Cherry Desert Food Still Life Painting

Cherry Desert

Food Still Life Painting

6x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

During Thanksgiving holiday I looked at recipe after recipe and my mouth was watering the whole time!  Inspiration for this food painting came during all that search time.  I enjoyed painting this little desert.  It is offered in my Etsy shop.....click here.

Sunflowers in Willow Pitcher and Apples - Still Life Painting

 

Sunflowers in Blue Willow Pitcher and Apples

8x10 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

A primary color scheme indeed!  I love painting Blue Willow dishes and vessels.  They seem to compliment any subject or color scheme.  Find this painting here in my Chatter Box Art store on Etsy.

Pig Painting–Vindicator

Vindicator

8x10 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

My grandson is raising pigs as a project for 4-H and Stock Shows.   “Perry” his gilt pig had a litter of 13 baby pigs two months ago.  He now has less than that because a few of them died and he will be selling a few to other children as show pigs.  Vindicator, above, is a pig that he acquired after all these other pigs.  He is about a month older than the others.  He named this pig after Vindicator in the movie, “The Rare Breed” with Jimmy Stewart and Maureen O’Hara.  In the movie Vindicator was a Hereford bull that was left to a lady and her daughter by the wife’s deceased husband.  They take the bull from England to a cattle breeder in Texas.  Vindicator leaves a legacy of the Hereford, a “rare breed”.  My grandson believes Vindicator will enhance his pig herd to be a “rare breed”

Vindicator is for sale in my Etsy store here.

Oversized Yellow Pears in Blue Willow Bowl Still Life Painting

Yellow Pears in Blue Willow Bowl – A Still Life Painting

14x18 Oil on Cradled Artist Board

Cheri Wollenberg

Not quite through with the pears my grandson brought to me I decided to arrange them in a Blue Willow Bowl for a painting composition.  I like them.  Below I placed one of the pears beside the painting to give blog readers an idea of how large the painted ones are.  I enjoyed this….hope to do a few more before they completely go bad.  They are already drawing fruit flies .  To purchase this painting follow this link: 

A Still Life Painting - Pears and Turqoise Pitcher

Pears and Turquoise Pitcher

12x12 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

 

These yellow pears were fresh picked by my grandson about two weeks ago. He brought them in and was so generous and proud that it pleased us. Of course, I had to paint them in something before we ate any of them! Pears are such beautiful subjects for any kitchen décor or dining home décor. "Paired" with turquoise seemed to make them even more juicy and desirable. To purchase this painting you may click here:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/167571088/oil-painting-still-life-pears-and?ref=shop_home_active

Snowmen–Paintings and Tins

I couldn’t decide what title to give this post!  I knew it might be a longer post, so steps or parts seemed to be the answer.  I wanted to bring credit to many deserving people who have blessed my life as a painter over the last three years.  So here is my story:

 Each year I try to paint something for the winter season and/or Christmas.  I started out painting realistic scenes and subjects.  I would have them printed into note cards for my personal use.  Then I was very inspired by a young lady who “felts” and sells her work on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/BearCreekDesign) in 2011.  She creates some of the most charming felted snowmen and they seemed to “talk” to me .  It was as if each said “paint my sweet face” and I’ll bring a happy attitude to everyone who sees me during the winter!  I contacted her and asked her permission to allow me to use the images of her adorable little snowmen.  I painted my first two whimsical snowmen in 2011.  Last year I created two more and they are added here:
         
         Snowman III                             SnowmanIV

Part II of my story is kind of like Buzz Lightyear’s approach to life, “Infinity and Beyond”!  However, I would insert the text, “Etsy and Beyond”!  I began to sell on Etsy in 2009.  I have enjoyed this venture so much that it is difficult to explain unless you are an Etsy seller!  I ‘ve met the most wonderful people from all over the world….good, kind people…..sellers who encourage, and buyers who enjoy my work!  For more on this story you can actually go here, see my studio and read more about the process of my work: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChatterBoxArt/about/.

