"Peaches 2"

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"Peaches 2"

8 x 10 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

I've painted peaches before and enjoy there textures and unique coloring throughout their surface, the way light bounces within the shape gives great chemistry to the painting.  I know its been a couple weeks since the competition ended but I just wanted to thank everyone again for supporting me and voting for me as well, I'm so blessed to have won this and cannot thank all of you again for helping me achieve my personal goal.  Thank you!

I started with no mediums just a bit of raw umber on the brush and lightly draw the placements of the peaches, you don't want to hard on the brush or your lines will get darker.  The point is to have really light lines which will make it easier to paint over with thin paints, after the drawing was completed I stated the darks using ivory black, permanent rose, and cadmium red.

Then I added the reflected lights in the pit of the peach using cadmium yellow light, ivory black, cadmium orange, titanium white, and viridian.  I am making sure in each stage I take it to a close finish at times I have to go back and change some minute things because of the value or chroma I just painted next too it which is a normal thing, the important thing is to take that section to a finish and move on.  I then added the lights using quinacridone magenta, cadmium red light, cadmium red, and titanium white. 

Then I started on the second peach again starting from the darker values and moving onto the lighter values, for the darks I used ivory black, viridian, cobalt blue, cadmium yellow.  Then I started adding the middle and lighter values which were titanium white, viridian, and cadmium yellow light, with this one it was a tricky thing too paint I had to constantly be bouncing from lighter to the darker values, there were so many value shifts in that area.

Then I added the dark values of the base I used ivory black, burnt sienna, and cadmium orange.  After I took that area to a finish I started on the lighter values using cerulean blue, titanium white, burnt sienna and also took it to this area to a finish.

This is the final picture I added the background which was cerulean blue, naples yellow, and titanium white.  Overall I'm very pleased with this painting and really like how the reflected lights have some character too them,  I also missed painting this wooden board which is a frequent with some of my daily paintings.  Thanks for stopping and viewing my painting, hope you enjoyed!

"Shallot"

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"Shallot"

5 x 7 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

I liked playing with composition and how I can incorporate natural lighting into the subject, although its still I believe these guys have a lot of character too them.  This painting was a little hard to complete due to the world cup happening whilst I paint, I love soccer and everything that has to do with it and when there's a game on its hard for me to concentrate on anything else.

I started again with no mediums just raw umber on the brush, once establishing the drawing I stated the darkest values using ivory black and a bit of permanent rose.

Then I added the middle and lighter values I used cadmium red light, cadmium orange, and titanium white.  When I took the middle and lighter values too a finish I made sure to go back to the dark values and see if I have to push the chroma's due to the value shift in the lights, you constantly have to be aware of values and hues effecting its surrounding colors.  I then moved onto the leafy area of the shallot if thats called that not really sure what thats called, I started the same way as i did with the shallot first the darks and move up to the middle and lighter values.

I added the highlights to the "leafy" area using titanium white for the darks I used ivory black and for the middle values I used ivory black, titanium white, and cadmium yellow light.  I started then to work on the cast shadow using ivory black, cadmium orange, and burnt sienna.

I apologize for skipping so many steps from the last picture to this finished pic, I completely forgot to take more shots I get too carried away at times.  After I established the cast shadow I worked on the base and used cerulean blue, some of the mixtures in the cast shadows and titanium white, then I added the background colors which were cerulean blue and titanium white.  This painting was another delightful painting to make and appreciate everyone stopping by and viewing, hope you enjoyed!

"Radicchio 2"

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"Radicchio 2"

8 x 10 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

This is my second painting of a radicchio I really love the textures and colors they have, what made me paint this one was the silhouette shape.  This painting like the last one was challenging because of the textures and subtle values, the sense of light was also a hurdle to pass but still very educational to make.  The contour shape and textures are always gonna be one of the main components that attract me to this vegetable.   

I started with the dry brush approach a little bit of raw umber and no mediums, and then when the drawing was established I stated the darks.  I used ivory black, permanent rose, and alizarine red.

Then I stated the middle and lighter values I used titanium white, cadmium red light, permanent rose, and  quinacridone magenta.  I take each stage to a close finish once I lay the whole painting down I can stand back at and see what needs refining.  Then I added the darker values to the radicchio I used cadmium yellow light, cadmium orange, and ivory black.

Then I worked on the lighter values of the radicchio I used titanium white, cerulean blue and ivory black.  This was a tricky area to paint because of the subtle values changing with the form turning.  Then I started on cast shadow I used ivory black, cadmium orange, cerulean blue, cadmium yellow light, and titanium white.

Then I added the base using the same palette mixture I used with the cast shadows, when I added the base colors around the cast shadows I made sure to blur the edges especially to retain the focal with the radicchio.  The second picture is the final painting I added the background color which was cerulean blue and titanium white.  I also made sure to go around the edges of the radicchio and soften them, then I went back into the radicchio and added more highlights and reds to the leaves.

This was another fun painting to make still challenging but fun, I hope too paint more of these guys in the future.  Thanks for stopping by and viewing, hope you enjoyed!

