Pink and White Peonies

Pink and White Peonies

18x18 Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Last spring one of my students brought some pink peonies for my class to paint in a still life arrangement.  I had some white ones that we mixed with them to make a fuller bouquet.  I can almost smell the fragrance they made as I write this post.  Their aroma is extremely pleasing to me.  As I painted this composition, I changed the peonies to a more peach colored pink in this painting.  They were actually an intense or hot pink color, but this particular "vignette" of peonies, I wanted to do warm tones.  I enjoy the challenge of the anatomy of the particular flower, peony.  Since this image was taken, I've painted the bud in the foreground a little sharper.  I felt it didn't need to be quite so lost and it needed to come more forward.  I have set my white peonies in still lifes every year for about 9 years now.  Each year I find that they are a challenge.  I don't know why they are a little difficult, but I thoroughly enjoy the process of painting them and hope that I learn more each time.  To see the price of this painting you can click Peonies. 

Red Apples and Cup Towel

Red Apples and Cup Towel

8x8 Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

This painting features two bright, juicy, red apples resting on a colorful print cup towel.   I was inspired to paint this daily painting by the cup towel that somehow shows up in my paintings once in a while (grin).  It is funny how we have our favorite items and paint them over and over.  I just happened to have some bright, red and juicy apples to place on the cup towel and they became my focal point.  My fabric still may be a little intense.  I tried to subdue it somewhat, but all and all I am pleased.