Sunset on the Ohio

Here is a painting I painted a few weeks ago.  It was a challenge because I found it difficult to get the correct values with it being just at sunset. I hope that I did justice to this beautiful scene.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Pansies

Here is a 12 x 16 that just came together so easily.

I love these happy little clown flowers. I hope that you enjoy my interpretation of a bowl full of pansies.

I appreciate your thoughts !!

By the shore

I am back.  I am sorry that I haven't posted in a while.  We had a bout of swine flu that set me back and getting the kids back in school always creates time warps and you just don't get everything done.  I never stop painting.  Sometimes I can't get into the zone and don't paint very well but painting is like breathing to me.  I have to be doing something creative at all times. With that said, I will share some of what I have been doing that I didn't get around to posting.  This first painting is painted under the influence of John Singer Sargent.  I say this because I found a print of his beautifully framed at an antique shop.  This print inspired my composition. I will post both the master's painting and mine so that you can see what I saw and was inspired to attempt.

Tea Time

This painting came about slowly and is really nice in person.  The figure has an almost old fashion touch to the way I painted it. I think I must have had a muse from the past looking over my shoulder when I worked on it because it is how I wanted it but painted with me having no idea where the influence was coming from.  Does this make sense to anyone else?  It is my model obviously but somehow the overall feeling that I see tells a wistful tale. A longing perhaps.  Something in the tea leaves no doubt.

Hope you see something in it. Let me know if you do !

Antiques Roadshow

Hello 

I am back after working on a couple of commissions and this larger painting.  I really am quite satisfied with the overall way it turned out.  I used a very rough linen canvas and I like the texture that it encouraged me to seek. Sometimes when you make a mistake and order loosely woven linen because you are unfamiliar with the company... it can be a good thing !

Hope you like it.  

I look forward to your thoughts!

mother and child

This is another larger painting that I have been working on. I was really happy with the way it just almost painted itself.  Working with babies is virtually impossible to do from life. This was a photo that I took a couple of years ago.  I spent many years painting portraits at an amusement park and festivals around town.  This involved all ages sitting for thirty minutes or more. Many times I was painting a baby in the mother's lap while the proud father tried to coax a smile.  I never quite understood why anyone would want their baby's portrait painted because the child changes so quickly as they grow month to month. 

With this painting, I think the interaction between the mother and child is what it's all about.  The relationship is forever rewarding.

Daydream believer

Really rainy outside.  I decided to work on a quick study of my daughter.  She has patiently sat for me for several portraits this summer.  I think there is a lot to say for practice and certainly important to actually paint from life.  This was an opportunity for me to work from what I have practiced and know in my memory.  I am pleased at the final painting.  I could have gone much further on it but it is really just a study and something that I wanted to keep so I will quit at this stage of the work.  Studio work is greatly improved with life study and plein aire.

Happy painting.  I would love your comments !