Chocolate Dip

I've been trying for two days to upload my finished painting "Dandelion" and for some reason the painting's colors are very washed out compared to the actual jpeg. Has anyone else experienced this problem? I noticed this with my last post, but since the painting was in process, instead of completed, I didn't worry much about it. I am using a Mac with iPhoto to crop the image and making zero adjustments to color. The jpeg is vibrant, but when I load it into blogger, it loses a lot of color??? If anyone knows what I might be doing wrong, please let me know. The painting above posted very close to the original jpeg, I can't figure it out???

While I was trying to figure it all out, I luckily decided to paint this monochromatic painting. I talk a lot about color, but not much about value, which is a key component in inspiring my paintings. I have always loved monochrome paintings and value studies, and don't know why I don't do them more often. They seem quiet and still to me. The actual bow is red, but I used Burnt Umber, Payne's Grey, and white, to show the form using only value.

Besides the actual meaning I find behind these bows and presents, they offer a kaleidoscope of color and strong value shifts within one single object, and I seem to never tire of their possibilities.

"Nesting"

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I am sorry I could not get the picture straighter. My photography skills have been terrible the last several posts. Must be all the over consumption of caffeine! I will save this little one for the show as well, and hopefully get a better picture of it before it makes its way to Atlanta. I think this painting will be best seen in person no matter how good of a photo I get anyway. I do love how it turned out and feel it captures the 'hushed' mood I've been in as of late.

"Summer Leaves"

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I've been trying for two days to get a decent picture of this painting and still haven't manage to get one. I'm not sure what is going on, normally the light is so great in my studio that my photos turn out perfect. The greens are actually much richer and warmer. Anyway, at least you can see the painting and an example of the frames I've been using for these smaller sized paintings. These "floater frames" allow the edges of the canvas to be seen, which in this painting I left the earthy orange color that served as the canvas undertone.

My original inspiration for this painting came from the variety of greens that late summer brings and the beauty of the dappled shadows that will soon be gone once all our trees lose their leaves. This is one of my favorite times of the year in Chicago, almost over night the leaves change. No, not their colors yet, but their sound. The wind plays a new song.

"Patience"

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Somehow, some way, this painting decided to change course. The present just no longer looked as if it wanted to wave and flap about, suddenly and wonderfully it just seemed still. I suppose sometimes on some days you desperately want to flutter about, and sometimes on some days
you are willing to spread your wings and simply wait - content.

Lake Shore, Wilson Avenue

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This little series is finally finished. I started my blog with the blue present and basically painted in reverse. I wanted to show all four paintings together and I am thrilled they are staying together as a group. A collector here in Chicago purchased them but they are travelling soon to his new bed and breakfast in New Orleans. Next for me ..... you guessed it, more presents. I am going to take Debbie Miller's advice and do several smaller sized presents for an up-coming "Open Studio" I hope to be participating in next month.

Oh shucks, I thought all four were going to be lined up horizontally!! Oh well, hopefully you can visualize what it should look. If anyone out there knows how I can arrange this so all four are together please let me know.

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My original concept was to have four paintings, each showing part of a present. So here is the third. This project has been a challenge in trying to make all the paintings work together, while at the same time making them individually strong enough to stand alone.