Private Universe

Private Universe, oil on gessoed board, 16x20"

I worked on this painting for a few days from several images I had taken from a short Lake vacation near the end of the summer.  The reflections on the evening water were intense, and I had problems with scaling down the intensity for one painting.  As I am a few days removed now from finishing it, I like the way it is equal part calm, equal part alive.

Open Air

Open Air, oil on gessobord, 10"x10"

The photo reference for this painting came from Morguefile.com. I edited the size of the photo a bit, but overall I got the importance of the moment. I loved how vast the beach seemed, and the fact that you could be all bundled up, yet warm in the sun. 

Sun Cruise

Sun Cruise, oil on gessobord, 6"x6"  

Philosophical Questions

Philosophical Questions, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

Today is my birthday and this little painting, which I recently discovered had never been posted, looks like something I would like to be doing today... having a discussion of philosophical stuff, on a blanket with friends and turning 25 again!! Instead, I get a birthday concert played by the Louisville Youth Orchestra, with my youngest daughter on stage. 

Here is the original post that I wrote back in September when I painted this:

Three people sitting on a blanket, engaged in the art of conversation.  This was a fun, quick painting that turned out gestural and sketchy. These small paintings are difficult to  create the detail of a scene, AND abstract it to the extent that it conveys what you, the artist, sees.  I like being both detailed, and abstract and often the hard part is deciding which would be best for your own portrayal. Either way, I need to keep painting :-)

California Girl

California Girl, oil on gessobord, 6x8 inches

I painted this from a photo taken at the end of the summer of my daughter skateboarding at Santa Monica beach. 

I thought it was the perfect segue from the palm trees posted yesterday, and for the end of the 30 day challenge that I have been participating in. Overall, I was able to post 29 paintings. I had difficulties towards the end with photographing my work due to insufficient lighting. But you can't win 'em all. 

Here's to skating off into the sunset on a beautiful California evening, sent from the currently freezing  mid-south :-) 

Contemplation

Contemplation, oil on gessobord, 6x8 inches

I painted this of my youngest daughter, Barrett, from a photo taken while she and I were waiting for the kayaks to return, so we could have our turn.  Even though she was only 11 at the time of the photo, and the wind was incredibly strong, she held her own out there on the water. A girl after my own heart!

Serene

Serene, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

I have always wanted to do this stand-up paddle boarding.

That will have to wait for now. But I can paint an old friend heading through the salt marshes of the Atlantic coast and sigh. I can only imagine the wildlife there is to be discovered in those grasses. I put this high on my list of things to do in 2015 :-)

Many Paths

"Converging" oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

I love how the multi-colored horizontals turned out with this painting. Despite it's busy-ness it still evokes a sense of calm. 

Van Gogh and Friends

Van Gogh and Friends, oil on gessobord, 6x8 inches

My dear friend Lori is so enthusiastic about my painting, and she is also the owner of one of my works. She loves to travel to see her adult children. They recently took a trip to the Nation's Capitol and visited one of my favorite museums, the National Gallery. She took some great pictures of her family and I loved this one so much I asked for her permission to paint it. It has two of her three children in it, and of course Vincent. He seems to be looking at them as much as they are looking at him.

Site Seer

Site Seer, oil on Ampersand gessobord, 5x7 inches

I was lamenting to my son the other day that I feel like my momentum has been declining. I'm not sure if it's lack of energy because of putting more hours in at work (probably)  or the lack of daylight (definitely).  Anyway, I definitely have been feeling like a (concrete) block has descended upon me. My son gave me some simple but helpful advice...change up on what you are painting...grab some fruit, paint a random still  life, etc.  I did shift focus and paint a scene of something that is near and dear to my heart, spending time in a museum, taking it all in, slowing down, calming your brain.  I believe this is the first interior I have posted.
Luckily for my mental state, I will be traveling to Chicago at the end of the month to visit the School of the Art Institute with my two teen artists, and I will schedule time to see my favorite Chagall and Van Gogh's bedroom.  Food for the soul.

