Yesterday I placed a picnic cooler on top of a chair in the kitchen, climbed up and created a doll house-like rendition of the kitchen.  It has a whimsical, almost eery, feeling to it, yet is what I assume many people imagine a country kitchen to look like.

"Vase & Pear" 2014

Cray-Pas Expressionist Oil Pastels

"Upside Down" 2014

acrylic on canvas board

Still Life

"Wildflowers 2014"

acrylic

45 minute study

 "Wildflower" 2014

pastel

"Juggling Balls" 2014

oil pastel

Burning the midnight oil

I'm a night owl, and lately I've been on a kick with the pastels and oil pastels.  The reason I am using them is that I felt that I needed to learn more about oils, acrylics and watercolors before continuing to work with them.  Since the book I am reading at the moment is delving into color values, intensities, hues I am practicing these concepts with the pastels.   Though I realize that I have so much further to go, I am amazed at my progress.  Two and a half years ago I couldn't paint anything, let alone draw anything more than stick figures and cubes.

 "Jars & Onions" 2014

pastel

"Night Light" 2014

oil pastel

"Fruit On The Farm" 2014
oil pastel

Yesterday I worked on two oil pastel paintings.  After reading the first chapter from artist Tom Browning's book Timeless Techniques For Better Oil Paintings I am already changing how I approach creating works in pastels and oil  pastels.  Once I begin painting with watercolors, acrylics and oils again, God willing, I will carry over what I have learned in Tom's book.

 "Garlic, Candle & Bottle" 2013

graphite

done this week as part of a 15 Minute Challenge

 "Horse Pillow and Couch" 2012

Graphite

 "Seashell" 2012

Color Pencil

 "Fruit Basket" 2011

Color Pencil
*one of my first drawings after the spiritual dream