Orange Slices and Vase

It was a very gloomy day here today and I was completely lacking any kind of motivation to paint. Started a couple of sketches but abandoned them mid way, as I wasn't sure if I could give it my all today. It was then that I wanted to take something familiar, something that I could do justice to and I chose this simple still life with my purple vase. The orange slices from yesterday were still around and came in handy.

Orange slices and vase
Oil on board, 7 by 5 inches
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Doubly Citrus - a new experiment

This morning, I wanted to paint some orange slices under sunlight. I had some sort of a setup in my mind and went ahead arranging things and playing around in the studio. Just when I was about to finalize on a setup, the sunlight vanished. I had not even taken a picture and the light had completely changed. I was really disappointed and walked out of the studio.

After a while, I had another idea. To split up the slices and set them up against two different objects on two backgrounds. Hence I set up these identical still lifes side by side and decided to paint them simultaneously too. What's more, they use *exactly* the same palette. I went in for Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Red Deep, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White. This is pretty much my usual palette, when I do not need any saturated greens. 

We all know that using any 3 primaries and white, you can pretty much mix the entire spectrum. But to see that in action like this is surreal. I mixed a purple, a blue leaning variant, a red leaning variant. One went on the left panel and the other on the right panel. It was great fun, something that I am itching to repeat already. :) 

Doubly Citrus
Oil on board, each 7 by 5 inches
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Looking back at 30 paintings in 30 days

This is the first time ever that I have painted for 30 consecutive days and I had a blast! I have started Leslie's 30 Paintings challenge a couple of times before, but have never gone beyond 12 paintings or so. I think I did 12 this Jan too. So I was quite apprehensive to sign up for the challenge, knowing very well that I do not have the time to do one painting a day. It has been a particularly loaded period at work too.:)

Somehow managed to pull through and complete 30 paintings! I am very very thrilled and proud of it.:)

Here's a look at my 30 paintings over the last 30 days. Let me know if you have a favourite.

30 Paintings in 30 Days
September 2015

September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 30!

And that's how it's done! I cannot believe I actually managed to paint 30 pieces, so celebrating with a slice of pumpkin pie today. Neither do I bake nor eat desserts, so painted this from a reference I liked at morguefile. :)

Pumpkin Pie
Oil on board, 6 by 6 inches
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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 29

On the Tuscan trail again..

Knock Knock
Oil on board, 7 by 5 inches
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