"Lemon Peeled"

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"Lemon Peeled"

6 x 6 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

This one was a very quick painting for me, I started later than I wanted to but I'm glad I was able to finish it.  I wanted to play around with lemons and how their peels wrap around the form.  I kept the inside of the lemon concealed to add more mystery to the peel.  I've been painting lemons for a while now and wanted a different approach for this one.  Thanks for stopping by!

"King Lemon"

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"King Lemon"

6 x 6 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

This is the third and last painting in the series of limes and lemon, it was fun cutting the limes up and arranging them around the lemon.  I believe the title fits this painting just right, especially the way the limes are surround the lemon.  I was also honing down my technique with this painting, getting more narrow in the way I render with the brush.  Concentrating more on the value relationships and how to model the form, its fun going back to the fundamentals and seeing how important they are.    

I started with the usual dry brush approach for the drawing stage, just using a bit of raw umber on the brush and no mediums.  After the drawing is complete I started on the limes instead of the background, reason I did that is because I've noticed I can control the edges better when I add the background later.  I stated the general colors in the first passage, not really adding any darker or lighter values just a general statement of colors pertaining to the limes.

Then I start working on big form modeling, at this stage I start to add darker values and work with the lights in turning the form.  Then I start to add the darker values and its specific forms and take that section to a finish, I do the same with the lighter forms.  As you can see I worked on all the limes at the same time, I feel it has more of unity look to it when I do that.

When the limes are completed to that point I start on the lemon, first stating the general colors using thin paint and then work on big form modeling.  Then I start on the darker values and its specific forms, I make sure I add all the colors that are in this value stage and take it to a close finish.  

I do the same with the lighter values and its specific forms, after stating the lighter forms I can see I have to shift some sections in the darker values.  Thats why I take the darker stage to a close finish so it gives me room to alter things if need be.  As you can see the big form modeling stage is very important to get right, it lays down the foundation where the details will be stated.  It has to work at that stage first before you start stating the smaller forms and its details.  After the lemon is complete I start to work on the wooden base by stating the general colors and it's big form modeling, I'm not worried about details at this stage just want to get a general feel of how the light falls onto the form and the general colors.  

Then I concentrate on the darker values and its specific forms, I do the same with the lighter values when complete with the darkest values.

Last but not least I state the background, and this is what I mean where I'm able to control the edges.  I'm able to go around each object that meets with the background and control the level of softness or sharpness I want it to be.  It's also fun leaving this stage till last, it's the quickest and really ties the painting together for that finish you'r looking for.  I hope you guys enjoyed this one, thanks for stopping by and viewing!

"Limes over Lemon"

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"Limes over Lemon"

5 x 7 in

Oil on Canvas Panel

This was a neat composition to paint, it was difficult keeping the limes still long enough to be able to paint it.  This was a good balancing act in their part, I could only do so much.  I thoroughly enjoy painting these two subjects, with their subtle value shifts within their colors is neat to capture.  As stated before the composition was another great factor to paint, I like how it can tell many different stories just by its composition.  

I also wanted to wish all the mothers out there a Happy Belated Mother's Day! I was out of town and was unable to paint till today, it's always fun to take a break and spend it with friends and family.  After a  day or two I start fidgeting to paint again, can't go to long without it.

I started with the usual dry brush approach using no mediums and just a bit of raw umber on the brush.  When the drawing was complete I stated the background first and after filled in the wooden board, at this stage I'm only stating the general colors and not worried about details.

After the general colors are filled in the wooden board I stated the darker values and its specific forms.  I start narrowing down the details in this stage, I repeat the same process with the lighter values.

Then I move onto the limes after the wooden board is complete, I concentrate on big form modeling.  When I work at this stage I don't put any of the darkest or lightest values, all I worry about is stating the general middle values and also making the light turn with the form.  When thats complete I'm able to move onto the darker values and its specific forms.

When the darkest values are finished I move onto the lighter values and take the limes to a finish.  When thats complete I move onto the lemon and state the big form modeling.  When painting this stage in I make sure to keep my edges soft and not get to thick with the paints, I wanna have a nice base to work on and not have the paints get muddy.

Then I start adding the darker values and its specific forms, I also handle the subtle transitions in the middle value stage.  I'm constantly going back and forth and adjusting what needs to be softer or sharper in contrast.  I do the same when I state the lighter values and its specific forms, when doing this I take the painting to a finish.  Even when I painting the lighter values I'm still going back to my darks and adjust some areas to get the look i'm going for.  I hope you enjoyed this one it was fun painting it, thanks for stopping by and viewing!