Top 10 of 2010

Holiday Table (a flower for Richard), October 21, 2010 • collection of the artist

Pot, wine and mango, November 24, 2010 • sold

Silver strap, July 2, 2010

Vino, December 7, 2010

Bottles and dish, November 20, 2010

Ready to go, September 24, 2010

Plums in pottery bowl, July 25, 2010 • sold

Flip-flop, July 10, 2010

A little tomato story (part 2), March 20, 2010 • sold

Precipice, February 8, 2010 • sold

Last year, I had some fun making a Top 10 list so I thought I would make it a tradition. These are ten of my personal favourites. It's a good exercise to look over your body of work. Certainly, some made me cringe but happily many made me smile. I can see what I learned this year and have a clear picture of what I want to study the year ahead. Wishing all of you a New Year filled with affection, peace and kindness!

Anticipation

Ahhh...just before you dig in!

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

Soup's on!

A nice pot of soup for a cold December day. It feels good after all the chocolates and excesses of the past few days. Funny thing: My Mother-in-law has the same pots as my Mom had when I was growing up. The handle and the lid are triangular. Kitchen memories : )

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

The big guy - SOLD

For those of you that celebrate Christmas, I'd like to offer a big Ho! Ho! Ho! For those that don't, you must be getting tired of all the red and green by now. But I think we can all agree that any time is a good time to hang out with those we love, eat some delicious meals, play some games, relax, wish for peace on Earth and help those in need. And it doesn't have to be financial. There are plenty of ways to help our fellow beings on this planet with sheer kindness, attention and really listening to each other. And did I mention kindness? Years ago I read: "In this world you must be too kind in order to be kind enough" and it always stuck with me. Let's Be Excellent To Each Other and see how it goes : )

On that note, my postings will be sporadic the week ahead as I spend time with those I love. Peace, love and warm wishes to all.

Vintage silver Christmas balls - SOLD

I just LOVE this old ornament box filled with vintage silver balls. This is another object from my Dad. The packaging is old, yellowing, and just divine! I marvel that people could keep an original package with all the ornaments intact for all those years! But I am so happy those people exist. Because these objects are just lovely to look at and fill you with nostalgia.
On a technical note, I have to say that all this daily painting pays off. I guess I'm stating the obvious but I have to say, I know I wouldn't have been able to paint this subject a year ago. So here's to practicing one's craft...diligence brings rewards : )
6" x 6" / oil on panel / SOLD

"Glow" Kim Rempel, daily painter, Canada

So...this is kind of a different for me. I began doing a complicated still life of a cardboard sleigh imprinted with an illustration of Santa on a sleigh, complete with toys, runners etc... The sleigh was filled with a tangle of old-fashioned Christmas lights, turned on, and it was sitting in a darkened corner.

Yeah.

So after an hour on the painting I stood back for the umpteenth time and thought: This puppy will need an explanation. And that's never a good sign ; ) I liked the string of lights I had put in across the top, so I rubbed off the bottom and just kept going with the lights. Cause sometimes you gotta know when to fold 'em (yep - Kenny Rogers is going through my head)

6" x t6" / oil on panel / $75

Old glass ornament

I love old ornaments. This is one from my parents collection. I asked my Dad for some background information and he told me it was actually from my Mom's Mother (yep - my Grandma ; ). So it was one my Mom grew up with on her tree : ) Cool! The silver has worn off in a few spots, but in my book, that just adds to the charm.

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

p.s. As I was posting this I just heard back from JanettMarie. She has picked Cup of Beauty. It will be on it's way tomorrow Janett! : ))

And the winner is...

JannettMarie! I have just sent her an email asking which painting she would like. Congratulations! And a very big thank you to all who entered : ) It really *IS* a pleasure to give a surprise present so it's definitely something I will continue in the new year.

Ornament trio

A few ornaments from my parents selection. At first the red ribbon hangers were facing the back and the composition was feeling pretty static. I spun them around and loved what was going on with the ribbon! They totally saved the composition and made the painting way more interesting. It's a good reminder not to settle on something when you're not feeling it.

Just a reminder - the draw is Sunday night! If you're on Facebook, all you have to do is "Like" Eat Drink Paint. If you're not on FB, you can leave a comment under Tuesday's post. Good luck : )

Jam tower - SOLD

So these jars are from the company Niagara Presents. I can personally recommend their tart cherry jam, apple pie jam (not at all fake and tastes just like real apple pie :), and Christmas Morn jam (kind of like marmalade but with cranberries added (I think). They also have wine jellies - a couple are in my cupboard just waiting to be used.

