Portrait of Zoie on a Monday

portrait of Zoie, oil on panel, 14 x 11 in

Having a model is a great way to start off the week. This was a quick two-hour portrait study of Zoie, one of my students. She’s a great model. Didn’t move an inch! I used the Zorn palette that I wrote about last post, which consists of Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red light, Ivory Black and Titanium White. This is […]

Cardboard Sky

Cardboard Sky, oil on linen, 16x20 in, © Jean Wilkey

I enjoy painting from observation. For me so much about art is really learning to see both with the internal and external eye. One thing I’ve been focused on over the past few years is trying to get accurate color temperature and value in the work. That’s what really describes the quality of the light and the atmosphere […]

Upcoming classes

Student painting the figure

My oil painting classes will begin again in September. If you’re interested in taking small group classes in the intimate environment of my studio, please get in touch with me. I’ll be teaching both beginning and more advanced levels and all subjects. You can email or call me for more information or click the ‘classes […]

White Azaleas in Blue Pot

White Azalea

I bought this beautiful white Azalea as soon as I saw it. Or maybe it’s a Rhododendron. I’m not really sure. I didn’t notice that the tag was missing until I got home. So I can only guess at what it is and how to care for it. I set it in a pot that was a gift […]

Advancing to Red

This year, for the first time, we got about 2 dozen pomegranates off our tree. Pretty amazing for a tree we thought was dead after a severe freeze a few years back. So it was time for a pomegranate study along with some Fuji apples from another tree in our yard. Just playing around with perception […]

White Rabbit with Cherries

Several years ago I purchased a white ceramic bunny when I was visiting in Arizona. I used it in a painting, White Rabbit with Apricots. Since then I have acquired several more white ceramic rabbits, mostly Lefton’s, but I still love this little Napco bunny which I’ve paired with Bing cherries, one of my favorite fruits. […]

Cactus Study in plein air

prickly pear cactus with orange spots

I had a lovely morning painting in plein air with visiting Australian artist, Adrienne Williams. We went to Soledad Canyon to a trail just before the canyon entrance. I painted a close up of a prickly pear cactus with lovely lime green and orange patches. Since the day was overcast and grey, it has a […]