Great! Gourds!
(24" x 24", oil on canvas)

Every year I come home from the market with an armload of gourds to paint. This year I thought I’d try a more graphic approach, rendering them very much larger than life and focusing on their irresistible quirky shapes. The title is a take on comic book captions, and I think suits my own "Fantastic Four".

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.

Comfort Food
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

Shorter days and colder temperatures are made for comfort food. And in a painting or in a roasting pan, these vegetables with their rich colours and robust shapes make for a great combination.

Setting the produce at opposing angles adds an unusual dynamic to this composition, while the various textures increase the level of complexity. There is a lot going on here, but the large canvas contains it all quite comfortably.

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.

Pinot Noir
(24" x 18", oil on canvas)

This very dark, dense wine called for a dramatic presentation. Because the wine did not give me a lot of colour to work with I purposefully chose to use a more complex glass that would add a welcome spark to my darks. I also elected to halo the top of the wine bottle, again to give relief to the large dark areas without stealing from the overall dramatic tone.

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.

Australian Gold
(24" x 18", oil on canvas)

Over the course of this past summer I received a few requests for some smaller wine pieces. Stepping away from my usual square format, I thought to try some smaller vertical compositions. Here is the first of the pair…

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.

Henri's Garlic
(30" x 15", oil on canvas)

The owner of our local vegetable market grows and sells his own garlic. His loosely stung tresses are wonderful to paint, and the extra large cloves are a joy to cook with.

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's End
(18" x 24", oil on canvas)

I thought this Portimarron squash a fitting subject for the end of October. A new discovery at my farmers market, these little French beauties combine the tastes of pumpkin and chestnut, but it was the glorious red orange colour that attracted me.

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.

Fruit Bowl with Quince
(24" x 24", oil on canvas)

Lighting the bowl from above gave a wonderful transparency to the fruit, particularly the grapes and minneola. I chose to keep both the foreground and background dark to further emphasize this light.

As an aside, I was absolutely delighted to find quinces at our local Middle Eastern fruit shop. As I have not painted one before, I thought to include it in a larger piece, thereby giving myself a chance to get used to its form and colour. I hope to do more compositions with this unusual 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.

Last Call
(16" x 16")

For me, October is a time to appreciate the final bits and pieces of colour salvaged from the garden. And while I hate to see the flowers fade and disappear from our yard, I do look forward to the warm comforts (and colors) that autumn brings.

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.

Apple Trio
(15" x 30", oil on canvas)

Building on last week's lessons, I have even further simplified my composition to focus on the undeniable beauty of freshly cut apples. Again, the fabric folds add a structural element, and the horizon line gives added depth to this homage to a familiar icon.

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.

Peach Trio
(15" x 30", oil on canvas)

Needing a change from my recent more complex pieces, I put together a simple composition using the much-favoured multiple of three. While one single item can look lonely, and two items may give the impression of bookends, three items often look just right. The slightly higher perspective gave me the opportunity to treat the fabric folds as an integral compositional device and allowed for a soft, disappearing horizon line.

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.

Opposite Attraction
(24" x 18", oil on canvas)

Red and green, and blue and orange sit opposite each other on the color wheel making them complementary colors. As the saying goes, "opposites attract" and whether in people or colors the same is true; red makes green look better, blue brings out the best in orange.

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.

Center Stage
(24" x 24", oil on canvas)

This vibrant red vase commands such attention that I felt I had to contain it within a fair amount of background. The lemon really glows against the red, as do the green grapes. Fully saturated colours such as these are eye candy to me and great fun to work with.

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.

Chablis and Cherries
(36" x 24", oil on canvas)

I was inspired to try one last wine painting, this one a large vertical. The simplicity of the blue bowl and the wine bottle set off the complexity of the fruit, allowing me to focus on the absolutely gorgeous cherries. Cutting into the lemon with a knife gave me angular facets, which provided a nice contrast to the many rounded shapes found throughout this 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.

Grand Cru
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

I chose this bottle for the red neck foil as well as for the placement of the label. Having the label appear higher on the bottle gave me a nice bright spot in the center of the composition and, below the label, the bottom third of the bottle provided a reflective surface in which to mirror the fruits. Similarly, the label and bright foil make a lovely reflection in the glass. All these details take a simple composition to the next level of complexity, making it a delight to paint.

