Gray value thoughts

One of my new artist friends has been working in the grayscale mode this past week. One of the photos she worked from she put in photoshop and changed the color to grayscale to compare how close she was coming to "getting it right" in her grayscale study. This made me curious about the paintings that I've done in the past. Here are two that I've done and I've put them in the grayscale mode from photoshop. Interesting is all I can say right now. Thanks Bobbi!
Here is a link to Bobbi's blog and her gray scale studies: Bobbi Heath's Almost Daily Paintings

-jM

"Iron and Apron" -Sold

It's the little sprinkle bottle with it's apron on and ready for ironing.
Today I was going to paint another little flower, but Randy wouldn't let me take one from the flower garden at the hospital we were walking by after lunch.... so we have to settle for the house chores. Guess he is feeling guilty for my plucking flowers from other's gardens.

Ooops! -jM

I'm only taking them from places that have a lot of flowers!! You know, where one missing won't be noticed...

"Day Meets Dusk" -Both Sold

"Day Meets Dusk" or is it "dusk meets day"... hmmm... tomato or tomato, wait! you couldn't hear me say that could you? I hope you know what I mean : )

This was a nice little project to work on on a rainy day. Just like my younger days when we would go to Grandma and Grandpa's cottage for a week in the Summer. On a rainy day, we would get the crayons and coloring books or paper, and color and draw and it would rain, rain, rain. I don't mind the rain, although, we have had a lot of it, it seems this Summer.


I added a little more to this Baby Blue Moon from May 27th. Now it is a mixed media painting. Hey, I did that painting on a rainy day too! Funny.................

-jM

"Pontentilla Only Three Goldfingers"

I keep looking at this one. I did it a little while ago... I did it when I was doing a lot of very lonely paintings... like the ones with just one flower or apple. I want to say one object, but the vessel that the flower was in is actually two things, but together as they are, they do become one.
I started reading Greg Albert's book "The Simple Secret to Better Painting: How to Immediately Improve Your Work with One Rule of Composition" a short time after I painting this pontentilla. Well, I feel I have broken some compositional rules and I haven't been able to bring myself to posting this painting.
Today I decided it's okay, there is something to be said in this lonely painting... maybe I was going through my "Artist Lonely Time"... : ) I've thought about adding to this one, but... I want to keep moving ---> forward-
-jM
PS: Oh, did I say I also wanted to post this or something, to let you all know that I am still here. Today, one of my fellow artist friends "Susan" told me that the planets are all aligned or out of alignment, in such a way that logic and intuition is all messed up... That may be where I've been lately.
Logic...
Intuition....
: ) Have a good weekend!!

"Steamy Competitors" -Sold

A friend of mine brought this old General Electric steam iron and the Coca Cola sprinkle bottle to me.... ummmm, seems like two months ago, to try my hand at painting this subject.

Well, it has taken so long to get fired up to paint these items, maybe it was all of the reflections, or maybe it's subconscious, these are antiques right? Who irons anymore?!

I finally tackled these two objects and this is the result.... so far... I know I'll have to do another!!

-jM