1-06-2024 - Alexei Savrasov Sketch

 

 

I've been painting sketches of heads lately. This is from an image on Pinterest. Was scrolling and he looked like fun!

Original oil painting on panel - 7" x 5"

Signed on back

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12-18-2023 - Willy Wonka Sketch

 

Willy Wonka was on and caught me in the right mood. So here's a quick little sketch. I began this last night, and touched up a few things this morning. Hard to fit it all in when you get up the same day you go to sleep! lol

Below is where I left off last night. I only spent a half hour or so to soften a few edges and adjusted some things I didn't like in the drawing... Been a minute since I've painted a head. It was a fun little diversion!

Oil on Panel - 7" x 5"

Signed on Back

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A study of a peach on the table next to my paint box. Tried to bring this one back out of the shadows by working back into the wet paint.

Studio Peach
Oil on Panel - 5" x 7"
 

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5-29-2023 -- Flowers at Window

 

I painted this a few weeks back, finally had the chance to post it this morning. My work gave some "get well" flowers to my Mom when she had a bit of a complication. My boss joked that it would be something to paint. At first I wasn't so sure... but, I felt compelled to paint them a few days after they arrived. This was something a little different from me. Couldn't get into too much detail at this size. so I really just went after the impression.

Thanks for looking!

Oil on Panel - 8" x 6"

Unframed

Signed on Back

 

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02-27-2023 - Bowl of Strawberries

 

Today's meditation... Felt like painting something a bit more formal. Definitely a nice change of pace.

Oil on Cradled Panel - 6" x 6"

Unframed. Signed on back.

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02-26-2023 - Daffodils

 

I know spring isn't too far off when these hit the stores... I wanted to try an arrangement with a few of the small blooms. Have a nice weekend. As always thanks for looking.

Oil on Panel - 8" x 6"

Signed on back. Unframed.

 

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02-19-2023 - Singing Hills

 

Got out for some fresh air today. Managed a little painting at a stop on my drive. This was from Singing Hills, part of Millennium Trail in Lake County. Landscapes are still pretty new to me, but you can't get better at what you don't try... so here goes..

It was a nice little spot. Though I was disrupted by the forest ranger. The empty parking lot didn't do anything to dissuade him from asking me to move, so I spent the last portion of this out in the wind. To my surprise someone with a horse trailer parked where I had been parked as I was getting my items in order. Still think he was being a bit silly. Try as I might, I simply can't see how I was bothering anyone.

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"

Signed on back.  Unframed.

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02-18-2023 - Guest Room Sun

 

This was my second go round at this painting. The light changes so fast, that I chased it and lost a bit of what I was after... I've included the first time round below. There's always a bit of a journey in a painting, this time time around, I was able to keep sight of the destination.

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"

Unframed. Signed on back.

 

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02-16-2023 -- Recycling

 

 

Today's meditation was a found still life.  All sorts of fun shapes going on.  I've been having fun with cords recently.  I started this cord with a mix, but ended up going back into parts with pure cadmium orange.  It was fun trying to suggest some of the textures in the rug and towel.

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
Unframed.  Signed on back.

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02-05-2023 - Chair Study

 

Finally had a few moments to myself.  Decided to do a quick study of a chair.  I loved how the back of the chair threw a warm reflected light under the window.  This was fun.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  Thanks for looking!

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"

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11-26-2022 - Mandarin and Bottles

 

Today's effort... I was cleaning up yesterday, and saw how the leaves had dried on this mandarin. Might not make sense, but we had an assignment in school where I had to draw a "hot" E... This one sort of embodied "fast" to me..I dug it! So it's shown here paired with some new bottles. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

As always, thanks for looking.

Oil on Cradled Panel - 6" x 6"

Available

 

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11-24-2022 - Mandarin with Leaves

 

Snuck out early this morning to find something to paint. Was thinking flowers, but was quite happy to find a few mandarins with leaves. Rare thing seeing produce with leaves in my area! This was a fun little sketch.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday! As always, thanks for looking.

Oil on Panel - 7" x 5"

Available

 

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11-20-2022 -- Mushrooms

 

I've picked up mushrooms, a couple of times lately... Today I actually sat down to work while I watched the World Cup's opening game.  I had fun with these.  Can't say I saw much of the game, though I listened intently.

Looking forward to the game tomorrow!  With my schedule I don't know how many I'll get to take in.  I'm glad it's here and that the U.S. is in it again!  Until next time.. Thanks for looking!

Oil on panel - 5" x 7"

Available

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11-14-22 -- Carnation

 

A carnation caught my eye when I went to pick up stuff for dinner. I have sort of an odd relationship with flowers.. I used to work in a flower shop. Ever since, they've had a special place in my heart. I really struggle to paint them though. They change so fast that multiple sittings become problematic. So I tried to be a little looser and more direct in my handling this time. I felt like it came off pretty well in the end! Hopefully that carries through, and won't feel as intimidated next time around..

Hope you'll enjoy it. As always, thanks for looking!

Oil on cradled panel - 5" x 5"

Available

 

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11-13-22 -- Wires

 

I've been thinking about painting this for a while now. Had a super early start this morning, so I finally had a chance to sit with it. Managed to finish as the sunrise began to pour in through the windows. It was a nice quiet moment.

