Stretching

I've been drawing more than painting lately, which is not such a good idea, but I enjoy it so much. Here's the latest...

Pears Study - Available

Oil on canvas - 5 x 7"
Framed size - 13 x 15"
Susan Webb Bonnell

This painting is available for sale. If you'd like additional information, please email susanbonnell@olympus.net. Click the picture for a larger, detailed photograph.

For additional available work, click on the Director's Gallery or visit my website.

Cherries Study - Available

Oil on canvas - 5 x 7"
Framed size - 13 x 15"
Susan Webb Bonnell

This painting is available for sale. If you'd like additional information, please email susanbonnell@olympus.net. Click the picture for a larger, detailed photograph.

For additional available work, click on the Director's Gallery or visit my website.

Cherries Study - Almost Finished

Cherries - Progress

Adding color to the canvas. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

Pears

I told you I would do some work drawing while we were on vacation, and I'm so proud of myself because I DID!!! I sat in the sun overlooking beautiful Crater Lake and drew this from my photo reference. I felt a little guilty that I was not doing a beautiful landscape in such surroundings, but still life is my first love.

I was so engrossed in the drawing and my music playing on my headphones that I seriously sunburned my shoulder, to the point it turned nearly purple and peeled. Jeeze, I haven't done that silly sunburn thing in at least thirty years. Ouch.

Anyway, here's the photo and the resulting drawing. I plan to start painting on it this week or next, along with the cherries painting. My first attempt to have more than one work going at a time.

Cherries - Finished Drawing

Here's the finished drawing of Cherries. I'll start painting when we get back from our trip in a few weeks. I'll try experimenting with different backgrounds before even starting on the cherries. I'm also sure I'll paint at least one study, probably two, before working on the 'real' painting.

On Saturday we're off to Portland, Oregon to stay at the wonderful Benson Hotel, then Crater Lake, Oregon, staying with daughter and grandson at the Lodge, then to Jacksonville, Oregon to see good friends...all for fun and Bill's birthday.

I'm taking my pencils and drawing board to do some work while sipping wine and lounging about! See you soon.

New Starts - Pears

Here are the three possible set ups of pears that I plan to begin. Let me know which one you like. Standing Pears, Sitting in the Brown Bowl Pears, or Elegant in Silver Pears....You can email me if you'd rather comment that way, susanbonnell@olympus.net. Thanks in advance.

Working on Cherries, for Shawna

Here's my set up and the photo reference for my first cherries painting, for Shawna :-)

Rabble Rousers - Available

Oil on canvas - 8 x 16"
Framed size - 16 x 24"
Susan Webb Bonnell

This painting is available for sale. If you'd like additional information, please email susanbonnell@olympus.net. This painting is framed. Click the picture for a larger, detailed photograph.

Progress on Oranges

What's New...

It's been ages since I've posted or actually done any art work at all for that matter! With our trips to Santa Cruz, Carmel, Big Sur and then Roseburg, Oregon for wine tasting, I haven't done much but play! But it has been fun. And we purchased the most incredible painting by Brian Blood while we were in Carmel. His work is fantastic. Click here to visit his web site or click HERE to see the painting we bought!

So now, finally, I have started a new painting, a simple portrait of five feisty oranges. Hopefully, they will do their magic and be nice enough to sit beside the seven apples painting, 'Hooligans.'

I was also privileged to have several of my pieces shown at Gaspare Ristorante in the Phinney Ridge Art Walk last weekend! Thanks to Dianne and Gaspare for their kindness. The atmosphere and food there is absolutely wonderful. Go by for dinner sometime...you won't regret it. Click here for more info.

Working on 'Marigolds'

Vanessa - In Progress

Graphite on Bristol Paper, 12 x 18"

Drawn from the model at Gage Academy. I spent seven 3-hour sessions with Vanessa in the studio. What a wonderful model she is. It was a year ago in January that I drew the figure from life for the first time.

Waiting for Marigolds - Available

Oil on canvas - 9 x 12"

Framed size - 15 x 18"
Susan Webb Bonnell

This painting is available for sale. If you'd like additional information, please email susanbonnell@olympus.net. This painting is framed. Click the picture for a larger, detailed photograph..

Waiting for Marigolds - Finished Study

Finally finished the study of this painting. There are lots of improvements to make, but I've learned a lot and done enough on this little practice. I'm moving on to the final and larger painting of this set up sometime this week. Let me know what you think. Click on the photo for a larger image. Thanks for following along.

Hooligans - Available

Oil on canvas - 8 x 16"
Framed size - 16 x 24"
Susan Webb Bonnell

This painting is available for sale. If you'd like additional information, please email susanbonnell@olympus.net. This painting is framed. Click the picture for a larger, detailed photograph.

Vase - Painting Progress 10

This is just the study for a painting I've planned. But the study was so difficult, I'm having trouble getting motivated to do it all over AGAIN!? I may just draw for a day or two and then get up the gumption to start the 'real' painting.

Vase - Painting Progress 9

Vase - Painting Progress 8

The doily is very difficult.

Vase - Painting Progress 7

It is moving along, slowly, but moving. I have so much to learn.

Vase - Painting Progress 6

Vase - Painting Progress 5

Today. A pretty good day. Moved the study forward just a tad.

Vase - Painting Progress 4

Still struggling along.

Vase - Painting Progress 3

So this pass really did happen in one sitting. I'm pretty happy with today's work -- on the vase, the background and the shadow. This is the first time with painting this that I have been pleased at all. Finally, a good feeling day.

Vase - Painting Progress 2

Next set of passes. Let's just call it second pass and leave it at that.

Vase - Painting Progress 1

Ugh, here is the result of at least six passes, all wiped off the canvas except for this last one. Oh my. Why is it so very hard?

Vase - Finished Drawing

Think I'll call it quits on the drawing. transfer it to canvas tomorrow, and start the painting process. Makes me nervous! ACK. No confidence have I. But I do keep on keepin' on, and that's what matters, right?

Vase - Progress 3

Today doesn't look like much progress. There were some parts of the set up that I didn't understand, couldn't 'see,' and thus messed them up, had to erase and start again. I guess that is progress. It was a good day, snowy and cold -- perfect for sitting by my little space heater and drawing. And listening to Govi and Ottmar Liebert :-)

Vase Drawing - Progress 2

Today's work. It is moving along. I'm starting to like it. I for sure like the set up. Now the question is whether or not I can capture the beauty of it, first on paper, then on canvas...

Vase Drawing - Progress

Here's the start of the new still life I'm working on. The last time I was at Mama's house in OKC, she had placed this little vase on my dresser in my old bedroom and filled it with her marigolds. She was so glad I was home to visit and so was I and we had a wonderful time. That was the last time I got to spend time with her. She died six weeks later. So I've a special attachment to this little vase.

Reclining Woman - Completed

Finished. Stopping. Leaving her alone! Moving on to a new still life. Please visit my new website at susanbonnell.com. Thanks.

Feet

Been studying and working on feet lately. Next hands, then face.

Reclining Woman - In Progress

I've been working on this drawing for a couple of weeks, now nearing completion. I'll practice with a few studies of hands, feet, and faces before working on hers!