Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Cups.... again with the cups!



Last night I decided I needed to do a small painting. I had been to the gallery to take the Haiti painting in, and took a peek at my new space (spaces are moved every month or so.) It reminded me that I am working this coming Saturday, and I like to change out my paintings, and add at least one new one every month when I work there. I sold most of my small pieces at the miniature exhibit before the New Year. So I went to the studio to 'whip one out.'

I love painting this way; painting the whole canvas, then wiping out the positive spaces, which leaves a nice underpainting and, in this case, a background I pretty much left. The painting is small, 8x8 inches, so it only took about an hour to do. The teacups are my three favorites: a green depression glass one a friend gave me, a white Fiesta Ware one my daughter-in-law gave me, and the purple flowered china one I bought myself at the Hospice resale shop. I don't know what made me choose the orange/gold background. I think I originally intended to cover it all up, and just leave it as a warm underpainting, but as the painting progressed, I fell in love with it. It seems to me to have that vintage look that is appropriate for the cups. Now, I just hope it dries before Saturday!



I have been doing all of these small paintings on inch-and-a-half to two-inch deep gallery wrapped canvas (no staples) and painting the sides to go with the painting so they hang on their own, not needing a frame. It gives them a very contemporary, clean presentation that I like a lot.

4 comments:

Valerie said...

Hmmm...the colors in your painting are similar to the colors for your March tapestry. Interesting how colors work in our lives.

I love that green glass cup!

K Spoering said...

So funny that you should notice that, Valerie! I didn't. But then, with all that yarn I'd just picked out hours before lying nearby, my delight in the colors clearly DID influence my palette as I painted. Live and learn! Thanks.

Theresa said...

I noticed the same thing, spring colors at that, greens, yellows and purples all remind me of things coming to bloom in the spring.
Charming little painting. I need to go check the gallery out again!

Jennifer said...

I think Valarie's comments is interesting - I didn't notice it either! I was just going to say that the orange background reminds me of the afternoon sun on the wall - when I most enjoy a cup of tea....

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