Some random sketches

I have been taking a break from painting in order to study up on some aspects of art that have always eluded me. How long I'll be busy with that, I don't know, but I'll post the occasional sketch here just to keep the blog alive.

Two still life sketches done from life:

And two in ballpoint pen plus colored pencil, cobbled together from various reference photos:

I have actually been itching to take up the brushes again, so perhaps I'll soon succumb to temptation and paint something...

Apple and bottle

Oil on board, 20 x 15 cm:

Mini bottle and Eugenia berries

Oil on board, 10 x 15 cm:

Probably the last of the berries for the season - mornings are getting decidedly frosty...

Onion and bottle

Oil on board, 20 x 15 cm (= about 8 x 6 in):

Back to still life, but I decided to try something other than my usual dark backgrounds.

Eggs, bottle, pear.

Oil on board, 20 x 25 cm:

Egg cartons are surprisingly difficult to paint - I should do some more!

Pear and bottles

Oil on board, 15 x 20 cm (= about 6 x 8 inches):

Mini bottle, mini tomatoes

Been a while since I have made one of these mini paintings. Oil on board, 15 x 10 cm (= 6 x 4 inches):

Cloves, tomato, apricot jam

I remain torn between oils and acrylics for this sort of painting. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. In practice, I work with one for a while, then get sick of it and switch to the other. Perhaps I'll eventually figure out which one I really prefer.

Oil on board, 20 x 15 cm (=about 8 x 6 inches):

Red things

Acrylic on board, 20 x 15 cm (= about 8 x 6 inches):

Cherry Tomatoes and Miniature Bottle

Oil on board, 20 x 15 cm (= about 8 x 6 inches):

My cherry tomato bush is beginning to bear more fruit than I know what to do with. Still life is one possible function of cherry tomatoes, but they're so small it is usually preferable to combine them with other small items. Luckily I have a small collection of such trinkets...