A Walk in the Park

From the flat files

One of the first plein air attempts from several years ago.

After spending far too many years as a commercial artist, plein air

painting was something new for me. Now retired, I have time to

try it out. I joined a group that met once a month and got a feel

for what I needed to do.

This trip was too a small town in southern Michigan. I found this

park and settled into this spot. It was a cold misty day in the fall.

Not conducive to brilliant color and contrasting shadows, it became

a struggle and challenge. I wanted to put in the base color scheme

with wet in wet technique. That part went well ... it was at that time

I realized that the wet paper was going to lay there wet for the rest of

the day. Wellllllllll, I was cold and damp, the paper was cold and damp,

so I fired up the car and turned the heat on high and hoped for the best.

It did finally dry enough to continue. I think at this point my interest

was no longer what it needed to be and the painting lost something

because I was in a hurry to finish and go get some coffee. The big tree

is too heavy and over worked and dominates far too much. I think the

best thing about the painting is the last stroke I made. I quick brush

across the road up close to the front. Adds a little flair. All in all it's ok,

but as I sit here writing about it, I see the things I should have done and

are anxious to attempt it again in the studio.

I know an artist is his own worst critic, but I choose to write about the

good and bad about paintings so that people at different levels of

ability realize that all of us struggle and sometimes fail. Everyone

needs to know this so they feel comfortable with continuing.

I think it's important!!

Well, Thursday I'm off to Acadia National Park in Maine for 7 days.

Hopefully this will spark my interest in plein air painting again.

Wish me luck.

Cold Pie

From the flat files

From a plein air paint out last fall.

The wind was howling, the temps were in

the low 30's but the sky was clear. At the end of the day

I was sitting in the cargo area of my jeep trying to get

warm and waiting for the rest of the crew to gather.

I kept looking at these pumpkins, or maybe they were looking

at me ... strange. They kept saying to me, hey you slacker why don't

you come out here and paint us. It's not that cold, naa, naaa, naaaa na

we dare you to try. I popped the hatch on the back of the jeep,

dropped down a piece of hot press, which I don't normally do. Started

with a one minute sketch and about 5 minutes of shivering and slapping

paint around. I couldn't really tell what I was doing because of the tears

in my eyes from the cold wind blowing. I think it's ok for what it is.

Rain over Kauai

This was done in the studio after our trip to Hawaii in

February. I'm quite happy with the clouds over the

land mass. I'm not thrilled with the overall value in this

piece. To many mid tones, no darks and no serious lights.

Rather bland overall. The size is about 12" by 18" done

on Arches cold press 140#. Another example of not painting

enough. What do you think. Get real now!

In the Distance

More from the flat files

A quick study of Mt Rainier from 2 years ago. I found that

this perspective is actually to close to the mountain. It's distorted

because of the immense size of Rainier. It just doesn't seem

to fit in a low angle like this with a middle ground in front of it.

I'll tackle this one again in the future. Maybe someone has

some suggestions to this situation. In the mean time, enjoy.

A note to any viewers of this blog. I'll be gone on vacation

for the next couple of weeks so no new posts and no visits

to others. I'll miss you all, but I'll do it with a smile on my face.

All the best, Doug

5 New Pieces

At last, something brand new. I just completed these pieces

for a commission I've been putting off. The top piece is done

on hot press Arches 140# paper. The colors tend to be more

brilliant on hot press. Certainly not good for floating colors

together but has other benefits. The rest of the pieces are

all done on cold press paper. I feel good that they're done and

the person can buy them all or only what she wants. I'm such

an agreeable person. HA.

Hope you enjoy.

Verde Valley Railroad

More from the flat-files.

The colors in the canyon walls were constantly changing with the light.

Amazing contrast around every bend in the road. One of my favorite times

in the Sedona Area. Hope to do it again soon.

Let me know what you think and thank you for visiting.

The Walk

More from the flat-files.

In the distance a man and dog walk the beach in and

out of the fresh water waves.

This painting is @ 10" x 18" done on 140# Arches

cold press watercolor paper. This was done during a

gallery walk and several artists demonstrating. It was

interesting but tedious. People being people, want to talk

and ask questions. Difficult to concentrate on a moving wash,

wrong brush, wrong color, wrong time, and so on. Well that's

part of the game isn't it.

