Art Tells a Story - Seeing Red

It’s amazing how a color can make a difference in the mood of a painting. In my painting “Seeing Red”, the entire mood would change if I had put this still life onto a light background and it would tell an entirely different story. It would also send a different vibe if the glass in the lantern were clear and the rose was pink or yellow. It might still send a bit of a moody feel with the dark background but it wouldn’t have as much drama as the red presents it with. Do you read a story when you look at artwork? You may not always sense the same thing that the artist did when they created the piece, but each painting will still begin to tell you a story when you view it. In still life I like to imagine who would be the owner of the objects and what was taking place when they were all put together. In my painting “Seeing Red” one could wonder where the items are and why are they placed there? Are they preparing to light the lantern or has the event that was to take place been abandoned? What story comes to mind for you?

Layers of Summer - A Monochromatic Still Life

One of my students brought me a purple Mason jar and asked me to use it in a still life painting. I had never seen a purple mason jar before and I don’t work in purple very often so it was intriguing for me to use it. My first thought was to look at the complimentary color of yellow on the color wheel to set up the still life. So I thought about yellow pears but it did not seem delicate enough. So in order to keep the transparent sense of glass I decided to stay with a monochromatic choice and put some plums along with the jar. Then the addition of a white cloth or doily with the jar would help the purple colors to really stand out and create a crisp summer feeling to the painting. (And notice that the lace has summer daisies embroidered into it…wink.) Layering the colors creates depth in the still life elements. There are several wonderful cool colors used; blues, red violet, magenta, and dioxazine purple.

Summer is such a joyful time and this painting is a reminder of the lightheartedness of the season.

Sweet Summer Plums - 11 x 14 Acrylic painting by Tracy - UPDATE: this painting won an award at the NAA Fall Members Show “Best in Excellence of Craft”

Coffee at Panera

I was sitting in Panera having coffee with two friends and kept glancing back at the bagels. There was such a great variety (the vanilla cherry are just delicious) and with their bumps and toppings I couldn’t resist. Once the time to leave came, I went to the counter and ordered a half dozen to take home. I know its odd but everything is about painting for me. I bought the bagels not because I wanted to eat them but because I wanted to paint them. I can’t come home from a store or a flea market or a restaurant without something that I want to use in a painting. It’s amazing how being an artist makes me so aware of everything in a different way. Although, honestly, eating my still life subjects is a bonus of buying food for painting. So before I ate them, I arranged the bagels in a basket with a dish towel and this was the result.

Pink Gerbera Realism Painting

This painting took me a while to finish. I had started it before I left for vacation and then when I finally got back into the studio I worked on it for almost a week. Every time I thought it was done, I could see more and more to work on. It was one of those that I could probably work on forever. Don’t you love the way glass looks against black backgrounds? and especially the way it reflects on a black surface.

Turquoise Sheer Scarf

I love this scarf because it was my mothers. She passed away six years ago and this was one of the things that I kept from her closet. Apparently I got my love for turquoise from her.

She was a great supporter of my art. She provided me with everything that I needed as I grew through all my stages of art supplies. She took me to craft classes and was the one that encouraged me to go to Art College. She was so happy when I brought art back into my life after taking some time away.

In honor of my Mom :) Tracy

“Sheer Stripes” 11 x 14 Acrylic on Panel

NAA Winter Juried Show

Two of my paintings are on display at the Newburyport Art Association Winter Juried Show from February 8 - March 2.

Quart Bottle and Fragrance of Peony

This is an old fashioned milk bottle that i picked up at a yard sale in Pennsylvania. I liked the way the light caused a high shine that blurred out some of the lettering embossed in the glass.

I painted this from peonies that i picked at a friend’s house and brought home and put in a vase. For me, painting the glass vase was much more interesting than the flowers, haha.