Clementine Pair
(12" x 12", oil on panel)

To me clementines are a symbol of December and I always try to have a bowlful handy for snacking, and, of course, for painting. This will be my last Painting of the Week for the year as it is time for me to trade in my brushes and canvas for wooden spoons and cookie sheets.

Happy holidays to all!

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.

Still Life with Ladybug
(24" x 30", oil on canvas)

Like many homes in our area this fall, we were overrun with ladybugs. I imagine it was inevitable that one would find her way onto my set. Though I did eventually carry her outdoors, I thought to mark her persistence by including her in the finished piece.

Throughout history, many still life artists made a habit of including insects in their work; this practice is thought to be a symbol of mortality. I cannot say that I had such lofty intentions, rather I simply thought her a good match to my jug!

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.

Sunlight and Pears
(30" x 30", oil on gallery wrapped canvas)

This painting is another exploration of bright light and saturated colours. Here, the boldly striped cloth keeps the bowl anchored in a largely white canvas.

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.

Sunlight and Nectarines
(20" x 30", oil on canvas)

For anyone who is familiar with my work, this is a huge departure.

Perhaps it is because there are fewer daylight hours, but I am lately really keen on sunlight-flooded works. The nectarines are saturated with bright hot colour that is further emphasized by the surrounding cool tones of white. Both warm and cool tones coexist in the cast shadows adding an element of playfulness.

Reminder: This is the last week to see my show "Food for Thought" at Wallack Galleries in Ottawa http://www.wallackgalleries.com/

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.

Orchard Apples

(24" x 24", oil on canvas)

Nothing says October like a big bag of fresh-from-the-farm apples!
The unusual perspective of looking down into a paper bag of apples gives this painting a more contemporary feel than many of my previous apple pieces. The almost abstract rolled edge of the bag creates a frame for the fresh, glossy fruit. The hard edges of the paper against the soft roundness of the apples create further contrasts in texture.

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.

Pear and Pitcher
(24" x 18", oil on canvas)

A spare composition and a more limited palette suit my mood as the light changes in these the early days of autumn. I've set up a tension between the two not-quite-equal halves of the painting, the pear on one side, the pitcher on the other. The pear sits in warmth, while the pitcher is decidedly cool in temperature; the leaf makes a delicate bridge between the two.

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

September Geraniums
(24" x 12", oil on canvas)

Every year, before the end of the summer, I try capturing the final burst of colour I've come to count upon from our backyard geraniums. These hardy souls are always the last to fade and are a very welcome sight as fall arrives.

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

Yellow Plums
(20" x 20", oil on canvas)

Slightly blurred edges and a suggestion of an aura around the fruit lend this painting an appealing soft focus. While I am still using the folds in the cloth for a geometric element, they too are less defined.

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.