Maybe I'll try it again in the peace of the studio, course then there

is the risk of lost intensity, urgency and spending too much time

messing around for no reason. We'll see what happens.

Hope you enjoy this one.

Traverse in the mist.

From the flat files.

This little 7" x 10" plein air piece was done during a weekend

paint out in the Traverse City area. Unfortunately the first day

was wind and rain and impossible to paint outside with watercolor.

I was determined to paint something. The front seat of the car

seemed to be the only choice. I really dislike painting in the car

but had no choice on this day.

This is a view from the middle of Mission Point Peninsula over

looking one of the vineyards and Traverse Bay. Colors were muted

from the wind and the rain. The car was rolling back and forth from

the force of the gusts coming with the rolling clouds. In the end I was

pleased with the results. Let me know what those of you that view it

think.

House in Muir

From the flat files.

This is from a small dwindling little town where

my dad lived as a teenager. (long ago that is)

I spotted this old house on the corner of a very quiet

street, it was bathed in sunlight. Lots of bright whites

and very deep shadows. I decided to try it on hot press

paper and throw in some black india ink as an accent and

help create some contrast. Lets just say I'm putting this out

there because I feel I didn't accomplish what I was looking for.

I want you to see that everything doesn't turn out the way it was

intended, it's also a reminder to me to think more before I try this

again. I'm an impatient type looking for immediate gratification.

Sometimes, gratification takes a lot longer.

Up-bound Ogle Bay

More from the Flatfiles

Another ship passes through the locks at Sault Saint Marie, Michigan.

Every time I'm there I love to stand on the viewing stand as ships

pass through from all over the world. They all have there own

individual character, some well kept, some not so good.

The inspiration comes from all the ships that have passed through

before, such as the Edmund Fitzgerald and the crew that went missing

off White Fish Point many years ago on Lake Superior. It's sort

of a chilling thought to wonder if this ship passes without incident

or finds itself in a terrible storm or worse, never makes it's

destination. Think positive Doug, with todays technology

and modern ship design, 99.9% make there journey's without

a problem.

The Cathedral

(from the flat files)

This scene is a contrast in values, textures and colors.

The contrast between the Cottonwoods on the left and the

pines on the right. The dry creek and it's sun baked surface

leads the eye in and Cathedral Rock in the background hovers

over the entire scene.

15" x 20" on Arches 140 lb. watercolor paper.

From the Flat Files

As you will see, I tend to procrastinate.

I few days ago I was looking through my flat files

and discovered a stack of paintings with no matte

and left to linger in the drawer. You ask, how can an

artist do that? Easy, really easy! Sometimes I just feel

like painting and just don't take the time to mount, matte

and frame finished pieces. Part of the problem is being

retired with no real sense of urgency on most days. Years

of stress and deadlines are the main culprit. When painting

begins to feel like a job, I tend to back off completely

for long periods of time. Heck, I like the outdoors, I like yard

work. I have a list of projects that will take me through the

rest of my life I'm sure. We travel a fair amount, we have

8 grandkids, we have a pool with 8 grandkids in it.

Last but not least, I like to relax.

So, to ease the pressure of blogging, (pressure?) I present

the flat file lost art discovery. Let me know what you

think. I'll let you know if I slip in a new painting.

Hope you enjoy.

A Light Up Ahead

The Big Sable Light.

Sits quietly at the end of a 2 mile service road perched

on a rise over looking Lake Michigan.

Very late in the fall of the year, I stopped for a look. The

wind was howling and it was cold. Sun hanging low in the

sky with about 2 hours till sunset. Wasn't sure I could make

it there and back before dark. Not really fond of wandering

around in the dark in a deserted state park in early November.

I hustled up the road, (well lets say I walked at a quick pace)

and hoped the light would hold until I got there. About a mile

out I could begin to see the top of the light. As I trudged along

it grew in size and shape. It's an unusual black and white

color style, at least unusual for Michigan.

I kept thinking I could hear things rustling along the trail but

nothing was ever there. Just the wind. As I rounded the last

hill the sound was deafening from the huge waves as they roared

ashore. It was a strange feeling standing there on a deserted

stretch of beach looking at a lighthouse that was empty.

