Fruit and Flowers

Fruit and Flowers
Oil on gessoed board
NFS

Well it was raining today and I couldn't photograph what I'd painted yesterday, so it seems a good opportunity to post this one. This is a commission I painted recently for a wedding anniversary, with the theme of fruit and flowers.

Three Nectarines in a Dish

Three Nectarines in a DishOil on gessoed board
200x200mm

$350
sold

It's interesting sometimes, what can be the decided factor for me in choosing a subject to paint. In this case it was the little chink of light in the shadow between the two front nectarines. And the smell. I love the fragrance of nectarines even more than the taste! It took me a while to settle into this painting - I hadn't been feeling very focused for a few days. However, by the end of the afternoon I felt I had got it finished to my satisfaction. Next morning, looking at it with fresh eyes, the dish seemed hopelessly cock-eyed! It's funny how you can be so engrossed in the nuance of colour and tone that you don't even notice when the drawing is out! There was nothing for it really... I had to repaint the dish, and I reworked the forground and shadow too.

Bowl of Mixed Fruit

Bowl of Mixed Fruit

Oil on gessoed board

205 x 230mm or 8 x 9"

$400

I was initially attracted by the different kinds of fruit all in the one bowl, kind of like a "ship of fools" sort of thing. Or something. I liked the symetrical balance of the two red tomatos echoing the decorative handles on the bowl.