Still-Life Series

After painting quite a few landscapes, I like to change it up a bit by painting still lifes. Usually one still life idea will lead to another. This month, I also happened to teach a still life class on Wednesday evenings and a class in pastel at the Frederick Meijer Gardens. My Wednesday class consisted of both pastel and oil painting students. The demos were alternated with the mediums.

"Blue Bottle, Pear and Clementine, pastel, 6x6
In one class we did a still life with an object and a clementine. This was my example for the pastel students.

"Clementines and Blue Vase", oil, 6x6
The example for the oil students using a clementine with a contrasting background.

"Melon Slice and Pear", oil, 6x6
We had a still life with a pear and strawberry. I did not use the melon in the student still life. After painting it myself, I decided it was kind of advanced. The pear was a challenge enough!

demo in pastel, half finished. 6x6

Demo for the Pear and Strawberry still life in oil. 6x6

Still-Lifes at Treeline

Pitcher With Apples, oil on panel, 12x12, $800 framed at Treeline Gallery
(I like the country French look)

Blushing Pear, oil on panel, 6x6, $250 framed at Treeline Gallery

    Treeline Gallery in Suttons Bay, has a nice assortment of landscapes and still-lifes. Since this is the slow time of year for this beautiful gallery in northern Michigan, I thought I would highlight some of my work there.

Kettle with Apples, oil on panel, 8x8, $425. framed at Treeline Gallery

    Working in the still-life genre is relatively new for me. I started a few years ago during the winter months with a group of painter friends. We call ourselves, "The Six Women Painters". This was a great substitute for plein air painting (sometimes not practical in the Michigan winter), and working from life is good practice. From that start, I often find subjects like flowers, fruit and veggies in season at farmer markets or even just the grocery store. Also, I am starting to collect small antique objects that would look good in a painting. Sometimes it takes just as long to arrange the still-life as it is to paint it! I prefer working small, 6x6 - 8x8, and on occasion find it necessary to work larger.

Mixed Fruit, oil on panel, 6x6, $250. framed at Treeline Gallery

Pears with Orange Slices, 6x6, $250. framed at Treeline Gallery


Please call Alyce at 616-450-6708,
 if you would like to speak to her about any of these paintings.

Thank you for viewing my work!

Day 29 - "30 Paintings in 30 Days"

Porcelain Creamer and Strawberries, oil, 6x6, $250. framed

A second painting with the strawberries seemed like a good thing (since they were already in the refrigerator). I have been studying the pictorial effect of repeated but varying shapes with one central focus. This is called Subordination. I set this still life up with that concept in mind. Not only was the strawberry shape repeated, but the creamer had similar shapes within it.

Thank you for viewing my art for this month. Tomorrow is the last day for posting in the challenge. After this month, I will keep painting everyday with a focus on larger paintings. I will also post more paintings in progress and hopefully get out for some more plein air work!

Day 18 - "30 Paintings in 30 Days"

"Copper Pitcher with Fruit", oil on linen panel, 8x8

$250. unframed until the end of January

The last few landscape paintings have had a warm color scheme. It seems like I have gravitated  unaware to the same kind of colors for this still life. My concentration was on lost and found edges and color harmony.  The color palette included transparent oxide brown, trans. oxide red, mag. blue, cad. orange, along with some of the usual colors. I am thinking of trying a similar set up with a darker background... next week.

Thank you for viewing my art!
Send an e-mail if you are interested in purchasing this painting.
Kalinowski@chartermi.net

Day 15 - "30 Paintings in 30 Days"

"Hospitality" , oil, 12x12, $800 framed

This painting took more than one day. I started it at the end of one painting session and finished it the next. It required quite a few hours! Needless to say, the pineapple was very ripe, and good, by that time. I was looking for a warm, light feeling, more high key overall. I had left the pineapple top for last and that was the hardest area to paint!

Thanks for viewing my artwork and following these 30 days of intense painting.
To see the other paintings in this challenge click on this link!

To see more work or to sign up for my monthly newsletter go to my website.

