"Mangos No.2"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" Commission - NFS

"Bananas"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" Commission - NFS

"Cracked Coconut"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" Commission - NFS

It was quite a challenge cracking this coconut. It took a chisel, hammer and a lot of muscle to even break the surface. It was a cool challenge to paint, also. This is post number 221 for my Daily Painting blog.

"Elegant Egg"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 8" x 8" SOLD.

This glass piece came from that resale store, also. I love raw egg paintings. Here is a little bit of a different take on them.

"Enamel Bowl with Apple & Book"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 8" x 8" SOLD.

I am usually afraid of strong elipses because they can make or break an entire painting. That was my challenge in this painting. I bought that enamel bowl at my lunch hour today at resale shop by my work. I have been finding great treasures there lately. They will be in future paintings...stay tuned.

"Eggs on White"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 8" x 8" SOLD.

I enjoyed this 'white challenge'. My favorite is the subtle difference in temperature the eggs have versus the cloth.

Glass, metal and fabrics. I love paintings these and feel I don't use them enough. Especially fabric. They will be worked infor future paintings. This is post number 218 of my Daily Painting blog.

"Lemon Slice with Knife"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 8" x 8" SOLD.

I am so attracted to the backlit qualities of the lemon slice. One thing I try to pay special attention to in my paintings is how light hits different objects in different ways.

"Above the Rest"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com

"Reflections"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD.

I've been drawn to shiny and clear objects lately. I actually added the red match about 80% through the painting. It needed a little color to accent all those grays.

"Sunset Moon"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD.

This is the moment when the sun has just about set but it's not totally dark out yet and the moon is completely illuminated by the sun. The cresent shape of the moon from last night added a lot to the scene. This is post number 214 for my Daily Painting blog.

"Cirrus Clouds"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD.

This is the view from my kitchen table. We had some beautiful clouds roll through. I was attracted to their dramatic angle and had to paint them. Also I have to capture that beautiful view while I can, with any luck (and a buyer) we will be moving soon.

"Proud Creamer with Glass"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 8" x 8" SOLD.

I just love this creamer. It's fun to paint and combining it with the glass of water added the perfect challenge. In contrast to the creamer painting I did a couple days ago, I wanted to create a cool atmosphere to go along with the coolness in the chrome. This might be one of my favorite paintings to date.

"Avocado Halves No.3"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6"

Commission-NFS

I have a bunch of commissions that I will be sneaking in between Daily Paintings. This is one of them. It's post number 211 in my Daily Painting blog.

"Proud Creamer"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 8" x 8"

SOLD.

My wife bought this creamer at Goodwill specifically for me to paint. She must really love me. Thanks Hun!

"Escaped Yolk"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 8" x 8" SOLD.

"PB & J No.3"

Oil on 1/4" Board, Beveled and Mounted to Oak Frame. 13" x 13"

SOLD.

Here is one of the PB & J's talked about earlier. I really like the top view and how that shows off all the angles. It is completely ready to hang. The top board that is painted has a beveled edge all the way around and mounted to an oak frame that sits the painting about 1.75" from the wall. This is post number 207 in my Daily Painting blog.

"Bosc"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD.

"PB & J Knife"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD.

I used a new brush today. It made all the difference on this one. I have a couple/few PB & J compositions coming up in the near future. This is kind of a teaser to those. Stay tuned...

"Midnight Moon"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD.

I actually painted this last night after yesterday's Daily Painting. The moon and sky were so amazing. I finished it shortly after midnight, hence the name. Also after 205 paintings, this is my first night scene. It was a challenge finding the light to paint under that wouldn't affect my view of the night sky. Does that make sense? Anyway, I will certainly revisit night scenes in the future.

"Pepper Hat"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD.

"Vegetable Family"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 10" x 8" SOLD.

"Leaning Sweet Pepper"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 8" x 10" SOLD.

A larger than normal piece. More to come...

"Maraschino Cherries"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD

My wife wanted me to paint these cherries for over a week now. I really like how they turned out-sitting in their own juice.

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

"Taped Leaf"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD

This post is pretty monumental for me Not only is it my one year anniversary of this Daily Painting blog, but it's also my 200th POST!!! Never before in my life have I had the courage or determination to create so many paintings. Seeing how Daily Painting has changed my life in the past 12 months make it worth every hour I put in. That sounds pretty sappy but its true.

I have one goal I want to work towards in the next year which is larger paintings. Even if it's a few inches, just bigger. More 10x8's and up. I already have a few ideas in the works so stay tuned...

"Fall Leaf No.3"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 8" x 8" Commission-NFS.

Here is the last of my current commissions. I think I have a mental block when it comes to people telling me what to paint...even if it's a subject I really enjoy. I never seem to have motivation for those kind of paintings. I usually procrastinate the commissions by filling my time with Daily Paintings. At least I'm painting. This is post number 199!

"Caribou"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 7" NFS.

Well it's been a little while since my last post. I have been quite busy lately doing a few commissions. Also trying to sell my house and look for a new house is very time consuming. On top of that my internet was down for 3 days. I felt very disconnected. I have a few more things to finish up but will be back to regular painting soon. Stay tuned...

