Met several new people though and it was all good. We had quite a few people come up, maybe they were getting out of the rain also.

My thought was to be above the piece looking partially down on the objects. Being up on the stage with the setup I figured this was going to be more the case so I didn't take my heavy little patio table. I thought a clear plastic bag of apples with some pouring out would be a simple enough setup. Not so, and the clear bag was very tricky to paint. But I did enjoy the challenge of seeing the difference between the apples out of the bag and the apples partially obscured in the bag. An interesting challenge with the edges and the greys. Being a cloudy day I picked a bag with some variety of ripeness and a couple had some nice yellow green and yellow reds to them. This reminded me of wanting to try subjects like this before but I never got to them. I think this would make an interesting series for the winter months. The local produce store just across the street would keep me challenged for quite awhile.

I made suggestions as to what to consider as a good starting place for the still life, as in different kinds of contrasting elements, such as in warm/cool, light/dark and big/small. Shapes also will come into consideration. 

When David was setting up this still life we then have another bunch of design concepts to consider. Because he has a natural eye for this stuff it usually works out just right.

We were talking about our relationship, was I his mentor, teacher? I felt kind of funny having that kind of title but after looking up some definitions on mentor it seemed just fine. I try to give him some direction and a few lessons as we paint but it's just fun to have a painting companion. 

The market is a bit like trial by fire for someone and I keep telling him he is very brave to be out doing this. I found this market pretty busy but as I missed last week I was also pretty up for chatting with everyone. It was quite fun in fact. If I get into a mood or space that I have to complete something and to complete something that is good I'm in trouble from the get-go. Also I didn't set out the previous paintings as they can get some enquiries as to price and do I sale my work. I'm out there for other reasons and I have decided the market is not the best place to try and sell at. I also have been doing this for the past 4 years and nothing has sold while I've been there. Live and learn. Some of the comments have pushed buttons and that is not what I want either so best to avoid the whole issue of selling.

The finished piece from last evening.
The auction will start on July 26th. 

Wow, this was the hardest session at the market to date. A lot of interest and kind-hearted souls and some nibbles for purchases and then a lot of annoyances. The balance between them was 10 good to 2 bad and which ones did I take on the most, bad of course. I am trying to not take these things personally and I believe and hope I'd be the one missed if I didn't show up for these Thursday markets. I did get an invitation though to do another market on Saturdays so if I have the energy to do both I think a may go for it. I did a lot of chatting and trying to close a sale or two, which is, it seems nearly impossible for me. I would like though to use my Square before the end of the summer, just once.
I set my own arrangement up and my young friend brought his own setup also. The day was pretty gloomy and grey and right at the very end the sun came out a bit. The pattypans were around the market this week so for my own sunny look I put them into my setup. The Sweet Peas were the only flowers to be had but I was thrilled to get them again. This time I tried to define them a little more carefully but keep an overall impression of the bouquet. This photo does not show the final piece but showing the scumbled in stage only or my first painting stage. No sun to work on my dappled sun effect which was what I hoped to work with this week, maybe next week.

Thursday afternoon/evening was again really, really busy at the farmers market. Had people offering advice on how to paint this and people sneaking photographs, hope it was my good side:) 
My young friend was there to help setup the still life and it was again a collaboration. David doesn't go for flowers much so he just cropped them out pretty much. He suggested the cherries and I hung the couple off the container. A nice touch if I can say that. David was leaving earlier then me, so I bought the fruit from him so I could finish. I definitely have my style changing of late and I like what is happening to it. My main design element was an oval just off centre and I have remembered to keep a space opening to let the eye travel through to the background and back again.

To bid on this painting go to this link at my Daily Paint Works gallery. As always the auctions are a very good price to get these works at a most reasonable price the auction will start tomorrow July 12th.

David did a fantastic painting this week and I introduced him to the alla prima techniques to starting a painting and I wouldn't let him use white until he was well into it. He loves his white too much and it has been desaturating all his hues. This has helped maintain rich colours and given him lots of contrasting hues that vibrate against each other. Well done David!

David's painting.

Another setup that I let David prepare for us to paint. For a young guy he has a great eye. I keep reminding him to consider his main design element and in this case I think his worked better then mine. I need to listen to my own advice. This time I got to take home the fresh veggies also.