Triangles, compass curves, and basketry

Today I worked on the basket - every single shadow and highlight of each woven strand. Spent quite a bit of time on the wrap around the handle. I crisped up the compass some and worked on making the elliptical curves correct. Finally I added the triangle, hung by a burgundy ribbon above and behind the clock. I've only laid in the shape and color - it will have reflections the way a water glass does, brassy along the bottom edge and pink and blue along the metal.

.

This made a tremendous difference to my pleasure in this painting. It's begun to breathe for me.
The original idea was a basket of produce at the end of a row in an autumn field. Once I ditched that for the burlap drape and still life approach, I've had to feel my way along.
I am probably going to add another purple kholrabi behind the compass. It's in the original photo.
There's a whole lot of work to do on the leaves, but that's for another day.
Note to self - there is something about objects falling, things in motion that I love. Look for those opportunities in future compositions.

Compass

Added the compass today. Like the idea of good, orderly direction, true north, finding my bearings. Thinking about the triangle. Perhaps hanging, partially behind the glass dome.

Tick tock

I worked on the clock today, pushing the darks, rounding out the sides of the face, adding little pops of light.

Here's what it looks like so far. I am thinking of adding a compass somewhere and possibly a triangle (think musical instrument with a high, bell-like sound). I'll finish the basket and think about it some more.

Vegetable Mineral

Added more grasses. Highlighted some that were there. Added more warm tones.


I've been working on various leaves in this basket. Just ambling around. The basket itself is my next target. I'll be adding darks and lights to each woven strip. I'm thinking about adding something else, but I don't know what. A compass, maybe. I wish I had an interesting one that would be recognizable at this scale.


I have a knife and tomato (drawn but not painted) that I've pulled out. There is something about that red that calls to me. I get thisty for it.

Adding long grasses to the Harrow

It's been a while since I updated my painting world. A new puppy has turned out to require lots of attention and supervision. However, there is light at the end of the kennel, uh tunnel.
Here's the latest on the Harrow. Added more grass. This could go on a bit longer, but it's nearly done.