Thursday, December 30, 2010

Winter Melt

Snow is everywhere. The East Coast of the US is still digging out; the West is receiving its share, too. Although most of us find the snow a cold inconvenience, it also provides inspiration. Trying to recreate a concept of the winter melt was the goal of this 9x12 inch oil painting. If it makes you feel the cold, drab of winter, I have achieved my goal.

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Monday, December 27, 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Man Alone

One of the biggest challenges an artist can face is depicting the human figure accurately. Accomplished figure painters practice every day for many years; I am humbled by their skill. Success with painting the figure is about proportion and value. If one is inaccurate, the painting doesn't work. Thus, on the occasions when the thought of figure painting enters my mind, it is with considerable apprehension that I approach the canvas. This little 4x6 inch oil painting of a lone male figure is the result of my latest figure painting effort.

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Thursday, December 23, 2010

Winter River

One of my favorite places to visit when the weather is warm is the banks of the Carbon River in Pierce County, Washington. Since the weather isn't warm and won't be for a long time, I painted it in winter. Crisp and cold with a snow sky is the effect I was after. It worked; I've been wearing an extra sweater all afternoon. The painting is 6x6 inches on a gessoed hardboard panel.


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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Metal and Tangerines

I'm still playing with tangerines. Today's challenge was adding a reflective metal bowl. Painting that was the most fun of all. Capturing the distortion and color of the reflection was easier than I expected. The painting is 6x8 inches on gallery-wrapped canvas and can be purchased online at Small Impressions Gallery for $75.00 plus shipping. Click here to view it in the gallery and add it to your shopping cart.

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Monday, December 20, 2010

Cup and Oranges

Arranging items for a still life provided some good inspiration for a colorless winter day. I raided the refrigerator and discovered that there wasn't much in the way of color, so these sweet little fruits took full responsibility. I was happy they were there to hang out with me and provide some good company while their portrait was completed. Their portrait is 5x7 inches on a Raymar canvas panel. The paint is dry and it can be purchased for $50.00 plus shipping by clicking on this link.

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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Summertime

As I painted this small landscape, the lyrics to George Gershwin's tune, Summertime, kept skipping through my head:
Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
and the cotton is high
I'm ready for some easy living and in my imagination, these cows were enjoying a little leisure time. The painting is 5x7 inches on a Raymar canvas panel. This painting has been SOLD.
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Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Dockside

Working on paintings of seascape or boats always challenges me. I think it is because salt water surrounds me and I'm very familiar with the sights and sounds of the coast. I'm never satisfied with the results of my attempts at painting these local scenes. But, this one made me feel quite satisfied. It is small 5x5 inches. I concentrated on shapes and tried to avoid thinking about painting the sea and boats. Amazingly, I am satisfied with the final product. It is a bit abstract, but I'm wasn't tempted to wipe it out and start over. A delightful success in my eyes! It has joined some of my other paintings at the Small Impressions Gallery at Etsy. To view it in the Gallery and purchase it for $25.00 plus shipping, click here.

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Sunday, December 12, 2010

Peeled

In the middle of winter when the rain is pouring down and the wind is blowing, these little Mandarine Oranges always bring a sweet, freshness to the day. Yesterdeday was no exception when I sat down to paint these juicy little segments. The painting is 5x7 inches on a Raymar Canvas panel. It will be for sale online at my Etsy gallery when the paint is dry, so check in soon.


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Friday, December 10, 2010

Storm Clouds

A recent trip from Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon and back inspired a series of little sky paintings. As we travelled along I-5, we were in and out of the rain. The clouds were heavy and dropped water on us in a few whispy sprinkles followed by a downpour and then back to little sprinkles again. The weather inspired a lot of gazing at the stormy sky and this little 4x6 inch oil painting.

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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

In a Pickle

This is a silly little painting. I was captivated by the swirling colors and patterns created by the sliced pickles in this jar. I had to paint it. So there it is, my crazy inspiration--who would have guessed? The painting is 5x7 inches on a Raymar canvas panel.


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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Sit Ups

This pepper looks like I feel when doing sit ups. That strain in your stomach and the tension on the back of the neck tells me I'm probably doing the exercise incorrecctly. The painting is a sweet little 4x6 inches on a canvas panel and didn't cause me the pain of even one little sit up.
It can be purchased online for $24.00 plus shipping at the Small Impressions Gallery. Click here to view it in the gallery.
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Thursday, December 2, 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010

Coastal Erosion

This little oil painting is based on a photo I took at Ocean Shores, Washington. The beach near the North Jetty is eroding. This particular area used to be one where a person could walk directly from the main rode to the beach on a smooth, flat path. After a couple of years of wild storms, there is now a big cliff where a smooth walk to the beach used to exist. Recently I read an article that stated it is more likely coastal communities will fall into the ocean as a result of erosion instead of being drowned by the rising sea level caused by global warming. I wonder which theory will prove to be reality. In my dream world, neither will happen and we will all live happily ever after. If only dreams came true.

