Painting In Maine! It doesn't get any better. This blog is my attempt to share what I learn on the journey. I retain the reproduction rights to this artwork.
Friday, June 29, 2007
daily painting practice - work in progress
Here is a preview of one of my paintings I am working on for my show in September at the (So-Oh Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska). I call it Before the Plow but that may change. You know how I am with names.
I received some great news this week my painting (Orange Picot) sold from the Gallery. That painting was a real bench mark for me I am so thrilled to have it sold.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
daily painting practice - Morning Cafe
I like to put blotches of color into a painting sometimes to test how they go together.
The Omaha Farmers market is in the background. Sitting in this cafe is the perfect location to watch the action on a Saturday morning. I almost called this one Breakfast with the Girls but the large guy sitting on the right didn't approve of it.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
daily painting practice-name the painting contest
I could not think of a good title. So I'll put it out to you. Help me give it a title. Send me your suggestion and I'll pick a winner on July 4th. The winner gets the painting. Be sure your email is in the comment so I can contact you if you win. Good luck.
Monday, June 25, 2007
daily painting practice - from flowers to figures
I deliberately painted this guy out of the picture frame in order to capture the strength and size of his character. I don't think it would have worked as well if I had made the figure smaller and left space around the shoulders. Some people have a huge presence and this guy seemed to be that kind of man.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Daily Painting Practice - Painting Yellow Day Lilies and thinking of Van Gogh
I look at this painting and I can't help but think what Van Gogh would have done with the subject. It would have been larger and definitely bolder brush strokes. I am thinking of doing this one again larger and having fun painting it with Van Gogh looking over my shoulder.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Daily Painting Practice - Backgrounds can kill
I find one the the hardest things to do is to stop painting when things are really cooking and step back to really objectively think about how to finish a painting. I either plow ahead then evaluate when I am finished or I get very tentative and don't finish strong.
On this one I plowed ahead. After evaluating the final piece I think my error here was fussing with the background after I started painting. (an old habit ):O(
Take a look at these paintings by (Henri Fantin-Latour) The backgrounds are so simple yet perfectly compliment the paintings. Oh well, Back to the drawing board!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Daily Painting Practice - Last trumpet vine series
I really like the color and texture of this painting. But the best part to me is the strong horizontal element of the cloth. Even though this is a square format the horizontal lines in the cloth seem to trick the eye into thinking there is much more width than height.
Friday, June 15, 2007
daily painting practice - Trumpet Vine Study No.2
I have one more painting in this trumpet vine series I want to try. Then back to the garden. My garden manager/wife has some beautiful lavender growing. That might be a good match with the purple petunias. I'll get the clippers.
I wonder if I can deduct the garden as a business expense since it supplies most of my subject material?
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
daily painting practice - Trumpet Vine series
I am having fun with this idea of painting a series of the same subject. So I think I will do more trumpet vine paintings this week.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Daily Painting Practice - Painting Miss Daisy
SOLD
Sorry no progress photos today. I had some left over flowers from last week's Omaha Farmer's Market flowers. I stuck them in the white pitcher and thought I was good to go. But my ever on the lookout to improve my arrangements set designer/wife came up with an idea that really added some color and punch to the composition. She threw in the blue checkered towel. ( OK she was rrrrrrrr again).This was pure fun.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Daily Painting Practice - Peaches and Peonies No. 4
This is the last of the series. I could go on and on but there are so many flowers blooming now and I don't want to miss any of them. What a great problem to have. How many people in this world get to wake up and say to themselves "What beautiful thing should I look for today?"
Friday, June 08, 2007
daily painting practice - Peaches and Peonies Series Part 2
The paper is a list of focus points I keep attached to my easel. It reminds me of the main ingredients I should be using in my composition.
White Peonies in a Green Glass Vase
8"x8"
oil on Artboard
SOLD
I like the composition of this painting. The leaf on the rightside pointing down adds just the right amount of movement and balances the fan of leaves on top.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
daily painting practice - Peaches and Peonies Series part 1
It occurred to me that I have not yet done a series of paintings using the same objects. So, using these peaches and peonies, I will arrange several compositions. Stay tuned, this sounds like fun!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Daily Painting Practice - Study study study
This is a study for a larger studio piece. These still life studies always seem to have more expression than my more finished or more detailed daily paintings. I think that spontaneity has its own song in paint. Being more spontaneous with the brush can make the painting be more engaging to the viewer also. I think it's the freedom of the brush strokes that leaves the viewer more space to enter the picture and more time to use their imagination.
Helping people use their imaginations ( especially in today's world) is one of the magical gifts art brings to the world.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
daily painting practice - flower color study
I will show more of the composition and final piece in later postings.
This is the color study for a larger painting that will have a figure sitting in the chair. I will use this painting and a color study of the figure together with photos to do the final painting. The color study helps on several levels. First, it helps me capture the mood and the lighting. It gives me another way of comparing values and colors that the camera and monitor can't do. Second, it helps me get familiar with the subject. It is like practicing a piano piece before the teacher says " OK, let me hear you play"
Monday, June 04, 2007
daily painting practice - everybody goes through a slump
1. You begin to talk to yourself, doubting your ability
2. You begin to worry what others think about your art
3. You are not enjoying the process, instead you are thinking about results.
This painting is not one of my best works. It is a practice piece and I love it because I had fun painting it. The best way to end an art slump you ask?
1. Be grateful - Gratitude propels all things forward!
2. Enjoy the process, results are the gifts others bring to you not what you bring to them.
3. Keep repeating 1 and 2.
There is a reason we all enjoy art. What is yours?
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