Battle of the Fruits

Miniature #17- 20
Oil on canvas board
12"x16" oil
January 17, 2009

There's part of me that screams, "Cheater! You can't s-l-o-w-l-y release one painting and number it as four separate entities." On the other hand, this was intended as four separate pieces -- they were clumped together only because I didn't have small canvas boards left. I actually drew four neat rectangles and intended to demarcate each corner with black boxes, but on a spur of the moment, I merged the backgrounds. It looks so much freer and spontaneous this way. I hope you enjoy. I haven't been doing "real" work for 6 days, so in the next few days, there will be less art and more catching up to life.

Battle of the Fruits: Cherry

Miniature #20 (part 4/4)
Oil on canvas board
12"x16" oil
January 17, 2009

Even though there are three of them, if this was a battle, cherry would lose. They're the ones I'm least satisfied with in this arrangement. To my credit, I was really tired by the time I started the cherries and I was sick. I planned to come back and finish this when the first layer dried. However, I left the cherries on the counter and in the space of 48 hours, they had gone to mush. :( Next time, I need to get those pink-orange cherries instead of the black ones -- I like the taste less but the appearance more.

Battle of the Fruits: Banana

Miniature #19 (part 3/4)
Oil on canvas board
12"x16" oil
January 17, 2009

Bananas are my favourite fruit. I refuse to listen to that high starch, diet-killer talk. Bananas are great and will one day rule the earth. I love the shadow of the banana stem. It looks like a nice ballad -- if ever one could see sounds. When I have time to spare, I like to slice my bananas before popping each piece in my mouth using the knife. It creeps my male friends out. Oh.... well. You can't please everyone, but guys, I hope you still like the painting.

Battle of the Fruits: Kiwi

Miniature #18 (part 2/4)
Oil on canvas board
12"x16" oil
January 17, 2009

I always wanted to paint a realistic kiwi with the dull, muted browns and the deep earthy greens, but as soon as I start, I lose control and render this loose, shiny, jewel-like fruit. Kiwis just refuse to behave!

Battle of the Fruits: Apple

Miniature #17 (part 1)
Oil on canvas board
12"x16" oil
January 17, 2009

In case you're wondering why I have been posting so frequently recently. It's because I caught a nasty flu and didn't leave the house. However, I'm too hyperactive to stay nice and put in bed, so I alternated regularly between painting at the kitchen table and crashing on the couch watching mindless TV. I painted so much that I actually ran out of my miniature canvases. :( So, I split a large one in four. This is part one of the series. This style is looser than I usually am but I nevertheless like it.

From Beauty to Beauty

Miniature #16
Oil on canvas board
7"x9" oil
January 17, 2009

This is an earring stand -- once again borrowed from my flatmate. On that note, shoutout to Emily. I LOVE YOU. Your things are fabulous. If it wasn't for you, all I would ever paint is stuff I find in the fridge and would otherwise stuff in my mouth. Each of the swirls coming from the head are metal bars you're suppposed to hang earrings on. Since the stand is pretty and my Emily is pretty, I'm calling this painting "From Beauty to Beauty." The ballroom gown is absolutely lovely. The part I like the most are the peacock feathers. The photo fails to capture the iridescent green/black layering of the feathers. It just looks plain black here. What a shame! You've got to see this in person.

With Love, Mom

Miniature #15
Oil on canvas board
7"x9" oil
January 17, 2009

With Love, Mom
I borrowed this hairband from my flatmate. It looked so lovely and girlish. It is actually the peachy beige I painted the background in but my camera failed to capture the colour exactly. :( I started this painting intending it to be monochrome and nostalgic but it seemed to want to be chirpy and bubbly so in popped the fabulous pinks, purples, greens. It's not an expensive hairband, but it looks soft and silky -- the kind of thing a poverty-stricken mother would spend her last penny on to give her little girl. Awwww....