Metryoshka & Melon



©A.K.SIMON - Metryoshka & Melon - 10"x8" oil on cotton $125

For those who are not familiar with a Metryoshka, it is a set of wooden nesting dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. The figures may be either gender but the outer shell is usually female and they typically follow a theme. There tend to be five figures and each one may be of any gender with the smallest one usually being a baby. 


This doll ended up in my painting because my friend, Becky visited Russia and brought this doll back to our teacher Donna as a gift. And if you know Donna, you have to know that all of the gifts you give her end up in a still life someday! (moral: choose your gifts wisely) As for the melon, doesn't everyone eat melon while admiring their Metryoshka?

Three Amigos

Today starts a new chapter in my art career. Yesterday I joined an online gallery called DPW (Daily Paintworks). With this online ability I can not only get my work out faster, I have the ability to auction the work. This week's focus for me is on Red to celebrate Valentine's day. The first work that went to auction just this morning is my post from 2/1. You can get a glimpse of the work in the sidebar under the DPW widget. For those of you who love art, it really is a pleasure to peruse all of the beautiful art pieces that are posted daily. Warning, it can be addicting. I know firsthand!


Three Amigos is another of my favorite pieces. First, because I love red, and second because of the perspective. This plate was such an odd shape that I decided to become "one with it" and run the edges of the plate along the edge of the canvas. So, the shape here is the actual shape of the plate. Three Amigos will start in auction at DPW tomorrow but there are other works that can be purchased directly from my gallery there (it redirects to my website).

My Favorite Things



©A.K.SIMON - My Favorite Things - 8"x10" oil on linen $150

If I really have a favorite color it would be green. But, green has so many variations how could  I possibly choose? This painting has clear red glass which is so striking juxtaposed to a fragile white tea cup. They constantly fight for your attention, sort of like husbands and children! But I digress. This painting speaks of "femaleness" to me. The teacup fragile and small but willing to take the lead, the bold red saying, "I may be in back but I will be noticed," and who could forget the ever-present "pepto-bismol" pink that has become associated with breast cancer awareness. "Frooffy" female painting, I think not! Fragile but fierce is a better expletive.


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All My Money in One Pot

© A.K.SIMON - All My Money in One Pot - oil on linen - $150

How interesting for most of us that in these economic times all of our money would probably fit in a vessel this small! I've read that the plant is called the money plant simply because of the coin-shaped leaves. I also read that if you plant a money tree near your home it wll bring you prosperity. Maybe we should plant a forest on the Whitehouse Lawn (lol). 

This still life set up by my friend Donna has some interesting surfaces. I do like the kind of "watercolorish" feel of the painting and my favorite part is the blue-green jar. Did you notice the little dragonfly on top of the jar? 

1 Euonymous, 2 Euonymous, 3 Euonymous, 4




SOLD

I never knew that there was a variety of euonymous that produced a berry (I can hear Sheila saying, "I can't believe you don't know that"). So, when our Tuesday morning friends got together to paint, and I saw these little red berries, I was inspired. Turns out you shouldn't get too cozy with them either because they are poisonous - isn't it always the red ones that get you! I've heard it is often confused with bittersweet.

I love this painting. I consider it one of my most successful pieces. I knew it would be a challenge to paint the red on red but the little beige "berry hats" help to frame them. I liked this one so much I used it for our Christmas Card - "Have a Berry Merry Christmas" - what can I say - the red and green work.

The Daily Dance of the Tulips




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Every once in a while I like to do some colored pencil work. The title for this piece came about when I discovered after cutting tulips they still move as if they are connected to life. Each day they would move according to the sun in the window. It really is amazing that there innate instinct remains even when they are removed from their source of nutrient. This piece won an honorable mention at a colored pencil show in a gallery in the Columbus area. If I do colored pencil I like to do it on wood panels then varnish it. I just don't like to put all of that labor intensive pencil work behind glass.

Blue-Glass Festival


This is the first post of 2012 and I would appreciate it if you would sign up to receive and also share this blog in your social networks. Studio 7.5 continues to be open on Saturday morning/afternoon from 10 AM to 2 PM. What better thing to do on a winter Saturday morning than look at art. Okay, so maybe you can think of some things, but including a trip to our studio couldn't hurt! 

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This is the favorite blue vase of my friend Donna and she combined it in a still-life with her favorite blue/white coffee mug. Putting in that orange complement really makes the blue pop. The gold rim is just right. This painting was done (for the most part) in one sitting.