New painting 08/30/2010
Happy Monday everyone. Here is another painting due for my show at Mary Lou Zeek Gallery 2 in October. Did I mention it would be in October? I don't have an exact date yet but I should soon. I had a lot of fun painting the sky on this one and I was also pleased with those big, growing in somewhat mysterious patterns, branches. A good climbing tree indeed. The other day I set down my water glass on a cutting board near the window and it was like magic. Great white rings and transparent blue, I just had to take some photos. Had to share one with you. Add Comment New painting 08/26/2010
This painting came together fairly quickly. The colors, the story, it was all there from the beginning. Sometimes I like a challenge with a painting, to figure out what is going on in the scene but I admit sometimes it is nice when it just flows right out like this one did. New painting 08/22/2010
I hope you are having a good weekend. It is supposed to rain today though it so far looks like a pleasant day. We are having the strangest summer weather and, from what I read on others' blogs, the weather has been bizarre around the world. All I know is that my tomatoes are still not ripening. I planted eight plants in hopes of making tomato sauce for the year and so far I have not had enough ripe tomatoes to make a salad. The painting above is one of three that I worked on at Project Space in Salem, Oregon, this summer and it was the largest one. I had some fun getting the horse just so. Originally, it was white but one day I painted two different shades of brown (sort of a red and then a more basic brown) over it and then wiped it off. I liked the "antiqued" look it gave the horse. This was definitely a large painting for me (30 x 40 inches) and I don't know when I'll go that big again. First, I have a space issue at home. But more I found working on such a large surface posed its own challenges you just don't get with smaller paintings. Suddenly, areas that were quite insignificant in a smaller piece were very important in a large one because, well, they were big. I'm sure I'll try it again someday but it might be awhile. I'll try to stop in again later in the week. I have 8 more paintings to share. I like to spread them out in part so that I am sure to have something to blog about on a regular basis. I have started my next group of paintings and I am having fun with them. Going deeper, personal. Even getting some self-portraits in which is fun and a little weird. I keep seeing myself in the painting, it's a little disconcerting. Now that this batch is started it is also making me wonder where I will take the next paintings. Always thinking about what is next. Have a good week! Oiled Out 08/14/2010
Yesterday I mentioned I was trying a new process of "oiling out" my finished and drying oil paintings. So today I had to share the results with you because I always enjoy sharing new things I learn. The first photo is before and the second is after. I was curious just how much of a difference would show up in the photographs and I do think it is quite noticeable. Of course I'm sure there were some differences in lighting, etc., but the procedure I think really enhances the colors of the painting. Just look at her shirt, for example. I will still be following the paintings up with a coat of varnish as well. I think I'll be going back through to take new photos of all the paintings this way over the next few days. Including the painting I posted yesterday. I just did the oiling out on that later in the day and it really made a difference. To read more about the "oiling out" procedure I used, go here. Some of the paint can tend to rub off a bit I assume because half the mixture is solvent, but it is minimal and I just took care which areas I wiped it off first. New painting 08/13/2010
It seems that all my recent posts are "new painting"s. So many to share I guess and quite a few more to go. I do hope to share other things soon too. A couple of days ago I tried a new technique (new to me) on my drying oil paintings called "oiling out". Some of the paintings had uneven matte/shine areas and this really helped to give it an even gloss appearance which I usually don't see until they are varnished. I was taking photographs for an upcoming show and I really needed the paintings to have an even appearance. I'm looking forward to seeing if this affects the appearance of the final varnish. I have not yet "oiled out" the above painting, in case you were wondering. Still finishing 3 paintings in this series though I am hopeful I will finish them this weekend so I'm starting a new group as well. Have a great weekend! New painting 08/06/2010
I had a great today. Mary Lou Zeek of Mary Lou Zeek Gallery in Salem, Oregon stopped by to see my recent work. It looks like I will have a show at her second gallery (Gallery 2) perhaps early this fall and perhaps more to come as well. More details on everything when it gets closer. I'm pretty thrilled, this was a big wish of mine to get to work with her. She is so kind and supportive and I love her gallery. After practically non-stop painting for weeks I'm slowing down a bit for the weekend. But just a little as I still have four more paintings to finish for this show and I want them done quickly. I'm also prepping my next panels/canvas so I can get back to work on some new stuff. I will try to get a newsletter out within the week with several more new paintings to share (seven I think, if I remember correctly). Have a good weekend! I'm hoping to have some time for pickling. While our tomatoes are suffering under the oddly cool July/August weather we've been having, the cucumbers are going crazy. | Please Note:I am not currently using this blog. Please visit my other blog for new posts. CategoriesAll ArchivesNovember 2011 |








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