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Saturday, November 27, 2010

Crunch, Crunch, Winter Apples

A trip to the farmer's market today resulted in some wonderful winter apples and a painting, too! The apples were so fresh and crunchy, I had to hold back so I would still have one to paint. The result is this 6x8 inch oil painting, a fun project for a Saturday afternoon. Click here to view it in the Small Impressions Gallery at Etsy where it can be purchased for $75.00 plus shipping.


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Friday, November 26, 2010

Winter Pond Landscape Oil Painting

The weather has been horrible lately, so I've been drawn to painting sunny landscapes. Today I gave up and embraced the gray of the Northwest. I actually enjoyed painting this 9x12 inch landscape of a pond near my house. The scrapings from my sunny pallette created a wonderful array of grays that worked well for a winter landscape. With no break in the weather in sight, a few more of these winter landscapes could find their way onto canvas in the next few weeks.

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Sunshine and Shadows

Looking out my window at weather that is well below freezing, I am anxious for sunshine to return. Tired of gray weather, I reviewed some old photos looking for some inspiration. The photo this 9x12 inch oil painting is based on was taken in September several years ago. A bright autumn afternoon with the long shadows beginning to drape across the landscape of a nearby golf course brought the inspiration I was looking for.

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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Evergreen Light

When I painted this little 6x8 inch landscape, I was thinking about the evergreen trees of Washington State. We have miles and miles of them, especially in the mountainous areas of the state. They are the darkest of trees to paint, but when the sunlight hits them, they are bright and wonderful. It is no wonder that these are the trees we look to for our Christmas Trees. This painting which is on a gallery-wrapped canvas can be purchased online for $75.00 plus shipping at the Small Impressions Gallery.


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Saturday, November 20, 2010

Lilac Bundle

With the gray, cold skies outside, my inspiration today came from photos I took last summer when the lilacs in my backyard were blooming. It helped me recall days of sunshine and the delicate scent of lilacs. This painting is 6x8 inches on a gallery-wrapped canvas. It has joined some of my other floral paintings for sale at Etsy and can be purchased online here for $75.00 plus shipping.


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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Christmas Tangerine Painting

It is during the winter holidays that these sweet little tangerines come into season. This oil painting is 11x14 inches on a 3/4 inch gallery-wrapped canvas and represents the custom in our house of enjoying these little oranges during the holiday season. I stretched and prepared the canvas, a process I used to enjoy. Beginning with raw canvas, stretching it, applying gesso, and then creating a painting is quite a time-consuming process. I find myself more and more just wanting to paint and skip the preparation process. Asking for a few dozen commercially prepared canvases for Christmas sounds like a wonderful idea. This painting is now for sale at the Small Impressions Gallery along with some of my other fruit, tropical fruit, and still life oil paintings. It can be purchased here for $145.00 plus shipping by clicking on this link.
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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Winter Nocturne

The cool colors of winter seems to be eminating from my palette these days. A frozen lake, a dark night, and the yellow lights from a distant home inspired this little 5x7 inch landscape oil painting. It is now for sale at my gallery, Small Impressions Paintings, at Etsy.com. It was created on a hand prepared gessoed hardboard panel that will insure the painting lasts a lifetime. Visit the gallery if you'd like to purchase this painting for $50.00 plus shipping, or you might like to see some of my other original landscape oil paintings.

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The End of the Golden Trees

The poplar trees were golden for several weeks, but that is coming to an end as we enter the wet and wild month of November. The trees that carried such beautiful color just a few weeks ago are bare now. The reflection of their color in a pond near my house was my inspiration and I wish the spark of color were not quite so brief. I'm glad to have this little 5x7 inch painting to remind me of the beauty of an shiny autumn afternoon. It can be purchased online at Etsy for $50.00 plus shipping. Click here to view it.

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Saturday, November 6, 2010

Evening Sunlight

A favorite painting from today's efforts is this little 5x7 inch landscape oil painting. I liked the way the light glanced across the top of this trio of trees. The contrast between the warmth of the sunshine and the coolness of the foreground is what caught my attention. I've enjoyed taking this little vacation from still life work back to painting nature. This painting can be purchased for $50.00 plus shipping at the Small Impressions Gallery on Etsy. Click here to view it in the gallery.

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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

River Light

Another sunny day in the Northwest provided inspiration for this 5x7 inch oil painting. It seems we have a day of sunshine followed by several days of rain. I'm hoping the current sunshine holds on for more than just a day. This painting is for sale online at the Small Impressions Gallery at Etsy for $50.00 plus shipping. Click here to view in the gallery.


