Dutch

Oil on linen on panel, 6"x 6" -- Commissioned

This is a pet portrait of a rabbit named Dutch, that I just finished. I must admit I used to be rabbit-crazy before I started oil paintings of birds as a body of work in college. When I was little, I had more than 30 bunny rabbit stuffed animals. I also had some bunnies as pets. At the schools I attended in Japan, art classes are mandatory through high school, and I usually found a way to twist the class assignment to incorporate a rabbit in my subject for sculpture, painting, and drawing. So I was excited to do this commission.

Red Apple & Reflecton

Oil on canvas on panel, 6" x 6" --  Click here to buy now

I've been working on some pet portraits these days. Then I thought I could use some color studies from still life painting for my current projects.I wanted to paint this red apple because it had these green leaves and stem. I wanted to focus on the color, based on "Tangerine Tango," the rich  red-orange.

Tango for Tobi the Sparrow

Oil on linen on panel, 6" x 6"

The Pantane Company chose "Tangerine Tango" as THE color of 2012. This week's Challenge given by Daily Paintworks is to do a painting based around this color. I painted our pet house sparrow, Tobi, in this color theme. First, I pre-mixed my "tangerine tango" with Shiva Red and Cadmium Yellow Pale. After I did underpainting with Terra Rosa and this mixture, I reserved the beak and foot with the pure tangerine tango, which I blended with more colors later to create gradation. Then I painted the local colors which all shares a hint of this orange. I made sure that brush strokes are clean enough to show through the base color here and there, by wiping the brush and reloading color from the palette after each stroke.

Penguin Pears

Oil on canvas on panel, 6" x 6" -- Click Here to Bid

I painted this last night, but didn't have time to post it. These are the pears for my breakfast today. We bought these pears from the WSU fruit orchard in Pullman, WA. I just love those colors and shapes. Since I love birds and painting them, I thought they looked like three colorful penguins, having a breakfast meeting. In order to show verticality in the composition, I used a coffee mug, and a small bowl to help the pears stand still.

Field Search

Chicken painting, oil on board, 6" x 6" -- SOLD

This is our Shantie, a Buff Orpington hen. She is very good at hunting bugs, especially grasshoppers, in the backyard.

Outing with Kara the Hen

Oil on linen on panel, 6" x 6" -- Buy it at Daily Paintworks Gallery

This painting is about a little pet chicken walking through the gate by a garden shed. I was doing a study of shadows of trees in my backyard on a warm sunny day. Most of our chickens were roaming in the front yard, and I was alone. When I was about to finish painting, Kara, one of our Ameraucana hens, showed up in front of my easel. So I included her in my painting, and I called it finished.

First Cut

It is just before the Fourth-of-July. This is the first cutting at a hay field in Cle Elum, WA.

Watering Can

Oil on linen on panel, 6" x 6" -- Buy it at Daily Paintworks Gallery

This is a quick study of a metallic watering can. I painted this outside of my friend's house on a sunny warm day. I had to work quickly, because the shadows and reflections on the can were changing fast. I liked that challenge, though. I might do more still life painting outdoors, once it gets warmer again.

Step up to Home

Oil on linen on panel, 6" x 6" -- SOLD

I painted this at my friend's house last summer. I guess this can be considered a still life painting even though I painted it outdoors. There is a local artist group in Ellensburg, and I paint with them from time to time. Every Friday morning, we paint together at one of our member's homes, or at an interesting destination around the Kittitas Valley, then we eat lunch and critique our new works. I hope to join them more often this year.

House with Green Roof

Oil on linen on panel, 6" x 6" -- SOLD

I originally painted this in Coeur d'Alene, ID, last summer. The white spots are ducks. I found it easier to paint it en plein aire when it's overcast, as the sunlight and shadow don't seem to change too much while painting. Eventually, the cloud cleared toward the end, and the sun shine changed the color and lighting completely. So that became the end of this painting session. Later in my studio, I improved the composition: simplifying it by removing extra trees on the right, and adding more interest in the sky with color and texture.

Morning Rendezvous

Oil on panel, 10" x 8" -- SOLD

This horse belongs to my friend in Ellensburg, WA. I visited her horses one morning, and took some reference photos of her animals. Isn't he such a good looking horse? I kind of liked the effect of exaggerated perspective.

Green-Red Apples with Silver Pot

Oil on canvas panel, 6" x 6" -- Buy it at Daily Paintworks Gallery

Painting silverware is fun, but it is challenging! I used this silver pot to break up the plain background. I really like how it works here. I thought these apples were more greenish when I picked them for my models. But  they appear to be more yellowish now. I know these apples will be my next breakfast.