Friday, September 29, 2006

Painting Wine and Cheese

This is the largest painting I have started in my daily painting practice routine. This is 9"x12"on stretched canvas. Also, the compositions seem to be growing larger. I'm beginning to scare myself.
The cheese disappeared! I had to keep it in the refrigerator otherwise it would have gone bad. I'll bring it out at the end. Besides, I don't like the placement of it in this composition. I think I should move it to the right a little more.
I am ready to paint the cloth. I put a tiny test spot of blue just next to the cork. Since that color was correct I mixed up a bunch using a palette knife. I thought I might save some paint so I wiped the palette knife on the canvas. (The big splotch on the right) The only problem was, I missed the cloth.
Everything done but the cheese. Time to go get it out of the refrigerator. It has taken me a long time to realize this, but did you ever notice that the best painters paint objects on top of the background. They don't always paint around the objects. Just something to think about.
Click on the picture to enlarge it
Wine and Cheese
9"x12"
oil on canvas
SOLD
How many artists have painted wine and cheese before? I know these are very standard props, but it doesn't matter. This is my first attempt ever at wine or cheese. OK, OK, I'm a little behind. (but I didn't start until I hit 50).

We all have struggled with choosing subject matter. I know I have. I always want to do something different. But, I think one of the wonders of art is that we can enjoy the world around us in so many different yet simple ways. No two people see things the same way. That should teach us a great deal about tolerance. But like I said, no two people look at things the same way.

It should also free us from worries that we have to create something never seen before. Nobody saw this glass of wine and slice of cheese before. Should I be worried that there are ten zillion paintings of wine and cheese on EBAY?

Life is so full of the common. Yet the common is what I find beautiful.

See what happens when I drink the props. I get philisoph...philosopical....I think a lot.

11 comments:

Louis Boileau said...

Holy Smokes Peter!! This is great. You're talent is growing in leaps and bounds as we watch!!

June Parrish Cookson said...

Enjoy coming to your blog Peter, not only to view your wonderful work but seeing the work in progress. And you're humor makes my day.

Lisa said...

Very nice Peter. I find, as you do, beauty in the simple things all around me. I really enjoy your work and coming to your site. I love the wit. Yes, I too have painted wine and cheese. I also had bread in the painting but after the painting was complete the bread looked moldy. Ha.

Luis Colan said...

Man Peter, I want to grow up to be just like you! LOL. You are a very talented person and this painting shows you at your best. Just like you said, many have painted wine and cheese but that doesn't mean that they are any good. It's what you make of it, and you have made something beuatiful and timeless. By the way, I love the blue in relation to the red wine glass and the soft yellow of the chees. Something old masters like Titian and Vermeer used to do. Good job!

PaintingEachDay said...

Yummy ... me, too. I love to paint wine and cheese...and then indulge myself .... extremely beautiful -

James said...

You crush me like a bug, Peter. I chose to paint my Friday night wine and cheese, too. Your result was great and a nice blog presentation too.

Jeffrey Hayes said...

That's really a beautiful sense of light, Peter. Warm and subtle... love it!

Dean H. said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Dean H. said...

First time I've seen your work. Great stuff! Love the lost and soft edges of the wine bottle in contrast to the way the forground cheese pops.

Laura Wambsgans said...

This is such an elegant painting, classic!

David R. Darrow said...

I would have the same problem painting wine and cheese as I would with any other food... Only with wine and cheese, I would slowly become less motivated to keep painting, and more motivated to nap as I "sample the still life."

Absolutely gorgeous.