Thursday, November 01, 2007

Pickled Peppers





I've been doodling a little this week - on a pepper frenzy! I like the interesting shapes of these vegetables but have previously found them a bit of a challenge. Only one way to beat a challenge! SO here are my peppers.
I've also been doing battle with lighting. My house is painted a sickly colour of very pale green and the light is awful. As a consequence everything ends up looking a little putrid! This week I set up my peppers with a spotlight from one side but bouncing the light off a red surface to give some interesting colour variations. It works a treat! Admittedly people might find the lamp suspended off an armchair and pieces of red plastic taped to lampshades a little odd! Whatever works is ok in my book!

17 comments:

Jeanette Jobson said...

I think you've overcome the challenge of peppers Anita. I like the first one the best, but they all are charming.

I can identify with rigging up lighting to create atmosphere. Odd arrangements of lighting tapes to unusual partners is the norm.

It also sounds like the decoration in your house was the same as in mine when I first moved there. The WHOLE interior of the house - EVERY room, including doors, trim, even baseboard heaters, was a sickly hospital green.

Billie Crain said...

I'd say you've now conqured the pepper, Anita. good going on the light correction, too!

vivien said...

doodling? doodling????????


lovely doodles! these are really great, 3 dimensional and glowing :)

Dave said...

These are lovely. Great colours.

Stacy said...

Anita, lovely peppers! I especially like the top one. I'm checking out your mark making and how the colors change in the reflections. Mark making and color theory - two topics of discussions during my phone calls with the master. :D

Mary said...

Splendid Anita! Isn't it fantstic how things change when color is bounced to the object?

Robyn Sinclair said...

Fantastic form, Anita. I used to think Nature couldn't be improved upon but you have! Wonderful colours at play too.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful peppers Anita! Nice to see the delicious simplicity.

Anita said...

Thank you everyone for kind comments!

Rosemary said...

Anita,
Just happened onto your blog after finding "have dogs will travel". These are lovely pastels. I work in watercolor and enjoyed your writing about how someone stopped to chat with you. Sometimes I can ignore people around me and other times I just have to quit what I am doing! Chasing the light is a challenge. Thanks for posting your thoughts.
Rosemary

Making A Mark said...

Anita - it sounds to me like you need a set-up box. Think cardboard box on its side then cut off the wall which is at the top and you have an open stage for your still life

But you really need it in wood - and with clips to put your lights on.......

I'm not explaining very well - but a nice neutral colour inside the box and scope to 'stage manage' the lighting and you've got the complete professional set-up!

E-J said...

Gorgeous! So luminous. I am a great admirer of M.Newberry and it's so inspiring to see the wonderful work that you, Robin and others who have studied with him are coming up with. Would you mind if I added your blog to my list?

Anita said...

Rosemary - yes, chasing the light is indeed a challenge. It takes a whole different mind set to work fast and analytically at the same time!

Katherine - I know what you mean - yes I need to get one of those. Right now I need some lamps - my one and only lamp fell over yesterday and has stopped working altogether. I thought it was just the bulb but it seems to be more than that.

E-J - please do add me! Hope you will visit again!

tlwest said...

Anita just gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Delightful to stop by your blog Anita! It is nice to see your artwork again.

Anonymous said...

Lovely pastel drawings! I've just discovered your site and enjoyed it very much (I do watecolors) as well as seeing the sites you listed. Thanks!

Rosemary

Anat Aderet said...

WOW! your blog is so nice!
I wish you all the best!
Anat

all artwork is copyright of Anita Murphy 2006/2007/2008/2009