"Sunny Disposition"

($40.00....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)


"Lemons have a sunny disposition in all the seasons of the year." Isn't it pleasant to have friends who are always full of joy? I am blessed to have a few. They are like these lemons with a sunny disposition through all the seasons of life.

Theses lemons are the remains of the "bumper crop" from our lemon tree. It is an ornamental lemon tree with beautiful little white blossoms in the spring. You can imagine our surprise when it began yielding these beautiful lemons. The total crop was eighteen!

As most oil painters know, morning and evening light are the conditions most conducive to creating the most shadows, direct light, reflected light, highlights, etc. This photo was taken in the late afternoon light which adds to its drama. It's something to think about when drawing, painting, or photographing.

Cropping is the next most important thing. By allowing the lines of the image to go from edge to edge, very dramatic shapes are created. The more subtle shapes are created with pencil lines in the background. I've said it many times and will say it again, if you want spontaneous results, you need to use spontaneous techniques. Consequently, random placement of the pencil lines on the Arches Text Wove before printing the photograph will yield a spontaneous rather than a contrived look. Take a few shots today and practice zooming in and cropping. These are just a few more things to try or think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.