Little Gems

I usually paint my still lifes in a "natural" size, that is life size. I don't follow the trends of painting large. I find humongous fruit to be rather imposing, actually, hanging there on the wall. I want to say to it, "What makes you think you are so important!? Get back to your natural size!" No, it is just a trend, and one I think will pass. One that does not sync with my classical training. You have heard the expression, when you want someone's attention, whisper. I have learned that far more effective than super-sizing art is to control color and light, keeping objects and people at their natural size. Another way of saying it is to limit color, and light. Focus it. One of the reasons much of my work has much chiaroscuro, the dramatic contrasts of light and dark, objects dissolving mysteriously into the background, is because of my love of catching someone's attention with a whisper. A strong draw. See Copper and Chrysanthemums below, in my first log.

When you go into the Metropolitan Museum, and you find yourself nearing the Rembrandt's, do you not find yourself absolutely drawn to them, causing you to cross a gallery room to get to them? It is because of his highly effective use of illuminating the objects and the faces in his work. As though they are illumined from within.

A project in which I have found myself involved is the painting of even smaller than life-size works. Can I still make effective still lifes in very small sizes? Can I do it in a lighter key? Some of my work can be seen now in these new and very affordable sizes on Ebay. Go to http://www.ebay.com/ and type in daily painting a day. You will see me there. The painting of this Fiesta piece I own will be coming up, soon, perhaps right after this log. Also you will see a piece there now, at this writing, I am calling Crab Apples and Salmon Pottery. (Click on title)

There is no end to the wonderful subjects found on my farm to include in one of these tiny paintings I am calling Little Gems.

Next log, I will return to Stories From the City.