Light and Shadow

Painting A Fall Still Life

2011-11-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

"Fall Still Life" 16"x20" Oil on Canvas

I have been wanting to paint a pumpkin as the main subject for a long time. I have to admit it was a lot of fun. I love the big orange shape and all the warm colors. I am starting to feel some what competent with still lifes. I did a few smaller studies that are 6"x8" of the same scene as a warm up. I may paint it again in a different arrangement.

Maybe as winter sets in I will do a few winter still lifes.

Playing With My Food

2011-10-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

Still Life 12"x12" Oil on Canvas

My Mother used to say, "don't play with your food". Well not that I always listened to her, but now I can do it and get away with it. How fun is that?
Everyday items can be great subject matter for paintings. Not only do they create a response on some level for the viewer, but in this case it serves a double duty. Today's model can be tonight's dinner. Food comes in so many shapes, colors, and sizes. The scenarios are endless for a painting, and it's a subject everyone understands.
What drew me to using the food items I used in this painting is the warm colors and dramatic shape differences. The copper canister was the only non-organic item, but I loved the abstract reflections and it helped complete the composition.

I will be posting more still life along this subject matter as I experiment with shapes, textures, and colors. Until then I am hungry and need to go start dinner.

Painting Snow

2011-01-23T06:21:00.001-08:00

"Late Afternoon Light" Oil on Canvas Panel

Ohio normally doesn't get lots of snow in the Cincinnati area. This year has been quite different. It's not that we get huge amounts at one time. We have been getting a small dusting amount up to around 6 inches at a time. It usually melts then we get another round. Last weeks snow has melted already and there is snow once again on the ground. These images are from last weeks snow.

I love painting snow scenes. The older I get the harder it is on my arthritic knees though. It seems I get out less and less and stay out less. I have been trying to take advantage of the snows this year. Below are images of my painting process.

This is a scene directly behind my studio. I used my EasyL for this outing. I love the quick set up and take down it offers. This is the one easel I use the most when plein air painting.

I used mineral spirits and a mixture of alizarin crimson and cad orange as a wash to indicate where things go. I spend very little time doing this.

At this stage I paint in the largest tonal shapes and my shadows.

Here I am still working with and refining the largest tonal shapes and shadows

Once I have all my large shapes in and the canvas covered, I start refining and creating smaller shapes to indicate details and atmosphere.

It's a little blurry in this image but this is the final product.

I am hoping to get even more this winter. Tomorrow I will be painting in the same area. We have about 6 inches on the ground and it is threatening to add a little more tonight and tomorrow. It should be a great day for plein air painting.

This Past Summer Workshop

2010-11-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

Plein Air Workshop in Tipp City Ohio

The first days demo.

The last days demo and challenge to paint the rocks.

It was a typical hot summer day in Ohio painting along the Great Miami River. Most of my students hadn't painted outside from life before. That is always a challenge in itself. Between the heat, humidity, and doing something new, they were certainly challenged, but rose wonderfully to the occasion. The demonstration of the rocks was a challenge to prove my technique by one of the students. These photos were taken by her. I love a good challenge, but rather be a good teacher. I believe the students are now armed with new tools to approach their artwork. I love to teach!

Warren County Holiday Tidings Event

2010-11-16T04:53:00.000-08:00

Been a busy year and the Senator Pete Beck's Warren County Holiday Tidings Event was a great treat for me to win first place. The painting "Winter's Light" was an experiment in technique for me. I have been playing with surface texture and shapes with keeping true to the scene and realism on my terms. It is a true compliment to have the painting chosen for Senator Beck's Holiday Card for 2010. The painting will hang at the Ohio State Capital for 2011 year as well as be mailed to voters all over the state of Ohio. Till the end of the month the painting can be seen at Gallery 42 105 East Main St., Mason, Ohio 45040.

So Much Going On

2010-11-15T06:10:00.000-08:00

Wilmington College/Harcum Gallery One Man Show

As the holiday season quickly approaches I find my self getting busier and busier. It also reminded me I really don't keep up with my blog. Due to my feeling that I am not a great writer and lack of time I tend to put this off. I will try harder in the future to post more.

I will try to fill in some spots as I catch up, but as of recent I opened a one man show in Wilmington Ohio, my home town, at Wilmington College November 4, 2010. It was a great evening seeing old friends family, along with meeting many new people. It was a wonderful evening for me. Who says you can't go home? The show will be open till December 10, 2010.

Another Plein Air Event!

2010-02-09T06:22:00.000-08:00

I am so looking forward to painting in yet another plein air event. Not only will I be able to see old friends, meet new ones, I will be able to enjoy the sun and sand of Florida. What a great time to be in Florida!
I will be gearing up for it from here on. Anyone in the area please stop and see me and all the great artist.

Busy with models and demonstrations

2009-09-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

"Emily" 20"x16" Oil on Canvas

This painting was done at my studio. I had sketched this model in this pose the week before and decided I liked the pose enough to try it as a painting. I had the model show up at 1:30 and the session lasted till 4:00. The light was pretty constant coming through the windows which helped tremendously. I finished the painting to this stage, in that time frame, which I was happy with. I hope to continue painting from the model and explore the human form in my art more.

