Postcards From The Easel A Blog about the Art and Artifice of Still Life Painting
Finding The Unity
This week’s featured painting is “Creamer and Mandarin Orange” from 2020. It is done with oil on panel, and measures 5 x 5 inches.Within a work of art, unity is rarely achieved by grouping identical things together – it’s often just monotonous.Nor is it achieved by grouping together things which are completely alien to each […]
A Dozen Teapots
This week’s featured painting is “Tea with Oranges” from 2017. It is done with oil on linen, and measures 9 x 12 inches.I have well over a dozen teapots in my studio, and a few of them have been in multiple paintings. But as far as I can recall, this painting is the only time […]
It’s Not All Painting
Most people would probably say that there are parts of their job that don’t seem like they have much to do with the job title.This is likely the case with any corporate job – I certainly experienced it when I worked as a computer programmer (a long time ago).It’s even more true with artists, who […]
Harmonizing Objects in a Painting
In the course of a making a painting like this, I spend a lot of time deciding what goes well with what, and then trying to understand why. Although I have at least a thousand props in my studio – things that could be used in a painting – there is a handful of objects that have […]
Pillars of Light
Lime No. 2 “Lime No. 2” Oil on panel, 5×5 inches, 2010 (sold) I just loved the way this particular lime rested on the wood – almost like it wasn’t entirely comfortable and sure of itself – maybe even a little uneasy. Even humble pieces of fruit are unique and individual, and they often […]
Taking Inspiration From The Past
“How could I have done that differently?”If you’re like me, it’s a pretty common question.It’s more emotionally charged than just a simple memory, though hopefully not to the point of being burdened with regret.Just an honest assessment of how you would have acted then given what you know now.As a painter, I find myself asking […]
Lime No. 2
Lime No. 2 “Lime No. 2” Oil on panel, 5×5 inches, 2010 (sold) I just loved the way this particular lime rested on the wood – almost like it wasn’t entirely comfortable and sure of itself – maybe even a little uneasy. Even humble pieces of fruit are unique and individual, and they often […]
Red Apple No. 5
Red Apple No. 5 “Red Apple No. 5” Oil on panel, 5×5 inches, 2012 (sold)Autumn is here. For your enjoyment, this is “Red Apple No. 5”, oil on panel, 4×4 inches, 2012 (sold) I finish between 1 and 4 paintings every month, and show them to my subscribers first. To learn more, click […]
Kalf’s Lost Lemon
Kalf’s Lost Lemon Willem Kalf: detail from “Still Life with Lobster, Drinking Horn and Glasses” Oil on canvas, 34 x 40 inches, 1653For a moment, it was heart-breaking. I could tell that the ghostly lemon had once been a wonder – perfectly shaped, no doubt with vibrant color and exquisite detail. Yet, it […]
Glass, Lemon, Blue Silk, Red Napkin
Glass, Lemon, Blue Silk, Red Napkin “Glass, Lemon, Blue Silk, Red Napkin” Oil on linen, 8×6 inches, 2021 (Available) “Glass, Lemon, Blue Silk, Red Napkin” is a view into a moment of calm contemplation, and the unexpected delights we often find there. A fresh lemon, vivid red napkin, and shimmering blue silk serve as […]
Red Plum II
Red Plum II “Red Plum II” Oil on copper, 5×5 inches, 2013 (Sold) This painting was done on a sheet of prepared copper. Though it might sound like an unusual surface to paint on, it’s actually wonderful to use, and has a long history. Some of the best-preserved paintings I’ve seen were done on […]
Huddle
Huddle “Huddle” Oil on linen, 10×8 inches, 2018 (Sold) There’s something about falling shadows that makes me think of frozen time, and this painting is especially rich with them.For your enjoyment, this is “Huddle”, oil on panel, 10×8 inches, 2018 (sold) I finish between 1 and 4 paintings every month, and show them […]
Self-Portraits In Still Life
Self-Portraits In Still Life “Plum, Silver Creamer, Red Napkin” Oil on panel, 5×5 inches, 2021 (Prints are available)I’m not a portrait painter, and I never will be. I’ve done a few, and they were all disappointments. There’s just something about the process of painting people that doesn’t connect with me – it felt […]
First Among Equals
First Among Equals “First Among Equals” Oil on canvas, 20×50 inches, 2013 (Sold)I love to look at well done paintings of groups of people. There’s a real art and finesse in grouping things in a way that feels natural and lively, and not stiff and forced. It’s quite musical, actually – as the eye moves […]
My Favorite Painting
My Favorite Painting Willem Kalf: “Still Life with Lobster, Drinking Horn and Glasses” Oil on canvas, 34 x 40 inches, 1653I recently had dinner with a friend and we got to talking about still life painting in general and what I find so fascinating about it. He also asked if I had a […]
Why Still Life?
Why Still Life? “Lemon, Creamer, Plum” Oil on panel, 5×5 inches, 2021 (Available)A friend recently asked me “why still life?” Why do I feel passionate enough to devote my entire working life to it? Since you are reading this, you must also feel some connection with this kind of painting, even if you […]
Spoon, Earthenware Jar, and Wineglass
Spoon, Earthenware Jar, and Wineglass “Spoon, Earthenware Jar, and Wineglass” Oil on panel, 5×6 inches, 2011 (Sold)The small vase in this painting is one of my favorite props. There is nothing special about it, and I don’t even remember how it made its way into my studio. But there is an understated simplicity […]
Still Life with Green Marble Egg
Still Life with Green Marble Egg “Still Life with Green Marble Egg” Oil on panel, 4×6 inches, 2009 (Sold)About a dozen years ago, I bought a small collection of stone eggs for use in my studio. They’re all about the same size and shape as regular eggs, but are crafted from many different […]
Family Portrait
Family Portrait “Family Portrait” Oil on panel, 20×16 inches, 2017 (Sold)This was a commission from a family that wanted a painting composed entirely of things that were important to them. Everything you see here tells a part of that family’s story – even the yellow silk cloth, which was purchased in Thailand in […]
Peeled Lemon with Knife
Peeled Lemon with Knife “Peeled Lemon with Knife” Oil on copper, 2×5 inches, 2013 (Sold)This painting was done on a copper panel. Not only is it a wonderful surface to paint on, but it is extremely durable – I have seen 400 year old paintings on copper that look so fresh, they could […]