Ingredients #3
(24" x 24", oil on canvas)

I had been working on this composition, on and off, for two weeks before finally putting paint to canvas. I spent the first day roughing in the large shapes and the next rendering a glass jar filled with fresh tarragon sprigs. This latter part of the composition would be the first to fade, so I wanted to bring it to almost a completed stage before moving onto to the bottles. By the end of the day I realized that no matter how nicely painted, the jar and feathery herb shapes of the tarragon did not belong in this composition and, after about 8 hours of work, I rubbed it out, replacing it with the red bowl. As an experienced painter I felt I should have seen this compositional error sooner, but mistakes are often part of the process.

The next day back in the studio with fresh eyes, I realized I had truly made the right decision—the red bowl was an infinitely better fit. The end result is a great piece, much stronger than it would have been had I stuck with my original 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.

Special Request
(18" x 18", oil on canvas)

I believe it is only human nature that makes one want the painting that just went out the door under someone else's arm. Consequently, I frequently get requests for a painting similar to another, and while I try my best to meet all requests, it can be a bit tricky. What was the initial appeal...the colours? subject matter? format? Often, it is nearly impossible for the client to articulate what the attraction was and I am left to draw my own conclusions.

This painting was one such request, and while it is nowhere near a duplicate, it has the same basic tone and feel as the initial work. I do not know if this "substitute" will work for my dealer's customer, but I do know it's a very good piece and not simply a rehash of another. Now, I'll just keep my fingers crossed.

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 Fruit Harmony
(18" x 36", oil on canvas)

Nothing says hot summer days quite like a slice of watermelon, so before the season completely runs out, I had to try my hand at this luscious subject. Its iconic triangular shape is softened by the addition of other fruit, making this composition not only about colour, but also about strong hard-edged shapes. Using the white jug as an anchor, the graphic shapes of the fruit fit together and create what I feel is lovely seasonal harmony.

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.

Quail Eggscape
(12” x 24", oil on canvas)

Eggs have long been a favourite subject of mine, so I was thrilled to come across these beautiful quail eggs at a local market. Each one is different from the next, each one a jewel. Since they are actually quite small, I painted them larger than life to really explore their individual colours and patterns.

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.

Redandgreen
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

The title is not a typo, but rather a way to express how I see the colours of red and green working so well together that they become one. The waving cherry stems add a lot of movement and their linear quality offer a nice counterpoint to the larger masses. This piece has a very tactile feeling, which, unfortunately, does not translate well into an electronic file. As always, art really does have to be seen in person.

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.

Sun Kissed
(12" x 12", oil on canvas)

I loved working with these bright colours and while this is a small canvas, it packs a pretty fair punch. When this series of small works becomes available in galleries come November and December, a little bright colour will (hopefully) be appreciated.

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.

Fruytagie
(24" x 36", oil on canvas)

Fruytagie is a Dutch term meaning fruit piece and was used in the seventeenth century to describe what we now classify as the genre of Still Life. As this painting has most definite roots in the classical tradition, I thought it appropriate to resurrect an old term. I have drawn upon my recent small pieces to arrive at this more ambitious composition, but I am looking forward to returning to a few more 12" compositions.

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.