Part III…. Last year from January to July I worked with a young man who has a design firm to create the composition that is on these tins.  He had came up with the idea of the grouping of snowmen and hired me to paint them in my style.  I'm very grateful to him for his trust and confidence in my work.  I'm also grateful that my work was exposed through Etsy and this blog.  I've worked very hard to get my work to the public.

Caroling Snowmen

 

Part IV…….. My work is being displayed on popcorn tins and sold in Walmart stores this month.  These two generous people who let me interpret and express their ideas in my own "style" are absolutely AWESOME!   I wanted to thank them in this post for this opportunity.  My family is very proud of me(lol).  They have pasted the tins all over Face Book.  We have discussed that before this we might not have taken the time to see who the artists are on those wonderful gift items every year.  I think we will be much more interested now... Also, Etsy has provided the opportunity for me to do custom work for  many people.  I enjoy selling there.  Etsy is a great way to get your “hand-made” items seen, and I appreciate the efficiency and work of their staff and people.  My snowmen are available in small prints in my print shop:http://www.etsy.com/shop/artprintsbycheri.  For larger prints (up to 16x16 on canvas) contact me there.

Here is a look at the tins
           

Pumpkin With Blue and White Pitcher Still Life Painting

Pumpkin With Blue and White Pitcher

6x6 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

I love orange and blue together.  These two colors create a complementary color scheme that always makes a beautiful contrast.  This small pumpkin was just what I was looking for to create a small daily painting with a new blue and white pitcher that I had picked up a couple of weeks ago.  This little 6x6 painting can be found in my Etsy store.  Click here.

Gourds and Gourd Paintings

Green and White Striped Gourd with Black Eyed Susan

6x6 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Gourds are some of the most fun objects to paint.  Their textures, shapes and colors are endless.  Placing a sunflower or two gives an added interest.  Painting them always puts me in a festive, autumn spirit and scooping up large quantities of paint and applying it on canvas makes me happy .  These small paintings are listed in my Etsy store.

 

Assortment of Gourds with Blue and White Vase

6x6 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Crock, Gourds, and Sunflowers

12x12 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Horse Portrait Painting–Gossip Party

Gossip Party

20x30 Oil on Stretched Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

These three horses seem to be talking to one another about something or someone....probably their viewer (lol)....almost as if they were gossiping. Their rusty, burnt sienna coats in the sunlight magnify the beauty of their color, eyes and manes. The blue sky and green tree line behind them accentuate their presence.  This painting is featured in my Etsy store here.

Peaches on Blue and White Saucer Painting

Peaches on Blue and White Saucer

6x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

This painting can be found here.

 

Still Life Painting - Copper, Crock and Red Onions

Copper, Crock and Red Onions

16x20 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

This summer we had a great garden.  The okra, black-eyed peas and tomatoes are the only veggies that are still producing at the moment.  Every vegetable that we've taken from our garden was beautiful to me!  Yes... I'm amazed that food can actually start from a "wee" little seed and bring forth fruit that can nourish and sustain us.  What a miracle!  The red onions were the inspiration for my painting here.  They are beautiful in color and texture.  Their design brings joy to my brush:)
You can find this painting here.

Omelet Fixings–A Still Life Painting

 

