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[Tags: Art Auction Saturday, Artwork, landscapes, miniature painting, watercolor painting
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Posts Tagged ‘Artwork’
Art Auction Saturday
Saturday, February 27th, 2010Watercolor Demo - Lilacs in Bloom Part 3 Final
Friday, February 26th, 2010
I’m trying something new and this is the first - a short snippet of my painting process. This is my first attempt at doing a video, editing and posting. Bear with me… next time I hope for a better quality video.
Anyway… as you can see I’ve continued to apply layer upon layer of color (watercolor washes) always referring to my color study as a guide in my color mixing process.
While some artists are confident enough to apply dark, splashy washes with only one or two applications of paint, I tend more toward the “building process.” Building by applying one wash of color over the next (drying each layer thoroughly) until I get the desired dark value.
The beauty in creating art is that there’s no right or wrong way to get where you want to be. It’s all a matter of personal preference and style. I suppose that’s what I like best about art - in math 2 + 2 is always 4, but when I’m painting the answers are what I want them to be!
Once I have my foliage and such as dark as I desire I will then remove the masking fluid by erasing or rubbing it. I find using an eraser is cleaner as the oils from your skin can leave a residue on the paper that is hard to remove. Once those whites (your unpainted protected areas) are exposed then it’s time to paint those lilacs and make them bloom (as seen in this video)!
Something important to remember is that while our brain knows these lilacs are made up of hundreds of small blossoms in each bunch we need only focus on painting a “shape” that says “bunch of lilacs.” I have found keeping that in mind - paint a shape that says what we want to say - is freeing and keeps me from getting caught in fussy little details when a shape and color is all you need to say what needs saying.
What I wanted to say with this painting is, “Wow I just saw this beautiful, old country home with mature lilac bushes in full bloom. So vibrant and beautiful! Here look . . . see what I mean?” That’s my message. Can you smell them? Can you feel them tickle the end of your nose as you take in their sweet aroma? That’s my message. Sharing what I see and how I see it through my painting.
Art Auction Saturday
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
"Morning Blues," Original Watercolor, Image Size 6.5" x 8.5", Double Mat, Unframed
[Tags: Art Auction Saturday, Artwork, watercolor painting
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Creating Your Own Reality
Sunday, January 3rd, 2010
Last of Winter, Watercolor, Image Size 3.25 inches x 2.25 inches (Miniature)
Sitting here in my upstairs perch I watch as a cold, bitter wind tosses snowflakes in swirls past my window. The gusting wind and snow started yesterday evening and today at 5:34 p.m. it’s still snowing. Days like this remind me just how lucky I am to be an artist, albeit part-time, but an artist nonetheless.
I wet my watercolor paints and grab my favorite brush with the knowledge that my art can transport me to any place of my choosing. Only this morning over coffee I’d “stood” on a hilltop taking in the distant mountains while observing the last remnants of winter snow sure to be gone in a day or two (see “Last of Winter” above).
And then this afternoon I choose to get away from the cold winter wind and head to Vermont for a walk through a field of wildflowers. As I recall it was last July, during a visit to Jonathan and Calico’s, and I’d taken lots of photographs hoping to later use them as reference for some wonderful paintings. I can’t think of a better time to “walk” again through the fields of lupine, daisies and ferns to escape this bone-chilling winter day.
Lupine, Daisies & Ferns, Watercolor, Image Size 3" x 2" (Miniature)
As I began to paint - building one watercolor wash over the next - I’m there in that field. It rained on and off that day and as we walked droplets of rainwater dampened our hair and clothing. No room for worries though as the rain fell softly on the field of wildflowers. It sure was nice to get away to Vermont for a while this afternoon. Today Vermont, tomorrow who knows.
The wonderful thing about being an artist, reading a fine book or writing a short story is we can create our own reality. We can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone. The only limit is our own imagination. So today while outside it was harsh and bitter, inside my head there were fields of daisies and the warm summer sun.
Remember that the reality you create is yours alone to conjure. I’m glad to be back at the drawing board where anything is possible.
Only Your Best Art Forward
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
"Sheepish #1," Pencil - I'm satisfied with this sketch. I will draw it a second time and maybe a third - until it is my very best effort. I need to remember that.
I know I haven’t been posting much artwork lately and since this is supposed to be a blog about “art, life, dreams and such,” you might think I should include just a little more art. Let me explain why the “show and tell” art part of my blog has been a bit lean lately.
While I have been in a pre-winter slump that tends to hit me at this time of year, I have been painting and drawing. I’ve been producing some rough sketches, color studies, first attempts at new subjects, as well as some tried and failed stuff that ultimately ended up in the trash.
