Diffusing the Situation

© A.K.Simon - Diffusing The Situation - 8"x8" oil on cotton $100

 

These are those diffuser wicks that add aroma without burning. These were sitting in a vase that was placed in front of a framing mat. I just liked the contemporary look of the color, and being a graphic designer, I am always attracted to "grid like" lines behind an object. Plus, I thought it was kind of funny that the vase actually looks like the bombs they always used in the old cartoons like Wylie Coyote. Is it sad that I actually wanted him to catch that Road Runner at least once?

I did this piece on cotton instead of my usual linen and I had a really hard time taking a photo of it while it is wet because of the fabric texture. This is exactly why I don't usually paint on cotton because I feel the texture of the surface competes with the design when it is very simple like this one.

Mist Over The Harvest

©A.K.Simon - Mist Over The Harvest - $100 - 8"x8" oil on linen

It's really hard to resist painting landscapes this time of year. The other morning I was driving to work and finally decided to stop and snap a picture of this farm that I have been passing by for years. Of course the only camera I had was my Samsung tablet (which I somehow can't live without now). There was so much humidity in the air leaving a soft, warm mist hanging over the farm structures and equipment (the quiet was deafening).

I stopped painting landscapes almost two years ago because I was so dissatisfied with my work. I decided that I would focus on still life to try and hone in on reading values and light more accurately. So, I'm ready to start tackling the outdoors again. Here's the first one in a series of the Klamfoth Farm. This one is still tighter than I would like to see.

Donna's New Vase

© A.K.SIMON - 8"x8" oil on linen - $100

Some artist friends went to Gatlinburg, TN to paint a few weeks ago and Donna bought this beautiful soapstone vase from an artist/s studio there (sorry I don't know his name). It's such a beautiful piece and I'm sure I didn't do it justice because I chose not to include the beautiful veins running through it but I thought it would be too busy with all the dried pods. This group of friends have been traveling to TN every year for probably more than 20 years. They are all artists and spend the week just doing whatever they want and dining on the fabulous food at the Buckhorn Inn http://www.buckhorninn.com/. This Inn is very "artist friendly."