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.

Sonoma Bounty
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

The flavours of this wine were the inspiration for this composition. Described as being complex, this chardonnay has notes of many fruits some of which, naturally, found their way into this painting.

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.

Unassuming White
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

While some wines are meant for special occasions, others can be opened for simple enjoyment on a nice day. The pewter cup and old-fashioned corkscrew are a nod to the concept of everyday pleasures.

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.

California Citrus
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

For this composition, I took my cue from the bright orange bar on the bottle label. I repeated this luscious colour in the Minneola and also bounced a bit into the green grapes, echoing the bright citrus notes evident in this flavourful wine.

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.

Okanagan Riesling
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

The proportions of this beautiful bottle of Riesling were such that my usual centered composition was simply not possible. I chose instead to pair the bottle and glass slightly to the right and balance the left with the fruit bowl.

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.

Summer's Eve
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

I was very excited to get to this piece, as the brighter nature of a rosé was a welcome change from my more serious reds. I purposely chose a bottle with a large label, paired it with an equally bright bowl, and set the whole on a white embroidered cloth to lighten the overall feel of the composition. The blush apples and strawberries add to the summer theme and lend a suggestion of fresh taste.

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.

Full Bodied French
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

The name of this painting came from the pear shape of this bottle, which to me clearly said full-bodied. The glass is one of the shortest in my collection with a very generous bowl, and, I think, the perfect complement to the wide bottomed bottle. I had already decided that pomegranates would work best with my theme and really had to hunt around for them at this time of year.

The people at my local liquor store must wonder what I am doing prowling the aisles and coming up with such a strange group of choices. Shopping for bottle and label shapes instead of shopping for actual wine must be a departure from the norm!

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.

Tuscany Red
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

This is the second in what I am now calling my Wine Cellar Series. As in the first painting, the basic composition is built around the centered bottle. This time a glass with an oversized bowl and delicate stem is paired with the elegant proportions of the bottle. The red bowl sets off the red and green grapes while the pear serves to balance the left side of the painting.

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.

Western Cape White
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

I've had this bottle (empty) kicking around my studio for months now, waiting for the right inspiration to come along. The pallet for this painting is rather subdued, but at 30" square this piece still carries an elegant impact. I had a wonderful time with this composition with all the pieces falling into place nicely. My plan is to pursue this concept and perhaps turn it into a sizable series of large scale paintings.

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.

Fruit Extravaganza
(36" x 48" x 2", oil on gallery wrapped canvas)

At 36 by 48 inches, this is perhaps my most ambitious piece yet. Chock full of colour, this painting at this size really makes an impact. While I do enjoy doing work at or near true size, I thought to try my hand at something extravagant, something larger than life.

Small paintings invite the viewer in close, creating an intimate experience. Large paintings fill your field of vision and really make a statement that can be heard from across the room. Larger pieces require a bigger time commitment; this one took three weeks to complete and should perhaps have been termed: Painting of the Month.

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.

 



Simply Eggs
(30" x 20", oil on canvas)

Eggs may well be one of the most popular foods and they are also one of the most popular subjects for artists.

The shape of an egg is absolute perfection and the colours are wondrous, in both light and shadow. And best of all, after two weeks on set, they don't fade, droop or otherwise rot—a truly welcome change for me after wresting with fresh fruit for the past while.

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.

Fruit Classic Two
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

This is a companion piece to the painting of two weeks ago.

I am loving this new 30" square format. Though it does not sound like it is all that much larger than my usual 24", it makes a much bigger statement and allows for just that much more freedom with my brushstrokes – particularly in the background.

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.

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

I had been struggling with a new piece for the better part of a week when my husband came home with a handful of these Clementine oranges. After 25 years of marriage to an artist, he often knows better than me what I need. Every time I left my studio and went to the kitchen for yet another cup of coffee, there they were, two incredibly saturated red and orange beacons. Finally I scrapped the composition I had begun to dread waking up to, and quickly put together this one. Simple beauty always wins out, proving the maxim: Keep it simple, stupid (KISS).

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.

