Vignette: White Enamel
(16" x 16", oil on canvas)

In this composition, I am still using the pomegranate to create a play between small detail and larger masses. I also like the contrast between the transparency of the glass jar and the opaque white of the enamel pitcher. The gold apple pulls all the colours together and adds a pleasant organic shape to the composition.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Composition with Red Jug
(24" x 36", oil on canvas)

Close to Christmas I usually try to come up with a green and red composition. Frankly, it's not hard as this is one of my preferred colour combinations. In this painting, my all-time favorite red jug packs its usual colour punch, intensified by the adjacent green grapes.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Jug with Pomegranates
(24" x 24", oil on canvas)

Pomegranates are back in the stores, so you can expect to see a few pieces featuring this colour-loaded fruit. Here I've paired the whole fruit with an equally bold shaped jug. Keeping both partially in shadow softens the massive shapes, while the intricate detail of the opened fruit and scattered seeds in the foreground provide a nice contrast.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Standing Room Only
(12" x 36", oil on canvas)

I have always found that gourds, just like people, have very definite personalities and I've been wanting to do a crowd of them for sometime now. In fact, this particular painting has been in my head for many months. I planned ahead and purchased a new canvas format that would allow me to show a fair number of these characters, all lined up and jostling for attention.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Tomatoes, Garlic and Oil
(12" x 24", oil on canvas)

This simple story speaks to the pleasures of a few fresh ingredients. The nod to the Italian flag (green, white and red) is subtle, but a nice addition for those who care to notice it.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

A Book of Verse
(24" x 18", oil on canvas)

When a composition consists of very few items, the smallest details can assume heightened significance. For example, the cast shadow of the pear and the bounce of red reflected from the wine are details that may have been lost in a more complex composition. The slight edge of the bookmark carries the red up, completing the repetition of the colour found elsewhere on the canvas. Despite the apparent simplicity of any of my pieces, I try and include enough visual "surprises" to keep the viewer's eye engaged.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Great Gourds
(22' x 28", oil on canvas)

If last week's piece was all about shape and tone, then this week's is truly a celebration of colour. The fun patterns and colours of these gourds complement the clean contours of the bowl and pitcher. The wild stems add movement and lend the painting an air of playfulness.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Found Objects

(24" x 36", oil on canvas)



I love a composition like this one that focuses on shape and tone and challenges me to find the subtle attraction in the less than traditionally beautiful. Instead of using bright colour to keep the viewer's eye engaged, I use perfectly tuned lights and darks to achieve my goal.



My most popular canvases are generally those with lots of colour. So while this painting may not have wide appeal, this personal set of aesthetics feeds my artist's soul.


If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Late Season Tomatoes
(18" x 36", oil on canvas)

The glorious variations in the colour of these few last garden tomatoes called for careful layering of transparent hues. By combining complementary reds with greens, and blues with oranges, I was able to get believable shadows and clean highlights. Working with transparent colours is very time consuming, but I believe the end result is well worth the extra hours. Also, while outrageously expensive, using the best quality paints really pays off in a colour composition such as this.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Autumn Notebook, Page 1
(18" x 14", oil on canvas)

This homage to Autumn was inspired by a recent walk in the woods when I arrived home with pockets crammed full of nature's treasures. The colours, textures and shapes found at this time of the year are almost overwhelming, a treasure trove for artists of all stripes.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

October Lobos
(24" x 24", oil on canvas)

In the fall, country roadside apple stands seem to pop up overnight and markets are overflowing with the just-picked fruit. There is little that says October to me more than fresh bright apples... and that first crisp bite!

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Colour Luxe
(20" x 30", oil on canvas)

I approached this painting with some trepidation, concerned that the rich tones of blue and red would simply cancel each other out. But I think my deliberate choice of bright objects in the form of the white bowl and the fruit provide just enough light and life to balance the darker saturated colours.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Jersey Macs
(12" x 24", oil on canvas)

These apples, seemingly available only this time of year, are quite small and more regular in form than standard supermarket fare. The skin of the Jersey Mac is a deliciously warm red with cool ruby shadows. The intense red bleeds slightly into the interior flesh, making for unusual and colourful stains. The small squat blue jug seemed to be the perfect shape to accompany these diminutive fruit.

