Apples in a Basket

This is just a quick little oil sketch of apples in a basket that I did for a friend. Last year, when I was getting ready for our big 3-person show here at the Jaffrey Civic Center, Becky, who works at our Chamber of Commerce, was very helpful. So I gave her a small miniature painting of Mt. Monadnock as a way to say "thanks."  I decided that since she always goes above and beyond, I should make this an annual event. So, this is her "thank you" for this year.  Its small enough that she can just prop it up on a miniature easel on her desk.

I am working towards more color, and a bit looser style, so these little works are a great way to practice.  I have fun, and sometimes get a little gem in the process.

This was one great benefit of doing the daily painting.  The discipline of doing a painting every day is beneficial in itself, but since I also was aiming to spend a limited amount of time, this practice really helped me to focus on essentials - get the concept and the main essence of whatever I was painting. That skill has been incredibly useful in doing larger works, and especially in doing plein air, where it is absolutely necessary to get the big idea down on canvas quickly.

In upcoming posts, I hope to do some more painting-in-progress demonstrations, so stay tuned for that!