Two more of my pieces for Salute to Fort Bend

I'm really not sure either of these is completely finished.  I just decided to take photographs and think about them a while. 

Large Painting number 2

One of the most common sights in this area is a Pecan Tree.....so I thought I'd paint that.  I drove along highway 90 A between Sugarland and Richmond making a mental study of all the trees, a mixture of live oak (my favorite tree actually) looking at the pecans.  One thing that always fascinates me is looking at the sky through the leaves... it's a little like looking through a spider web.  In the fall when the pecans begin to drop there will be cars lined up along the highway and whole families carrying bags to pick them up.  I'm sure some people sell them, but a lot will simply shell them for the enjoyment of the taste.  When I was young we would get out the bowl of native pecans and the crackers and pass the meat around.  It's a nice memory.  (Today, I must admit I prefer to buy them shelled.
Any way, having made my mental notes and taken a few photos, I looked at my big 4 x 5 foot canvas and began.   I'm still working.  It's undergone some changes along the way.  The composition seemed rather static but gets better as I progress (Thankfully)  It's kinda tiring working on a canvas so large.  I used to do it all the time, but age must be catching up with me.  I think of Chuck Close with his hydraulic lift.   Dream on!  I'm posting a few of the photos, but you will ultimately see they bare little relation to the piece.  Anyway, thanks for your interest.

Salute to Fort Bend, Painitng number 1, The Past

A NEW PROJECT JUST CAME UP

My little challenges will have to wait while I complete 3 large (4'x5') oil paintings for an event here called "Salute to Fort Bend."  I am really pleased to have been asked to do this but it will take a lot of my time for the next few weeks.  I need a painting for past, present, and future of the county.  I have one about done and the concept for the others as soon as I get the canvases built.  Fortunately I've been doing a lot of small local pieces and I plan to incorporate that into a large one.  So while I'm waiting on canvas I'll work out the compositions.
I also have a small commission for a client who bought a 10"x10" oil and wants something to go with it.  That will be another of my flowers in vase pieces.  Funny how everything sort of comes up at once. 
So I will do the best I can to keep you posted.  I have to be done by Oct. 1st.

My next challenge...

One of the most difficult things for me is to paint using at least 5 values, all very close in the upper range.  That is a "high key" painting.  The impressionists did it a lot.  So that is my next challenge to myself.  I don't have any pictures yet, because I'm still thinking about what I want it to be.  So bare with me.  This week was an"opening week" for a new gallery artist.  Next week, back to painting.  I hope some of you will send in some of your "high key" paintings or suggestions.  Til then...

SOME RESULTS

Here are two efforts to paint my challenge, one by me and one by a friend, Reg Stark, who shows in Morton Street Gallery.  I would love to see some more and to get comments.  How are we doing?

"Zinnias in Glass", 11 x 14, oil by Fran Knueppel

"White Roses" by Reg Stark, 11x14 oil