In the past I’ve posted a few art pieces on my blog in haste and now I shudder when I see them knowing they do not represent my best effort and should perhaps have been kept private, kept in a place of learning and not put on display. (I’ll take them down later.)
When I came to that realization, I knew it was time to pull back a bit on what of my art I post on the Internet. All work cannot, of course, be the masterpiece we all hope for, but for me a standard of quality must be maintained. With that standard of personal quality and the decision not to post “stuff” that doesn’t measure up comes the freedom to explore. No more “get it done” and “post away.”
To reinforce my new philosophy, just this past weekend I watched an interview with David Foster (record producer, singer, songwriter) on Sunday Morning as he talked about a record he’d produced “early on.” David Foster gave a copy of this new record to Quincy Jones telling him, “only listen to a couple of tracks” because the rest “weren’t that good.” Quincy Jones’ reply, “If it cannot be absolutely 100 percent your very best effort, then you better not put your name on it.”
Those words, “very best effort” are what I’m after. Striving for my very best effort and sharing only when the final product is just that at this moment in time. I realize that my work will improve as I practice, learn and grow as an artist. What is my “very best effort” today will not be tomorrow, but today I’ll not settle for less than my very best effort.
From now on, the art that gets posted here will have something to offer - a lesson to teach, a story to tell or a feeling to convey. When the art falls short in those areas then it’s time to keep it private. From now on . . . only my very best effort will be seen here.
Drawing Skills are Paramount
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
My Curious Friend, Pencil
I remember doing this sheep drawing several years ago. I took the reference photo on a trip to Vermont for an art show in a Little League Field (anything for a little pocket change and validation of your art). The sheep were next to our motel (I was traveling with a fellow artist), a whole flock, always hovering at the fence. I took several photos and it took years for me to get the courage to draw them.
As I sat at my drafting table with the intimidating blank paper and sharpened pencils before me, (more…)
Artwork Project 4 - FINAL
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
Artwork Project 4 - Miller's Farm No. 2 FINAL
I’ve finally finished “Miller’s Farm No. 2.” Though it doesn’t translate 100 percent accurately online (the colors are a bit more intense than the original painting), this piece (in some cases) came out better than my first attempt. The sky washes are fresher and less overworked. Unfortunately, I overworked the shadows in the snow and was forced to use this “bleed proof white” that I discovered. I will typically try to “save the whites” and not resort to using either Chinese white or this bleed proof white, but I’d already committed so much time to this piece that I didn’t want to abandon the painting altogether. Another lesson learned - (more…)
Make Your Morning Commute Inspiring!
Thursday, April 9th, 2009
One Morning Commute, Pencil
My Morning Commute. That’s where much of my thinking happens - behind the wheel of my Jeep Liberty - on my way to and from work in Downtown Albany. Yes I must admit to taking the reference photo for this drawing while driving. In my defense, it was slow going and the clouds were really beautiful.
For a long time I considered my long commute a burden, a waste of time and I wasn’t shy about voicing my complaints. It took way too long for me to realize thankfulness and appreciation are a much more productive and peaceful approach. Working with people you respect and enjoy is an invaluable thing. So now instead of constant complaints I use my commuter “solitude” to ponder, listen, learn and become inspired. Sometimes I sit (and drive) in silence and talk to God. Now my new policy on commuting is button it up and stop complaining, be watchful and listen because inspiration can come from the most unlikely places.
BBC Miniseries - The Impressionists
Monday, April 6th, 2009
Oil Sketch
I’ve been watching the BBC Miniseries, “The Impressionists,” and have become quite inspired by their spontaneous en plein air paintings. Monet, Renoir, Manet and others worked together and inspired one another to capture the moment, which was a new and revolutionary painting style at the time. While I’m limited to producing most of my artwork in the studio what I can do is attempt to paint quickly and intuitively letting go of my controlled painting style for these oil sketches. It was great fun to paint with such freedom.
I haven’t painted with oils much and need to learn technique and color mixing, which are quite different from the watercolors I’ve been using for many years. The perfect solution is to produce a series of “Oil Sketches.” This piece will need to be “punched up” a bit with darker shadows in the foreground and highlights in the sky once it’s a little drier. I will resist the temptation to repaint and tighten up the compositions.
There’s much to learn and practice is the best teacher.
I’m Not Big on Small Talk
Thursday, April 16th, 2009Country Road, Schoharie County, Pencil, Miniature
I’ve begun to paint and draw in miniature lately. The drawing you see here is about the size of a business card. It has been a struggle with my “aging eyes” to pursue miniature drawing and painting, but with my new trifocals (they rock!) made perfectly for close up vision. . . well I’m happy as a clam (not a steamed clam, the regular kind still in the ocean). (more…)
Tags: Artwork, Commentary, miniature drawing, pencil drawing
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