Peaches - A Still Life Painting

Peaches

6x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

One of my husband's favorite fruit, these peaches are a favorite to paint.  I am a fan of Cezanne  and I love the color he placed in his fruit.  Take a look at this blog to read more about him and see images of his work.  I have this painting listed in my Etsy store.   Click here to find out more about it.

Blondie - A Cow Painting

Blondie

8x10 Oil Painting on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg 

Blondie is another one of my son's cows that graze behind our house.  She had her nose turned up one evening as the sun was going down and I fancied that she was smelling the grass and clover that was all around her and the other cattle.  Her blond coat of summer hair was high lighted in the sun,  and her ears were perked up as I walked up with my camera.  She looks proud and relaxed in this painting.  Cow paintings are such a favorite thing to paint.  She is priced in my Etsy shop.  This link will take you there.

Crock Pitcher and Radishes

Crock Pitcher and Radishes

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Uno Radish

6x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

 

The last several days we have harvested the first fruits from our garden.  This is so exciting to me because it has been years since we lived on a farm and actually grew our own vegetables.  Then we were more excited about large crops of wheat and raising cattle and kids.  We liked gardening then, but didn't slow down and "enjoy" the remarkable process of watching the seeds grow to something edible and beautiful.  When we picked our first beauties....red radishes and green onions this year I couldn't wait to paint them.  Then we ate them!  These paintings can be purchased by following this link:  Original Oil Paintings by Cheri Wollenberg by ChatterBoxArt

Pears and Turquoise Cup - A Perfect Paisley

Pears and Turquoise Cup

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

I love to paint pears.  In art school we learn a great deal about composition...how it is constructed and classical views of how to create good composition.  The artist wants to take the eye on a tour.  The artist does this by employing the elements and principles of art to direct the viewers' eye.   Sometimes we do it intentionally and sometimes is purely by accident.......an unconscious or natural tendency when creating a balance in the composition.  The paisley is just a designers' name for a spiraling line of direction.  Here I have a paisley design that is formed with the three golden pears winding from the right edge of the canvas toward a turquoise cup on top of a brick in this painting.   The background and foreground colors and textures are suppressed or are not significant, but was intended to complement the composition.  Please take the tour and give me your comments.  This painting is listed in my Etsy shop.

Daisie Cow Painting

Daisie

20x20 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Dasie is another one of the most wonderful cows that graze back of my house.  She is very gentle and always seems to be amused at my photo wanderings in the pasture.  She is perfect for the new farmhouse decor.  The painting was very enjoyable to do.  I think Herefords are my favorite to paint.  She is in my Etsy store if you would like additional information about her. 

Daffodil - A Cow Painting

Daffodil A Cow Painting

16x16 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Daffodil is one of the cows that has been eating grass back of my house all spring.  She is one of 150+ head of cattle that belongs to our son.  They are so fat and tame that I can walk right up to them and move around with my camera in the pasture.  Occasionally they look up curiously and every once in a while one will paw her foot as if to try to scare me off......at first I was concerned when one did this to me and I instinctively jumped.  My jump scared her more than it scared me (chuckle).  I have enjoyed this herd of cattle more than any I've ever been around.  They have been a tremendous inspiration to me as I look at the natural patterns and textures in their colorful coats.  The original painting of Daffodil can be bought in my Etsy store.. here and different sized prints can be bought of her on my Fine Art America website..here.

Texas Bluebonnets Oil Painting

Texas Bluebonnets

12x12 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

My son videos cattle for a cattle commission company here in Oklahoma.  He spends a lot of time in Texas and he knows that I love the Texas landscapes in the spring when their wildflower, the Bluebonnet, covers their pastures like a plush carpet.  Recently he brought some photos home and shared them with me.  I was so inspired that I created this painting.  Painting from photographs is never the same as being in the real place painting from life!  The artist misses out on the whole experience and is handicapped in producing the right colors, depth, and values when painting from photo images.  But, I still enjoyed painting this little vignette and remembered the times that I was so impressed with the countrysides of that great state.  It is listed in my Etsy shop.

