Diversity, Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

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Our local farm stand, Walker's, in Little Compton, RI, had soooo many colored peppers - all the better for me, because I don't think I've ever met a pepper I didn't like.  These beauties look like they're ASKING to be part of fajitas, don't they?  My favorite is the misshapen purple one, because.. well, it's purple!

This will be on my display at 'Discover Warren' (used to be called the Warren Walkabout) on Oct. 17 from 11-5.  I'm going to try to get my daughter to bake some yummy things for us hehehe....

Pepper Gymnasts, 6x6 Oil

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I'm not going to say too much about these peppers, except that if I were to paint them again, the cloth I set them on would have more orange in it.

And below, a gift to my friends, a shot of last night's light... enjoy!

Peppers In A Glass, 6x8 Oil

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Now, for something completely different.  I can tell you - but you won't know to believe me - that this looks much, much better in person.  I was interested in glass and reflections, and the background is black velvet.  I didn't use any black paint, (though I do have it, and occasionally use it, Chromtatic Black) just mixed viridian green, alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue.  I included the little peppers because I NEEDED some color - and it was just enough.  Virtually impossible to photograph because of the glare, this is as good as I could get.  Tomorrow .... another sharp detour....

Thanks, everyone (all 12 of you!) for answering the poll on my blog.  It really does help to get outsiders' advice.

And I have a few new interesting bloggers that I've found and added to my list of links - check out the top 4 - they're new!

Peppers In A Bowl, Oil 6x6

I spotted these little peppers in the market and just loved them - of course I don't know exactly what I'd cook with them (and wouldn't now that they've sat under my light to 'pose' for me!).  Anyway the light and shaded portions of them were interesting to work with.  I tried to keep the light parts very saturated with color, letting the shadow part get darker and 'grayer'.  They have such great shapes, too!

Workshop Over!

These paintings of peppers were my last painting of the workshop.  
Well, it was a fabulous week.  This was well worth the effort & $$ to get here.  To tell you the truth, I thought this would be sort of an 'easy' workshop, and really just wanted the experience of watching Carol paint!  To my surprise it was a very challenging workshop - no easy ways to do these deceptively simply paintings!  Values, Color, Composition, Edges, Brushstrokes... all had to be 'spot on' to make a successful painting.  Carol was a good teacher... no gliding by with a "that's nice!" - she took every person's painting seriously, for every exercise.  I would highly recommend this workshop for all levels.  She gave invaluable advice on the last day about blogging, marketing, and general business of art.  I found her candid and warm, and incredibly serious about what she does.  You all would have loved it!  The women in the workshop bonded very well, too - please check out my Studio Blog for a little surprise regarding them!

Haymarket Peppers, 6x6 Acrylic

Conor brought these peppers home for me to paint. Talk about personality! They had such beautiful shapes and multiple shades of yellow, orange and red. They're just fun!

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Pick A Pepper, Oil on Illustration Board, 8x8

Painting with my buddy Nancy Colella (www.nancycolella.com) this afternoon, still focused on these hot peppers.