And now for something completely different...

Stained Glass Still Life I

Oil on canvas board

9"x12"

Available when dry

This piece is a lot of things: A drastic attempt to force myself to eliminate detail and focus on basic shapes, an experiment with a style completely different from any I've explored, and an enjoyable hour of painting. I've always been fascinated by stained glass windows and think that their creators are vastly under appreciated. They were one of the inspirations to try something like this, and while the result may be a bit simplistic, it has intrigued me and I believe I'll explore this idea more in the future. I think that if I did a larger canvas filled with many carefully arranged objects, it could really work.

Watermelon

Watermelon

Oil on Canvas Board

11"x14"

Available when dry

I started this yesterday and it smelled great, but then I finished it today and the watermelon smelled like jack-o-lanterns two days after Halloween. Who knew? The painting, however, went smoothly and I enjoyed it. I sketched out a few possible compositions in my sketchbook before I started and that prevented the blueberry problem. I've been dying to put a knife in a still life for a long time. I wanted to have a reflection on it and this painting was perfect for it. The last time I had a knife with fruit was my Mate with Orange seen in this blog's header. This picture is very unsatisfactory and I hope to get a better one soon because the watermelon color was pure joy to mix.

Cup of blueberries

Cup of Blueberries (Still wet)

8"x10" Canvas Board

Available once dry enough to ship for SALE PRICE of $35 + $5 shipping

On my never ending quest to try more subjects and styles I was excited to paint some blueberries- perhaps too excited. I wanted to get started even before I had thought through my set up and plan. So before too long I had to make some drastic changes and run with them. Things came together at the end and it was challenging and fun to keep the whole thing lavender. The only small canvas I had was already toned a tan yellow, which I initially thought would cause problems, but it ended up being perfect because it reminded me of the color of the inside of a blueberry.

I love summer time

Here are better pictures of my last two paintings slightly more dry.

Porch decor painted alla prima in about two hours

8"x10" Canvas Board

Available for purchase $45 +$5 shipping

Mango II

8"x10" Canvas Board

Sold

Restless night

Last night I was laying in bed and I couldn't fall asleep. Painting was on my mind, but I knew that if I went and worked on my latest piece I'd be up way too late. So instead I came back to this fruit still life I'd put away to dry. I still wasn't completely satisfied with it so I decided to get my hands dirty, literally. Sometimes when I'm stuck on a painting I forego the brushes and revert to my original venture into the art world- finger painting. I love the creamy texture and the up close and personal feeling. It also got the job done and I can finally say this painting is finished. The adjustments aren't too apparent in the pictures but it was just what it needed. I'll still post a better photo once it dries, the colors are much more vibrant than shown here.

Fruit for my sister in law

After more than half a year I finally made it back to my easel and my oil paints! This is a little still life for my sister in law's kitchen to get warmed up again. It took about 5 hours (racing against withering fruit) and I enjoyed every minute of it. It felt great to be back even though I have enjoyed learning so much about watercolor. I'm pleased with how it turned out and so was she.

I also discovered that strawberries make the Top 5 favorite smells of Taylor Norton list along with BBQ sauce, coffee, yerba mate, and fresh baked bread. (Note: List subject to change at any time)

On a completely unrelated note, if you direct your gaze to the top right corner of my blog under the header you'll see a link to my newly opened ETSY PAGE! Yes that's right folks, for the first time in history the original art of artist Taylor Norton is now on sale to the public. Click the link and take advantage of this momentous occasion. Also I have an abundance of free time right now so if anyone out there would like to commission a painting just comment or email me at Norty717@gmail.com

Fruit for Rachel

8"x8" Canvas

Private Collection