"Radicchio"

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"Radicchio"

8 x 10 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

I've always passed these guys in the grocery store and said I'll paint it next time, well the time came to finally paint it.  The unique shape and color they have is fun and challenging too paint, the way their veins flows along the leaves and also changes colors really made me excited too paint them. 

I started with the usual dry brush approach no mediums just a bit of raw umber on the brush.  I had to take the drawing a bit further than my usual because of the intricate veins in the leaves.  After the drawing was established I started with the darkest values using ivory black, yellow ochre, alizarin permanent,  and permanent rose.  I am taking each stage that I start to a close finish.

Then I moved onto the middle and lighter values, it got really tricky in this area because of the veins and the way the light was bouncing in an out of the surface.  I used alizarin permanent, permanent rose, cadmium red light, ivory black, and titanium white.  Then I started on the middle light area of the radicchio, this area had a lot of grey's and blue's, I used cerulean blue, titanium white, and ivory black.  It was fun doing this section, making the indentations was not as bad as I thought it would of been, I just concentrated on the values and hues and it became much easier.

Then I started on the leaf leaning on the radicchio, again starting with the darks first using the same mixture with the other darks in the beginning.  Then I moved to the middle and lighter values.

Then I added the lighter reflected lights in the leaf towards the bottom, it was challenging to paint something that looked transparent but was opaque at the same time.  I used cadmium orange, cadmium yellow light, ivory black, and cerulean blue.  After that was done I moved onto the background, using cerulean blue, titanium white, and naples yellow.  I used more naples yellow than cerulean to tie it in more with the radicchio, I also made sure to go around the radicchio and soften the edges so it wouldn't have a cardboard effect.

Then I added the base I used burt sienna, cadmium orange, cerulean blue and titanium white.  Then for the cast shadows I used burnt sienna, ivory black, cadmium orange, and the background color to bring it together even more.

This is the finished picture, it was a fun painting to make a little challenging to say the least for it being so intricate and painting it in only one day.  Thank you for stopping by and viewing, hope you enjoyed this one!

"Kiwi"

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"Kiwi"

5 x 7 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

I never painted kiwi before and was interested to do so, I tried just setting up the kiwi without cutting into it but it really wasn't too interesting.  After cutting them and seeing how beautiful they look inside I wanted to play around with the movement of slices, although it was pretty hard not eating them.   

I started with the usual dry brush approach to the drawing, no medium just raw umber on the brush.  After the drawing was established I started with darkest values first, using ivory black and bit of burnt umber.

Then I added the middle and lighter values using raw umber, cadmium orange, and titanium white.  Then I added more of the darker values on the second slice of kiwi and then when that was done I moved on to the lighter values of the inside of the kiwi.  I used viridian, cobalt blue, cadmium yellow pale hue, and titanium white.

Then I proceeded to fill in the rest of the darker areas of the sliced kiwi, I just used ivory black.  Then went back into the lighter values inside the kiwi and used the same mixture as I did before with the greens.

I am doing the same approach over and over with the lighter values in the kiwi pieces.

Then I added the cast shadows to tie in the kiwi slices to the base, I used burnt sienna, cadmium orange and ivory black.

For the lighter values of the table I used cerulean blue, and titanium white, I went back and made sure to softened the edges with the cast shadows and sharpen other edges of the kiwi.  Edges can become very tricky when finishing each stage of the painting, paying close attention to them will benefit you'r painting in ten folds.  Then I filled in the background I used cerulean blue and titanium white, again I went around the edges of the kiwi when filling the background and softened the edges where they needed to be done.

This is the finished painting, after touching up the edges I went back into the kiwi and added some highlights.  This was a unique painting to do because of the composition and what I was trying to achieve with the slices.  Thanks for stopping by and viewing, hope you enjoyed!

"Oranges"

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"Oranges"

5 x 7 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

I first want to let everyone know that I WON the Daily Painters art competition!  Thank you so much everyone for voting and supporting me, it was a roller coaster ride but we got it in the end!  I am still in disbelief that I won, its been a personal goal of mine to be part of such a great organization.  After I found out I won I slept for a couple days straight, the competition took a lot out of me mentally and physically.  I am so happy to be painting again, and getting back to a normal routine.  Thanks again everyone!  

I started with a dry brush approach, no mediums just a bit of raw umber on the brush.  After the drawing was complete I started on the orange in the far left, going from the darks first.  I used ivory black, cadmium orange, and cadmium yellow light.  Making sure to take this stage to a close finish.

Then I started adding the middle values not covering the whole orange, just creeping up to the highlights.  I am using cadmium orange, cadmium yellow light, and titanium white.   Then I started on the middle orange doing the same as I did with the first orange, starting with the darks and moving slower to the middle and lighter values.  Its tricky painting these types of values so close to each other, but a great learning experience.

I then start adding the cast shadows to the painting, to give more of a base, I'm using the same mixture as with the first orange.  Then I start adding the middle dark values to the third orange.

I start adding cadmium orange with no mixture to it, and go back to the darks to mesh them together even more.  Then when that looked pleasing to me I started to add cadmium yellow light to the top portion of the orange and came down to create the right value shift.

