White Rose Oil Painting with Lemons on Linen Panel, 12" x 16"

"Light from Above"SOLD


The light was perfect today in the studio and after taking a few days off for some badly needed R&R, I was eager to get back in the studio. I've taken quite a few pictures of the process used to paint this beauty so if you get a chance, come by later and check for a a link to my teaching blog to see how it was painted. Or just go directly there later tonight to http://www.musensbysusan.blogspot.com. It takes awhile for me to write the lessons out and so they don't get published at the same time as the daily painting post.
This painting took me the better part of the day. I was pretty focused when I did it and it shows. I used a cool light from above. This is tricky in my studio because I don't have skylights. I do have north facing windows, but they're not high enough to give me the kind of light I wanted for this piece. The concept was to have light pooling from above. I rather like the way it came out. Some of the underpainting shows through here providing a lovely reddish hue around some of the blooms. There is a differentiation of light on the vase that is hard to see in the photos. I've tried adjusting this in photoshop but I makes the contrast too harsh on the other lights. This painting fairly glows. It's the aspect of using various tones of grayes contrasted with cools and warms that gives it that lovely glow. Photos just don't do it justice and you have to see this one up close and personal to know how it looks. If anyone wants additional photos, just e-mail me by clicking on the envelope below. I'll do my best to provide some other shots. You can see the detail in the photo below.

Oil Paint of Brass Pitcher, Magnolias and Lemons, 12" x 16" on Linen Panel

The Brass Pitcher

Click here to Inquire about Purchase






I'm completely in love with linen! Having just purchased it, I feel all charged up and wanting to paint up a storm. I worked on this piece quite a bit, and feel pretty happy with it. I'm finding that a more deliberate and delicate touch is reuired when painting on this surface. This surprised me as I always thought that the surface would be similar to canvas. Perhaps it's the fact that it is primed with oil rather than acrylic gesso. In any case, I'm loving it and the work that comes off my brush. I'm still challenged by photographing linen however. It refracts light pretty easily - not something you notice with your eye but the camera really sees it. As a result, I've had to play in photoshop to get an accurate representation. I think this is close, however, there is a bit more orange in the larger photo on the lemons than there is in actuality. Here's a detail shot of this piece. The lemons look more accurate here. As I've taken more time with this larger piece, I'll be starting bidding at $85 with no reserve.



To see how this was painted, click here.

Oil Painting of Daffodils and Lemons, 12" x 14" Oil on Canvas Board

"Daffodils for Patti"Click here to bid.











My sister(in law) asked me to paint some Daffodils because they were almost gone. This was a month or more ago in California. I live in Washington and they're barely out now. So, Patti, I didn't forget. I just didn't have a model.

This painting was done on a heavier canvas than I have been using. It's slightly rougher surface forced me to heavy up on the paint load, but I enjoyed it's softer look. I've ordered some medium grade linen and hope to be trying some new things on that.

My prices have changed somewhat recently due to inflation and demand. 9" x 12" pieces still start at $45. 11" x 14" will be starting at $55. Pieces larger such as 14" x 18" will start at $75 or $80 if they are completed in one session. However, if I take the extra time to work a piece over two days, I will likely start the auction at $25 but put a reserve of between $125 (for pieces 11" x 14") to $200 (for pieces 14" x 18") depending on the detail involved in the painting. I'll be posting these prices at the top of my blog soon, but you can e-mail me with any questions. I still reserve the right to mix things up occasionally as EBay is one huge experiment - sometimes. Thanks for looking.

Oil Painting of Orchids and Fruit on Canvas Panel, 12" x 14"

"Fruit and Flowers"Click here to bid.






This was supposed to be an ala prima piece...painted in just one sitting. However, I promised a racquetball game to my husband and so had to finish it a whole two days later as other committments kept me out of the studio the next day. The fact that the paint had an extra day to set up, allowed me a bit of glazing and scumbling to heighten contrast and color a bit. Enjoy.