Scrambled Kind of a Morning
#84

©A.K.SIMON - Scrambled Kind of a Morning - oil on linen - $100

We have open hours in our studio on Friday mornings and I was looking around for something to paint while I was there tending shop. I finally looked at some of the challenges that Dailypaintworks posts every week and came across this beautiful picture and challenge by Ann Feldman which was posted in February of 2012. That just happened to be the same month I joined the site. What is really ironic is that I eat two soft boiled eggs (the perfect protein) every morning from a ramekin just like this. So, here you have it. I really liked the challenge of white everything with a soft color background. The reference picture was absolutely perfect even if my picture of my painting isn't. My challenge to myself for 2013 is to get adept at photographing my own work! There are some beautiful aquas in this painting that aren't coming across just yet. I will update the picture tomorrow.

A Glowing Peony
#83

©A.K.SIMON - A Glowing Peony - oil on cotton panel - $60 SOLD

Okay, because I still could, I painted today. And, in honor of the continuation of our planet - I'm offering a $40 discount on this painting just because I know there can and will be more of them. As long as the flowers bloom in the spring, there is hope! This peony was in the window of the studio of a friend and the backlight was amazing. And, because I am a glutton for punishment, I decided to paint this. Peonies are my nemesis. I know there is some order to their growth but sometime between when I start and when I finish I lose that order! This one (two I should say but the second one is facing away) had a glow I liked when finished and a feel of warmth that seems inviting to me. And, I think it bears some semblance to a peony. Done deal for now, but the subject matter will be revisited.

I Wish I Had a Coat
#82

©A.K.SIMON - I Wish I Had a Coat - oil on panel - $100

Though I did this piece a while ago it seemed most appropriate for the day that the world is predicted to end as we know it. All you can do it brace yourself for what may come. Now you know I really am just kidding, right? It's mostly about drastic weather changes in Ohio. Last week it was 60 and lovely - today we expect 3" of snow and the winds were raging last night. 

This work is a really quick study of a student at Capital University where I took some classes with Michael McEwan, the resident artist. The model had her sleeves pulled down around her hands and thank goodness (since mouths are so hard to paint) she had her mouth covered. What you don't see are her ipod ear buds because she likes to listen to music while she poses. The work is done on one of those slippery panels that do nothing but work against your efforts at applying paint. I like the spontaneity of this piece and found I did not want to touch it after the 45 minute initial sketch because I would lose the spontaneity. All the movement of the brush strokes is like the energy her body is expelling to generate heat.

Breakfast with the Hydrangeas
#81

©A.K.SIMON - Breakfast with the Hydrangeas - oil on linen - $100

I did this painting from one of Donna's setups in the Tuesday morning upstairs painter class. There was a candle glowing off to the right of what you see so I tried to keep that strong, glowing light source. Sometimes keeping the light right can be difficult because we have overhead incandescent, window light and the added candlelight in this piece. The goal in this piece was loose, thick and fast. Although the photo does not show the thickness of the paint, it is there. I kept it loose by talking with friends the entire time I painted (well I occasionally listened). This work was finished at the end of class except for some added darkest darks. As always, the painting is much better than the picture. Hydrangeas can be suck "fussy" flowers to paint!

The Dead of Winter
#80

©A.K.SIMON - The Dead of Winter - oil on canvas - $250 w/frame - 12" x 12"

This is a service road at Three Creeks Metro Park where I walk my dog. The snow had just fallen overnight and the sky looked like there would be more coming at any moment. I love the "quiet" of snow so we bundled up and ventured out with camera of course. I do some plein air work but this snow was way too deep and the air was way too cold! We were the only one's in the park that day - how lucky are we? Anyway, the title has dual meaning. Of course chronologically it is the dead of winter but if you look closely there is one of those orange bands that the park rangers use to mark diseased or broken trees for removal in the spring. So, morbid as I am (not really), it seemed akin to a toe tag on someone in the morgue (body on ice). So here you have it, the "dead" of winter being presented to you in the "dead of winter". Plus, a painting can't be finished without red, right? I used weird colors for this one - radiant blue, greenish umber, burnt umber, cobalt violet and tons of white. This is really impasto which may or may not show because of differing monitors.

All My Money in One Pot
#79

©A.K.SIMON - All My Money in One Pot - oil on linen - 10" x 8" - $100

This was a play between the thin paper-like feel of the money plant and the thin wings of the almost obscure dragon fly sitting on the little glass jar. And then there was the challenge of the mirror in the background. I have always been fascinated with how the seed of the money plant is held in that thin tissue layer. Then once removed what is left is a beautiful layer of tissue almost like vellum. And, I love painting on vellum.

Awaiting Final Arrangements
#78

©A.K.SIMON - Awaiting Final Arrangements - oil on linen - $100

Tis the season for red and green and this vase was "eye popping" red and in true challenge form, Donna placed a red rose right beside that red vase in the class set up. I guess with the striped wallpaper and the roses I got kind of a "funeral home" feel, thus the name of the title. We give ourselves only three hours to paint these so it can be a real challenge to get them done. This one did not make the cut. I had to work on this a little in the studio after class. Funny thing about this one is that it looks very traditional in a gold frame then putting it in a black frame really gives it a contemporary feel.

Just squeeze the neck in and put a stick in it and you have a beautiful cinnamon candied apple!

All That's Glittering is Gold
#77

©A.K.SIMON - All That's Glittering is Gold - oil on linen - $100

Well the Christmas card painting is done. I started it Tuesday and finished it tonight during our annual Christmas in the Village in Canal Winchester, OH. This is just a small area of a larger set up. The vase contained a beautiful white poinsettia which I am just barely showing at the top edge. I LOVE these simple gold ornaments and use them all over my tree. They remind me of the Victorian gazing balls (probably even created in Victorian days)  and speak of a season of reflection. Can't believe another year is racing to the finish! 

This one will be printed and in your mailbox soon! (Thank God for online printers!)

PS sorry for the crappy picture - I took it with my tablet in very horrible conditions - a better one to come soon.

Now That's a Crock
#76


©A.K.SIMON - Now That's a Crock - oil on linen - $100

Lightening up was the challenge for today. I tend to lean toward the dark and dramatic so I really made a conscious effort to keep my colors light. There is plenty of texture on this painting but once again photography fails to reveal life. My greatest challenge is photographing my work even though I have read how to do it I still have trouble. Maybe it is because my eyesight is so bad!

Protective Custody
#75

©A.K.SIMON - Protective Custody - Oil on Linen - $100

These fine fruits are in protective custody because they do not wish to be genetically modified - "nuf said"!

This bowl of fruit was a small portion of a larger set up - this section captured my attention because the way the leaves are almost guarding the bowl like sentries. Since my husband has been fighting genetically modified foods for years, this title came to mind. 

I really wanted to make the blue, orange and red pop so I made everything else gray. 

Bringing Fall Inside
# 74

©A.K.SIMON - Bringing Fall Inside - oil on linen - $100

Finished this one about 3 weeks ago and have it framed in black and already hanging in the studio. Seems I can finish them but can't seem to get them photographed and posted in a timely manner. This set up was done by Donna in our "upstairs paint class" and she is always pushing the "challenge envelope". In this case, yellow cloth with yellow mums. The pot reminds me of some ancient Greek pottery. Anyway, this is what I came up with as far as light and dark patterns. I even included the bird statue which I almost never do. 

Anyway, so when I painted this I asked my husband what he thought. He said, "nice vase". So, the other day he was in my studio and said, "hmmm I really like the vase in this painting, did I ever see this one." Really! I'll attribute the comment to his age and not an unmemorable painting!