"Strawberries and Tea"

6" x 8" oil on canvas panel

Well, I made it through a three day workshop and man am I mentally exhausted!

This is the painting I produced today and well, not like my typical stuff lately... but change is good. I did learn a lot of new and different ideas. Like the way a painting reads and the way you would like the viewer to read your painting(s). And setting up still life's and the lighting! I love good input.

This photo was shot quickly today, I will try to get a better photos of the studies I did this weekend, later this week.

It was nice to work in oil again. I really do like it.

Oh, yes, that is a coffee cup on the right, the handle is hidden on the back side.... or maybe this is a European cup? Hmmm.... take care!

-jM

"Sunflower in a Cup"

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

This weekend I am attending a painting workshop in Noblesville, Indiana, that is being taught by Qiang Huang. It is tricky trying to step outside the box and try something new, but I recommend it to any artist. It is good to always continue learning. He presented some really good information today and I am looking forward to tomorrow!

Fresh ideas!

Yes, there is a red cup in this painting, the sunflower is sitting in it! One of the easier cups I've painted lately... maybe because it is mostly hidden?!

-jM
Thanks Connie for letting borrow your camera!

"Left Handled Cup"

6"x8" on on canvas panel

Have you ever heard of such a cup? Maybe, right, I mean correct? This is number 3 and the name comes from the fact that I just wanted to paint the handle from the other side of the cup! I'm right handed, I usually pick up my coffee cups with my right hand, this one, well, I may have to be a little more careful when I go to grab for coffee!

Last night I went to a 2 hour workshop about writing an artists statement. That made me wonder what I would write for this series, let alone the last series of apples. I may have to run a few lines by you in the coming days. Just a little warning...

-jM

"Red White Mug"

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

Here it is! Coffee cup/mug painting number 2 finished. Thought it is hard enough to make any sort of commitment, let alone 100 of them, so I thought I would free form or free spirit the first few or so.

Like this handle, I just sort of made it up and it works okay, doesn't it?

Thanks Joanie for the Tribute to Coffee Cups and their handles! Now I have an idea how to approach or tackle those handles.

Thanks to Myra for the idea about getting models for this series at a reasonable price. Yesterday, I went into a Goodwill Store looking for a personal fan to help speed the drying time of the oil paintings of cups I've been doing. I didn't find a fan but I did find four new cup models! All for a $1.57! Interestingly, I found myself studying the handles of the cups. Hmm, a sub-series of cup handles....

Have a great day, I'll be back with more! I have 3, 4, 5 and 6 started! Three may be finished, I have to look at it again to make sure, maybe talk with it over coffee.   : )

-jM

"Harry's Rockview" -Sold

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Abstract and form. You can tell what this is right? I hope maybe... kind of...  a little bit?

This painting is about form. I've been reading an art book on form. You always hear art teachers talk about form...... what? I guess I knew, but didn't know that I knew!

Thanks Harry, I stole your image and used it to do this painting.
For some reason it "spoke" to me.
Hopefully, you will bill me accordingly!

-jM