Worth Savoring Slowly

I completed this painting about a week ago, but I've had to wait to post about it because it is a birthday gift for my best friend, Melanie. It is also in honor of our 20th anniversary of meeting and becoming friends! :)

Please click on the image for a larger view.

"Worth Savoring Slowly" 20x20 Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas.

Side view of "Worth Savoring Slowly"

I had a tough time photographing the painting without getting glare. I still got some glare, but on the other hand, you can see the texture better.

The challenges about this painting was working out the contrast in the background against the dark wine bottle and the wine in the goblet. I had to do a couple of fixes, and the subsequent layering looks pretty good, although I was concerned that the transition from light to dark might have been split down the middle too evenly. I think it turned out looking all right.

This was also my first time painting glass (goblet) and stainless steel (cheese knife) and I found the reflections to be a bit difficult, but I focused on simply painting what I saw.

I've never painted cheese, a cheeseboard, or grapes - much less CRACKERS before in my life, so I'm rather pleased with how they all turned out. The whole process with painting as an emerging artist is a learning experience. What worked well and what didn't. I've got a better idea of how I want to use texture, which is a big deal for me because I absolutely love texture, but not too much of it to where it becomes a distraction.

Hope you like it! Please feel free to comment or make some suggestions.

A Fiery Falling

I finished this painting at the end of February, but some indecisive finishing touches delayed the absolute final release of "A Fiery Falling." This is my first larger canvas painting (18x36), and I'd actually like to paint even larger works. Something about a big canvas is exciting to me.



I also decided how to sign my name. I didn't get good reviews by two artists to use my initials AP as seen as a sort of logo that you see as my header on this blog. My mentor asked me what my middle name is, and I told her Rainier, named after the mountain in Washington State. She suggested I use that as my name to sign my paintings, so I did. My full name is written on the back of the painting along with the title, date, etc. I like using Rainier as my artist name, and I've always liked the name (except for a brief time during my junior high years where the need to conform is strongest).

The only thing I have mixed feelings about is the background. My mentor also suggested having a background that went from light to dark either top to bottom or side to side. I chose top to bottom, but I'm not thoroughly happy with the light color. It feels flat. But I'm going to leave it for now. Here are the left and right sides of the painting so you can see how the painted edges look.

Here are also a few photos of myself in action!

Life is about leaves right now

I've had Mom's painting done for over a week now, but I didn't want to post any information about it until she received it because she reads this blog. Happy Birthday Mom, I'm glad you like it!

"Falling Ginkgo Glory" 10x20 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas
(please click on photo for a nice large picture)

Gallery wrap view.

Detail of the painting.



Beginning steps: blue wash and shaped outlines with color fill.


Background colors before final glaze. Have not done leaves yet.



Artist in Action!

Leaf Panel Study for Art Class

I'm taking a beginners acrylics class and it turns out we're studying leaves there too! My life is about fall leaves lately, and I like it. :) This panel study is to look at the way background color affects the object. Our goal was to also compose the leaf onto each panel in a creative way and color each leaf a bit differently. (please excuse my photo, I'm just learning how to photograph my own artwork!)


The leaf against the blue panel was the most successful, in my opinion. And the green panel I like second because the red tips of the leaf make the colors vibrate against one another, being opposites on the color wheel. The leaf I had the hardest time with was the red panel leaf. The darkness does not let it disappear against the red panel, however there's nothing about it that makes it pop, so I need to work on it further in order for it to be considered a success.

Here is a close-up of the upper panels. I'm rather pleased and can only think that if I'm just a beginner painter, I've got some fantastic works in store for the future!

Welcome to My First Post!

It is practical and good business to have a blog for my art. As I develop my collection, I shall share them with you here.

My first is a practice painting on an 8x10 canvas board. A ginkgo leaf study in acrylic. I've always been inspired by the shape of the ginkgo leaf and the rich gold color it turns to in the autumn.