No More Candy

"No More Candy" © Antonia Ruppert
8x8-  Acrylic and Charcoal on Panel

So I peeked in the fridge and saw this half of an apple.  It was ready to be tossed - for real - so I decided to paint it before I did that.  Did you know that "ready to be tossed" apples are delightful to paint? There are so many tones that your eye must be sensitive to. There are grays, browns and greens that you don't see in fresh apples.

I called it "No More Candy" after a suggestion from my daughter's friend Faith. It brought a smile to my face.  FUN!

More than Life

"More than Life" © Antonia Ruppert
6x6-  Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas

This wee painting gave me joy to paint.  At first, it looked like mush - honestly - and then it came together for me. Inch by inch.

Inching there. Thats what I'd like to think it was like.

I think thats what we're suppose to do - keep trying until things come together.  I've heard lately of my friends pursuing their New Year's resolutions - to lose weight, to get closer to their family or to go for their destiny. Maybe thats you.

Steady and sure - you'll reach your goals.

This painting is of dying flowers I almost tossed.  I call it "More than Life" because I found something uniquely lovely in them.  Still.

Still Life There!

"Still Life There" © Antonia Ruppert
9x12 -  Acrylic and Charcoal on Panel

I love when something destined for refuse gets reused.  These dried flowers I wrote about in my last post still hold beauty.  I decided to paint another painting with my hand holding the blossom from a different angle.

I'm reminded of something my friend Maritza often says, "He wastes nothing" meaning God wastes nothing.  I'm convinced our lives are like that.  We may feel washed up, tired and ready for a siesta - but there is something yet beautiful in each life experience.

Paul Manwaring talks about nothing being wasted in his blog piece "He Got You Ready, He Wastes Nothing." Its a short post but full of meaning.

Meanwhile, my piece "Still Life There" is of a flower I was ready to toss. I'm so glad I didn't.

In the Palm of My Hand

"In the Palm of My Hand" - Acrylic/Charcoal on Canvas - 8x10

Even though he is allergic to flowers, just recently my husband came home with two types of flowers for me. I felt so moved by his sacrifice.

This week I thought it was time to toss them - they were drying.  As I took a small blossom in my hand, I realized again the beauty of it. I decided to capture it before I did anything else with it.

I love the color and texture of this piece - "In the Palm of My Hand."

Feeling the Love

"Feeling the Love" - Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas- 8x10

Sometimes you can have so much fun, you can lose track of time. I have been having fun experimenting with acrylic paint, charcoal and various mediums(paint additives).  Since the last piece was acrylic and pencil, I decided to push it a little with charcoal.

This small painting is acrylic with matte medium and charcoal.  The piece started with a bright overlay of orange and yellow - two of my favorite colors these days. Perhaps that is because of the blues and grays outside this time of year.

I started the drawing in charcoal beginning with the eyes of the figure on the right.  That part was completed first. Then I let it rest. I needed fresh eyes.

After coming back to it with afresh, I began the figure on the right and then the background. My friend Tina asked me if I ever painted in an abstract style.  Since she asked, I experimented with that too.

Sometimes the best things happen when you're just playing.  Ha! Ha!

I'm wondering what you do that feels like play? Feel free to comment below.

With Help from Friends

With Help From Friends  - 9x12 - Acrylic/Pencil on Panel

Sometimes we are blessed with a few key people in our lives who encourage us.  Sometimes these friends walk beside us or kneel beside us holding us up.  This small painting is the image of what I see when that happens. I call it "With Help from Friends."

The piece is layered and textured with warm hues first. After that dries, then comes the drawing. This time, I created the drawing from several photographs I took. 

I like to go back into the drawing with acrylic - highlighting one area or another.  I appreciated the way this small painting came out. 

With Help from Friends -- (close up)

Hope for Another Day

Acrylic and Pencil on Panel - 9x12

This painting came to me after a time of thinking about some of my friends and family.  Some are going through some tough situations.  The only thing I could do was respond by creating.

I created a drawing showing someone's head being lifted up. That prompted the painting - I loved the drawing so much.

The sun, the egg and the flowers are all symbols of new life, growth and warmth.

After priming the panel with gesso, I created a wash of yellows and reds.  Using the drawing as a guide, I recreated it on the piece after the wash dried.  Additionally, I painted the flowers and egg from life. I eventually went over the entire piece with pencil to add emphasis. 

I call it "Hope for Another Day."