Omelet Fixings

9x12 Original Oil on Masonite

Cheri Wollenberg

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”……C.S.Lewis

I have been selling my work on a venue called Etsy since 2009.  Besides selling my work and loving every minute of that aspect, I have made some of the most wonderful online friends I would have ever imagined.  CP is one of those. She is an artist and has a web page on Etsy too.  Click here to check her shop out.  Over the last couple of years we have communicated back and forth by email through Etsy.  She is fantastic at making treasuries.  Want to see one....click here.  Omelet Fixings (above) is a painting listed on my Etsy web page in the SOLD section.  I’m so pleased with this painting because it is a work of two minds, and I am included. CP is the image creator and I am the painting creator.  CP wanted a painting of some of her favorite things placed together to tell a story of an experience she has had.  She shared with me how much fun she had with some friends as she placed and arranged the objects into the composition.  I loved that she enjoyed the composing experience too!   She asked me to paint her beautiful experience as a custom order for her.  So, I cannot get any credit for the beautiful (almost formal) balanced composition and the elements that went together to make this still life, but I enjoyed painting it.  I thought of how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know her, and I’m so appreciative that she chose my style, and gave me the privilege of reproducing a happy moment.  I consider this lady a “friend”.  Thanks CP

Copper in Paintings

Copper Pot and Yellow Pear

9x12 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Yikes, summer brings many duties and responsibilities!  Gardening flowers and vegetables, visiting relatives, traveling, mowing grass and taking care of a home can burn away many hours, right?  In all these choring events I try very hard to paint everyday.  Many times I do and some times.....well, I just don't get it done.  I like sharing about my inspirations and paintings I have completed.  I get behind on blogging faster than I do painting (lol).  I thought I would blog a few posts about some of the copper paintings that I have completed over the last several months.  For some reason, painting that reddish, metallic color is exciting for me.  Some of the paintings that I will be posting about can be found in my Etsy store; however, some of them have sold.  If you are interested in purchasing any painting, you will have to contact me through email if you do not find them in my store.  Thank you for looking.

 



Red Enamelware Pot With Red and Yellow Flowers and Lemons - A Still Life Painting

Red Enamelware Pot -Red and Yellow Flowers

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Summer is brightness and fun.  Artists express what is around them.  I have many favorite items to set up in still lifes to paint.  In this painting I wanted to convey a mood of  brilliance and brightness - summer in this case with this little daily painting.  Reds and yellows convey warmth so my choices of items were perfect for what I wanted to create.  This painting is listed on Etsy.  You are welcome to visit there or contact me personally about the purchase of this painting.  Have a happy summer!

A Symbol of Freedom

American Bald Eagle Portrait

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

 

The Eagle is a national bird symbol for the United States of America.  He was chosen as an image to use for the The Great Seal of the United States on June 20, 1782.  Some States use him in their seal as well.   I suppose the bird represents power because of his size and wing span, majesty because of his beauty, and freedom because he can soar and live in high places.  One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is Isaiah 40:31: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  So, the eagle has always been a bird that represents strength.  As I painted this regal bird I thought of freedom, of my country, my family and friends, my church and yes, my government.  I’m thankful for all these things even though not one of them are perfect, but I have the right to choose for myself whether right or wrong.  That is priceless!  I’m thankful most for my Lord and Savior Who gave me the opportunity to choose…..I chose right!  Let freedom ring!

Crock Pitcher and Green Onions Still Life Painting

Crock Pitcher and Green Onions

6x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

 

We have had such a lovely garden this year.  In spite of all the bad weather and tornados in Oklahoma much of the state has pulled out of a very long drought.  We have gathered lettuce, onions and potatoes for several weeks.  Now we are beginning to get squash.  Ummmmmm.  Love that fresh food!  As I think of how I'm going to prepare these treasures I can't help but think how they would look in a painting as well.  So, I get double pleasure from my veggies.  This painting was such a delight to do.  It is listed in my Etsy shop if interested.  Click here!

Cow Painting of Ms Petunia

Ms Petunia

18x18 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Lately I have wanted to paint white petunias.  Painting whites are a challenge for me.  As all artists know...to paint whites you need to stay away from white!!!!  I also have so many reference photos of cows.  My son is a commission cattleman.  He also runs stocker cattle year round that graze almost in our backyard,  so I have a wealth of beautiful and diverse breeds and mixbreeds to choose as models for my cow paintings.  That being said.....I came across this beautiful Charolais cow photo and decided to paint her instead of the petunias.  Her name came very easy to me (laugh).  She is my flower for this week! She is listed in my Etsy Store.  Just click Petunia and you'll find her.

