Beached Bones III.....Finished at Last

kelp detail

Sometime soon I need to devote some time to figuring out some of my image posting options here at blogger...For now I just wanted to show a detail of the kelp painting...I sortof put it down in the last post, but really it is a nice piece. I love the colors of the kelp wheh it washes up on the beaches here in Southern New Jersey...usually around early October...the same time the leaves are changing..the colors remind me of Fall..Think I might go back to my original title.."Sea Leaves"

before and after Kelp

Well The moon shell in this piece was driving me crazy...painted it over and over in
different tones and colors and no matter what, my eye went right to it every time!
....so I eliminated it. I needed to finish this piece, put a lot of work into it, yet have to admit I think it's one of my weaker paintings...sometimes just goes that way. I'm sure there's a home for it somewheere out there in the wide world....Anyway here's a shot from before ( with shell) and after ( without shell)...Now I just have two more other big paintings to finish up and I can start the next...which I'm sure will be the best yet!!

Two more parrot studies

SOLD

...tulips of course!! I'm still trying to experiment with more direct and heavier application of paint..The photos are a bit reflective..but you get the idea. These are pretty small...5x7 oil/canvas

Baseball Season

Here's a 9x12 oil on canvas that I painted last year as a gift to my niece, Stephanie for her highschool graduation. Conveniently I happen to live right across the street from the ball field..and that's Mainland Highschool in the background. Stephanie played softball during her years there.I did the origonal sketch on location , finishing up from a digital photo reference. Sitting in my studio/sunporch I'm once again hearing the 'crack' of the bat from across the street, yet another harbinger of spring!!

alla prima parrots

Layed the paint on a bit thick with this one. Had fun:) perhaps more on the "pretty" side for my taste, but I was feeling light and springy...and very happy because the ongoing back problem is finally going...Yeeha!!!
I've seen two other artists doing parrot tulips and when these came into the flower shop today I couldn't wait to get home and give it a go!!
8x10 canvas

Orange Daffs

I'm trying to do a small painting each day until I use up the small canvases and panels I have lying about. I sold two yesterday....the 'Sunlit Daffodils' and the 'Cloudy Morning Windowsill'. This is a canvas panel 4x6. I find it very challenging to try and capture transparency of petals with oil...I think this one is a bit better then 'Sunlit Daffodils'. I can thank my friend Katherine over at Wet Canvas for helping with the value improvements. She has a wonderful blog called Making a Mark. I will be adding a link when I've a bit more time.

Inkwell with Blue Flowers

A little study from this afternoon. I started to wipe the original painting clean, then liked how that looked so here's the completed 'thin and washy' oil study...8x10 canvas.

My other creative outlet

Now that my back is feeling better I've been doing time at the flowershop..Also been working a few hours each day to complete the 'Beached Bones' painting. Here's a pic of me at the Flower shop from last Winter...not a good example of my floral abilities, but you get the idea! I'll post some more flower pictures ( of my more outstanding work!)in the coming months...after all it is my other creaive endeavor!

Garage Window

Here's a small 8x10 from last month...this is looking out my bathroom window over to the old garage. I'm slightly disturbed by the snow flecked tree..the perspective seems strange, although in truth that oak is actually growing right into the side of the garage..so it is almost part of the building. Anyway I thought it had a bit of a Wyeth feel..so here tis!

