Word Weaver Art: basket of peaches

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Spilled Peaches

What is happening to me with this crazy palette knife craze?

Perhaps I'm just in a style phase and it will pass.

I hope not, because I love it.

What would Thomas Decker think? Would he be horrified?

I hope not.

Basket of Peaches, oil on canvas, c. 1885, Joseph Decker

I can't fully explain why, but of all the wonderful and amazing works of art in Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art here in Northwest Arkansas, it's my favorite painting.

I suppose it's because there's an elegant simplicity about it.

Whenever we visit other museums, I always look to see if one of his paintings is there.

I used it as inspiration and set up my own basket of peaches still life.

I painted these versions in 2012 and 2020.

ME: (after opening my file of still life images for peaches) Ron, which one should I use?

RON: They all look the same.

ME: No! Look they have different backgrounds and different arrangements.

RON: Ok. The red one.

ME: Which red one? Red on the table? Or red on the background?

RON: Um, the first one.

ME: But, it doesn't have very good shadow in the background.

RON: Then the next one.

ME: Well, it only has two peaches in front. Don't you like three better?

RON: Sure.

ME: What color of background then?

RON: Why do you ask me this?

Ha ha... Good question. Why do I ask him?

The reason I revisited my Peach Still Life Folder? My Weekly-ish painting challenge was "Just Peachy."

Original Oil Painting on 11"x 14" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

Friday, November 6, 2015

I set up this still life that reminds me of my favorite painting at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. There are hundreds of beautiful works of art there, but my favorite, favorite, favorite painting is "Basket of Peaches". I have to go stand in front of it for a few minutes every time we go.

And, yes, I did paint my own version of "Basket of Peaches". One might be worth a million dollars more than the other, but I love them both.