Morning Delight oil on canvas 6x6 $50

 
    Another palette knife work-and the companion to the piece posted yesterday. I like a cerulean blue background-contrast to the orange in the cup.

Afternoon Delight oil on canvas 6x6 $50

 
   This was all done with palette knife and is part of a series with the next posting-morning delight. The colors are warm, as in the afternoon, with cooler shadows as well.

Francis Bay II (final) St Johns USVI 11x14 oil on board $200

You may note that the addition of the sailboats in this final photo compared to the previous posting. I find that my technique in completing a painting varies depending on whether I am doing palette knife versus a brush. Notice the differences in steps here compared to Don't Leave Me. With the palette knife I complete a section and move on. With the brush I work in layers. This is the finished painting-this is similar to the previous Francis Bay-some differences are apparent, the greatest is the larger size. At some time I may do this in an even larger version.

Francis Bay II step 6 11 x 14

  Almost done-some greenery as added to the cliff-the wind is blowing, not heavy. The shadows work with a mottling of the shadow with some areas partially shadowed and other not. There is light upon some of the leaves, while others are in shadow. Only thing left are the finishing touches. Posting tomorrow

Francis Bay II step 5

 In this step the painting is taking shape-the cast shadow on the sand adds depth as well as interest. The colors in the shadow add interest. The water has been further refined especially around the rocks. Additionally the limbs had been added in the cliff, some of which are cast in the light, while others in shadow. The painting is reaching its near finish-only several steps to go

francis bay II step 4 11 x14

       In this step the cliff in the mid ground is taking shape. The color is darker, counterbalancing the lighter colors in the rest of the painting. There is a texture that is readily apparent-an advantage to the palette knife. The shadows on the sand have not been cast yet-the focus here is on the cliff-ensuring enough color, texture and proper form.

Francis Bay II step 3 11 x14 oil on board

 I have actually consolidated 2 steps here. Typically I would do the sky next, but for this painting I did the green mountains first. I needed to create a shadow effect as well as give a sense of increasing distance. For that I added increasing amounts of cerulean blue and white to both blue and gray the distant mountains. Then I added the sky-as there is often overlap where sky and mountain meet I wanted to have some of the green blend into the sky and not as much blue into the mountain. As I had a bit of green blue mixed I began to put some into the water as well, adding in some waves and sense of depth into the water

Francis Bay II-step 2

  Over the next 6 days or so I will be posting the process of the painting Francis Bay II-This is a larger version of a previous painting. The first step I left out as this was merely 4 lines-the outline of the beach, the cliff, the water line to the distant mountains and the mountains. My next step for this painting was to lay in a very thin wash of the colors-to get a sense of how the colors will sort out. Notice at this step everything is very flat-there is no depth to the distant mountains, the caribbean could be anything, the sand looks very too yellow and the cliffs very brown. But the final relationships are here. If I were unhappy with this I could easily scape and paint over, or even wipe it out as the paint is not too thick.

Sweet Home Chicago 16 x20 Oil on canvas $450 (framed)

  This larger palette knife painting of the Chicago skyline lends emphasis to the lake, the green parkland and finally the sweeping skyline that is Chicago.

Francis Bay St Johns USVI 8x 10 oil on board $175

    This scene is from the end of Francis Bay looking in the direction of Cinnamon Bay. The value painting was done in the Virgin Islands and completed upon arrival home. Although the underpainting with magenta acrylic was done with the brush the rest of the painting was completed with palette knife. For those of you who haven't been fortunate enough to get to the USVI they are absolutely beautiful and St Johns is predominately National Parkland. There will additional postings of painting from this trip as they are finished. Stay tuned as they say.

Don't Leave Me! (finished) Oil on Canvas 11x14 NFS

  This is the finished painting for the underpainting from yesterday. You probably have noticed that the colors are a bit brighter. The rug is more defined, the shadows a bit softer, and some of the colors on our little guy worried that he might be left are little more muted. You will also note that his hand-poorly defined  earlier is gripping on to mom's coat for dear life, so worried he will be left behind. (Although it is only at grandma's and grandpa's).

