Tobacco Storage

Tobacco Storage 

Oil on gessobord, 8x10"

Here is the third of three paintings done last week at Camp Nelson, in Kentucky. The wheat field I was overlooking was full of incredible color that changed with the light. The barn at the top of the hill is what drew my attention. It was a weathered grey, but in the light of the day, and against the brilliant wheat field color it was almost periwinkle. The sky was a similar color so the two blended together effortlessly.

Concealed

“Concealed”

Oil on panel

14x11”

This was a do-over of a painting I started last week while the weather was warm, and I was painting outside. I took it down to my studio this morning and redid just about everything other than the composition. A recent trip to Maker’s Mark distillery provided me with the photo reference, Wolf Kahn provided the color palette inspiration, Gamblin supplied me with paint and the rest is history.

Dissolve

“Dissolve”

Oil on panel, 14x11”

It’s been a while since I worked on a series of any kind. I’m not sure if this second painting, with photo references from Makers Mark in Loretto, KY will evolve into one, but it seems to be leading me in that direction.

Maker's Barn

Makers Barn, oil on panel, 11x14”

Some days are diamonds. Some days are shinier diamonds. Sometimes I have to start over after a wiper in order to create a painting to my liking. This is one of them.

Season's Overgrowth

Season's Overgrowth, oil on panel, 10x8"

Not anything to blog about with this painting, other than it is a great way to start my morning off with.

Spencer County Farm Lane

"Spencer County Farm Lane"

Oil on canvas, 14x18"

I went out sight seeking a couple of days ago, to seek both inspiration and composition. I didn't end up with a whole lot of material, but I had enough to work with to be able to combine photographs together, to make several potential paintings. This is the first.

Behind the Grasses

"Behind the Grasses", oil on hardboard, 9x12"

A white barn, highly lit by the sun, hidden behind a sea of wheat and other grasses appeared abandoned when I shot this photo last month.  I think barns tend to exude that feeling.  Contrasted with the organic elements, I found this to be an interesting subject matter.  

Cordoned

Cordoned, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 4x6"

day 22, 30 paintings/30 day challenge

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I went from the largest work on paper that I've done so far, yesterday, to the smallest for today. Actually, the small size came from my inability to read a ruler and making the wrong cut. Oh well, it made for a nice quick study of a much larger scene.  I will use it later on a bigger, more complete painting. 

Red

Red, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 6"x8"

Day 20, 30 paintings/30 days

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I started this painting late last night to post for today, and I'm not really a late night person (anymore). The redeeming factor was I that I am very pleased with it.  I took the reference photo while taking my son back to college, and in that fleeting second, captured a scene I was thrilled with. So much so, I may do a version 2.

Overlap

Overlap, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 6x8"

day 15  30 paintings/30 days

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I worked and reworked this little painting, and I am just not satisfied with it. I did not want to scrap it because I love the composition contained in the reference photo, but somehow could not interpret it quite how I envisioned. But, I decided to post it as-is, to show that I painted for day 15, even though the end result was not up to par.

Unoccupied

Unoccupied, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 6x9"

Day 10, 30 paintings/30 days

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I am 1/3 of the way done with the challenge and I must say, compared to the challenge I did at this time last year, I am truly enjoying it!!  Last year, I had the best intentions but shortly after the it started, I realized I was not enjoying myself.  I do think what I produced was quality work, but I was too concerned about getting a painting done for posting purposes rather then enjoying the challenge of improving my painting or stretching myself artistically.

This year, I have so much more going on in my busy schedule, but I am finding the time for thought and effort  with each painting I am doing.

Solo Silo

Solo Silo, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 9x6"

I changed this composition quite a bit from the photo reference I used, and I like the way it turned out.  I have had this photo tagged to paint for over a year now, coming back to it until it finally shouted at me long and hard. It portrays late fall, early winter ....perfect for a cold January new year.

