Thrusting Banana

Miniature #10
Oil on canvas board
7"x9" oil
Sometime between September and December 2008

The title seems suggestive, but the meaning is truly innocent – this painting reminds me of a walrus jumping from a platform into a pool. Can’t anyone just see the flippers and hear that delightful sound? This plate is absolutely beautiful so I’ll need to show it off on its own someday. Concerning logistics, I wanted the banana to look just right so I kept on biting it hoping that Providence grant me something interesting. At one point, the fruit got so short, I had to peel a second one and start all over again. No wonder I’m not hungry after a painting session!

A Green Delight

Miniature #9
Oil on canvas board
7"x9" oil
Sometime between September and December 2008

I don't feel 100% satisfied with this so I didn't want to post it at first; however, I haven't updated in so long that I might just as well show people the botched painbtings. I don't think I got the flesh of the apple or the triangular highlight just right yet. On the plus side, I'm really satisfied with how the bowl and its shadow came out. It's a pretty ordinary white bowl, but I love the blue shadows inside it.

Orange You Glad?

Miniature #8
Oil on canvas board
7"x9" oil
September 10, 2008

I painted this last Wednesday. After failing a landscape painting, I decided to tackle a wedge of orange. I am a compulsive correcter, constantly finding faults and repainting over areas. This time, I tried to restrain myself, calculate my brushstrokes and not overdo it. The white you see in the background is actually virgin canvas. Orange you glad I didn't overdo it?

Kiwitastic

Miniature #7
Oil on canvas board
7"x9" oil
First week of September, 2008

In retrospect, I really didn't like paintings 5 and 6 -- they were too low key for my taste. I love the vibrant greens of the kiwi flesh. The orange makes the slices pop out even more. The background is giving me light retina burns though. :)

Orphaned Kitten

Miniature #6
Oil on canvas board
7"x9" oil
August 6, 2008

Years ago, my mom picked up a pair of ceramic kittens for me. She tought they were adorable, but I absolutely hated them. A while later, one came crashing to the ground and shattered. I laughed. Recently, I didn't have anything else handy to paint, so I decided to paint this lone kitty (on canvas, not on the actual ceramic that is). It doesn't look nearly as ugly anymore. I'm even starting to find it cute. Focusing on an object for an extended time really makes you see it differently.

The Old and the New

Miniature #5
Oil on canvas board
7"x9" oil
August 6, 2008

I truly hope that the Chinese Olympics are going to be successful. People have been making such a big deal out of it so now it feels that either China will succeed or fail -- there is no middle ground left. China is a traditional country making progressive steps towards modern society, so this painting reminded me of that. First, you have the ancient Chinese ashtray and then you have the new polyethylene coaster. Can they work together? Well, it did for me. :)

Polish Delight

Miniature #4
Oil on canvas board
7"x9" oil
June ?, 2008

I never tasted Turkish Delight before, but these individually packaged chocolates we get from a Polish store are amazing. Too bad I started this painting during a heat wave and under an intense light bulb. When I picked the chocolate up after I finished painting, it was all soft and molten. I refrigerated it and had fun licking pieces off the foil. :)