"Poinsettia II"

"Poinsettia II"

5"x7" oil on linen panel

$150

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Poinsettia II before final editing

Poinsettia Sketch

Here's another go at the Poinsettia. I've actually cut off the small red leaves in the middle on all of these, because otherwise the center is just a mass of red, and I like having some dark shapes there. Can you see the differences in the sketch and the final painting? The lifting of the bottom left leaf in the draft painting, made me want to lift the right one as well. Don't you think that helps the composition?  I've taken to going for a walk or doing something around the house for a few minutes and then coming back to check things before cleaning up. There's usually something I want to change!

Wouldn't this one make nice wood cut?

"Poinsettia I"

"Poinsettia I"

6"x8" oil on Raymar panel

$150
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Poinsettia I Draft

Before I made the final edits

Poinsettia Drawing

I couldn't let my effort on the Many Minute Poinsettias go to waste, so I got to work on a larger version, with no time limit, at a suitable aspect ratio for a future Holiday card. I'm surprised how hard these are to paint. I don't think it's the red, because I don't have any trouble with the multiple reds in apples. And I thought because of all the pointy leaves, it would be great from the composition perspective, lots of angles, etc. Perhaps the problem is I'm not looking at the flowers enough, concentrating too much on the painting. With the 10 minute version there was no time to fuss!

Here's great quote on this problem: "Look three times, think twice, paint once." - Robert Genn

"Double Mandarins"

"Double Mandarins"

5"x7" oil on linen panel

$150

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After painting the four 10 minute mandarins, I set up this pair connected by a bunch of leaves, and went for it. I think the practice on the four 10 minute guys made a huge difference in this painting. I'll try to take a picture with less glare in the daylight.