Shaken Not Stirred

Shaken Not Stirred  6x6 oil on board

sold

I'm still having fun with colors, reflection and

the distortions created by liquid in colored glass.

I tried something with this painting that I've never done

before. My friend, Abbey Ryan, suggested I try

painting on a palette the same color as I toned my canvas.

That's right quinacridone red!

I usually work on a mid tone palette so I can easily tell

what value the color I mix is, on the light side or the dark side.

Sometimes I work on a white paper palette which is 

super easy clean up, especially outdoors.

But a hot pink palette?

It was crazy confusing for me at first but I really 

started getting into it and want to experiment with this some more. 

I did this by painting paper the same color as I toned the canvas

and placed it on the mixing area of my canvas. 

Then I put a piece of glass on top and proceed as usual,

well almost as usual.

All In

All In  16 x 20  Oil on Canvas

I'm really getting into this gaming series. This one is

quite a bit larger and took me about four painting

sessions to compete. Yet it was a pure

pleasure to paint!

There are alot of details in a painting like this

but my goal was to keep it as loose as possible.

I think the key to keeping the painting as

direct as possible is to be as

accurate as possible with the drawing underneath

before any real painting is done.

Fortunately I really like to draw and find

it very soothing.

for purchasing information click here

Two Pair

Two Pair 8x8 oil on museum board

Most of the work on this painting was done before I ever

dipped a brush into the paint.  It actually took me

a couple of days to get the set up right. 

Then I did about ten preliminary black and white

sketches, trying to simplify each time down to

three values. 

 By the time I got to

the actual painting things went pretty smoothly:)

I painted it in one day, then let it dry a  bit

and added the finishing touches the next day.

That's the way I like to work the best, 

looking at it the following day to get a fresh perspective.

To purchase for $350 click here

Red Drink Down

Red Drink Down 6x6 oil on board

I'm really having a good time with this theme and

the abstract quality in the glasses.  I stayed with my

one inch brush much longer on this

version and it made my 

painting time a little shorter:)))

to purchase for $100 click here

Le Marais

Le Marais 6x6 oil on board

I rented an apartment in the Marais with a friend. It was a wonderful

central location in Paris very close to the Latin Quarter.

We spent lots of time at a cafe close to where

we 'lived'. Maybe it was because the apartment was

a little on the small side, but it seemed like everyone would

just hang out, talk on the phone, or pay bills.

Just give me my sketch pad= bliss!

to purchase for $100 click here

Three Martini Floor

Three Martini Floor 6x6 oil on museum board

 

to purchase for $100 click here

 

This painting was inspired by my friend Patti Mollica.

She made a cool artbyte on Daily Paintworks

call Fast Loose and Bold.

 

She had done some martini paintings that I really admired.

I have some in my studio and this was my

excuse to give painting them a whirl.

This is how it went:

Please click here to see short step by step video.

 

The Daily Paintworks challenge was to try a style of

another painter on the site whose work I admire.

I really want to be faster, looser, and bolder so

it was a no brainer for me to try to

use some of Patti's suggestions from her artbyte.

 

I would have loved to nit pick things more and 'fixed' stuff.

But I resisted!

I started with a one inch brush, but switched down to a half

inch when it started getting muddy.  I set the timer trying to spend only

ten minutes on each glass but spent fifteen instead.

It took 30 minutes to draw and stain the canvas,

45 minutes for the glasses

and another 15 to finish it off.

(That's not counting the photographs!)

So one and a half hours to paint this.

That's my best ever time!

Normally it takes me three hours.

Please let me know what you think, I enjoy the feed back.

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

Book Enthusiast

Book Enthusiast  6x6 oil on board

 

When I saw this collector on the left bank in Paris

I had to snap a reference photo to

bring back to my studio.

I love a good book don't you?

I'm trying to stay as loose as possible and still give you 

enough information to understand the subject.

It's a really fun process inspired by my 

recent flirtation with watercolors.

 

Thanks for viewing and comments are welcomed!

to purchase for $100 click here

 

 

January Collage

Collage

These are some of my favorites that I painted over

the last month, not all, but hey, this is what fit in the format;)

As I said in my last post,

the challenge was a fantastic motivator

and lots of fun(at times);)

The best part was meeting great new friends

and seeing lots of inspirational artwork.

Thank you everyone for your 

encouragement.

See you soon!

Country French Vines

Country French Vines  6x6 oil on board

to purchase click here

The recent challenge to paint 30 paintings in 30 days

by Leslie Saeta

was great!

Sometimes it was fun and sometimes not so much.

I didn't get to 30 but feel like I did as well

as I could considering I was abroad for twelve days.

 

It was like attending Procrastinators Anonymous for big time

wasters like me who can loose focus in a heartbeat.

 

But the best part of participating, besides the motivation to

get my booty in gear, was seeing lots of fabulous art and

making so many wonderful new artists friends. 

Thanks to all for your encouraging comments

and lets stay connected!