Don't Leave Me! (underpainting) oil on canvas 11x14

  This painting is the third step in the painting (at least for me). It begins with a very loose painted sketch-appropriate scale and the 'setting' of the major elements of the composition. Obviously the central figure is our little man imploring his mother not to leave him. The second step is the value composition-where lights and darks are established. Previously I have shown the value painting. This third step I have not posted before. Here the major colors are established while maintaining the values (light and darks). The paint here is applied very thin-it dries quickly, but more importantly, it allows me to change the colors and makes adjustments without getting a muddy color. Also the light underpainting means with the final application of paint I have the luxury of applying thick or thin. You will find in my next posting that changes were made.

Abandoned Dreams 8x10 oil on board $200 (framed)

 These abandoned mine buildings are from Colorado just west of Idaho Springs along I-70. In fact if one drives the 2 lane road that parallels I-70 from Idaho Springs to Georgetown one can see these buildings just across from the Staley Mine Buildings. It is certainly evocative of the Colorado past. This was done predominately with a palette knife and appears lighter here than in the painting itself.

Water Tower at Night 9 x 15 Oil on Canvas $175 (unframed)

  The water tower is one of my favorite subjects in Chicago to paint. It offers both the challenge and the opportunity to paint it from different perspectives, seasons and emphasis. Here the lighting and the shift from light to dark draws attention to the column of the water tower. The light and dark contrast, especially on the tower adds a depth and draws the eye. The reflections on the ground tell the viewer it is after a rain, but the season remains unknown.

Early Summer in Brittany 16 x20 oil on canvas SOLD

 This light colorful painting done with both palette knife and brush evokes an early summer scene in Brittany. The clouds are moving swiftly by while the sun is extending the shadows of the trees. The greens are more yellow and light as seen in late spring and early summer, the lavender is in bloom. The eye is drawn by the road and the rows of both plantings and trees to the mid ground of the painting.  The farmhouse on the right with its whites, orange and purple keeps us there.

End of the Day Oil on Board 8 x 10 $225 (framed)

  This scene from the island of St Thomas captures local fisherman cleaning their catch at the end of the day. The companion piece for this was the subject of a previous blog in November of last year. The boat, although old, is sufficient for its task-getting our hardy fisherman out and back. This is a scene I captured last February and painted upon my return. Hope to get some additional paintings from this trip.

Basket of Sweets Oil on canvas 16 x20 $500 (framed)

This still life done with both brush and palette knife was done without either the basket or the fruit. It began as an experiment in creating the basket and then spread from there. I knew I wanted a triangle of interest to be the basket, the window and the book. The basket is off center drawing attention away from the large strawberry in the middle. This painting was fun to do and whenever I see it (which currently is everyday as it is hanging in the hallway at work) it makes me want to do another basket piece perhaps adding some additional elements to the painting.

The Creek-Late Autumn Oil on Board 8 x10 $175 (framed)

This painting, later in the autumn season, with cool colors and greater sunshine through the trees evokes the  last of the good autumn weather before winter takes its turn. There is still some color remaining on the trees and bushes, but far less than several weeks earlier. Water levels are a little higher but shadows remain. This series will be part of a show at the McCord Gallery in Palos Park next month. A series I have done of Chicago scenes -featuring the clock at the old Marshall Fields will also be there. Also included will be a series of paintings by a number of other local artists. The show will be interesting-for more information feel free to contact me at the email address I have included on the website site here.

The Creek-Fall 8 x10 oil on board $175 (framed)

This is the second in the series-again photo not great-when there is better light I will retake and repost. Palette knife again. The colors, consistent with cooler fall weather, are a bit cooler as well. A bit more color and light in the painting. Hopefully you can feel the difference.