orangeness

There are great tomatoes around at the moment. I keep buying them because the look so tempting. Usually I go for little ones, but I couldn't resist this great big orange monster.

I was all excited about attempting all that glorious colour, but I'm not quite so excited about the results. I find it  hard to distinguish what I see, from what I think I should see. I could see a funny highlight/reflection things on the veg, but couldn't quite believe there were bright spots where I thought there should be dark spots, and I couldn't quite figure out what colour they should be. As a result I fudged and faffed and fluffed about. Once you start doing that your doomed. I think things have to be captured in one take or things get murky.

Also, attempting any sort of reflection carry-on was asking for trouble.

little cartoon chillies

Some cute daft looking chillies arrived and I was only too happy to try and paint them. I've had a few 'crumple up and chuck in the bin ' failures so was getting a bit despondant. I tried to paint some lovely pears and couldn't for the life of me get the colour right, and I had a go at a red pepper that only lasted moments (the effort that is, not the pepper). Cute daft bright cheery chillies were just what I needed.

The chillies had a cartoonish quality about them. So does the pic I think, not that I did that cleverly on purpose or anything. I don't mind this, I'm happy with the colour, and some of the shadows. Unfortunately the chilli out front is is my least favourite, I'd like it to shuffle off down the back.

daylilly

I love Daylillies, each bloom only lasts a day, but the plant keeps on producing and producing, it's like they put on a big triumphant happy smile each day. I've got them in shade and in sun, in yellow and in deep red, I do nothing to them and they just keep on coming. Great plant. I'm also a sucker for these little candle holders, they're only  cheapy things from Homebase, but I think they are rather lovely.

This took a bit more time than usual, it necessitated  lots and lots of staring. Do artists all have wrinkly eyes from squinting? Anyway, I thought the glass was too wonky, and it isn't as simple as I'd like. Paul and the kids were quite complimentary though , even my uncommunicative  lump of teenager son who notices nothing said nice stuff, so I'll quit complaining.

wooden apple

Finally, a bit of time , and no nice fruit or veg  in the house! One floppy head of celery in the fridge didn't really appeal, so wooden apples it is then.

I'm actually chuffed at the one dark streak on the front of the red apple, as it is fairly dark and therefore a bit brave for me. The bottom of the green apple is terribly flat, goddamit.

very red pepper

The whole dark/light/tone squinting thing is still troublesome. As is the pink spoon!

plum toms

Finally, a chance to try again, it's been an age since I've found time to do this.

There are so many things wrong with it , I'm not going to bother. I seem to be cleverly managing to do the exact opposite of progressing ! But I loved doing it, and there are about two brush strokes that I quite like.