Apple Dots

Some days I just want to do something different. I've been thinking about painting an apple for days, but wondered how to set up the still life. Then it occurred to me to paint the apple...and that's all. The apples in my fruit basket were such great colors of greens and reds and everything in between, but as soon as I noticed that they were covered with dots all by themselves, I knew they were a great subject for the day. So here's my apple, dotted because it wanted to be. (And I added a few more).

Apple Dots

acrylic on 3/4" wrapped canvas, sides painted to match the front

© Dorothy Jenson 2014

That Looks Interesting...

Today's photo reference for my painting comes from a delightful woman named Kym Backland. She has watched a family of raccoons grow up in her backyard and took several fun photos along the way. I asked if she would allow me to use a few for reference for my little paintings and she was happy to allow me to do that. Hooray!

This little guy (or girl?) might be stuck up in the tree branches, or maybe it's just a lookout place for the local happenings. I choose to think the latter. :)

 

"That Looks Interesting..."

6 x 6 " acrylic on wrapped canvas, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

Spring Robin

The other fun robins I have done have been English Robins. Could you tell? Our American Robins have a complete red breast, but the English cousins only have half of their breast red. Today's robin is definitely an American, and here he is perched on a newly blossomed tree branch.

Spring Robin

6 x 6 acrylic on wrapped canvas, ©Dorothy Jenson 2014

Meow Mix

Today's little kitty was fun to paint. I used lots of different colors in the fur, and while I was painting I wondered what I would call it. The titles of my work often come to mind while I am working, and this one was no exception. Due to the multitude of colors, the phrase "Meow Mix" kept coming to mind. I wanted to dismiss it because it's a cat food brand name, but the name persisted, so finally I gave in.

"Meow Mix", 6 x 6 acrylic on wrapped canvas

Catching Up

Computer issues are not fun! And when there are "issues", blogging always falls to the bottom of the list of things to take care of. Well, let's see if I can get caught up, because I am hoping that the problems are now behind me!

The McLoughlin House and Barclay House in Oregon City are doing an open house and Willamette Falls Art show this weekend. I have four paintings donated for the show. Two are pastels that I did last year and then I painted two acrylics. The first one I posted here last week, and here is the second one.

"Willamette Falls Rainbow", 8 x 10 acrylic

I don't have many tulips at my house because the deer come up out of the woods and eat them. These two blossoms were hiding out in the front yard, between two evergreen shrubs, so I plucked them before the deer could see them. They have had a lovely view of my backyard from the kitchen window sill. I noticed one day that the petals were almost ready to fall off, and thought maybe I should do a quick painting of them. Sure enough, the next day the petals gave up and left the stem.

"One More Day", 6 x 6 acrylic

Villager Jim is an amazing rural photographer in England. I found him through his photos on Facebook. One day I send him a message about the small works I do, with links to my gallery, and asked for permission to use some of his photos for my paintings. He very sweetly gave his okay, and loves to see each new work that I do from his collection. He says this is a Goldfinch, but it doesn't look like the ones I see around here! However, I gave him credit in the title.

"Jim's Goldfinch", 6 x 6 acrylic

And finally, here is the one I did only today. The photo reference is from the Paint My Photo website. I love the playfulness of these two otters. They remind me of all little boys (and girls!) who get near water and immediately want to throw rocks. I can just imagine the one saying to the other: "How far do you think I can chunk this rock?", and his companion is ready to keep his eye on it. :)

"Skipping Rocks", 6 x 6 acrylic

Boats at Willamette Falls

Last week I walked onto the OC bridge to take reference photos of Willamette Falls, and here's one of the first paintings from those images. I was pleased to see a couple boaters in the water, so of course I kept them in. In this painting, the foreground boat looks a little dark, but it's not really that dark in the painting....it just turned out that way in the picture, and I didn't want to go back for a "do over". Lazy of me, I know.

Boats at Willamette Falls, 10 x 10 acrylic on wrapped canvas. @Dorothy Jenson 2014

Excuse Me?

I've been away from my studio for so long! Now that we are home from our travels to South Korea to visit family, it's time to get painting again! I will be working on a new painting of Willamette Falls this week, but since I'm feeling a little "rusty", I decided to do this bird with attitude to warm up a little bit. Isn't this guy something? I felt his scrutinizing gaze the whole time I was painting. Ha ha!

 

 

"Excuse Me?", acrylic on 6 x 6 wrapped canvas @ Dorothy Jenson