Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Summer Flowers 2

I wasn't satisfied with the colors in Summer Flowers, so I decided to paint something similar again, using the same creamer as before.  This item was the problem, as I felt that I did not achieve the vibrant color that I was after.  This is more of what I had in mind.  I'm happy, well almost, with this result.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Roses in a Mug

I haven't been too happy with some of my paintings lately, so I thought I backtrack a little.  I picked this mug because it has some nice, geometric planes to contrast with the organic shapes of the flowers.
I spent a long time on this one, it came together towards the end.


Oil on canvas.  6 x 6

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Path to the Lake

I'm still on "tree appreciation" mode.
I tried to mark the contrast between the shady path and the bright open space.  I had some difficulty and had to do a lot of thinking about lessons learned.  It probably needs another day's work, I see things that I would like to change and, or correct.  But I think I'll let it go and try a new painting of the same scene at a later date.

Oil on canvas.  8 x 10

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Bend, Don't Break.

The title pretty much sums up my hopes for the weekend, and for life in general.
 My big trees will have to survive a terrible storm. I can only watch, feeling helpless against nature.  But not hopeless.


Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Thursday, August 25, 2011

More Zinnias

Exotic flowers are very nice, but I prefer to paint the ones I pick from my own backyard.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Nocturne

This was done using one of my older paintings as reference.  I'm working on variations of the composition to make a larger version.

Oil on board.  6 x 8

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Burro with Bowl

It is said that a bad day at the easel beats a good day anywhere else; well, I don't know about that.  I had a hard time with the cloth, the stripes and its shadows.  I could have eliminated the stripes and make things simple, but what would I have learned if I did that?  Well, another lesson at the easel.  I guess it wasn't a bad day after all; earthquake notwithstanding.

Oil on canvas.  10 x 10
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Monday, August 22, 2011

Small Tree

Nothing too elaborate today; just sticking my toes out of my comfort zone.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Orange Hibiscus 2

The orange hibiscus seems to be the over achiever of the group flowering constantly, while the yellow and white are not doing much.  Pity, I really want to paint them too.
I think this is an improvement on the first one from August 15th.  These colors are cleaner and more vibrant.  I'm still struggling with the turn of the petals.

Sold
Oil on canvas.  6 x 6

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Syphon

I think that all artist are collectors.  We have an extensive supply of "stuff" that we use in our still life paintings.  I love old things in particular; I feel that they have witnessed a different time, that they have a story to tell.  They're survivors of another era.
I had more items in this set up, but I was having such a difficult time getting the drawing of the bottle, that I decided to just do a study.  I wouldn't say that is finished but the light has changed too much since I started.  Maybe next time, I'll set this up inside with artificial light.

Oil on canvas.  6 x 9

Friday, August 19, 2011

Spotlight

At a certain time of the afternoon, the sun shines on this tree and this small area, and it just lights it up, like a spotlight.  I wanted to paint it for quite a while, so I picked today.  I almost finished it before the rain chased me indoors.
I like how the grass to the right steals the show!!

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Along the Hudson

I'm not sure of the name of this marina, I go to the parks along the Palisades and drive or walk around until something catches my painter's eye.  All I know for sure is that we live in a very beautiful area.
About the craft, I like the distant shore and those cloud studies are paying off. But, I had a hard time with the busyness of the posts, and of course, perspective.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Lake around 5pm

The mosquitoes are fed!
There's something very reassuring about painting the same place over and over again.  It makes me feel very confident.  I enjoy the painting process that much more, because I know that at the end, I will be happy with the results.  Or, maybe I just like being here.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Sean

This is the finished portrait of Sean.  Well, maybe I should say the "unfinished" portrait.  I purposely left the color notes show in the background, and the bare canvas in some spots.  I like it this way, I think is more interesting.

