Boat painting in progress...

I started this boat painting on a linen canvas mounted on panel. I also skipped the under painting step and I'm just jumping right in (it's more fun this way). I'm working from the focal point outward and finishing as I go along. Before I laid down any oil paint, I covered the canvas with a liberal wash of Burnt Sienna acrylic paint, let it dry and then did an ink line drawing of the boat and dock using a number 5 Pigma pen (with archival ink).

I hope to lay in the water and dock and finish this soon.

Green Pear #2

I painted this small study of a pear pretty quickly (quick for me anyway). I'm feeling more comfortable with my process but aware that I should always leave room for flexibility. This is "Green Pear #2" it's (6x4") oil on wood panel. It looks a lot different in style and technique from the green pear that I painted last year (See archives for April 09, 2006)

Bow (finish)

Finally finished this last night. It was simply a matter of finding the time and I'm glad I did, I think I learned a few things from this painting. For one, I like to apply the paint to the surface with a pallet knife and then go into it with a brush. By doing so, I discovered an appeal in the variety of brush work and pallet knife strokes. When it came time to paint the snow on the dock, I realized the snow worked better left as is, with the pallet knife strokes. Variety and contrast in shape, color and value are all important to add interest to a painting, it only makes sense that variety in brushwork can also contribute to the beauty of a finished work.

"Bow" is oil on gessoed medium density fiberboard. (11x14")

(Click on image for a larger view)

Ball Player #3 (sketchbook)

He lives! Hi all, I haven't posted in a week, I've been busy being sleep deprived by Max. Actually, I've been putting a few hours in daily on my "Bow" painting and will likely post that progress tomorrow. Today I am posting a drawing I did today from my sketchbook, this is "Ball player #3". I love these nostalgic looking characters, there uniforms and there gestures that scream that turn-of-the-century genre. He looks like he should have one of those classic baseball names like "Spittin Bill" O'Sullivan or "Eddie "The Crab" Cochrane...

Feels good to put pencil to paper too.

Bow

I'm working on a bunch of paintings to drop off to the Art House gallery by the end of the month. This is the underpainting of an 11x14" piece I'm working on in oils. I'm calling it "Bow". I was thinking maybe "Morning Bow" too. Clearly it's the bow of a boat but the mood of this piece is quiet and reverend, it could be a respectful nod or bow to the warmth of the light coming from the rising, early morning sun. Surely, the new day will melt that snow on the dock.

Key

I spent the morning in the studio and did a small oil painting of a key hanging off of a nail. I didn't post the under painting because I went right to finish with this one.

I'm using a new surface, linen canvas mounted on wood panel. I'm not sure I'm in love with them yet. Perhaps it's the awkwardness of switching from wood panels to this surface, I don't know yet, I'm going to do a few more paintings with them and figure it out.

One of the most significant differences is the visible weave of the linen on the finished surface. Compare it to Mondays post of the Mandarin orange which was painted on wood panel. It's a personal preference I guess, I'm just not sure which I prefer.

"Key" (6x4") Oil on linen canvas mounted on wood panel

(Click on image for a larger view)

Mandarin Orange

I placed this Mandarin in a small wooden box and adjusted the light to create some dramatic lights and darks.
"Mandarin Orange" Oil on wood panel (6x4").