If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Pitcher with Late Summer Apricots
(24" x 18, oil on canvas)

The colour of these late summer apricots varies greatly from those found earlier in the season. With richer, darker tones they are perhaps overripe, but still perfect for my needs. The red and white colour blocking I used as a base adds an unexpected graphic quality to an otherwise painterly composition.

If you would like your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning, please write to me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Red Pitcher
(24" x 18", oil on canvas)

This second pitcher painting builds on the lessons learned form the first, which I featured last week, and keeps the focus on the interplay of colour. Furthermore, I'm finding that after months of mostly horizontal formats these verticals are providing a fresh point of view and a nice change of pace.


If you’d like to have your personal copy of the Painting of the Week sent directly to your desktop every Wednesday morning please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Blue Pitcher
(24" x 18", oil on canvas)

Every summer I look forward to the annual pottery show in Val David, Quebec. 1001 Pots is a wonderful place to find additions to my ever-increasing collection of props. Pieces made by hand have more personality, and are therefore more fun to paint, than objects that are machine made.

This jug was one of my purchases this year. Because it is such a beautifully strong colour I paired it with hues of similar value resulting in a wonderful play of colour.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Battenberg and Plums
(24" x18", oil on canvas)

Here, my goal was to showcase the beautiful geometry of the Battenberg lace, keeping all other elements secondary to the pattern. Well, the lace proved to be no match for the colour story of the yellow plums and red bowl, and, although not my original idea, both pattern and colour share the spotlight. This is perhaps not exactly the painting I had in mind, but I still believe it works.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Duos: Clementine
(10" x 14", oil on canvas)

This second small horizontal painting is a companion to last week's piece and uses the same "recipe": fruit, bowl and reflection.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Duos: Peach
(10" x 14", oil on canvas)

Another small format, this one a slight horizontal, which gives me more freedom of composition than my usual 12” squares.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Cherry Tumble

(12 x 24", oil on canvas)

Generally, composition dictates format, but here, the horizontal canvas proved to be the inspiration for this piece. I like the back-and-forth play of horizontal movement — the light moving across the canvas from left to right, while the cherries tumble out of the jar in the opposite direction, from right to left.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Complements
(20" x 30", oil on canvas)

One of the most important colour theories I learned as a young art student is the undeniable chemistry of complementary colours. This painting is a perfect example of how placing the complementary colours of red and green in close proximity to each other makes for a vibrant colour story. The greens make the reds redder, and the reds in turn make the greens brighter – resulting in a fresh, lively painting.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Peach Bowl
(18" x 18", oil on canvas)

Often, one painting leads to another. This painting grew from one that I did a few weeks ago and posted July 22, "Food for Thought"

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

À la Table: Galas
(18" x 18", oil on canvas)

In keeping with the "À la Table" series, this piece uses the same elevated point of view. I've used a bigger format, 18" square instead of my usual 12", to accommodate the large enamelware plate and the numerous apples.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Food for Thought
(24" x 36", oil on canvas)

After so many weeks of working with small formats, I was anxious to break out my big brushes and get to work on a larger piece. For me, a big canvas means looser, more painterly work and more liberty to create a mood. Furthermore, working in various sizes is a good practice, as I want to keep my rendering reasonably accurate while still maintaining a fresh brushstroke.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

À la table: Peaches
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

Colour was again key in choosing these peaches. The knife pointing out of the picture frame is saved from being a compositional no-no by the blade that curves back in ever so slightly. Positioning the knife this way gave me a lovely bright highlight along the blade edge and kept the handle from appearing overlarge in such a confined space.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

À la table: Nectarines
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

The colour of these nectarines was extraordinary; however, I found that their very smooth skins did not offer enough variety to hold the viewer's eye. The addition of the grapes provided interest as well as a good dose of complementary green to the reds.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

À la table: Red Grapes
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

The smaller shapes of the grapes were a nice change from the larger fruit I've used so far in this series. The light passing through the stems created an interesting pattern of dancing shadows on the lip of the bowl.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

À la table: Apple quarters
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

The second in the "À la Table" series makes use of a similar cloth, the folds deliberately placed to secure the bowl in position. With this elevated view I found it necessary to have a visual device to keep the objects from slipping off the bottom of the canvas.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

À la table: Apricots
(12" x12", oil on canvas)

Twelve-inch square canvases have long been one of my favorite formats, and I've done quite a number of them. To avoid being repetitious, I've been searching for a fresh way of looking at these small compositions, and I think I've come up with an approach that, hopefully, will grow into a nice series.