This arrangement hit me as odd, almost a self portrait really. When I noticed it, I was struck by the fact that I never got around to hiding the wires. For a little back story, the tv was a purchase from Offer Up... At the time, I was so interested in making sure it worked, that I simply never got around to cleaning up! This was right after lock-down, so it's been a minute ha! Anyway, the more I looked, the more I liked the soft sweeping quality of the wires against the hard edged flat-pack furniture. I found it interesting how the big shapes broke up the picture plane I had in my mind. Even the shadows felt important, they repeated the forms and almost acted like a gentle echo. I've probably lost you by now... But I dig it! Hope you will too. Until next time, thanks for looking!

Oil on panel - 8" x 6"

 

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10-16-22 -- Soap

 

 

Feeling this one out a bit. I zoomed in a bit from the first sketch. I decided to let the 3 point perspective I was seeing the first time, but fought off, creep in. Think it actually added to it. Playing with the same four color palette that I used in the last sketch... This time I wanted to focus a little more on grays to see what sort of variety I could mix.

Been using these little magnetic canvas panels from hobby lobby as they work great on one version of my pochade box... There's more texture than I like, but they're not overly absorbent. I'd like to go back into this on another day.

Oil on canvas panel - 6" x 6"

Palette:

Titanium White

Cadmium Yellow Pale

Pyrrol Red

French Ultramarine

Burnt Umber

10-09-2022 - Shoes

 

Tried out a new limited palette for this one. The palette was:

Ultramarine Blue

Cadmium Yellow Pale

Pyrrol Red

Burnt Umber  

Titanium White

I'm not exactly sure where I ran across this combination, but it made for some interesting darks. 

 

6" x 6" - Oil on Canvas Panel

 

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I've painted at Buffalo Creek a number of times. Today it was an uphill view. Managed to make it in right before the rain. That came on fast!

Oil on Panel - 5" x 9"

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Studio Door

 

The studio door from an early morning. As I waited for the sun to come up, I was struck by the textural feel of the marks left over time. I haven't painted the walls in here in many years. There's rarely a time that something isn't set up waiting for my attention.

8-22-22 -- Business Park Off Lake Cook

 

Today's effort.  From a business park near the house.  Chased this one for a bit.

Gouache on Paper - 7" x 5 1/2"

Available

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8-21-22 -- Interior with Blue Bottle

 Finally got back into this one.  After the restraint in yesterday's sketch, it was nice to be able to push the color a bit.

Oil on Canvas Panel - 6" x 6"

Available

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8-20-2022 -- Shower Head

 Oil on Panel - 8" x 6"

$100.00 - Available

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8-14-22 - Stock - Mathiola incana

 

Saw this at the store the other day and it just called to me.  It's common name is Stock also known as Mathiola incana.  Seems to be a secondary player in floral arrangements, but it was fun to disappear into for a little while.

Stock - Matthiola incana
Oil on Panel - 7" x 5"
$100.00
 
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08-07-22 -- Study of my Buddy

Been a minute since I've posted. I've been lost in my sketchbooks. Had an entire day off, felt great to unwind with a quick study of my Buddy.

Oil on Cradled Panel - 5" x 5"
$100.00 -- Available Here

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6-27-22 - Doorways Sketch

 

Still play with my interiors pretty often... Rarely with people in them these days. It's really become more about abstract shapes and objects. Feeling out an idea here.. Color would have really helped me separate the planes. Sometimes I don't notice these things till I get in and get dirty. I think it'll be fun to investigate some of the edges a bit more closely on another day.

It was a beautiful day here! Nice and cool with a breeze. Had a nice breakfast with friends and family and fell into this shortly after. Have a wonderful fourth if I don't touch base before then.

Zorn Self Portrait - 6-19-22

 

 

 

Felt the need to sketch. A quick self portrait in the Zorn Palette (Cad Red, Yellow Ochre, Black and White)

8" x 6" - Oil on Panel

$100.00

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05-09-22 - Ray Lake Pine

  

Mondays are kind of my day off these days. Had some time to kill before hitting the dentist. Decided to swing by and check out this pine I liked from last year. It didn't disappoint. Took my time planning it out and it was still pretty tricky. Anyways, I had just enough time to swing by the house and brush my teeth before it was off to my appointment. Looks like I'll be on soft food for a couple of days... But at least we can see the dentist again!

Gouache on paper - 6.25" x 9.5"

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5-08-22 - Off Peterson Rd. - Near Mundelein, IL

 

Happy Mother's Day! Hope you had a great one be it Mother or Child!

This was my first time out all year. Surprisingly apart from being super windy, everything went smoothly. It was a pretty overcast day, but this little tuft of grass across from a trucking company caught my eye. I was a few feet off the road on a hill painting this. Got called away to deliver lunch to the floral department (my Mom's gift for having to work on her special day). I tinkered with it a little back at the house. All in all a fun way to start the day and way better than yet another day in front of the tube! So hopefully the first of many now that the weather is improving. As always, thanks for looking and bearing with my on my extended absence...

Gouache on paper approximately 10" x 6.25"

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