After over a decade of creating as a profession, I’ve learned that I have creative seasons and that suits my generalist approach to business and creativity.  I like to dabble, explore, learn, and “have my fingers in a lot of different pies” as my friend Shaunna puts it.  And those seasons are shared here on the blog – a virtual space that has always been more about my story and less about one specific topic.  Sometimes I’m hip-deep in working on my house, other times I’m stripping down and upholstering a parade of French chairs, or getting crafty for the holidays.  Recently, I have been spending more time in my studio at the easel painting, which feels good after largely avoiding my brushes since late last summer.  And I have gotten back to the basics, working on a series of still life paintings in an impressionist style.  I have been painting or drawing almost every day and I am so compelled by it that I feel like I never have enough time to do all of the painting I want to do.  I wish I could bottle this energy and save it for a day when I feel stuck.  Or spread it around to anyone who needs it!

My subjects of late have been vegetables and art supplies.  It’s a bit of an odd mix, but it’s what I had around my house that was speaking to me!  It’s funny how subjects do that.  I never expected to be captivated by broccoli.

I have been doing some impressionist still life paintings with a dark background and some with light.  I think I prefer the lighter backgrounds from an aesthetic standpoint, but the darker backgrounds really make the subject pop and offer more dramatic lighting options.

I bought some carrots with the tops on specifically to paint!

I set up a few different still-life scenes with this antique transferware bowl.  I have a few more I’m going to do as well, but I have two done so far.  I loved painting the garlic.  It turned out so soft and subtle.

I made a video showing a flyover of the process for painting this impressionist still life…

I will be teaching another Jeanne Oliver class this summer specifically on setting up and painting still life.  I’ve been working on still lifes, so I can put together a good course outline and show a variety of subjects.  Still life really is wonderful for discovering your artistic style and for developing your eye.

In addition to painting the vegetable impressionist still life paintings, I’ve also done a series on a few of my antique art supplies and I just love these!  I mean, I love art supplies, so why not paint them and capture the beauty I see in them.

The old metal paint tubes are especially fun.

…and I painted an antique bottle of linseed oil…

And a pocket-sized antique bijou watercolor palette…

It feels good to be inspired and excited about painting again.  My studio surfaces and drying shelves are getting pretty full, so I’ll be scheduling an original art sale soon.  I’ll also add some of these to as to be available as prints.

If you’re interested in trying out oil painting, I have a series of free courses for beginners available HERE.  I have classes on landscapes, making color charts, and painting a still life, all in an impressionist style.