"caliente"

© 2010 Heather Bennett
"Caliente"
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

Here is an example of what this Web site would look like. The copy is to the right of the daily painting.

And here's some more copy to just fill up this space: Alden Avenue is a picturesque, tree- lined street in Rathbone Village. Shining wood floors in three bedrooms, living room and formal dining. All newer windows throughout. A fireplace in the first floor family room where you will enjoy a crackling wood fire. Just a hop, skip and jump to the walking/bike path. Close to school and neighborhood store. Neat homes and yards reflect community spirit. Cover Your Bases listing with an upgraded home warranty.

"cake no. 4"

Click here to bid on ebay.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Cake No. 4” from the COUTURE CONFECTIONS series
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

Let them eat cake! Did Marie Antoinette say this or not?

Here is how this post would look with the painting at original size and centered with copy below it.

Here is some extra copy just to fill up the space: Alden Avenue is a picturesque, tree- lined street in Rathbone Village. Shining wood floors in three bedrooms, living room and formal dining. All newer windows throughout. A fireplace in the first floor family room where you will enjoy a crackling wood fire. Just a hop, skip and jump to the walking/bike path. Close to school and neighborhood store. Neat homes and yards reflect community spirit. Cover Your Bases listing with an upgraded home warranty.

"cake no. 3"

Click here to bid on eBay.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Cake No. 3” from the COUTURE CONFECTIONS series
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

Today my husband and I have been married for 10 years!

"cake no. 2"

Click here to bid on eBay.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Cake No. 2” from the COUTURE CONFECTIONS series
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

I started painting from life so my cakes would have more dimension. This is the first cake I’ve painted in a long time.

Wet Paint

I have to catch up on posting a few paintings I finished so far this week.

Click here to bid on eBay.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Single Tulip”
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

This was the last tulip left in our garden and the only white one.

Click here to bid.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Open”
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

Single tulip decided to open. It’s amazing, I actually saw this happening since I was staring at it so long.

Click here to bid on eBay. SOLD! Thank you!!

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Have a Heart” from the PITCH SOME WOO series
11″ x 8.5″ x 1.5″
oil on stretched canvas

Did you know that 95% of all women are wearing the wrong bra size? Here’s a bra fitting guide for a little help if you’re one of the 95%. I was.

starting some mixed media paintings

These collages will be the background of some mixed-media paintings I'm working on.

I’m painting on hot pressed watercolor paper that I prepare with a coat of gesso. I am using Golden Extra-Heavy Gel (Matte) medium to glue the pieces down. Over the top of my collaged background I apply a coat of Golden Soft Gel (gloss) medium. This protects the images and will allow me to wipe paint away from areas. (You’ll see what I mean soon.)

So that’s where I’m at with my projects. I have a total of 4 collaged backgrounds ready to go for tomorrow and the under-painting of a cake with no collaged background.

new supplies

I’ve been waiting for these! I really enjoy ALL the fun mixed-media techniques you can use with acrylics, but I have always hated how they dry so FAST. I mean really fast.

So, I thought I would give these OPEN acrylics by Golden a try. They are supposed to stay wet for a few days on your palette and stay workable for a few hours on your work surface.

a class project

Today I worked on a painting for a class I am taking that I hope to be teaching in the future. In this beginning class students will learn about the primary colors and how to lighten and darken them; eye level; shines on different surfaces; reflected light; reflected color and much more!

Tomorrow it's back to still lifes! I'm not sure what I will be painting...hmmm...better take a look around the house...

Palette Patchwork

I had a lot of extra paint on my palettes from doing color exercises for my online class, so I thought of designing some "Palette Patchwork" pieces. These are simply painted patchwork pieces from the paint left on my palette.

© 2009 Heather Hingst Bennett

PALETTE PATCHWORK #03

Oil on paper

© 2009 Heather Hingst Bennett

PALETTE PATCHWORK #02

Oil on paper

© 2009 Heather Hingst Bennett

PALETTE PATCHWORK #01

Oil on paper

Teacup Study

I purchased this pattern packet a few years ago and finally decided to work on it. I don't know why I was so intimidated by it. It's not perfect, but I really learned A LOT by completing it.

What was really emphasized in this DVD is how light travels in a straight line. You can see this in my study. The light is coming from the right, slightly in front of the object.

Back at IT...

I found this great book last week.

AND just as the title says it IS the painting course I’ve always wanted. How did the author know? So, I’ll be sharing the exercises over the next few weeks.

I’m also taking a class on line with Kingslan & Gibilisco Decorative Arts Studio. The class is a design course that covers:

• How to be a Creative Thinker
• Color Theory and Schemes
• Perspective
• Design Principles
• Design Elements
• How to Work with Reference Material
• How to Work from a Set-up
• History of Composition

I have really enjoyed it so far and LOVE the section about color!

I had a great few days off. Our family took a quick trip to Des Moins, Iowa. We toured their lovely state capitol. I'll have to post pictures later.

last week...

i was expereincing techincal difficulties. these silly computers!

anyway...i got into the buckeyes and painted them...

rendered them in colored pencil...

and sketched them...

yes, i have had it with the buckeyes!

Purse & Shoe Still Life Painting

Well, it turned out better than I thought. There were times when I had my doubts, but I just decided to keep plugging away at it today and I'm satisfied. I had quite a struggle getting the red colors correct.

Purse & Shoes Still Life

This is the still life that I’m currently working on. I’m just at the drawing stage.

Last week I made my shadow box. It’s just a box. I painted the inside black and cut a large hole out of the top. I’ll try to get photos of my set up tomorrow. The idea of placing your still life in a shadow box is so you get more dramatic shadows. And your light source doesn’t change on you.

Third Time is a Charm

Here is the final painting for this still life. I'm ready to move on to something else! Maybe a pair of shoes...we'll see.

Here is my critique:

I think the drawing is finally working. I get a greater sense of depth. Colors might be muddy.

I'm so happy to move on to a different subject tomorrow.

Today's Still Life

This was my 2nd painting today. The first attempt just wasn't working out. Here is the critique I wrote on the back:

I fixed the drawing. I think I'm getting closer. Making the shadow a different color was a bad idea. I used layering techniques from "Expressive Painting" by Anne-Marie Esson. Didn't mix my color correctly from the start. My white reflection spots look silly.

I am going to attempt this same drawing tomorrow using the Expressive painting technique from the beginning.

I actually tweaked my drawing again tonight. I think I've finally got it!!

My First Still Life

OK...first I have to tell you I have never painted anything from "life". I have drawn many still lifes, but I have NEVER painted any.

I feel very humbled by the process, but I also know that with practice I will get better.

I am using Golden Acrylics on Canson paper. I really need to use some mediums with my acrylic paints. The get so thick and dry so quick.

So, I'm just doing a lot of experimenting. Trying not to get too discouraged. There is definitely room for improvement! A LOT of IMPROVEMENT! :)