"Cloudburst"

"Cloudburst" 11x14 acrylic

I'm always experimenting with different styles of painting. This one took a while to put together, but I'm happy with the results. I wanted to work with mostly larger brushes and blend the paint on the canvas (not always an easy task with acrylics). I learned a lot while working on this piece and it should help me moving forward with my art.

"Passing Through"

"Passing Through" 8x6 acrylic

This small study is another in my series of sky paintings. It also is the 3rd piece I've done using Golden's "Open" acrylics. The longer drying time is taking some getting used to, but has allowed some interesting brushwork. I've also noticed I'm having a bit of trouble photographing the open acrylics. I haven't quite figured out how to get the hues quite right. In other words... the painting looks a hell of a lot better than the image above!

"McCutchen Run"

"McCutchen Run" 22x16 acrylic

"Rock Bottom"

"Rock Bottom" 5x7 acrylic

I love these little trout studies. I think I need to go fishing to get more reference material! :)

"Harbor Sunset"

Quick block-in

I always set goals for myself when it comes to my art. The big goal on the immediate horizon is learning how to paint better skies. Skies can be dark and brooding, subtle and quiet, or explosively brilliant. They offer a chance to add a splash of color to a painting than might otherwise seem obnoxious.


From my days of fishing the Buffalo Harbor area many years ago, this study depicts a November sunset over Lake Erie. It is the first of hopefully many more studies aimed at pushing my art to the next level. 

"Harbor Sunset" 4x6 acrylic

Steady Progress

"Stone Wash" 9x12 study

It's been a while since I last posted. There has been an unusual amount of concentration in the studio on a commissioned painting and I've done little else. The piece is a larger version of a small stream study (right) I did earlier this year and though progress has been slow at times, the painting seems to be coming along quite nicely. The current painting is 22x16 which is a fairly large piece for me.

22x16 block in

I've included images of the block-in stage of the painting as well as the first stage of refinement. At this point, I will probably set the painting aside for a week or two and come back for finishing refinement with fresh eyes.
I hesitate to move onto another project when this one is going so well, but I always paint better if I let it sit for a while.
While the larger painting will be similar to the study, there will be some distinct differences. The pool at the bottom of the painting will hopefully appear much deeper than in the study and some of the foreground rocks will be eliminated.

First refinement

 

History Meets the Arts 2013