"Smrz Vineyards"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6.5" x 8 Commission - NFS.

This is a custom commission. It is for the client's mother who's last name is Smrz. It features her favorite wine and a plaque with her name on it. These are a couple details that make it something truly personal to the one receiving it. This is post number 197 for my Daily Painting blog.

"Papa Tomato"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 6" x 6" SOLD

I got these tomatos from a woman at my work. Others were picking through them to see which ones they wanted to eat, I was picking to see which ones I wanted to paint...and then eat. I love tomatos. Thanks Cindy!

"Coke Bottle Vision"

Oil on 1/4" Board. 4" x 5" For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com

The Drawings That Started It All

Charcoal on Strathmore Bristol Board.

Back in August of last year I started this blog not as a painting challenge but a drawing one. Within the first month I picked up the paint brush and the rest is history. Fastly approaching my one year anniversary, its amazing to see the evolution and changes. I figured I would make the drawings that strated it all available again. Each one is listed in it's own auction. Click under the drawing montage to view them all (well most anyway).

"Saturn Peach"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 5"x4". SOLD.

I bought this peach a few days ago and have wanted to paint it since, but for some reason I ended up painting other things. I was originally attracted to the leaf still attached. I never see fruit with the leaves still on them but love the effect they give. This painting came together quickly and directly. I think it's because I have painted it in my head many times already. This is post number 193 for my Daily Painting blog.

"Double White Matches"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 4"x5". SOLD

"Cut Tomato"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 5"x4". SOLD.

"Home Grown Tomato with Knife"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 4"x5". For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com

I got this home grown tomato from an open house my wife and I went to. This lady picked it from her garden and tossed it to me on the way out. Of course I had to paint it. It was a one hour study. I wanted to focus on variation in color temperature and value and think it's successful.

"Single Cherry" 3 in series of 3

Oil on 1/4" Board, 4"x5". SOLD.

This is the third and final painting for this series. I love the reflective quality that cherries have, not to mention the reflective surface they were sitting on. This is post number 189 for my Daily Painting blog.

"Single Cherry" 2 in series of 3

Oil on 1/4" Board, 4"x5". SOLD.

Here is the second in the series. I must admit it is nice to paint tight on these cherry paintings. Lately I have been pretty loose with the brushstrokes. Stay tuned for the third...

"Single Cherry" 1 in series of 3

Oil on 1/4" Board, 4"x5". SOLD.

This is the first in a series of 3 similar to it. They should follow in the next two posts. Stay tuned...

"Cherry Bowl"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

Sorry it's been a while since my last post but i have been extremely busy. Many things in the hopper right now and Daily Painting is one of them. Enjoy.

"Clouds"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

I saw these clouds from my kitchen table. I sat down and started painting. I got about 10 brush strokes in and the clouds had moved so much they looked totally different. Luckily I got a good enough block in and felt I captured the form enough in those first few stokes that I continued from memory. It was a fun challenge... like when you try drawing the hand that's drawing. If you haven't done this, you should try it!

"Lemon with Knife

Oil on 1/4" Board, 10"x8". SOLD.

This is a larger painting compared to most of my Daily Paintings. This is post number 184 for my Daily Painting blog.

"Strawberries"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

"Watermelon Pile"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

"Bit Apple"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

Happy 7/7/07 everyone! I thought I would have had better luck with this painting. It's not my favorite but I think successful overall. I found the 'bit' part of the apple to be challenging. I will certainly revisit this subject in the future.

"Tea Bag"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

You know, I don't even drink tea. I'm a coffee guy all the way. The stronger the better. Without my trusty coffee, I'm good for nothin'. This is post number 180 for my Daily Painting blog.

"Apple Triplets"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

I was drawn to these Granny Smith Apples when I saw them in the store. As I may have mentioned in the past, I find mixing green colors challenging. Maybe it's because I only mix yellow and blue and don't use any tube green colors. I am curious to hear how others achieve their greens. I am very happy with the variety of warm and cool greens that make up this subject.

"Apple in Tin Cup"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

So you may have noticed I have been away from painting for a while. My wife and I were busy getting our house in order to put on the market. It's officially for sale. If you know of anyone looking to buy near the Aurora/Naperville border, drop me a line. In the mean time I will keep painting. This is post number 178 for my Daily Painting blog.

"Water with Lemon"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

"White Onion"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

"Plum Pear"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". SOLD.

We had a swift storm yesterday that knocked my phone connection out. That's means I have no DSL connection. Talk about feeling disconnected. Anyway my posts may be staggered because I to post my image where ever i can find internet. This is post number 175 on my Daily Painting blog.

"Creased Pear"

Oil on 1/4" Board, 6"x6". For purchase info, please email michael@mnaples.com

So I'm back from my break. It was much needed and I feel refreshed. I saw this pear in the store today and had to get it. It had this 'butt crack' looking crease (I hope that doesn't sound too gross) in it that looked so unique. I like the little reflected light on the inside of the crease.