Hollyhocks and My Bucket Babies

Pink Hollyhocks

8x8 Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Hollyhocks are an old fashioned flower.  Every time my husband and I take a trip to New Mexico I have a desire to have them all over our farm landscape.  This year I planted some from seed in seeding beds.  My sister (who is a wonderful gardener) said that sometimes they are very hard to transplant to the garden from the seedlings, but I think mine are going to make it.  Oklahoma, especially where we live, has such extremes...high wind one day, lots of rain, no rain, very humid, very dry....on and on.  Anyway, I have protected those babies in buckets with the bottoms cut out......until they are very established they will stay in their little "bucket home".  All this to say that I love them.  I love flowers period and I have such a desire to paint every kind of flower.  I have some digital images I took of hollyhocks at our home in Arkansas filed away in my computer.  I took a look at them yesterday.  This one spoke to me and I painted a small 8x8 painting late yesterday and last night.  I am practicing for when my "bucket babies" are grown and I can paint them live.  Until then painting from a picture will satisfy me.  I have this painting for sale in my Etsy shop.  You are welcome to visit there.

Green Pear and Orange Persimmons

 

Orange Persimmons and Green Pear

6x12 Oil on Linen

by

Cheri Wollenberg

 

When I was a child we didn't have "high-tech" tools and toys.  In fact, the year I enrolled in college at Oklahoma State University as a student I was "only an IBM card".  Some readers may know exactly what I'm talking about, but in summary, computers were so large they took up huge rooms in  buildings,  and their information or data was coded on....in this case.....perforated or punched IBM cards or extremely long perforated paper!!!!  If your card was lost....you were lost as a student until they could find the card.  Oh well, to get to my "main" story...losing anyone that might have been interested....persimmons was a mystery to me as a child.  I broke open the seeds and there was a knife and spoon!  I pondered on that a great deal.  In Oklahoma the wild persimmons are small fruit and so bitter it makes your teeth hurt if you should bite into one that is not extremely ripe.  I thought of this as I was painting this little still life!  As noted above, I included the finished product along with the original still life that I painted from although it is very small in the background.  I have more persimmon stories I must share sometime:)  This painting is listed in my Etsy store.  Please visit.

 

Still Life Painting - White Pottery Teapot And Red Strawberries

White Pottery Teapot and Red Strawberries

14x18 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

 

Exciting strawberries!  Why would an artist be interested in painting strawberries?  Why would a viewer desire to look at them?  Inspiration in some form or another always comes from our senses.  Everytime I buy strawberries I think to myself I will have to paint them before my husband and I eat them up!  The color of bright red brings a delight to my eyes.  The juicy, wet quality (touch sense) and the tangy smell of them causes me to remember their delicious taste.  All of these reasons cause me as an artist to record those sensations with brush and paint in hand onto a support (canvas).

Click red strawberries to go to Etsy.

Lilacs And Small White Daisies Painting

 

Lilacs In Copper Pot With Small White Daisies

14x14 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

 

This is a small change in my regular daisy painting this week...I decided to do another flower along with daisies. Of course lilacs are not in season right now but I was doing a search in my images for daisies and came along this still life set up I had photographed. I have this really sweet hand-painted China bowl that I'm always wanting to paint, but never can find anything to put with it to my satisfaction. In this arrangement the copper seemed to enhance the lilacs (the star of the show) and the little white daisies added to the floral arrangement. Then I noticed this great little bowl. I like it placed as a second focal point. Purples, yellow oranges, greens and white daisies make a nice color combination. The painting as a whole could be better if done from life....photographs are flat in dimension, not showing the light paths, but it was a great excercise. I enjoyed it. Click lilacs to find it.

