Still Life, Um, Standing Still

I took today off work, which was fabulous. I slept for a while, hung out with my kids, who are on spring break starting today, and I painted. Here's the current red pepper and onion painting, with a view of the transitions between each sit down.

But now what? It needs a background, but I don't know what I want to do with it... cutting board? Plate? Dinner table? Fade to white?

Beats me... I'll noodle it through.

Aaron has his friend, Sonny, over and they are conquering the Covenant in HALO 2.

He'll be staying for dinner tonight. Should be a great evening here at home.

I am so glad that I took the day off.

ETC: The kids all like this painting. My daughter, who is smart about things like this, suggests that I paint a black-and-white tiled countertop. That seems smart to me because it's a good background without detracting from the color of the pepper and onion.

ETC, ETC: After scrounging through Google images and doing some sketching, I think a gray marble tile countertop would be nice. A pattern, even as simple as black and white, would pull too much from the focus of the vegetables.

Read the whole story of "Red Pepper and Onion"
Tags: my life | painting | watercolor | halo | aaron
by Brett Rogers, 3/18/2005 5:49:57 PM
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Wow Brett! I think it's your best one yet. The pepper looks real and so does the onion. Sounds like you had a great day.

Posted by Critics R Us, 3/18/2005 6:11:53 PM

Lovely.
When you get into oils, I'd like a nice interesting flower arrangement! :) I can pay you $7.35
;)

Posted by Stefanie, 3/19/2005 10:23:29 AM

Here's another comment for you, how are you studying art? I used to be quite the scetcher when I was young, but I haven't done anything but doodle in years. My stained glass studio is going unused, and it is very expensive to keep up, I'm thinking about switching creative outlets.
Did you take a class?

Posted by Stefanie, 3/19/2005 10:27:18 AM

$7.35? Gosh, that's generous. My first commission ;)

As for a class or something, no. I picked up a paintbrush and a few tubes of watercolor in December and painted everyone's Christmas cards. Then I painted a picture of my son. And I've kind of been on a tear with it since then.

I love it. It's a very different way of thinking and seeing things, and I'm growing addicted to it. The hardest part, I think, is just seeing things the right way.

If you'd find it valuable, I'd be glad to show you what I have for materials and you can go after it from there. I've been doodling for years, so you have every bit of training that I've had ;)

Posted by Brett Rogers (http://www.beatcanvas.com), 3/19/2005 10:35:19 AM

Pretty!! I like the onion, personally, just because you got the mixture of purples and golds so nicely. I'm telling you, buddy, there's gold in those peppers. You should try the art fair circuit this summer. Got nothing to lose and only cash, and maybe a sunburn, to gain!

Got anything in the works that we could hang at our residential facility? No commision, just the love and admiration of some of the local addicted population and the people who try to help them. The place really needs some color, and you seem to have that down. :-)

Posted by Bella, 3/19/2005 12:28:26 PM

I might just take you up on that Brett, though I think I'd be a little more interested in oils, something about that classis look, and the textures, but I know that oils are pretty expesive as well.
But I do have my sketch pad here for my glass projects, so I'll also be picking up a pencil in the next few days and doing a couple studies before I go and make any purchases of supplies!
I'll keep you updated, thanks!

Isn't it nice when you've inspired other people to be creative?

Posted by Stefanie, 3/19/2005 6:48:27 PM

That's awesome that you want to get started. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do!

Me, I plan to take an acrylics class this fall - I have no idea how to paint with acrylics. Oils would be similar to that, I imagine. Never painted with either one.

That's what's nice about watercolors. They dry very fast, so I have a little toolbox that I carry to work when I'm working on a painting and then I paint at my desk during lunch. It's the most wonderful break in the work day.

Posted by Brett Rogers (http://www.beatcanvas.com), 3/19/2005 7:13:01 PM

I have really enjoyed watching your pepper and onion emerge. I have used acrylics and watercolors, and I can say that I prefer watercolors most of the time. Some subjects or ideas seem to lend themselves more to acrylics, and I occasionally still use them, but more and more I find that my personality just fits better with the watercolor medium.

