Late Afternoon

I've started the canvas size drawing, 10 x 20" of these magnificent apples in the warm, quiet late afternoon sun.  They seem to glow from within and THAT -- the light -- always the light, is what is there to be captured.  The light, the glorious image, and the emotion of the moment are what I have to hold onto throughout the whole painting process.  If I lose any of those, the painting loses its meaning.  So here we go....

From tiny beginnings....

Ah, finally, today I started a new painting.  This is the preliminary tiny, tiny sketch of the set up.  This sketch is about 2 x 6" with the final canvas measuring 10 x 20 inches.  This should be fun.  I'll keep you posted along the way.  Promise.

Finishing up...

Just finished up with the final version of Clementines.  It's now available for sale.  Please contact me at susanbonnell@olympus.net if you're interested.  Thanks for looking.

Reach

Graphite on Strathmore Smooth. 
Drawing is approximately 14 x 18, framed and matted 18 x 24.
Prints $50, Framed prints $150

Starting Again...

Wow, it's been a long time since I've been here to post anything at all!  This has been a great year, in all ways.  No doubt the best part is continued good health for Bill and I, with a close runner up being the six weeks we spent in France in September.  A few days in Paris, then a month in Collioure on the beach, doing very little painting, but lots of eating and drinking and fun, a little time in Beynac, and a few days in Amboise where daVinci lived and is buried.

In our art world, it was a good year too.  I started AND finished and sold the 8 x 10" 'Cherries' painting to a lovely patron :-) and Bill and I celebrated with her over lunch at Palamino's in downtown Seattle.  Also sold two framed prints of 'Tired' and 'Stretch,' my 'girls' -- the drawings from 2012, to another lovely client who has purchased before.  Then, I finally finished a third drawing, this one called 'Reach' and sold a print of that at our annual Holiday Party/Art Showing.   The two small paintings of golden pears, 'Pears in a Bowl' and 'Just Standing 'Round' sold to two new clients, too.  On top of all that good news, quite a few of Bill's pieces sold at the art showing also!

I'm working on finishing a slightly impressionist version of a Santa Cruz beach scene (where we were in May) and finishing yet another version of Clementines.  Then off to new ideas and work.

Thanks so much for following along.  I AM going to paint more this year.  Promise to self. And to you.

I hope your Holidays are filled with joy, fun, food, drink, and of course, some good art!

The photo is of Bill and I in Collioure at the annual Sardine Festival in Collioure.

Bill's Work...

Here are five of the seven works of Bill's that sold yesterday.  He is so good!  Enjoy....

Just an Update...

Hi. I'm still alive and kickin! And doing some drawing and some painting. Just not enough of either. Yesterday I sold another painting, the study of "Cherries," a small 5 x 7 little work, but the buyer was happy and so was I :-) I also sold SEVEN of Bill's works, watercolors, pastels and an oil. I need to get that man back in the studio, working, working, working! Thanks for following along. I'll get pics of Bill's sold works up later today.

More Good News...

Yes, yes, it's been a while since I've posted here.  Holidays and life just got in the way for a while.  The exciting news is that I sold two paintings of mine, 'Petunias' and the study of 'Waiting for Marigolds.'  It's a very good feeling to know that two pieces I worked so hard on are in the homes of friends who will enjoy them and think of me :-)  Also, I sold three of Bill's works.  'Forest' a pastel on sandpaper and 'Collioure Morning' and 'Collioure Evening,' two nice watercolor and ink paintings.  See....it IS good news.  Thanks for following along with us.

Tired

Graphite on Strathmore Smooth. 
Drawing is approximately 14 x 18, framed and matted 18 x 24.

Green Pears Study - Available

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

Sold.  For additional information, please email susanbonnell@olympus.net. Click the picture for a larger, detailed photograph.

This is a small painting I finished yesterday...the first painting in a LONG time.  The plan is to do another study of the same pears in a different arrangement before they vanish.  Then I'll do both paintings in a larger format.  I was mostly practicing the colors on this one, to see how they worked together.  I like it. What do you think?

Good News!

I'm so excited to tell you that I sold TWO paintings today (well, Jack, at the Director's Gallery on Bainbridge Island actually sold them :-)  And these two of my favorites, Rabblerousers and Holligans, the apples and oranges, that I painted as a pair, SOLD as a pair.  I feel like the proud parent who gets to see both kids go off to school together, hand in hand, and not be separated! Makes me very, very happy and anxious to get back to doing more painting.

I'm doing 'stuff,' but it's hard to stay in the studio with summer starting, yes starting, here in Seattle, and company coming, and lots of other, distracting, and not so hard things to do. Must get back in there tho. Time's a-wastin.

Hand - Study

Just finished this today--at least as far as I'm going to take it. It was fun and I learned a ton!

Glasses

This is the little painting I've been working on. And because I don't like it, I'm stalling and not doing anything with it. Gonna have to bite the bullet and finish it off, whether I like it or not. Finishing is important to the process. Very important. Thanks for taking a peek.

Stretch

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 - SOLD

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

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

For additional available work, visit my website.

Cherries Study - SOLD

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

The study for this painting is sold. The 8 x 10 full painting is available. Email susanbonnell@olympus.net for information.

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 - Sold

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

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 - Sold

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

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.