portrait study

Just a quick study.

8" x 6" oil on baltic birch

Abandoned Bridge over the Skunk River

I took the photo reference while standing on the new bridge. I saw this view while returning from another plein air painting adventure and noticed how that time of day highlights the sun hitting the tops of the bridge and the trees. It goes quickly and maybe I can stand on the bridge long enough to do a watercolor sketch. It would be nice to paint plein air, but the new bridge does not have a pedestrian/bicycle path.  Most of the vehicles move over when passing me photographing the old bridge. The bridge is a favorite backdrop for photographs and I have painted while on it, although it does have a few missing planks. It would be nice if they tried to save it like the ones in Oakland Mills and Bentonsport.

12" x 9" oil on baltic birch.

Fairfield All Member's Show

I was going to enter the previous abstract painting along with the top painting. Then I read the requirements and I interpreted it to mean that the paintings had to connect in some way, so I sanded off the abstract and painted the bottom painting to be the other bank of the Des Moines river.

Abstract fun with paint

Another left over paint piece. 

6" x 6" Acrylic on panel

6" x 6" Show

The Fairfield Arts Association is having their annual members show. The format this year is 6" x 6". You can exhibit 4 and it should be interesting what the artists will come up with. Mine is a single stand alone piece.

6" x 6" acrylic on canvas

One Spotted Me

I had to edit the original photo by taking the background cattle and moving them back and left. A lot of the cattle around here are mixed colors. It makes for interesting colors as shown by the one in front whose color resembles that of a Weimaraner dog. That was the challenge. Also notice the cow's head is in the center of the painting, my choice. Like Bob Ross said, "If I paint something, I don't want to have to explain what it is." In other words I don't know how to explain the composition.

12" x 9" oil on baltic birch panel.

Plein Air at Starker Lake

This was painted plein air then edited from a photo. Painting with friends on a cold day hoping to catch some fall colors and I pick a scene with evergreens.

10" x 8" oil on baltic birch

Watcher in the Woods

The weather is getting colder but the landscape is colorful. Wednesday I had a chance to get out but failed to create a painting; just wiped off the panel, went home and painted this from a photo.

12" x 9" oil on baltic birch.

Pile of Pumpkins

I am still playing with watercolor on gesso. This time using India Ink. The india ink was applied with a watercolor brush pen to give me the ability to vary the lines. I will then spray with clear Acrylic. I need more practice on this especially control of the india ink brush pen.

10" x 8" mixed media watercolor and india ink 

Running Rabbits reverse order

If this looks vaguely familiar, it is a previous reference with the rabbits reversed order. Working with Photoshop I can move the rabbits around. It also relies on a little prior experience painting rabbits since I am not that great at taking photos. Also just for fun colors

12" x 6" oil on baltic birth panel

Arabian

Using left over paint again for a just for fun painting. This was from a photo I took a long time ago. I liked the way the light hit the high points. A local Arabian horse owner let me come and take photos, pre digital, of his horses. He was even kind enough to run them around the pen for action shots. I wonder if he would be open to let me take pictures again.

8" x 6" oil on baltic birch panel