![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdA-IKdmCEvbyE2vviazQ78dvxYSAG60m2v-RIiHAgrsi0LNblBzEaPVYD20j5UsDcj9jLK2GRdQo9ppZwH0iBGsANg8-DLsr0jmfA8wkiI_jRTcesYpv0mErggWYvje0WvDcJDX7hsiPt/s400/Between+the+Vines.med.JPG)
Between the Vines, 6 x 6
sold
My last post drew votes from both camps: about half of you liked the yellow and green version of the foreground, and about half liked it all green. I think they both work, though I tend to agree that I like the contrast that both the colors provide.
Today's painting is from a snapshot taken at
Weisinger's Winery in Oregon. I'll be up there in August for a show (thank you, John!), and will try to play around with some vineyard subject matter between now and then. I like the way this one turned out, but have a tiny issue with the long green diagonal brushstroke--think I could've broken that up.
I also wanted to show anyone who ever washes brushes the way I do (Master's Soap and warm water) something I've found to press my brushes into besides my hand (since keeping paint off your skin is a good practice). I recently found these little green silicone things called "poachpods." They're perfect to hold in my hand and press the soapy brush into as I wash most of the paint out. (I believe they're intended to poach eggs in....must try that with another set!) I do the last cleaning bit with my fingers, but when the paint is really coming off initially, I keep one of these poachpods in my hand instead of rubbing all that paint into my skin. Seems to work for me now. I know
Carol Marine at one point was using a tennis ball cut in half in the same manner. Haven't tried that yet because I found these and they're so easy to keep clean and I can still feel the brush in my hand because the pods are so thin and flexible.
I put the (size 4) brushes in the image for scale reference.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkph_W5XlZEy7-1W0iResVwR74zB41ZsXFefIE4U0adMCOX0qakAQyIopyCJYPDl_p7l2vroL-HKA7wvu-6vV5t6CXpmj_5VKOd6pYbDtZMlrZaw3iIq1DkzlZS-QFJeKAkWVVl2rcbCbW/s400/Image+of+poachpods.jpg)
-julie davis