Painting Metal

I was about to say I'm challenging myself to paint metallic objects.  But it really isn't all that challenging.  If you just get the contrasts right, getting a metallic sheen isn't that difficult.
I've set myself up to paint a few more.   It's really quite fun.

Scissors and Ribbon

Scissors and Ribbon II

6" x 6" x 1.5"

$75

And then there were two......

Slightly out of focus so I will replace with a better photo.  Wish I had a patterned background for this one.  I think I will re-shoot this combination

with a lovely damask fabric I just recently bought.

And here is the theme as it is shaping up.  

Themes

Scissors and Thread

6" x 6" x 1.5"

$75

Up Next

These scissors have formed the center of my theme of sewing implements.

They are hand forged and made and work incredibly well.  I love gray and white and stripes so these two items will be used again and again.  I've just s tarted another and I have a feeling I'll like this one better.  It's a simpler start.  I sort of got lost in the detail of the wood grain and then decided to downplay it.

On My Easel

On My Easel  this morning.  Easing my way back to a series of small format paintings this week and the sewing series is one I wanted to continue with.

A little bit left to do to balance lights and darks and tweak colors.

Another View

6" x 6"

Oil on wood panel

Brass Scissors on Patchwork II

Here is the other version of the brass scissors painted in oils completed about ten days ago.  I was encouraged by the gray version and decided to paint them again.  

When not to listen to myself...

Scissors on Patchwork

Watercolor on

8" x 8" Clayboard

Repeating this one in watercolor so soon after painting it in oils left me unimpressed.  It's hard to compete with the richness of color of the oils.  But I did have this sample of Clayboard by Ampersand that I wanted to try and do find it interesting.  For example it is easy to wipe back to pick out highlights that were lost.  But that does make it a bit tricky to keep it from getting muddy.  But all the while my conscious brain is saying I'm not enthralled my

subconscious is saying "I wonder if I have more of these boards to keep playing?".

I haven't priced this one simply because I'm not sure what my framing options will be.  For example, I've read about varnished watercolors but I haven't explored this possibility and now would be the time to try it since it's on clayboard.  This means framing without glass which is another benefit.  If anyone has experience with varnishing watercolors, I'd love to hear about it.

Brass Scissors on Gray Fabric

Brass Scissors on Gray Fabric

6" x 6" Oil on wood

My favorite hand crafted scissors.  I posted a photo of a painting completed last month on a more colorful background but this time the gray background

enhances the brass.  Fun to paint but I really should do a grouping soon.

Side note:  I literally cringed when I posted this title but I figure it would take me forever to come up with something clever so I decided to just get on with it!

Working in a Series

6" x 6" oil on wood

$80

Scissors and Thread

I wanted to call this one "Needle Pulling Thread" but I hadn't painted a needle.  I am tortured by coming up with titles!  I painted a smaller version of this one last year (5" x 5") but wanted to do a series of three that had to do with sewing, so I'm using this one again.  Inspired by my hand made brass scissors, (will post that one later this week), I prepared three panels for this 

theme.  I'll likely do more for this series as one thing leads to another and I have ideas that I'd like to follow through on.

My other favorite thing....

Scissors on Patchwork

6" x 6" Oil on Wood Cradled Panel

$80

Late last summer I drove to Kennebunkport, Maine and spotted these scissors in a little home decor boutique that was about to close down.  I only bought the one pair but now I wish I had bought several.  I enjoy sewing but I enjoy fabric shopping even more.  These scissors just called out to be painted as I walked past my sewing machine and enjoyed the look of the brass against the patterns of the fabric.  I'm sure they will make their way into more paintings in the near future.