Wednesday, December 30, 2009

East Tawas Explosion #2













I've got to keep shooting until I hit something!
This one is closer to the target than yesterdays version,
although I just noticed that the grasses along the front
are static ... equal spaces, lines the same width, that will
be fixed by tomorrow. Also, I could've warmed up one of
the blue background trees. Still not comfortable with the
style of painting. It seems so far from what I'm used to.
I'll experiment with it for a while and see where it goes.
It needs refinement and some outward confidence by the
arteeest.

Today, the wash brush didn't have total control. It took a coffee
break and I didn't, so took over until it tapped on my shoulder
and said "I'm Back".

Again no mercy! Have at it so I can learn something, huh?
I'm an old dog, so I can't learn new tricks, ooooh sorry Sam.
Hey did you all notice that we have a multiple award winner
on the blogs with us. Check out Loriann Signori and A painting a day.
She's an inspiration for a lot of us.

Till later everyone, and have a great and properous, peaceful
2010. Happy New Year Blog Friends!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Hey, who's in charge here?













Yes I know this does not resemble the value study done
for this subject. Let's put it this way, it took me about 3 hours
to take back control. (not sure who was in charge)
By the time that happened the only thing that might save it
would be to hose it off.
So I was sitting there pondering the rest of the day ... I looked
down and saw I was holding my 1" flat wash brush. Hmmm.
Well that's when things went crazy again. I sat quietly and watched
as my hand holding the brush went chunking and stroking away.
I thought, well if you think you can do better than me then go for it.
It was fun to watch (I never gave it much hope with the brush in charge).
After trashing my palette and mudding up the water containers, it jumped
out of my hand and landed back in the brush jar.
Mary walked in about then and said, hey this one is coming together!
I looked at her with a puzzled look on my face and said, "really?"
Well if like it ... Let the record show I went ahead a signed it.
Still puzzled ... whatcha all think ... show no mercy!
signed: the guy with a brush that runs his life.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

The Huron Side














I'm following the example set by my good friend B.
She has been practicing these value studies and sharing
with everyone at her blog loriannsignori.blogspot.com
Take a look at her wonderful work.


I'm taking this to heart. I will faithfully ??? pursue
one each for every painting I attempt. I've been struggling of
late with colors, mud and lack of punch. Seems like doing
a value study will be a good exercise for me. I've done others
but I feel good about this one. Charcoal pencil on good
quality news print. Feel free to share what your process is,
rather value studies are important to painting or you follow
another process.


Remember this is a watercolor blog so we'll see how this drawing
interprets with watercolor. Thanks everyone, have
a great Christmas!

Friday, December 18, 2009

One Minute of Thought



















One minute to capture the
movement, mood, line of the
hips, the shoulders and rough
proportions. Certainly a
crude start but gives a strong
basis to continue.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Just filling in.














And what you say is this? Little scrap of blotter
paper I use for testing colors while painting. The
reason it's here is because it's a stand in for the piece
I'm working on.

I guess you could call it meaningless blog fodder.
Hey, maybe I'll change the name of my blog to
Blog Fodder Supreme with onion rings.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Not Another Day












Fear not, a pastelist I'll never be. Just couldn't
stand another day of watercolor so I pulled out some
old cheap pastels. Took the shot before I knocked the
dust off. Watercolor tomorrow.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Scrap paper


















When I'm painting, I like to keep a piece of scrap
watercolor paper next to the paper so I can test colors
before painting with them. I should have framed the
scrap, since the painting failed. Isn't it amazing how free
and easy we can be when not shackled by a preconceived
idea. I know that's how it works for me. I need to remember
that. Do others feel that way?

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Small but Effective

OK, here it is. In the first photo is of course some guy
in the studio acting like he's retired. The next photo is
the closet storage area. Large metal rack to store matt board
and backer board plus portfolio cases, easels, photo reference,
and anything else I can cram in there.
The next photo shows what I always dreamed of having.
Flat files, 4 five drawer units. Creates a work surface
and stores piles of paintings, some matted, some not.
Different types of watercolor paper, extra palettes, sketch books
and again, whatever I can cram in there.
Shot from the door of the dining room. Most of the time
the door is closed and I have music playing to cover other
disturbing noises. My wife and I are both retired and we
have two kids and 8 grandkids living within 7 miles of our house.
Hence the closed door. Actually, it's a lost cause when the cookie
crumblers show up. I love em anyway. Most days are quiet, especially
in the winter time.




Reflections of Frustration










I think I still hear someone!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Next time Listen


















This haunted me for 5 days. Laughing at me from the flat
file. It didn't deserve the amount of time I gave it. While I
was working on it, even today. I could here someone hollering
STOP, STOP, STOP! Then I realized it was me. Instincts didn't
pay off this time.

Up in the Beech
















Plein Air, 5 x 7 watercolor on cold press.

Failing realism last week I went with the 1" flat.
No one said plein air was about realism. As a painting
it was short and sweet.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Post Something! OK.


































Little doodles lead to something.

Time to say thanks!

Blogging is still fairly new to me. I'm still amazed at
how many people take time and thought to leave helpful
and rewarding comments.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank those of you that
are followers and the many that just stop by and leave
comments. Thanks everyone!