Andrew Wyeth- Winter 1946

I went to the members preview show of 'Wyeth, Mystery and Magic' at the Philadelphia Museum of Art yesterday. Andy's work has been an influence on me since I can remember. My grandmother had a book of his paintings that I used to look at when I was a small child (I have that book now) I remember distinctly thinking that That was how I wanted to paint. While most of my work is different, some of my paintings are very obviously Wyeth-esque ( to me anyway ). On my website is a painting called 'Three Steps' that shows this pretty clearly I think, 'Clams Two' also has a strong Wyeth feel. I've always been drawn to hard edge realism imbued with that sense of sadness that Wyeth portrays..also Hopper, Homer and Eakins come immediatly to mind.
...God what a show yesterday ..over one hundred paintings and drawings..I think we were there for almost 4 hours. I had a chance to meet and speak to Andy's grandaughter Victoria, who was on hand to answer questions. She was taking our inqueries back to her grandfather that night as he wanted to know what people were asking. Andrew is 89 this year and still painting...just amazing!! A wonderful day I just had to share. I'm thinking of going to see the show again before it's over..it was simply impossible to absorb that much work in a single afternoon.
Here's a link to some Wyeth pictures http://images.google.com/images?q=wyeth&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

Archie's Favorite Pastime

Here's a quick Sepia ( watercolor) Study of my Bassett-Hound Archie...this is how he spends most of his day....and night!
Approx. 4x6

Cora's Frog

Now that I've had my pity party for my back...back to work...here's this mornings effort. A little iron frog that came with my home.
4x6 oil/canvas

Formal Orchids

Completed this little darling yesterday. The painting has been slow going as I try to rehab my back into shape. I went so far as to get a referal to the neurosurgeon, but didn't make the appointment.Unfortunatley I suffer from post-operative back pain caused by a disk operation 8 years ago. What that means basically is that I'm up the creek..I can control the problem through excersize, keeping my weight down and paying attention to the fact that I'm not 27 anymore....three things I really let go of since December....Well pain always was my best motivator! And it's largely because of this unsolvable back problem that I turned to painting full time last March. I have a dear friend and spiritual advisor who has taught me that it is possible to Turn Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones. So off I go to take a nice long walk then back to the studio to start the next painting....

Formal Flowers

Here's a wip ( work in progress) ..Been at it all day. I need to get at least the flowers right before they wilt. Dendrobian orchids hold up pretty well, but after three days the blooms out of water really start to fade. My idea behind this was boutonnieres, I will probably add some "bout" pins to the painting, thinking about a piece of jewelry as well since its a "formal".

Sunlit Daffodils

Did this one in the bright sunlight of my Kitchen...two sessions over two days.I may use this as a birthday gift, if not my asking price ..75.00. I had to buy these Daffs but it will only be a few weeks before I can pick my own. YAY!!!!

8x10 oil on panel

Branch Series " Sticks and Stones"

Back in the end of January I completed this series of small paintings....The Fifth and largest (16x20) piece can be viewed on page three of my Online Gallery. They are a fine example of the 'Direct' and 'Alla Prima' style of oil painting that now dominates my artwork. I still enjoy the thin glazing technique that carried over from my years of painting with acrylics. But now I find that with the confidence to be able to paint directly with oil there is a new life to my artwork. Actually it is my goal to combine the two styles. The painting "Alla Prima Cheese Curls" on page one my website is the first piece in which I've successfully combined both thin glazing with acrylic and alla prima with oil.
As for the sticks...well I love the teal color of the lichens. These are all oak branches and twigs from my yard as well as the natural ironstone. I used to think of them as a nusciance ( the yard fills with them weekly ). It's nice to turn something bothersome into something of lasting beauty. Sizes on these four pictures range from 5x7 to 8x10 ...all oil on canvas. Price range- 50.00 to 75.00 dollars each.

Bones from the Surf Update

This one is really tough going since I am currently unable to stand without experiencing major back pain...as it is I worked on it several hours today...a few minutes at a time. I'm really pleased with how this is coming along...and I'll be so happy when I can clear those bones off the dining room table!!
...Next shot of this will be the finished work

Cloudy Morning Windowsill

Another cold grey day, here's my little study from this morning.
5x7 oil on canvas price-50.00

Lenten Rose..Is it Spring Yet?

8x10 oil on panel



Even though the temps are only in the low 40s I spent a few hours outside this morning doing this study of my Lenten Rose...Blooming right on time I might add.
..Reference pic shows how barren the garden is, yet when this early bloomer shows, I know spring is just around the corner.
oil on panel 8x10 price-60.00