Recollections

Recollections
Oil on Panel
6x6"

I'm really happy with this painting! it was kind of complicated and simple at the same time, like a jigsaw. I really enjoyed making the space between the cherries, it was like a journey. I'm really keen on the black cherries and red apple, the darker reds just suck in the light and create amazing shapes which are almost silhouettes. The title refers to the feeling of deja vu I keep experiencing with these cherry paintings, I think my mum had a an LP with a picture of some cherries on it when I was a kid. My paintings are often littered with memories and people I've known.

Cherry Heaven

Cherry Heaven
Oil on Panel
6x6"

I was really into the idea of warm and cool colours for this painting - and I'm kind of pleased with it, but I feel like it's a bit confusing to the eye. I was at the farmer's market a couple of days ago when I found these cherries - 'Bing Cherries' they're called. The two different colours looked great in the bowl, and on both the blue and the pink coloured tissue so I thought I'd experiment. The great thing about these little paintings is that I do feel like I can experiment, it's not so committing as a big expensive canvas with thick paint on it. The big kokanee I'm working on, however, does feel a little pressurised. I'm happy with it so far but I keep finding other things I have to do so I'm procrastinating a tiny bit...part of that is genuinely having to let the layers dry so the colours don't get muddy - I want it to be really saturated and fresh looking.

Iris (ii)

Iris (ii)
6x6"
Oil on Panel

I started on a big Kokanee painting today. I think it's going to be weirder than I though going from 6 inches to 6 feet. It's fun though, and I think the precision of the smaller works will help refine my looser big works - and the big work will loosen my small works. That's what I'm hoping anyway. I painted some little cherries after I'd laid down the colours and shapes on the big canvas. I definately felt less 'linear' after warming up with a 4" brush. I'll post the cherries tomorrow and maybe some of the process of the kokanee if I'm feeing brave.