Red Geraniums Oil Painting

Red Geraniums

12x12 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Red Geraniums are so colorful.  Our farm home has white siding, a green roof, and is trimmed with black shutters.  I have a red front door.  I wanted to use red geraniums as accents in our landscaping for my front porch.  I'm pleased and of course......inspired.  So the thing to do is..... paint them.  You can see this little painting by clicking here.

Blue Hyacinth

Blue Hyacinths

8x10 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Working in flower beds this spring has taken hours of my time.   I get inspired by the different blooms of bushes and bulbs.  We are only a few official days into spring here, but Oklahoma is having record breaking highs in temperature.  We've had some wonderful rains come quite early and consistent for this time of the year.  The flowering bushes have been blooming for almost two weeks and the aromatic scents of these beauties are intoxicating.  It is a wonderful time for an artist.  These hyacinths inspired me for today's daily painting.  It is listed in my ChatterBoxArt shop on Etsy.

Hot Pink Peonies in Black Vase Painting

Hot Pink Peonies in Black Vase

11x14 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

A black vase sets this bouquet of hot pink peonies.  Muted pastels surround the subject matter in the background.  This black vase is almost like a metal pot because it reflects the things around it.  If you look very carefully, you can see the abstract artist in the reflection.  This painting is listed in my Etsy shop.  Just click the following phrase:  

Hot Pink Peonies

Red Geraniums in White Enamelware Pot Painting

Red Geraniums in White Enamelware Pot 

9x12 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Birds' Nests!  Finding these little uninhabited homes has given me some playful ideas to use in still life compositions.  I have also been working in flower beds the last several days, and I keep getting inspired by everything around me.  So the red geraniums became part of the still life subject matter along with the lovely little bird nest for this painting. I kind of like the empty nest (smiles).  It can be interpreted as being ready for use by our little feathered friends this spring, or it can be a great or little statement about those of us whose children have vacated our homes.  Either way I certainly enjoyed composing this little still life painting.  I have this painting listed in my Etsy shop.  Just click here to take a further look at it. 

Geraniums and Nest

Pansies in Blue Enamelware Cup

Pansies in Blue Enamelware Cup

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

It has rained a lot in Oklahoma this week.  It is also spring break for most schools in Oklahoma so two of my grandchildren have been staying with us and we have had quite a time.  When the sun peeked through the clouds we planted flowers and seeds in our vegetable garden.  We have also transplanted a lot of small potted plants....a good project for grandchildren.  I also have found a lot of nests lately, and  I cannot throw them away.  So, as I arranged some pansies in a blue enamelware cup I placed one of the little nests beside it.  I had to borrow some chocolate candy Easter eggs to provide my nest with the look of a potential family and here my painting is!

Daisies in White Enamelware Pot

Daisies in White Enamelware Pot

11x14 Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

I love old enamelware.  I have a pretty extensive collection of old teapots and cups that I have found at flea markets and antique stores over the years for my still lifes.  This one does not belong to me, but I wish I had bought it before someone else did.  I have this painting listed here.

Apple Painting

Apple Painting

10x10 Oil Painting

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Besides being a delicious fruit the apple has become an icon on it's own.  Just this morning on the news I observed that the newest generation iPad was announced today.  Alas, some of us eat apples, some paint apples and some buy apples!  These apples are on the market too.  Just click apple.

Tomatoes and Old Crock

Tomatoes and Country Crock

11x14 Original Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

When I paint still lifes, I have favorite themes that draws my interest.  I will think about how the arrangements of certain items will look in compositions.  Then I begin.  I love the country chic or prairie style look in decor.  Garden vegetables are always available at a local market to use with my compositions, and I have a collection of retro, vintage cuptowels, and crocks.  I have a large collection of enamelware in blues, reds, whites and blacks.  I enjoy the relaxed feeling country themed paintings give.  This is one that I did earlier this year.  To see it describes more please follow this link:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/91693044/tomatoes-and-crock-country-chic-still.