Oil on linen.  14 x 18

Monday, August 15, 2011

Orange Hibiscus

I also have yellow hibiscuses and white ones, I'll paint those soon.  I'm on flower mode, I can't help myself, they're so beautiful.
I knew that the red center in the flower was trouble when I bought it, but I went ahead anyway, so I can't complain. The colors had to be toned down a bit.  I'm pleased with the final product.

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Zinnias

There's something about the simplicity of this painting that I really like, therefore, I will leave it alone.


Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Friday, August 12, 2011

By the Boat Ramp

Today, I decided to paint at the marina. It's a very beautiful place, but a little intimidating.  It has too much to see, my problem is selecting what to include and what to leave out.
So here it is, my first attempt.  I will go back at the same time Monday, weather permitting, and build on this one a little more.

Oil on linen.  8 x 10

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Quick Studies

I missed painting yesterday, it just didn't feel right taking the day off, but "you know what" happens.
Anyway, more studies, today's 20 minute challenge was to make a little portrait using 20 brushstrokes, at most.  I failed miserably!!  Will try again next Tuesday, making the study a little smaller.

Oil on linen.  9 x 12

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Quick Study: Sean

I'm still taking the portrait workshop, still working on the same model.  As before, I took 20 minutes and did a quick study.  It's a nice break from the work, while still observing and studying the subject.
This surface is 9 x 12, will fit the rest of the studies in the same canvas, we only see a portion here.

Oil on linen.  9 x 12

Monday, August 8, 2011

Surfer's Paradise..

...Painter's nightmare.
It was difficult painting today, the waves kept on coming closer and closer, forcing me to keep moving back.  There were a lot of surfer's out there, but I chose not to include them.  I was interested in the movement and energy of the water.
This one was worth all the trouble.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Summer Still Life

I thought it wouldn't be summer without a watermelon in a still life.
This was not as easy as I thought it would be, watermelon is anything but red!  Nevertheless, I enjoyed painting it.  I learned a lot!


Oil on canvas.  6 x 6

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Cloud Study #2

Today was windy, the sky was full of clouds and the water was very dark.  I thought it was very beautiful, so I went to work.  I did not have the right brushes nor any medium with me, I had to rough it.
Still, I'm pleased with the final product, the colors are pretty close and it has capture the mood of the day.  It was a good day!!  And I didn't have to run after my umbrella, like some people.
PS: not the best photo of the work, will retake it at a later date.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Friday, August 5, 2011

Avid Reader

This lady was so involved in her reading, she made the perfect model.
What first attracted me to this scene was the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow on the woman.  Also, the contrast of the perfect face in the back cover of the magazine to her casual look.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Light and Shadow Study

Just a quick study.  There's a lot of work ahead of me!

Oil on linen.  6 x 6

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Old Reliable

Thanks to this blog, I painted today!  The day went by so fast, I didn't get the chance earlier.
One green apple, economy of strokes, plenty of paint and just 3 big brushes, that's all it took.  If I could only be this decisive when I have plenty of time...

Oil on canvas.  5 x 5

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Color Study: Sean

We are working on a portrait for the next 3 weeks, so I took the last 20 minutes of the session to do a small color study.  I'll do a few more, maybe from different locations.  I think it'll be interesting to see my progress.  The main reason why I did this was to work on my "speed", as I usually do not get a lot of time to capture a likeness.

Oil on linen.  5 x 7

Monday, August 1, 2011

Sunflower Bouquet

While on his deathbed, Edouard Manet ( 1832-1883), painted the flowers that his visitors would bring him.  It probably did not make him forget his situation and it surely did not relieved his pain, but I think that with each painting he had the satisfaction of being able to do, one more time, what he was put on this earth to do.  I think of him every time I paint a flower bouquet.
About the craft, I'm trying new ways of approaching the flower mass.  Trying to create a sense of space;  loosening up, expressing myself. This painting is definitely a departure from previous ones, I'm evolving, hopefully for the better.   I like how the sunflower in the back steals the show.

Oil on linen.  8 x 10