Valentine Chocolates - by Darren Maurer

8" x 8"

I have been wanting to finish this painting and get it posted with enough time before Valentine's Day to still get it shipped to a collector. I like the cropped in composition with the chocolates in the shadow. This is painting 317 in my miniature painting series. Painting Available $100. (Email Me for Purchase Details)

Hooded Merganser by Darren Maurer

6-1/2" x 11"

I have been working on several commission paintings since my last blog post. I have my commission orders almost caught up and finished.

It is also the time of year when I finish a painting for Iowa's annual duck stamp competition. I decided to paint a hooded merganser this year. The hooded merganser is the smallest of the three merganser species found in North America. Males have a large white crest surrounded by black. They can expand or retract the crest. My painting shows this bird with the crest expanded. The top of the head, neck and back are all black, and the chest, breast and belly are white. Wavy black lines can be seen on the tawny sides and flanks. The hindback, rump and tail are dark brown. The long, narrow, serrated bill is black. The iris is bright yellow and the legs and feet are dull yellow. It is important to design and paint duck stamps as accurately as possible. I have closely studied most species of waterfowl found in North America which helps me a great deal in designing duck stamps. I will ship this painting off to the contest next week and may also include my entry from last year which placed second and then wait and see what happens.

I also had some good news this week! I was approached by an established art gallery in Hawaii to represent me and showcase my work. I have accepted and will begin working on some pieces for them very soon. They would like to start with some of my oil paintings of food items.

Candy Valentine Heart - by Darren Maurer

4" x 4"

Keeping with the Valentine theme I decided to paint a candy heart. The "LOVE YOU" heart seemed like the logical choice. This is painting 316 in my miniature painting series. I have offered the last several paintings to my subscribers and blog visitors first before listing the work on eBay. I will do the same with this piece. The fairest way I have found is the first email gets the painting. $100. UPDATE: I posted this at 11:58pm and received an email for purchase at 12:08am. The night owls win this round! Painting Sold.

Red & Silver Hershey's Kisses - by Darren Maurer

6" x 6"

I posted the silver foil Hershey's Kiss yesterday and it sold within minutes. Since then I have received several emails requesting commission paintings of Hershey's Kisses. I have a few more paintings of this subject to finish now before Valentine's Day.

This painting of a pair of red and silver Kisses was already in the works yesterday when I made my blog entry but was quickly spoken for by one of my subscribers when they found out I was working it. Painting red foil is no different than painting silver foil except I'm using different colors. This is painting 315 in my miniature painting series. Painting Sold.

Valentine's Day Kiss - by Darren Maurer

6" x 6"

Painting silver foil is fun. Its shiny, its dark, its shiny, its dark.....well you get the idea. Reflective things aren't really a color at all but rather take on the colors of everything around them. A fun subject to paint and very satisfying when it looks reflective when you finish. I always like to paint a few Valentine's Day subjects every year and the Hershy's Kiss is probably one of the all time favorites with my blog subscribers and art collectors. This is painting 314 in my miniature painting series. I will offer this painting to my subscriber's first. If it remains un-purchased, I will list it on an eBay auction Monday evening around 7:00pm. The pre-auction price is $100 and the first person to email me will get the painting. UPDATE: PAINTING SOLD

PB&J #4 - by Darren Maurer

6" x 6"

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are one of my favorite subjects to paint although I can't think of any interesting commentary about them right now. This painting does happen to be the first one finished in the new year for me. I will offer this painting on eBay starting Thursday evening around 7pm unless one of my subscribers would like to purchase it before then. The first one to send me an email will have first rights to the painting. This is painting 313 in my miniature painting series. (Painting Sold at 10:14 am)