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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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 28

September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 27

I had to paint the gorgeous fruits all over again. Just love the light on them, and I hope to have done justice!

Golden hour gossip
Oil on board, 18 by 24 cms (7 by 9.5 inches)
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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 26

The other day when I painted these fruits under bright sunlight, I had taken a few pictures moving the fruits around a bit here and there. Very similar compositions under great light. I really liked this square composition amongst them and had to paint it today. :)

One vs Two
Oil on board, 6 by 6 inches
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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 25

After painting my purple vase with the pears yesterday, I had left the setup untouched on my table. When I walked in this morning, I just felt like tackling the same subject a little differently. In came a dim light source and I changed the direction of my easel. Voila! A brand new painting. :) 

If you guessed there was a nocturne coming, brownie points to you :-)

Nocturnal Pears
Oil on board, 7 by 5 inches
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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 24

I painted this green pear a week ago. After that, it was left unattended in the studio and the poor pear turned yellow. Now that's what happens when you buy fruits only to paint with no intention of eating them. However, the now yellow pears looked gorgeous with my purple vase and had to be painted again! :) 

Purple vase and pear
Oil on board, 7 by 5 inches
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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 23

Evening Huddle
Oil on board, 9.5 by 7 inches
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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 22

The more I look into my pictures from Tuscany, the more I have screaming at me to paint them. So here's one more :)

Of alleys and windows
Oil on board, 6 by 6 inches
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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 21

I painted this one real quick, much fast than I usually do and much more deliberate too. I could feel myself very comfortable with it, which is always a great sign! I stopped at a point when I felt one more stroke would ruin it. And for a change, I am quite happy with the result. :)

Somewhere in Tuscany
Oil on board, 7 by 5 inches
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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 20

I painted this Tuscan balcony sometime ago, but I wasn't quite happy with it. I could not point out my finger at what it was, but the overall feel of the painting did not come across. So I painted it again in a closer crop. I like it much more this time around, and I might paint it all over again! :)

Hydrangea love in Tuscany
Oil on board, 7 by 5 inches
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September 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 19

Today, I was not really in the mood to set up a still life. The weather has been so gloomy and I was longing for some sunlight. Since that was not to be, I decided to paint sunny Tuscany instead :-)

Just another corner in Tuscany
Oil on board, 5 by 7 inches
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