I did a few quick sketches and took a few photo's and got

the hell out of there. It was dark by the time I got back to

my car. Ironic I guess, standing there in the dark with

no light up ahead.

Wind from the West

Pale Blues

Mission Pt. Flats

In the 90's and early 2,000's the waters of the Great Lakes

were at a very low level.  This area around Mission Point

Peninsula turned into a muddy, rocky flat that went out from

the shore at least a quarter of a mile.  Rocks and other discoveries

were exposed for the curious to explore.  I was most interested

in the distant light reflections.  The foreground didn't come

together until I decided to drag a damp large flat wash brush

down through the entire foreground.  This muted it enough

so as not to attract attention away from the middle ground

reflections, seagulls and trees.  Hope you enjoy.

Oldie but Goodie

Just going back through old pieces and found this 

little piece from long ago.  I've always like pen and ink.

I think I should explore this technique again.  The subjects

are Daisy Mums.  Watercolor and pen & ink.

Small version of Red Rock Crossing

Post card size painting of Red Rock Crossing.  I painted

this several times to send to friends.  It was a great 

exercise which helped with the completion of the final

painting in a larger size.  It was posted earlier on this

blog.  (See post on September 5th. 2008)

Little Creek

In the middle of a cool damp forest, ran this quiet

little creek.  From one place to another but with no

particular destination.

Small plein air painting done very quickly because

of fading light.  Arches 140# cold press watercolor

paper.

Crisp Fall Morning

You could here the geese over head and the whisper 

of there wings as they arrowed across the horizon.

The crisp air and brilliant colors create a feeling

of satisfaction and delight.

This is a small plein air piece from several years

ago that I've never posted.  I know it's not fall but it

felt like the right time to bring it out.

Wild Rooster

Kauai is known as the garden isle.  After a typhoon many years ago it

became rooster island.  The typhoon spread chickens and roosters all

over the island.  Now when you drive around there are roosters everywhere.

You can always get a wake up call on Kauai.

Duck Pond

This is a plein air piece.  I was standing on a tiny bridge

crossing the creek that led into this pond.  Ducks

every where.  In the reeds, in the pads, quackers

all over.  I was drawn by the large tree in the back

ground acting as a dark center piece above the pond.

I've kept this painting in a drawer, I've never 

really cared for it, but it's beginning to grow on

me.  Sometimes things need time to resolve and

become clear.

Thunder on Jerome

 

I was driving just south of Sedona, AZ.  The sun was 

still shining on the Pinion pines next to the road.

Providing a perfect backdrop was a storm crossing

the mountains near the town of Jerome.  This little town

clings to the side of the mountains.  One block of houses

and the road switches back on it's self.  Now your looking

at the roof tops of the houses you just passed.  Jerome

in it's hay day was a booming Copper mining town.  The

remnants of that past are still visible.  The slag from the

mining is toxic and contaminates the ground.  During

those days the governor of AZ built a house there in Jerome.

Now it sits by itself on a contaminated parcel of land.

Today the town is a buzz of interesting little shops.  One 

I found was very unusual.  They sold nothing but 

Kaleidoscopes.  Large ones and small ones.  

I spent hours going through and looking at the 

unusual patterns created by all the 

different ways of making a Kaleidoscope.  

Cool.

Bobbers Glory

There was an old wooden sign nailed to a post on the

dock. It said Bobbers Glory. Underneath it said

Snapping Turtle. As I sat there painting this scene I was

thinking that Bobber probably was a myth. After about

an hour I noticed this huge mass of moss and seaweed

floating up from the bottom. As it got closer I realized that

Bobber was no myth. This was the largest Snapping Turtle

I had ever seen. At least 2 ft. from nose to tail. A turtle this

size could easily take a mans hand off at the wrist if you

got to close. I had an apple core and tossed it in the

water in front of his nose. In a split second he had slashed

the apple into shreds. That was not what he wanted.

He was staring at me. Don't go near the water!

Faces in the rocks.

Let's play a little game.  See how many faces you

can find in the rocks.  Takes some imagination

and thought.  Currently I've found 18.  No, really I did

find 18 ... imagination, remember.  See if you can top

that number.  Thanks for playing.

Frozen in the river.