I see great value in it, just like I do with my plein air painting.

"Celebrate the Arts"

Event at Performance Lexus at Kings Auto Mall, in Mason Ohio

Since I got back from my Wisconsin trip I have been painting away back in the studio on a commission as well as from live models. Like painting in plein air, painting from life is the greatest teacher for me. When I do paint from a photo I have a better understanding of the subject matter, and know how to compensate for the photos short comings.

Recently I had an opportunity to do a demonstration at an event where over two hundred people showed up to enjoy art from a variety of artist and art forms. It started at 5:30 pm and ended at 8:30 pm. I was able to finish my painting except for a few minor alterations back in my studio. I cleaned up an edge or two mostly. I enjoyed the evening and found out about myself that I would be willing to do more events like this. It was great to interact with the crowd. The energy was amazing.

More On Door County

2009-08-08T07:26:00.001-07:00

"The Old Road" 16"x12"

"Garrett Bay" 11"x14"

"Behind Woodwalk Gallery" 11"x14"

Just another three images of my work from Door County Plein Air Festival.

I found the old road while looking for places to paint near Moonlight Bay Wisconsin. I pulled off the road to explore and found this site. The old dirt road was more than I could stand I had to paint it. Something about an old road in the woods seeming to go nowhere.

Garrett Bay was another place I found by exploring. There was a sunken ship right of the shore. I wished I had time to swim out and take a look.

The Woodwalk Gallery was a site I had signed up to go paint at. It took me a while to find what it was I wanted to paint. The building nestled in the trees seems quaint.

Again, it was an amazing week. I need to do more events like this. What fun!

Door County Plein Air Festival

2009-08-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

"Mud Creek" Oil on Canvas Panel 14"x11"

"Hickey's" 16"x20" Oil on Canvas

Well, I am back from what was an amazing week of work and fun. A week later and I am just now starting to catch up my rest. What a beautiful area!

The weather was wonderful, given the fact it rained a few times. The painting "Hickeys" was done during a rain session. I flipped up the back door on my Jeep and stuck my umbrella up, and got down to business. I had to keep soaking up the rain in my easel every few minutes though. The constant overcast made for a great tonal painting session, I took advantage of it and did a larger size than I normally would in an event.

I can't say enough about how well run this event was. These people know what they are doing. On top of that what a wonderful group. We were all treated with the up most respect and kindness.

My host for the week, Vicki and Lyle Amundson were amazingly gracious. I not only had one of the most comfortable beds I ever slept in, I ended up with two friends. Their wonderful home was located in Baileys Harbor in the woods. You talk about quiet.

I ended up with my camera stolen, so I lost all of my images I had taken to share on here. Thanks to Bridgette Turner, who was in the festival as well, I have a couple of images you see on here now. I did 13 paintings altogether by the end of the week. I left two up there till the end of the show.

I started the first painting day of the week with a sunrise that I ended up scraping off. I quickly found another location and started over. I ended up with 4 paintings the first day anyway. By the end of the week I had slowed down, but feel I got better results for it.

The last painting I did was at the Quick Paint at Clark Park in Fish Creek. It was a 9"x12" of a sail boat in the harbor. I drew first up in the auction and watched my painting sale before I even realized what was happening. There was a huge crowd at the park, and I had to be careful when backing up from my painting, so as not to trip over someone.

Again, it was an exhausting week, with so many wonderful people and places to paint. I would go back in a heart beat if asked next year.

Plein Air Painting Trip to Madeline Island Wisconsin

2009-06-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Madeline Island Sail Boats 6"x8" Oil on Panel

Big Bay State Park 11"x14" Oil on Panel

Last year I took a vacation/painting trip to Madeline Island Wisconsin. This is part of the Apostle Island National Park. It was summer, but to my surprise the weather wasn't hot. The bugs weren't to bad either. I had been on Lake Superior before on Grand Island doing an artist in residence for two weeks, so I had somewhat of an idea as to what to expect. I stayed in a cabin on Madeline Island owned by one of my patrons, whose family owned the cabin for three or four generations. I was given use of the cabin as a partial payment for artwork I had done. I had no idea it was going to as nice as it was.

It took about 15 hours of driving to get there. That was a long trip, but I got to see some beautiful country. I have to admit I enjoyed the most northern part of the drive the most. I always enjoy putting a car on a ferry and transporting over. It was exciting because it meant it was the last part of the trip. I was ready to stop driving and relax.

I did about two paintings a day. I wasn't trying to work hard, since it was partly a vacation. It was great painting in unfamiliar territory though. Like normal, it took me a few paintings to get intimate with the area. I enjoy that part of plein air painting. Every area has its own feeling and light.

I found it hard to leave when the week was over. I had grown fond of the island and the people who lived there. I would go back in a heart beat.

I will find myself back in Wisconsin this month for the Door County Art Festival and Plein Air Competition. Even though it will be a different part of Wisconsin that I have never been to, I am sure the intimacy will come back quickly.