Buffalo Creek Study

 

 

 

 

A quick study of a bush and some wildflowers from Buffalo Creek forest preserve. They've had the park shut down since the middle of last year. There's still only a couple of paths open. But I was lucky enough to stumble upon this bush. Thought it would make for a nice composition with the wild flowers.

I'll go back and explore the ponds and bridges later this year. When I have more energy. But, it was fun seeing what may be in-store for this park. It's just a quick drive away and always full of fisherman, walkers and bikers...

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"

Signed on back

Unframed

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84 - Willow off Route 60

I went into work early today so I could try to get a painting in. Another quick sketch of the Weeping Willow by the Rustoleum building off route 60. This was fun! Completely different than it was in the fall... See here.

And this time I had some company. This big fella was no more than 10 feet away for the whole time. I watched him catch a little sunfish! Maybe some inspiration for a rainy day...

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Oil on Panel - 6" x 9"

$100.00 Shipped (U.S.)

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80 - Pink Carnation

A recent commissioned piece.  This was definitely a change of pace.

Oil on Panel - 6" x 6"
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78 - Yellow Spray Rose and Purple Vase

Finally found some nice yellow spray roses!  I've been wanting to paint this vase for a while now!  There was a story attached to the string when I first purchased it... Seems to have disappeared on me...

Oil on Panel - 6" x 4"

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77 - Fay Lake Rocks

"Fay Lake Rocks"

Gouache on Paper

6.5" x 9.75

76 - Bulbs 2

Another quick value study.  Want to get these down before the bulbs burn out!  

Ma surprised me by taking a day off to go see the Bouguereau exhibit in Milwaukee!  (Bouguereau and America)  How exciting!  I may finally get to see on of my favorite paintings of his!?!  Don't want to jinx it... as I passed it twice on an east coast tour a number of years ago... Closed both times!

Oil on Panel - 6" x 4"
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75 - Spray Rose and Bottle

Woke up super early this morning.  Decided to do a little study to start the day. The yellow spray roses didn't survive the cold night... But, I thought this one was particularly nice!

Oil on Panel - 4" x 6"
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74 - Bulbs 1

Another quick late night value study.  We picked up some "Reveal" globes to replace burnt out bulbs... These things are bright!  They throw some pretty bizarre shapes too!

Oil on Panel - 4" x 6"
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73 - Laundry Study

Doing some late night laundry for a trip next week.  Thought the lighting was pretty neat!

Oil on Panel - 4" x 6"
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71 - Plum and Bottle

Decided to skip the fancy dinner to just relax... This is the result.  A plum and a little bottle.  Another Goodwill find.  I wasn't sure how I was going to do the brush strokes on the bottle.  But it all came together fairly easily.

A quick shot of the piece in progress.  I meant to take one earlier in the session, but, I got wrapped up.  Hope everyone enjoyed the Holiday!

Oil on Panel - 5" x 7"

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70 - Brushes...

Pulled this one out today just as a reminder.  I painted this as an exercise in "selective focus."  Being a "realistic" painter, I'm always wrestling with the line of what to keep and what to leave out...  Sometimes it gets really complicated.  Especially when working from photos!  There's a whole lot going on here, and I wanted it all to be recognizable with out over doing it.  Truth be told, it was pretty tricky for me.  But, I think it worked out pretty well.  Until next time...  Happy Holidays!

4" x 6" - Oil on Panel
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68 - Off Wilson Road

 

A study of the edge of a farm off Wilson Rd... This is on the way to a friend's house.  They've added so much new construction along the way.  Tons of new subdivisions.  I used to drive out there just to clear my head or get to the water when we still had a boat...  They've set aside a bunch of land for forest preserves and even a massive dog park.  So it's not all gone yet!  It seems like they are trying to save enough of the land to keep it peaceful... 

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"

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67 - Orange and Blue Vase

Found this looking for another group of paintings.  I really liked it!  So I thought I'd share it with you.  The title pretty much says it all.  One of my favorite blue vases, though I haven't used it in quite a while.  This piece is on stretched canvas (3/4" inch depth)... I usually only use panels for my "Auction." paintings.  An added bonus for you!

Oil on Canvas - 8" x 8"
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66 - Off Route 60

A quick sketch off Route 60.  I've been waiting for the Weeping Willows to start to change for a while now.  Most of the trees in the area are almost bare with the wind we've had this past week or so.  Better find some more time to get out and capture the colors!

Oil on Panel - 7.5" x 4.25
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65 - Cup and Pillcase

This was a fun one!  I love getting into the real grit on subjects.  My studio desk once belonged to my Mother as a child and has all the wear and tear or charcter from a lifetime of use.  It's still a little too small, but oddly enough I can't seem to part with it.

