Ella Chiang 1/27/25 Ella Chiang 1/27/25

Three Apples No. 03

I’m trying a new canvas today. These are 4x5 inch and feel more thirsty for paint than prior surfaces I’ve tried. The thirstiness does make it a bit more difficult to mix and blend colors on the canvas. The paint seems to stick more to the area it is applied. For the next series, I will try to apply a coat of gesso to see how that affects things.

An oil painting of three apples: one red apple on the left, two green apples with one in the middle and the other on the right side — Three Apples No. 03

Ella Chiang 1/22/25 Ella Chiang 1/22/25

Pavlova No. 04

Overall this was pretty fun using the lower contrast colors. And it gave me a hit of nostalgia for the 2010s.

A small oil painting of a pavlova topped with cream, strawberries, and a small flower — Pavlova No. 04

All four Pavlova paintings resting on a piece of cardboard — All four Pavlova paintings

Color palette for the Pavlova mini painting series — Pavlova color palette

Ella Chiang 1/20/25 Ella Chiang 1/20/25

Pavlova No. 03

Maybe a bit less detail on the strawberry veins. They remind me of a kind of cartoon version of a heart with veins instead so it feels a little bit creepy. Also did cleaner lines instead of the brushy, painterly style.

Ella Chiang 1/15/25 Ella Chiang 1/15/25

Pavlova No. 02

This painting series has a lower contrast between the elements. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. It was fun to mix the different beiges and yellows so there was enough contrast between each element but not too much where they did not feel cohesive. I felt like it was growing and stretching my ability to mix closely related colors.

Ella Chiang 1/13/25 Ella Chiang 1/13/25

Pavlova No. 01

A pavlova is a meringue based dessert. This particular one was topped with a bit of cream, strawberries, and a small white flower. I got it at a shop inside Macy’s Union Square in San Francisco, CA. This was back in the 2010’s. Apparently the bakery doesn’t exist anymore, or at least in that location, since I don’t see it listed in the Macy’s restaurant section. And I can’t recall the name, but feel like I would recognize it if I saw it.