving the other two the cold shoulder, thus the name. I like naming a painting before I paint it if I can, that way I keep the concept in mind while I paint. It gives it a personality from the "ground up."