Then I added the cast shadow to the third orange, using the same mixtures as mention before.  I then filled the base in with cerulean blue, and titanium white.  This started to bring the painting together, I made sure to go around the edges of the cast shadows and blur them to where they needed to be.

Then I added the back ground which was cerulean blue, naples yellow, and titanium white again going around the edges of the oranges and softening them.  I went back into the highlights and used titanium white to a thick consistency and added the details.  The last pic is the final painting thank you for stopping by and viewing my painting, hope you enjoyed!

"Heirloom Tomato"

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"Heirloom Tomato"

8 x 10 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

This is my second painting of an heirloom tomato, I can see the difference in technicality from the first time I painted it.  It was almost a monochromatic painting but with hints of oranges and light greens here and there.  It felt good getting back too painting, I have been so caught up with trying to get votes for the competition that I neglected my paintings.  There is nothing like painting!

I started with the usual dry brush approach, I use no mediums through out my painting.  The only time I use mediums is when I varnish it in the end.  I used raw umber for the drawing a very tiny bit of it on the brush, when the drawing was established I moved onto the shadows of the tomato.  I used ivory black,  and cadmium red.

After putting in the darks I put in the middle values, when I start putting them in I go back to the shadows and take it to a finish as with the middle values.  I make sure to take each stage to a finish which means your level of concentration is really high in order to get everything right.  Then I put the lighter values as you can see I am moving from right to left since I made this fruit much larger on the canvas it took a longer time to paint it.  For the middle and lighter values I used cad. red light, cad. red, cad. orange, and titanium white.  I am also creeping up to the highlights making sure to leave the bare canvas since that is the whitest you can get.  

Then I started moving towards the left of the tomato, I am using the same palette as I mentioned above.  I  am going from the middle values then towards the lighter values and taking them to a finish.  Then I go into the highlights and add titanium white, blending them with the surrounding values and softening the edges.  Thats the other thing I am constantly being aware of is my edges, each stroke I lay down I am seeing if the edge of the stroke needs to be softened or crispier.  Edges will always make or brake you'r painting its good to take special care of them.

Then I moved onto the wooden base I stated the darks first just using ivory black, I also stated the stem of the tomato.  Then I moved onto the middle values, using burnt sienna, and ivory black.  Then I went to the stem and added lighter greens, I didn't go too far with it since I have not added the background yet and know I will have to soften the edges.

Then I added the background, I used cerulean blue, naples yellow, and titanium white.  I first made sure to go around the edges of where the tomato meets the background and soften where it needs to be softened.  I always think these guys have the most unique looking features and glad to have painted them again.  I hope you enjoyed this one and thank you for stopping by!  

"Guava"

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"Guava"

5 x 7 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

I love guava! There are these pastries in Miami that are called "Pasteles de Guava" (guava pastry) and they have been my favorite since I was a little kid.  They are so delicious I can eat at least 10 of them in one sitting, I guess you can tell my fascination with them.  I learned to pace myself since they are high in sugar, but whenever I go back home to visit I forget about pacing myself and overdose on guava! All worth it though.  Since painting this fruit I never knew how they looked and when I found them at the grocery store I was surprised to see them.  I set them up to paint and the strong sent of guava distracted me the whole time, a little distracting to say the least.  Now I can't wait to go back to Miami!

I also wanted to let everyone know that I made it to the top 5 of the Daily Painters art competition!  Thank you so much for voting for me, it means so much to me that I have made it this far and hopefully can win it by the 18th of June.  You can still vote for me and if you have in the past you can do it again just click on this link: http://www.dailypainters.com/blog/content/jonathan-aller  and when your there all you have to do is click on 5 stars and your done!  Thanks again everyone and I'll keep you posted on the results, 8 more days!  

I started with a dry brush approach as usual, I used very little of it on the brush with no mediums.  I mapped out my shadow shapes as well, again just keeping the lines fairly light, it makes it easier to go over it with thinner or thicker paints.  Then I started on the shadows I used ivory black for the majority of the shadows since there were no reflected light.

Then I added the mid values introducing some viridian, cobalt blue, and cadmium yellow light.  I am also going back to the shadows and making sure they are working together with the mid values and also working on the edges of the values.  Then I started to put the lighter values using titanium white, cadmium yellow light, and cerulean blue.  I also stated the stem of the guava, at these stages I am taking them to a finish adding the details on the outer skin of the guava and all the indents.

Then I added the lighter values for the open guava, using cadmium red light, and titanium white.  Then I added the background which was cerulean blue, naples yellow and titanium white.  I made sure to blur the edges of the guava where they needed to be, and also on the base.

Then I added information on the base, adding the darker and mid values using ivory black, cadmium orange and burnt sienna.  For the lighter areas I used burnt sienna, cadmium yellow light, and titanium white.  Taking each step to a finish and starting on the next, doing this allows me to finish the painting quicker and not have to worry about going back to an unfinished section.

This is the finished painting, I had lots of fun with this one and had lots of difficulty in concentrating with the strong sent it was giving off.  Thanks for stopping by everyone and seeing my work I hope you enjoyed this one!