This is totally different from the previous picture. Instead of impressionist I wanted to go very realistic and I started on the grapes but very quickly realized that the crystal bowl they were sitting in was completely beyond my ability to paint..... so I had to find another bowl, but the only one I could find that seemed the least bit suitable was this one, which was a long distance view on a table with other things. However, I used it and then had to find a suitable surface to put the bowl and the grapes on!!! So I used this table and cloth from another picture, but had to guess at where the shadow would go! So, to sum up, this is from three different photographs, but I was reasonably happy with the end result.

I recently bought DVD by an artist that I admire and after watching it several times I decided to try his technique which is more impressionistic than I normally do. This is the result....... it looks similar to the painting that he demonstrated but I actually got the reference image from the Wet Canvas web site and made a few adjustments to make it more pleasing to my eye. I was happy with the result and plan to frame it and give it as a gift this Christmas.

Well, neither of my two pictures that I did for the library show got selected for the floral arrangements but...................I sold one!!!!!! I just heard today that someone bought the picture of the birdhouse which I called "No one Home" I'm absolutely thrilled, this is so totally unexpected, it's the first time I have sold anything. It has really encouraged me to keep entering into shows.

This is something really different for me. I was sitting watching TV and I picked up a pencil and decided to draw these Christmas ornaments. It prompted me to go out a buy a set of sketching pencils in various hardness levels, so I might be trying more of this type of thing. We'll see!!

I've been working on this during the past week. My husband was keen for me to do it even though it's not my usual choice of subjects, and I did enjoy the process although it wasn't without it's challenges. I took the photo on a day trip to Maine in September. I think I'm going to frame this one and put it in our bathroom.