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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Inspiration

Yesterday with my bicycle loaded on the back of my car I headed toward the town of Puyallup where the Foothills Trail begins in Western Washington State. Before I got there, the rain began to pour down. Back home a few minutes later, I spent the afternoon in my studio with the gray skies looking over my shoulder and rain pelting the window. It was with great excitement that I rose today to sunshine. The clouds had cleared and the sky was blue. With my bicycle loaded on the car once again, I made a second try. Beautiful sunshine followed me the entire day. When I finished my ride, I was so inspired by the burst of autumn sunshine, that I painted this 6x8 inch oil painting. It is amazing what a little sunshine can do. The painting is for sale online at the Small Impressions Gallery for $75.00 plus shipping. Click here to see the painting in the gallery.

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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Mountain Lake


Painting the reflections on the lake was fun, but photographing this painting afterwords was a challenge. I have found that there are only a few hours of daylight that will allow for a decent photo. My studio faces west and by late morning, the light is too direct. The wet paint catches the light and the photos have little white reflections glaring off the surface. I ended up having to wait an extra day to snap a decent shot. This little 5x7 inch painting can be purchased online for $35.00 plus shipping from the Small Impressions Gallery at Etsy along with some of my other small landscape oil paintings of trees. Click here to purchase.
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Follow the Leader--Sheep Painting

It has been a while since I've painted one of my favorite subjects, sheep. These little lambs were created on a 4x6 inch canvas panel and have joined some of my other small animal paintings in my Etsy Gallery . This little painting can be purchased here for $24.00 plus shipping.

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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Summer Shadows

I'm still longing for warm weather and those long shadows that appear across the landscape on late summer evenings. This painting is 9x12 inches on a stretched canvas and was based on a photo I took at Titlow Park in Pierce County, Washington last summer. The park is adjacent to a wonderful beach on Puget Sound and is one of many places I often visit on the warm summer evenings.

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Monday, October 25, 2010

Learning to Fly, Original Figurative Painting

This 5x7 inch oil painting of a father and his daughter was based on another of my beach photos. It was so touching to see the two of them together on a misty beach watching a kite climb higher and higher.

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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Original Painting, Beach Talk

As the rain pours down and the wind blows, I find myself looking at photos I took when the weather was much better. This little 5x5 inch study was based on a photo taken several summers ago on a visit to the Pacific coast. I was attracted to the brilliant blue of the sea and sky. It was especially nice for the couple to stroll by and provide a focus for my study.
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Saturday, October 23, 2010

Monday, October 18, 2010

End of the Season

Tomato season is officially over in my garden. The plants have been removed and the garden tilled. Those Sweet 100 cherries and the Early Girl delights have been banished and the last of the produce is now sitting in my kitchen. Until next summer I will have to be content with tomatoes imported from elsewhere in the world. It was with sadness that I painted this last tribute to the bounty of my garden. The painting is 5x7 inches.

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Sunday, October 17, 2010

Ice River

Visions of things to come. The news casters are reporting an upcoming severe winter in the Pacific Northwest this year. With that in mind, a snow filled painting seemed like the thing to do. This one is 5x7 inches.


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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Damon Point

A view of Damon Point on the north side of Gray's Harbor in Washington State is the source for this little 5x7 inch oil painting. I tried to capture the cool misty air that hangs on the shoreline most of the time. Though the beaches in Washington State see the sun, it is much more common to experience cool mist and breezy air when visiting. Wear warm clothes, have a hat handy, and keep some gloves in your pocket. These beaches aren't for lounging in the sun, but can still provide a delightful solace.


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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Sunshine Cow


While the rain poured down this past weekend, I looked for inspiration in some of the photos I've snapped during the past year. I discovered a series of photos from a bicycle trip early in the spring. This painting is based on a photo taken of a field of cattle. I was impressed by the sunlight on the back of this cow as she stood in front of a line of trees. The contrast between her golden hide and the shadows of the trees behind her is what captured my attention. Remembering that delightful afternoon provided inspiration for creating this little 5x7 inch painting. Nothing like recalling sunshine on a rainy afternoon.

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Monday, October 11, 2010

Study in Stripes

This is another of my little ceramic cup studies. Working on those reflections was fun and I added a collection of stipes for a little extra challenge. Though I like the way the cup turned out, I'm going to have to stop myself from picking the rest of it apart. The danger of fussing to much is that sometimes rather than getting better, a painting can get worse. Knowing when to stop is a trick that I'm always working on.

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Sunday, October 10, 2010

Reflecting on Cups

With the rain pouring down, I have a great excuse to lock myself in my studio and paint. Today's effort was a focus on the light on a couple of ceramic cups. I included the tomatoes because they add a great reflection to the side of the cup. The red color winks and makes it fun to paint. This painting is 5x7 inches on a Raymar canvas panel. Eventually it will probably be listed for sale with some of my other small still life paintings. Depending on the size and quality of the surface, my small originals usually range from about $24.00 to $145.00 for paintings from 4x6 to 11x14 inches.

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