Harvest Portrait

I have been a gardener for years. It's one of my solutions to high vegtable prices and its good to know what is in your food. The entire process from seed to fruit or vegetable is a miracle in many ways. One of the many benefits is the built in still life. I wanted the image to have a graphic feel to it.

Sierra Trees On Top

I know the title is silly but its what I casme up with. This is a mixed media image that started out as an ink rendering. At times, the ink drawing speaks for itself and others demand a little watercolor, etc. The photo that inspired this piece was taken during my last real vacation in 2019. The last time I traveled without fear of infection and maskless. Now I feel naked and vulnerable without a mask. My how we have changed as a world.

My passion for gardening strenthened even more over the past three years. Of course I paint, draw and eat what I grow.

Died Lavender

Another in the kitchen counter series. I call this one died lavendar because I think these flowers weren painted this color by the florist. Do florists paint flowers?

Ripe Peppers

This is a small plein air painting done out in Pam's garden. I was working on creating mystery in a painting by leaving things inferred but not stated. I'm working on thinking more about making a painting as opposed to copying what's in front of me. I am currently sketching every day. I want to catch a bus this weekend just to draw people.

Little Veggies

I love collecting and painting still life pieces. It's working from life; but the subjects are still. Its fun to do preparatory sketches on sulphite paper. I later cover the sketches with markers to create a value sketch. I also make lots of little oil paintings of the set up. I recently bought some 4 by 5 inch copper panels. This is one of the first paintings I plan to have on display at the West Austin Studio tour this year. Small paintings are intimate and much more affordable.

Supermarket Onions

I bought these onions because I wanted to paint them. I eventually threw them out. I should have made a stew or stir fry with them. Or, I could have planted them.

Tied Up Veggies

I really haven't figured out why I like to paint radishes. I rarely if ever eat them, unless they are in a salad.

Sketchbook share.

Fridge Stickers

This painting is one of my still life pieces that includes some refrigerator stickers. I wanted to change it up a bit. One of the photos is my Mom and the other is an old one of me. I pained it in honor of Mothers day.

A page from on of my toned tan sketchbooks.

2016 First Tulips

I purchased tulips last weekend and got in quite a few paintings before the flowers transitioned. I worked on Garza Papel with Daniel Smith watercolors. The initial drawing was done in red ink. I haven't been posting enough. I am painting and filling sketchbooks but not posting. Not good. When I get home lately I just want to sketch, paint, chores and not be at a computer. From my Union Square sketchbook.

Pam Grown Onion

This onion is from Pamela's garden. It was started as a drawing in ink that I later added watercolor to. The drawing was done from life. Given her garden, I always have fresh veggies and fruit to study and paint. I was attracted to the new growth and the outer skin of the onion.

Copper and Fruit

I love painting still life pieces. I like to work from life rather than photos. Pam always has interesting objects around the house plus she has an organic garden and lemon trees. Add the California light and you have instant inspiration. I worked on Canson paper.

Family History

Pam had lots of family heirlooms in her house when I was last there. These items made for great still life subjects. I don't know the story behind these items but I know that they have some history in the Ziehe family.

Yellow Irises 2

I was able to get quite a few paintings out of this bouquet. I liked the challenge of trying to get the colors and values right. I should do another wet on wet to get some soft edges for the background. Anyway, I worked with Daniel Smith watercolors on Canson's Moulin Du Roy watercolor paper. I like how the surface takes the paint.

Antique Shop

Years ago I used to walk around town with my camera. I still do that. Well this painting was inspired by a photo that I took in an antique shop on Lavaca in downtown Austin. Back then shop owners didn't mind if you took photos as long as you asked. I liked the dishes and the way they were arranged plus the reflections.

Radish

I bought some radishes from the market because I wanted to paint them and I was inspired by last months cover of The Artist Magazine. I started out with an abstract oil underpainting. Once that dried, I applied the pastels. I did't want a tight painting so I kept some of the underlying abstract work.

Seasonal Bloom

The daffodils were fun this season. I did a series of these right around the Easter season.

Ready To Drop

When I painted this still life the petals were ready to drop. The flowers were on their last few days. I like the colors and the shapes in this stage. Of course I worked from life and once the flowers were done I added some color and played with the shapes. When I looked at the image on the screen I saw a lady sitting at a table with flowers. Tell me what the background reveals for you.

Odd One Out

Painted from life on my counter top.

Too Much Party

Another addition to the counter top series. I used an ink pen to get the drawing down. I wanted the painting to be loose so I didn't give myself room to make corrections. I laid in watercolor and filled the interior part of the flower in gouache. As to the title, that was my first impression when I saw the flower on the lower right on screen.

Steroid Flowers

Another addition to my "Counter Top" series. Pam was in town while I was painting this series and of course she always tells me when its finished as she did with this one. She actually is of the opinion that this one is a bit overworked. I always value her opinion on these matters.