Fruit Classic
(30" x 30", oil on canvas)

I so liked the fruit arrangement from last week's piece that I decided to try it again, this time in a large square format. While I wanted to do something with a lavish "old world" feel, keeping to a square format provided the necessary contemporary flavour.

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.

Renaissance Fruit
(24" x 36", oil on canvas)

I spent a great deal of time putting these elements together, rearranging countless times before finally realizing it was my light source, not my subject matter, that had to change position. Having my light move from the right, across the canvas to my centre of interest on the left created a nice rhythm and flow.

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.

Once Upon a Time
(24" x 48", oil on canvas)

Finally, here is the finished piece; the follow-up to the study I presented a few weeks ago.

I stayed pretty close to my original composition, trading some orange elements for green. While the size of this piece cannot really be appreciated over the Internet, I have created a very different viewing experience from the study. I am very pleased with this outcome and plan on doing more of the larger pieces.

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.

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

While April may indeed be the cruelest month, March can certainly be the greyest. After a few typical March days of grey skies, grey snow (neiges usées in Québec!) and grey air, my grey mood needed a lift. In this piece I found my antidote in cadmium red and yellow.

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.

Two Modenas
(18" x 18", oil on canvas)

It would seem there is a never-ending selection of imported balsamic vinegars—and they all come in beautiful bottles. Here are two of my current favourites, both from the Italian Province of Modena. Pairing the vinegars with garlic and onions seemed only natural and served to add a needed textural 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.

Once Upon a Time (study)
(15" x 30", oil on canvas)

For some time now, I have been anxious to try my hand at a large painting but find myself a tad nervous when faced with 24 by 48 inches of blank canvas. To ease into a large size I thought I’d do this smaller study of my subject matter first.

I’m very happy with this composition, but plan to make a few small adjustments when I go up in size. Perhaps an extra shot of colour would add variety and keep the eye entertained over that extra 18 inches.

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.

Well Paired
(24" x18", oil on panel)

Pairing these diminutive Forelle pears with the tall, skinny bottle further emphasizes their pleasing size and shape. Similar in intimacy to last week's piece, I thought "Well Paired" a fitting composition for the day after Valentine's Day.

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.

Intimacy
(24" x 12, oil on canvas)

I believe Aristotle is credited with the phrase "The whole is more than the sum of its parts". I like to think that the theory holds true for my compositions. These individual items are quite unremarkable, but carefully put together they take on a whole other life.

The organic lines emphasize the beauty of the machine-made objects, and the fragility of the organics contrasts nicely against the rigidity of the verticals and horizontals. A large proportion of the canvas is devoted to negative space to further suggest a feeling of intimacy.

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.

Petit rouge
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

"Petit rouge" is a variety of grape. It is also a Hotel in Belgium and a bakery in Kansas. My "Petit rouge", however, is simply a small glass of red—a little treat at the end of my day in the studio.

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.

Cottage Breakfast
(24" x 24", oil on canvas)

There is little more appetizing than fresh fruit first thing in the morning. This combination of cantaloupe and cherries served up simply on a white cloth makes for a bright start to the day... even if it is still dark outside!

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.

Artist's Choice
(18" x 36", oil on canvas)

Sometimes I really enjoy doing a piece just for me; a piece featuring some of my favourite things from the past few months of work. While I do love my more spare compositions, it is a nice challenge to work with an abundance of colours, textures, shapes and sizes and make one cohesive statement.

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.

In the Round
(16" x 16", oil on panel)

This composition is based on a good mix of round shapes. The various sizes and surface textures ensure there is no monotony, while the bright colours add a welcome aspect of liveliness to the basic circle-in-a-square theme.

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.

Red Drama
(18" x 18", oil on canvas)

While I've had this bottle in my collection for years, it wasn't until I added the cork that I was able to make it work in a composition. I believe having that bit of light at the top defines the bottle and keeps it from being overly obscure. The chunky round shape seemed a good match for an equally chunky pomegranate.

Happy New Year and welcome to the 6th year of my Painting of the Week program. I hope to keep you entertained, if only for a brief moment, every Wednesday of the coming year. Please write if there is something you particularly like, dislike, or would like to see.

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.