Titled, À la table, this series will use an elevated point of view, with round bowls and plates sitting comfortably in the square space. This painting is the first, with more to come in the weeks ahead.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Pairing
(18" x14", oil on canvas)

This simple composition pairs the cool graphic quality of the paper with the contrasting warm tones and round forms of the fruit and wine.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Lunch Bag
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

The humble lunch bag is my somewhat non-traditional subject matter for this small canvas. My use of a defined single light source further emphasizes the sculptural quality of the bag.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Rocha Doré
(12" x 24", oil on canvas)

I am drawn to the simple dignity of cast iron, but it can be difficult to paint. Cast iron absorbs light and can often appear lifeless on the canvas. I took some liberties with this pot in an attempt to reveal it's austere beauty... and I think it is the perfect foil for the glowing Rocha pears.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Boda & Fruit
(30" x 20", oil on canvas)

I believe that paintings done on a small scale create an intimate connection with the viewer. It is for this reason that I generally work to scale, preferring to invite you, the viewer, in closer for a one-on-one chat. While impossible to discern here, I stepped out of my comfort zone and "super-sized" my subject. The result, when seen in person, is a big statement that can be heard across the room.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Sfumato
(12" x 24", oil on canvas)

Sfumato, derived from fumo, the Italian word for smoke, is a term used to describe the use of soft or lost edges in a painting. I have put this technique to use here to create a sense of mystery and to tease the viewer into finishing my edges for me. Often, the information the artist chooses to leave out of a painting is more critical to the success of a piece than the information provided.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Canada Improved Honey
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

I admit it! I can't seem to get enough of this little jar. The proportions are just right for this size of canvas and after last week's large piece, I was ready for a change of pace.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Cook's Collection
(18" x 36", oil on canvas)

After doing a few small studies, two of which were featured last week, I felt ready to tackle this larger piece. I arranged and rearranged the bottles countless times before finding a pleasing balance. Once this basic structure was in place, I proceeded to fill in the gaps with vegetables, breaking up the larger shapes and adding organic lines and textures. While there is much to look at in this composition, I believe the harmonies created by the combinations of shapes and tones remain true to my love of a quiet mood.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Vinegar #1 and Vinegar #2
(12" x 12" each, oil on canvas)

Over the past few months, I have been expanding my bottle collection with a few more specialty vinegars and oils. In preparation for a large work, I am doing some smaller pieces to get a feel for these new shapes. The lessons I learn from these exploratory paintings should serve me well once I am ready to start work on a bigger canvas.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Breakfast Bar
(18" x 36", oil on canvas)

This piece is a bit of a departure for me. While I generally lean more towards spare, quiet compositions I thought I'd challenge myself with this over-sized riot of objects and colours. This was a fun project taking three weeks to complete.

Read the Diary
To see my "diary" of this painting, where I have posted photos I took every few days illustrating how I tackled this somewhat complex subject, please visit my website using the following link: http://www.lemieux.artsites.ca/page/diary

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Sweet Honey
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

After a day of sketching out various alternatives, I realized that a small canvas would suit this subject matter the best. I edited the composition down to a few basic elements and, finally, found the painting I was looking for. Sometimes a composition comes together almost effortlessly, but, more often than not, it’s a longer process of trial and error.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Crisp Cuts
(20" x 30", oil on canvas)

This painting is an example of my love of working with simple, clean shapes. The many years I worked as an art director will always have an influence on my work. While I used to try to repress my early design training and compose in a more "painterly" fashion, I have found that the combination of graphic and fine art disciplines has given my work its often distinctive spare style.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Summer Promise
(24" x 36", oil on canvas)

I originally wanted to do a piece with theses wonderful blushing Granny Smith apples, showcasing the unexpected hints of red on the bright green skins. But adding the fresh strawberries to the crisp greens and whites gave way to an overwhelming feeling of early summer and my focus shifted from the apples to a more complete and fresh colour story.