Remote

Remote, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 9x6"

Day 4, 30 paintings/30 days

One of my goals when I signed up for another 30 paintings challenge was to paint in a looser or "free-er" style.  Painting on paper has been interesting as well, and I am enjoying it. It is forcing me to use different styles of brushwork. It's all good!  With Remote, I feel as if this is all beginning to come together.  I painted a different version of this image a while back, and the two look nothing alike.  I am also pleased with the color scheme. Kind of mood provoking or "Rothko-esque" if I do say so myself.

St. Louis bound

St. Louis Bound, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 6x9"

Day 2, 30 paintings/30 days.

The highway from Louisville to St. Louis, other than a few spots, can give you tunnel vision. Unless you are constantly looking at every scene and envisioning a painting as I always am. I drive this route fairly frequently now, as my son attends Washington University in St. Louis.  What a better way to pass the time then to look for subject matter.  

Summer Barn Alone

Summer Barn Alone, oil on gessobord, 8x10"

This is the latest addition to the barn series. The longer I continue it, the more fun I have. My aim is to eventually have the geometry of the barn itself as the focal point, and let the landscape be a complement. Right now I think I have that backwards.

Summer Companions

Summer Companians, oil on hardboard, 8x10"

I've been working my way through a barn series, and this one was very satisfying to paint. I struggled at first because I had purchased a different brand of hardboards, and they were a lot "slipperier" then the Ampersand variety I'm acclimated to.  I decided to slow down, and actually work on it in shifts.  I normally start with a ground layer, but this didn't work either due to how slippery the surface was.  I decided to build up the paint instead, letting it set, rather than dry, and to use less medium. It seemed to work, and I was even able to get a bit animated with it. I love the specks of bright red that ended up standing out among the green.

Face Value

Face Value, oil on gessobord, 6"x6"

I took liberties with this barn, by changing the color of certain parts of the landscape, that I thought were mundane.  This barn stands near French Lick, Indiana (yes, that's the real name). It is historic and in beautiful condition, so it immediately caught my eye. The grain silos were constructed of tera cotta bricks and were incredibly beautiful, reminding me of the millions of Roman bricks all over Italy. For this reason here is a close up of the grain silos, in all their artful glory.

Purchase info: www.dailypaintworks.com

Field Day

Field Day, oil on gessobord, 6x6"

I still have a small grudge against a college painting professor who exclaimed to the class on the first day "No Barns"!!  I get it now, but at the time I remember thinking "but Wolf Kahn paints them beautifully!"  When they sit near the highway like the ones I photograph, they are seen by thousands a day but come with a story very few know. In other words, they are enshrouded in obvious mystery.  I think I would like to keep it that way....it keeps me drawn to them.

purchase info:http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/celia-kelly/field-day/397292

Lost Horizon

Lost Horizon, oil on gessobord, 6x6"
SOLD

After lining up the last four paintings I have done, I realized  they are all of vast fields I've photographed while flying through in a car, on a highway trip.  As I looked at them together, they all seem.... moody; a testament that one's state of mind does reveal itself into the creative process.  I've been working on two larger paintings incrementally but have been unhappy with the progress.  When I take a break and grab a smaller surface, these smaller paintings seem to work. Not sure why I'm having this block but it's not fun!! :-)

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Parallel Universe

Parallel Universe, Oil on gessoed panel, 7 3/4 x 12 1/4"

SOLD

This is fresh off the easel, so I apologize for the bit of glare on the left side of the photo.  It is a little different, in the fact that I cut my own boards this time, to try something new.  I need a new saw blade. Because of this, the upper left edge is a little "jagged" but it kind of adds to its character. It's an odd size too. I may try to cut more panel in the future because I like the feel of it over canvas.  I really love the painting itself...this was painted from a photo I took while traveling to St. Louis recently. Along the way there were streaming fields of goldenrod, which I love to look at...from a distance... in a car....where I won't sneeze.