By the way, if you're still looking for any gifts, keep AyrSpace Gallery in mind!

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

Jammin' - SOLD

Three jam jars from a Christmas basket. *Yum!* The tart cherry tastes just like my Grandma used to make : )

I just want to thank everyone for "Liking" Eat Drink Paint on Facebook. You guys are the BEST! *Truly!* It was kind of sad having less than 20 Likes, and then to see the number grow... well it brought a big ol' smile to my face : ))) And to the people who left comments under my contest post, a thank you just as big! Anyway, to everyone out there...warm wishes for a good day!

6" x 6" / oil on panel 

Vessels

THANK YOU to everyone who has "liked" Eat Drink Paint on FB. The page is starting to grow : ) For anyone who missed it yesterday, if you're on FB, "Like" Eat Drink Paint for your chance to win one of three paintings on the slideshow to the right. If you're not on FB you can leave a comment on Tuesday's post for your chance to win. Draw will be Sunday.

So this set-up was a real work-out. It started coming together near the end but I still want to figure out burning candles a little more. A feel a series coming on. The best way to learn, right?

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

Win one of these paintings! Draw on Sunday, December 19

Well, yesterday my painting was all about "Tis the season" for coughs and colds. BUT, it's also the season of giving. And in that vein, I would like to do a painting giveaway! This time there are 2 ways to enter. If you are on Facebook, "Like" Eat Drink Paint, or if you are not on Facebook, you can leave a comment under this post.

If your name is picked from all entries received, I will contact you and you can pick which one of the three paintings above you would like (free shipping!). A random draw will be held on Sunday, December 19. Good luck!

Tis the season

I have to interrupt the wine and ornaments for another familiar sight of the season: cough drops, Vicks VapoRub and ibuprofen. Yep, this is a current vignette of what's happening here. Enough said! ; )

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

Antique silver - SOLD

More of the silver Christmas balls but this time in my silver vase (painted with daisies in it here). My husband suggested the set-up and for a split-second I thought he was crazy. Then I stomped out my fear and went for it...lol So now that it's done, I'm glad he thought of it! Thanks honey!

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

Silver shimmer - SOLD

I've been admiring Pam Holnback's paintings of old-fashioned Christmas balls (and her loose handling of them!) and decided to try a few myself. Two of these were sparkling silver and one was silver metallic. They were a lot of fun to paint although I had to resist the urge to sprinkle real glitter all over the painting ; )

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

Threesome - SOLD

Today I mixed it up: 1 wine and 2 beer bottles. These beer bottles are works of art! On the left is a bottle of Hobgoblin. Great bottle shape and colour and a really fine illustration on the label. The one to the right is St. Peter's Winter Ale. Perfect typography and the shape of the bottle almost reminds me of an antique medicine bottle. I'm going to be painting these lovely bits of glass again soon : )

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

Party crasher - SOLD

Working with the bottles again. Severe foreshortening. This is where measuring everything against everything else is so crucial. Your eyes can play tricks on you. I have found that the key to success in painting these is to make sure you have lots of contrast in your greens and not to get too "scratchy" with your brush. By that I mean, as always, trying to lay down the proper colour (and more importantly value!) the first time so that your painting doesn't get overworked. And it's harder than it sounds!

6" x 6" / oil on panel - SOLD

Vino - SOLD

Before you start getting any ideas, these are bottles in my studio that I just keep recycling ; )

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

Truce - SOLD

Painted for the season of peace and goodwill...three major coffee suppliers side by each ; )

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

A cuppa - SOLD

This piece brought to mind my many conversations with good friends over cups of coffee and tea. Something about having something warm to sip and a good cup to hold opens the door for lots of good chats.

6" x 6" / oil on panel / SOLD

Orange

An orange in a bowl. Don't really have anything clever to say this morning. I painted this one yesterday because I'm getting company and have errands and...still have to bathe the dog!

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75

Pomegranate - SOLD

I used up all my "p" words yesterday ; )

I love pomegranates. You open them up and are met with scores of tiny sparkling rubies. What's not to love?

6" x 6" / oil on panel / SOLD

Persimmons - SOLD

Painted these persimmons with my palette knife. Presently persimmons have been particularly popular on plenty of posts. Pourquoi the propensity for painting persimmons? Perhaps their perky, plump presence portrays a pleasurable picturesqueness. Or... peut-être the powerful pigment gives this pearl its prime potential. Pfump. I'm peckish. Peeling these persimmons and partaking.

Pax ; )

6" x 6" / oil on panel / $75