Hey, interesting that you did your Christmas cards -- I did all our Christmas cards by hand this past year too. It was actually very fun, and I got some very nice responses from recipients.

Great site. I love coming here.

Posted by Anonymous, 3/19/2005 9:24:29 PM

Thanks, klywood! Are any of your paintings online?

Posted by Brett Rogers (http://www.beatcanvas.com), 3/20/2005 2:31:00 PM

Yes. They're what make up the background and other various decorations on my blog.

http://gradualdazzle.blogspot.com

Posted by Anonymous, 3/21/2005 2:28:33 PM

Kris! I didn't know that was you... yes, I love the look of your web site. Do you have any other pictures of your work online?

Posted by Brett Rogers (http://www.beatcanvas.com), 3/21/2005 3:16:51 PM

Not yet... but you're inspiring me! My blogsite was actually designed by Kevin of cadethappy.com; I e-mailed him some JPEGs of my work, and he took them and wrangled them into something really nice-looking, I think. I have a couple more that I've completed in the past couple of months that I need to e-mail to him for storage and then post on my blog. In return for the favor of hosting my images, I sent him a watercolor US flag that I did for him.

Posted by Anonymous, 3/21/2005 7:47:39 PM

Ooh! That's exciting, Kris. That's the reason that I bought my own hosting... freedom to post stuff.

You know, if you have recordings of your music, you might post that too. Let it all hang out there :)

Posted by Brett Rogers (http://www.beatcanvas.com), 3/21/2005 11:12:50 PM

And THAT could be coming up as well. Next week we should be able to listen to the recording of our concert... I'll ask the guys if they'll let me post one of our originals.

The reason Kevin's hosting it is because when I had asked him about how to get my blog to look, well, "pretty"... he just took care of it for me. I have a little better idea of how it works now, so at some point in the near future I will likely be purchasing my own bandwidth too.

Posted by Anonymous, 3/22/2005 12:43:17 AM

Your pepper and onion absolutely amaze me! I found your website a few weeks ago and have been checking it out every now and again. I couldn't help but think of you today. I'm a teacher's aid and our school went for a field trip today to the National Art's Gallery to attend a watercolors workshop for kids. Between your pepper and the workshop, I'm almost tempted to give it a try myself. The only thing stopping me is the fact that I don't have an artistic bone in my body.

Posted by Look up...wayyyy up!, 3/22/2005 4:16:00 PM

Hey wayyyy up ;)

I don't think it takes artistic bones at all - I think it takes a willingness to just jump in and keep at it. You know, the whole secret is how you view it. You just have to forget that you know what it is that you're painting. Really! I'll bet you would do well.

And besides, you might be surprised what you've inherited. You might have a family member who painted, and maybe they passed something on to you but you haven't tried yet. You never know!

Posted by Brett Rogers (http://www.beatcanvas.com), 3/22/2005 4:31:19 PM

Kris, you do original music too? Oh, then you have to get it online. That's very cool.

Posted by Brett Rogers (http://www.beatcanvas.com), 3/22/2005 4:32:29 PM

Thanks for sharing. I was inspired and had a go at emulating your rendition. Take a look if you fin inclined. The www.IDrawandpaint.com is a great art community. You have much to offer. If you join come by my page and say, "Hi!"

Posted by Vicki (http://community.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/photo/red-pepper-onion?xg_source=activity), 8/15/2010 8:06:47 PM

Thanks for sharing. I was inspired and had a go at emulating your rendition. Take a look if you fin inclined. The www.IDrawandpaint.com is a great art community. You have much to offer. If you join come by my page and say, "Hi!"

Posted by china tours (http://www.topchinatrip.com/), 11/2/2010 11:01:40 PM

Love your art work - you're very talented! This pepper and onion picture looks great even without the counter!

Posted by May (https://maydamart.com), 10/14/2018 9:05:58 AM