Daisy Painting III - White Daisies, Pink Pitcher and Green Pear

Daisy Painting III

6x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

This daily painting has daisies of course, but I liked using the pink pitcher and the spring green hue in the pear.  It makes for a nice complementary combination. It can be found on in my Etsy store by clicking PINK AND GREEN!

Daisy Painting II by Cheri Wollenberg

Daisy Painting II

14x14 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Daisies last and stay fresh looking for a long time.  This makes them very desirable to use in floral compositions in paintings.  I enjoyed arranging this still life with neutral, analogous colors and thought that the golden green centers of the daisies would be enhanced by this golden Frankoma pottery piece.  The beige eggs with the gold created a warm mood; however, I couldn't keep from adding something that would give the composition a punch so I placed the blue pitcher in.  The dark background seems to enhance the flowers and create a good contrast.  This painting is in my Etsy store.  To visit click here.

Plum Pink Tulips - Small Still Life Painting

Plum Pink Tulip Still Life Painting

6x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Still painting tulips!  I'll have to play this one out.  The color of these are very interesting and I didn't want to have a plain background so I did a little experimenting (lol).  This tulip painting is in my Etsy shop as well.

Pink Tulips Oil Painting

Pink Tulips Still Life Painting

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

I am very ready for spring! 

The garden spot is being tilled...ready for new seeds, sprouts of new life, and fresh, tasty yields of vegetables and fruit.  I love this time of the year when the tulips, hyacinth and daffodils begin to peep out of the ground to the sky.  Painting these pink tulips made me smile.  They are in my Etsy shop.  Just click tulips.

Baby Face - Horse Painting

Baby Face

12x12x2 Oil on Cradled Birch Wood Panel

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Baby Face has a fuzzy mane, blazed face, sienna colored coat against a golden to yellow background. He is the first of some baby horse portraits I am planning to paint.  Several years ago I took photographs of a pasture of new baby colts here in central Oklahoma.  They are so curious and playful (chuckle).   So many times they would kick up their heels, run fast and stop and look straight at me as if they were "showing off".  I loved it and I am looking forward to painting this group of babies.  To purchase this horse painting you will need to contact me personally.

Red Tulips in Yellow Pitcher Still Life Painting

Red Tulips in Yellow Pitcher

Oil on 10x10x1.5 Birchwood Cradled Panel

Cheri Wollenberg

 

 

I went to sit with my mother today.  She has been ravaged with dementia.  Sadly she is aware that things are not right.  She tries so hard to reason, think of words to express her thoughts and understand her failure to find things.  It is a miserable disease!  As I traveled to her home I had this wild idea that I would stop by a local shop and buy her something for Valentines.  I bought a stuffed monkey and a cup of candy!  She loved them.  What a good mother she continues to be...she actually made my day just as she has so many times in my life.   This painting of brilliant red tulips in a sunny yellow vessel and little red vase reminds me of happy times, new times and Valentines.  Red is a favorite during Valentines Day.  We have opportunities to demonstrate our love to others.  I had a small opportunity today.  To see this listing click here.

White Peonies in Old Blue Willow Pitcher

White Peonies in Old Blue Willow Pitcher

9x12 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

When I lived in Arkansas there were white peony bushes in my yard.  I had never had them before so I was pleasantly surprised at the beautiful fragrance they had.  In fact I would describe the scent as very romantic and intoxicating.  The pleasure I have had for those lovely flowers have overflowed into the act of painting for me.  I loved arranging them in every pitcher or vase I owned and I took reference pictures like "crazy".  I painted this particular little still life is from one of those reference pictures.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did while painting it.  It would make a wonderful Valentines gift for someone special.  If you are interested further click here:)

White Dasies Bouquet - Still Life Painting

White and Yellow Daisies in Blue Vase

9x12 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

I love painting daisies.  I placed the yellow daisies in to complement the blue vase.  It seemed to warm the still life painting up somewhat.    I have it listed in my Etsy Store.  Click here to buy.