What’s more, I was so enthusiastic about the composition that I decided to make it larger that my original 18" x 24" sketches. I rendered all the elements larger-than-life giving this piece greater overall impact.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Apple and Iron
(18" x 18", oil on canvas)

Few things capture my attention more than great contrast.

The juxtaposition of the bright apple against this old cast iron pot provided me with contrast of not only colour, but also of tone and texture. The apple looks brighter, crisper and brand-spanking-new against the antique background of the pot, while the pot's darkly aged texture is in turn amplified by the freshness of the just-peeled apple.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Tin Cup
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

I spent hours and hours trying to compose a simple piece with this handful of Rainier cherries. After many failed attempts I scrubbed everything out and left my studio, disheartened. The next morning I sat down at my easel and within a few short hours I had this little gem well on it's way.

People often ask how long a painting takes and I always try and answer honestly. This little piece may have taken 8 hours, but it was the hours I spent in miserable frustration during the previous days that made it possible.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Red and White on Blue
(18" x 24", oil on canvas)

Most of my work focuses on mood, where light is often my real subject matter. This piece, however, was motivated purely by colour.

I found this errant pomegranate in the back of my fridge and immediately pictured it on the blue cloth that I have been using (okay, addicted to) recently. The white vase adds sparkle and makes the colours even more royal.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Tin Quart with Honey
(20" x 30", oil on canvas)

As I recently wrote, one painting often leads to the next. I really enjoyed the palette of last week's piece and decided to use it again in a larger piece. I love the old tin quart used here. The dull patina reflects just enough of the local colour, mainly the blue cloth, that I feel it holds the colour composition together.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Breakfast with Honey
(18" x 24", oil on canvas)

Of late, I find myself having to make a conscious decision each morning to leave behind the dreary headlines of gloom and doom and try to create an oasis of well-being with my compositions. "Breakfast with Honey" is a peaceful slice of life that I hope will bring to mind the accessible beauty that makes up our days.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Adagio
(18" x 24", oil on canvas)

Although I grew up on a steady diet of rock music, classical is all that I play in the studio. Classical music seems to slow my heart rate and allows me long periods of concentration, so instead of singing along with Freddy Mercury I devote all my attention to the canvas. The name of this painting comes from a recent personal favourite, Adagio en sol mineur by Tomaso Albinoni. Adagio, meaning "a tempo having slow movement; restful at ease", seemed the perfect title for this quiet piece.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Red Squares: Red Grapes and Pomegranate
(12" x 12" each, oil on canvas)

Here are two more additions to the new series of small canvases. My work takes a good six months to cure before I am able to varnish and ship out to galleries. During this drying period I often frame and hang work in my home to see how well it "shows". While these pieces are great on their own, they pack a really nice punch when hung as a group.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Merlot
(18" x 36", oil on canvas)

This, the last and largest of my wine and cheese pieces, proved to be a formidable challenge to paint. The perishable nature of the fruit and cheese meant I had to work in smaller bites of canvas. After the initial block-in of all the elements, I worked the canvas in sections from left to right, keeping the items not being painted refrigerated while I worked on the others. Despite these difficulties, and a rather "fragrant" studio, I really like the feeling of indulgence created by using the many edibles.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.

Red Squares: Half a Pear and White Vase
(12" x 12" each, oil on canvas)

My 12" series of squares proved so popular last year that I am developing another series of small pieces entitled "Red Squares". I've found a comfortable rhythm of having one complex canvas going at the same time as a simpler one. When I become indecisive about one painting, I can move onto the other to clear my head. In addition, the lessons learned from one painting are applied to the next — then back-and-forth until (hopefully) everything comes together.

If you’d like to be included on my Painting of the Week email list please write me at daniele@DanieleLemieux.com.