Sea of Green

Sea of Green, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

My son sent me a few pictures for painting ideas from his recent trip to the Santa Monica area. This photo was part of a bigger, beautiful landscape that included palm trees, water, blue sky ....you get the California picture :-).  Down in the corner, sat this sweet couple in a sea of green. So I cropped it down to focus on just them and their moment in time. While I was painting, I was continually trying to figure out who they were, where they met, etc.  So, to the couple... whoever you are, and wherever you are, thanks for helping me through a very enjoyable painting experience!

What sounds Good?

What sounds good? oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

I was walking around downtown taking random photos and snapped this one from across the street. It wasn't until I returned home and looked at the scene on my computer that I realized it was beautifully monochromatic with random  areas of color.  This became fun to paint after mixing up a greyscale.  It was challenging only in limiting color usage.  And yes, that tree honestly looked like a kindergartener's stick tree with dot leaves.  I almost changed it, but it was so minimalistic that it fit in perfectly with this stark yet calm scene.

Break Time

Break Time, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

The band was on break and the beer was cold.  This couple (and their cell phone)  was pleasantly calm in front of the setting sun.  That time of the evening made for beautiful filtered shadows.  The purples seem to work for recreating this calm light and atmosphere.

Under the Bridge

Under the Bridge, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

Under the silhouette of the Big Four Bridge, a (now) walking bridge that crosses the Ohio in Louisville, blanket-seated concert goers line the lawn and riverfront.  Both of these girls were gingers, which caught my eye, and their hair was fun to paint.

Just waiting' on a friend

Just waitin' on a friend, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

I've worked up another small series of people.  The photos were taken at a monthly concert event held by the local public radio station, at a waterfront park in Louisville, called Waterfront Wednesday. It's a festive event, full of great bands, food and beer, and the best thing is, it's free.  This guy was trying to locate the rest of his party with his cell phone, oblivious that a beautiful sunset was occurring right in front of him, on the banks of the Ohio river.  Meanwhile, I was staring at the beautiful sunset and almost missed a photo op! 

Three Amigos

Three Amigos, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

Since I have fallen behind unfortunately with painting, I was looking at my work that I have yet to post.  This one was overlooked at that time of the other "swim" paintings, so I post it now, on another hot, humid Louisville day, reminiscing of just last weekend.  These girls had their own little real estate at the pool, playing a game, and best of all, being kids! 

Listening to the Band

Listening to the Band, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

This is another scene from my sunny farmer's market. Sunny as in HAPPY!  People are just happy when they go to farmer's markets, and why shouldn't they be....fruit and vegetables fresh as a daisy with no stickers identifying which foreign country they traveled a million miles from for consumption.  Fresh baked bread, coffee, herbs to plant, local meats from grass fed animals etc. 

These folks were listening to the band, which I also painted (see yesterday's post).  They were so heavily into watching and listening, I snapped their pictures.  Lost in what is in front of you... my favorite place to be.

Bluegrass

Bluegrass, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

These three musketeers were playing at my local Farmer's Market recently and had a big crowd enjoying them.  As I walked by on my way to my favorite grower's booth I snapped this photo. A split second later I saw a beautiful dog,  harness on, laying in a shadow near his owner...the fiddler.   With or without sight, he, and they, were phenomenal!

Thinking by the Lake

Thinking by the Lake, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

This was a nice, calm scene I captured last Fall near the Lake at my favorite spot, Bernheim Forest.  There was a patch near the lake, with no trees or anything in the way, except these two serene folks.  I wish I had a day with nothing on the slate to sit, read, and think. Cheers to them!

Beach Combing

Beach Combing, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

Another painting lamenting the end of summer.  This photo was taken 2 years ago while we vacationed at Marco Island, FL.  There are shells a-plenty that far south and we took advantage of that and beach combed daily.  I still look at my shells, think about all their years tumbling in the sea, and then finally washing up on the very day and the very place we were looking.  Serendipitous!