Peonies and Nectarines II

Peony Bouquet, oil, 8x8, $400. framed SOLD

Peonies, Cherries and Nectarines, oil, 6x6, $250.

Rose and Nectarines, oil, 5x7


Three more still lifes that were painted before we recently went on a vacation. Although I have not checked, I'll bet the peonies are finished in the garden:(. I love traveling and will post some more plein air work painted in northern Michigan.  These plein air studies will be used in upcoming pastel work for the next show at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Also, the new work now at North Seas Gallery in Charlevoix will be posted soon on this blog. North Seas Gallery is a treasure with many fine antiques and masterful paintings. 

Nectarines and Peonies

Arrangement With Nectarines, oil, 8x8, $400.

Well, peonies have been blooming and for once, my white peonies are looking good. I have been really focused on painting them in my small still lifes. Also, I have discovered how nice the nectarines look in the still life and I love painting them. Here are the first three paintings.

Nectarines and White Peonies, oil, 6x6, SOLD

Silver Bowl of Nectarines, oil, 6x6, SOLD

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Pinot Noir, oil on linen panel, 9x12

Painted on location last August at the Silver Tree Winery, north of Suttons Bay, MI.
This painting trip inspired the following paintings. I just finished the Chardonnay Grapes (below) and it will be added to the web site in February.

Fruit of the Vine, oil on linen panel, 12x16, $900. framed
Selected for the Celebration of the Arts Exhibit, Feb. 2012 

Chardonnay, oil on panel, 7x5, $250. framed in black with gold lip

A Spy and Pinot Noir, oil on panel, 6x6, $250. - SOLD

Still Lifes with Silver and Copper

I am venturing into painting metal vessels and larger still life set ups. Painting from life, whether a still life or landscape, involves skills in design, drawing, a vast knowledge of color and acute observation.
An artist must continually practice these skills.

Sugar Bowl With Orange, oil, 6x6
private collection, NFS

Copper Pitcher and Cherries, oil, 12x16
$800. uf or $950. framed

Sugar Bowl and Cherries, oil, 5x7
$125. uf or $250. framed

Kettle with Apples and Roses, oil, 12x16
$800. uf or $950. framed

Still Lifes For December

When the days are dreary with overcast skies, cold winds and rain, my mood changes to painting from the still life. The pomegranate is a new challenge to paint. I like little stem which reminds me of a crown.

Pomegranate and Blackberries, oil, 6x6
 $125.uf or $250 framed

Pomegranate and Holly, oil, 6x6
$125. uf or $250 framed

Pomegranate Still Life, oil, 6x6 SOLD

The Apple in Still Life

Ida Red, oil, 6x6, $250 framed - SOLD

Kettle and Apples, oil, 8x8, $395. framed

Pitcher with Apples, oil, 12x12, $850. framed

Small Basket of Apples, oil, 6x6, $250.framed


Living near the fruit belt of western Michigan, I love to visit the farmer's fruit stands. I like to hand pick the fresh harvest for still lifes and then for eating. My apples of choice in these still lifes are Ida Reds and Golden Delicious. The basket was borrowed from Brechting Farm on Six Mile Rd.

November Still Lifes (so far)

Bouquet and Milkweed Pod, oil, 6x6, $250. framed

Aubergine and Pumpkin, oil, 6x6, $250. framed

Golden Pear, oil, 6x6, $250. framed - SOLD

Golden Pear, Apple and Mums, oil, 6x6, $250. framed - SOLD


These little still lifes are a joy to set up and paint. I am hand picking the fruit from Brechting Farm. The  flowers are from my gardens and the milkweed pod is growing in abundance along the road. 

October Still Lifes

Red Cabbage and Tomatos, oil, 6x6, $250. framed

Pear, Nectarine and Concords, oil, 6x6, $250. Framed

Pumpkin Gourd and Concords, oil, 6x6, $250 framed

Plum, Nectarine and Concords, oil, 6x6, $250. framed

I bought some Concord Grapes and loved painting them as much as eating them.