Where it all begins. Visitors to Gallery 5 often ask where the paintings "are from", and I tell them some are from specific farms and fields that I have photographed, some from my head, and others a combinations of both. But they all share a common beginning, a small thumb nail sketch of an idea where I lay out composition and some very rough value guidelines. Here are a couple of these sketches with the resulting finished painting.
the farm pencil sketch aprox. 1x5"
the Farm acrylic 48x60"
Purple Majesty acrylic 12x48"...the architecture underwent some changes in this piece.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
MIXED MEDIA MINIATURES
I love the sound, the alliteration of the title; the sound is pushed off the lips. Mixed media miniatures. OK, enough of that. These 2 5x5 pieces once were part of one creation. Over time I became less than enthusiastic about it and in the end decided they were destined to be what you see now, two small examples of a clay mono type enhanced with acrylic.
Dunes I clay mono type 5x5"
Dunes II clay mono type 5x5"
Dunes I clay mono type 5x5"
Dunes II clay mono type 5x5"
Monday, September 28, 2009
DISTANT MOUNTAINS
Distant Mountains watercolor 6x8"
Every time I paint a scene like this I place myself at risk. Seven years ago I promised my wife (actually I remember that I "told" her I would, not "promised". But she remembers it differently.) that I would paint a distant mountain scene above our kitchen sink. Of course I'm still working on it.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
THE HIGH PLAINS
Saturday, September 26, 2009
HAVING FUN
and enjoying myself in the process. There is a very large watercolor - 16x60- about 80% completed, and 2 panels waiting for my attention sitting on easels, but I cannot tear myself away from these small watercolor landscapes. They are proving to be very helpful in getting me to loosen up in my approach to watercolors, something I have been very self critical of.
I try limiting myself to no more than 3 pigments, with an occasional 4th for highlights when needed. Here are the results of yesterdays efforts:
Cotton woods #1 wc 4x7"
Cotton woods #2 wc 5x7"
I try limiting myself to no more than 3 pigments, with an occasional 4th for highlights when needed. Here are the results of yesterdays efforts:
Cotton woods #1 wc 4x7"
Cotton woods #2 wc 5x7"
Friday, September 25, 2009
IT IS WHAT IT IS
Thursday, September 24, 2009
WHATEVER
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
TWICE AS LARGE
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
LESS IS MORE
or so they say. I am doing my best to test that notion, and in the process having fun go back through some very old reference photos. The first is from pics I took some 12 plus years ago on a drive back from the whippet Nationals in San Diego. The other from a trip to New Mexico 3 years ago.
Late Autumn watercolor 5x8
New Mexico watercolor 5x7
Late Autumn watercolor 5x8
New Mexico watercolor 5x7
Sunday, September 20, 2009
LOOKING BACK
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
LIFE SAVERS
I seem to have lost all my enthusiasm for painting "epic" works on canvas, or just about anything else lately...EXCEPT...these tiny watercolors! They have been the only thing between me and utter frustration and mental chaos. (My wife might argue that point.) In any event, I plan to simply go with the flow, and when it is time to move on to something else, I'll know it.
Snow field watercolor 5x5"
Snow field watercolor 5x5"
Thursday, September 17, 2009
MORE POTATO CHIPS
Monday, September 14, 2009
IN PRAISE OF AMERICAN ENTERPRISE
I posted some images of my shadow boxes 2 years ago...using less than optimum photos. Today, while going through a pile of old CDs I came across one with photos I had taken by a professional photographer.
This first one is proof that even a liberal like myself appreciates the spirit of free, creative enterprise. It is a homage to a great idea that just misses he mark.
The countries first, and only, 6-12 convenience store. They just didn't quite get the concept.
This first one is proof that even a liberal like myself appreciates the spirit of free, creative enterprise. It is a homage to a great idea that just misses he mark.
The countries first, and only, 6-12 convenience store. They just didn't quite get the concept.
Friday, September 11, 2009
LET THERE BE SNOW
If you are a regular reader of this blog it should be obvious that I have avoided two elements in my art, large bodies of water and snow. I have decided to depart from routine and take on some snow. Several days ago I posted this painting:
Two on a Hill acrylic 24x24
Since then I have reproduced the subject, but in a different environment. Here is the piece in three stages.
WIP stage 1
stage 2 I thought I would need an underpainting for the snow field...I'm not sure I did
Two Barns in Snow field acrylic 24x24
Two on a Hill acrylic 24x24
Since then I have reproduced the subject, but in a different environment. Here is the piece in three stages.
WIP stage 1
stage 2 I thought I would need an underpainting for the snow field...I'm not sure I did
Two Barns in Snow field acrylic 24x24
Thursday, September 10, 2009
THE EAST POINT LIGHTHOUSE
sits quietly tucked away on the eastern shore of the Delaware Bay, hidden from view from the land unless you turn off the less than beaten path to an unmarked still less beaten path deep in southern NJ. (Now THAT is a sentence!) I literally stumbled upon the LH some 25 plus years ago when I took the photo from which this was painted. I since learned that it was once a US navy structure which had long been abandoned.
I have painted this delightful LH in watercolor and pastel, and this is my first rendering in acrylic.
East Point Lighthouse acrylic 8x10
Below is the wc done some 20 plus years ago.
East Point LH watercolor aprox 16x20
If I can find the pics, I will post the pastel later
I have painted this delightful LH in watercolor and pastel, and this is my first rendering in acrylic.
East Point Lighthouse acrylic 8x10
Below is the wc done some 20 plus years ago.
East Point LH watercolor aprox 16x20
If I can find the pics, I will post the pastel later
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
THERE IS MORE TO ME
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
THE SKY IS NOT RED-ORANGE
Leaving behind the deeply warm skies I love to paint, I turned to the dark stormy skies that I love to paint. OK, maybe I just love to paint skies, moody skies of any color. Often I will paint the sky and then decide on what will follow. That is what i did in this little painting using a theme I like so much, light falling against the dark background.
Summer Storm Coming acrylic 6x12
Summer Storm Coming acrylic 6x12
Monday, September 7, 2009
IT'S FINISHED
Sunday, September 6, 2009
BARNS, BARNS, AND MORE BARNS
In the almost 2 weeks since my last post I've been busy making my own panels and saving considerable money doing so. I like painting on wood, and a 24x24 quarter inch birch panel at Lowes costs about $4.00. A simple frame or cradle can me made for about $6.00 from 1x2" poplar, and after several coats of gesso you have a great surface on which to paint. After making 3 24x24 and one 24x48 I began painting. The first piece can be seen below. The sky is actually a very pale yellow, obviously missed by the camera. I'll try shooting it again. And I just realized that I left the upper opening to the loft in the red barn unfinished! Oh well, sometimes the head doesn't connect with the rest of me.
no title yet
I'm almost embarrassed to show this 8x10...it is another warm sky - red barn - ochre foreground. Clearly I'm in a rut. But when inspiration is wanting, it is nice to have something to fall back on. I will have to do something about that.
no title yet
I'm almost embarrassed to show this 8x10...it is another warm sky - red barn - ochre foreground. Clearly I'm in a rut. But when inspiration is wanting, it is nice to have something to fall back on. I will have to do something about that.
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