Gouache on Cold Pressed watercolor paper - Approximately 6" x 8.5"
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64 - Jug and Egg

Another Goodwill find.  I've never seen a jug like this as a pitcher before.  Most of the jugs I've seen like this were used for music.  Either way it was a great way to play with different "whites."  And shine on the different surfaces.  The egg got a little over exposed by my camera, but hopefully you'll get the idea.

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
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63 - Commuters 2

I painted this a little while ago.  But, Fall is upon us again... Seemed the right time to post it.  When the mood strikes, it's nice to be able to count on finding people waiting for the train.  I've found some great subjects here.  The power station was fun too.  It has such cool lighting at night... May be a while before I get out to see it again.

Oil on panel - 6" x 8"
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62 - Tea With Lemon

Found a few new objects at Goodwill the other day.  I didn't know that one existed... Thought I was out of luck when my Savers closed.  I'll definitely have to go back when I have more time!

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
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59 - Orphans of the Storm Fundraiser #3 - Roxy and Piper

This is the thrid in the series of paintings will have 100% (Less shipping) of the final bid donated to "Orphans of the Storm."  It is our local shelter and where my last 4 dogs have come from.  So they've been a top notch shelter for most of my life.  All the dogs have come home with some basic training, so you know they spend a lot of time with them.  Facebook asked me to start a Birthday fundraiser, and I said "why not."  This was the first and only place I considered donating to.  As of today we have raised over $292 for the shelter (painting sales have yet to be added)... pretty good considering my goal was $200!

Anyway, pictured here are Roxy and Piper. They are part of the Cameron family, Stephanie was kind enough to donate this image to the cause.  Susan, gave me permission to paint her little Piper. These two came to the family in very different ways.  Roxy the Pit Bull mix was adopted from a neighbor as a puppy.  I'm not entirely sure of how Piper came to them.

I'll be posting a few more paintings for the fundraiser over the next couple of days.  They will all start a ridiculously low prices, so please donate what you can.  It's for a good cause.

More information about the fundraiser and the Organization can be found on Facebook (Search Ed Watson, or Drying Days) or directly from the link listed below.  Should you just wish to donate directly, please do so here: Donate


Orphans of the storm

Ed's Fundraiser for Orphans of the Storm (Facebook Link)

Oil on panel - 5" x 7"
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56 - Bay Billiards Study

This was a "quick" study from one of the pool halls a friend and I would escape to from time to time.  Wonderful place to get away.  the lighting there was so perfect.  You always felt like you were in a "private space."  Unfortunately it's gone now like so many other family run businesses. 

Anyway, I don't think I've ever held my breath as long as I did while painting the pool cue!  This one was hard to photograph... But I got it pretty close.  Looks so much better in person.

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
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54 - Lincolnshire Farm

Welp Fall is coming to Chicago!  Hope I get to capture some of the colors change this year.  This is a quick study of a farm I used to pass every day on the way to school in the morning.  They've since taken out the stop sign and re-routed the road for a traffic light so I rarely pass it any more.

Gouache on Cold pressed watercolor paper - 6" x 9"
$60 plus $12 shipping (U.S.)

Matting and Custom Framing available at buyers expense

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53 - Expressions De Boy 3

Well this is the last of the "Expression" paintings I have from this series.  This one was fun!

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
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51 - Expressions De Boy 2

Aaaannndd... Number 2.  Not sure what to call the expression here so we'll go with numbers!

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"

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50 - Expressions De Boy

I did a series of expression studies a few years ago.  Just found three of them again.  I can't believe they never found a home.

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
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49 - A New Day Comprehensive Study

This was a comprehensive study for a larger painting.  I think I've gotten all I need from it.  So it's time to find it a new home.  I loved the contrast between the lighting.  Fun stuff! Can't wait to get on to the big one!

Thanks for looking!

Oil on Canvas - 12" x 9"
$500 + $12 Shipping (U.S.)

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47 - Bagel Dogs

This is what happens when you're desperate to paint, but there's no food in the house.  A Couple of Bagel Dogs...  Hey at least I was staying busy...lol.  There was a bit more to them than I expected.  But you never really see something till you sit down and paint it.

Thanks for looking!

Oil on Panel - 4" x 6"
$100 + $12 shipping (U.S.)

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46 - Before the Storm

This was painted from our dock at Long Lake.  Which also happens to be the name of the town. It's in the Nicolet National Forest and just a gorgeous sleepy town.  They don't even have a stop light.  I had planned to give this one to the owner, but my Dad said no?

I could go on forever about this place as we went a couple times a year from childhood into college.  Fay Lake Resort which is just up the road and used to be owned by John Touchet as well...Is a sight to behold.  The cabins are built out over the water and the fishing/forest are amazing!

Anyway the winds started picking up and the rain began right as I finished.  I made it back to the cabin just before it really came down.  This was when I was still using a french easel in the field.  Im sure a few of you know how long they take to break down.  Whew!

Oil on Panel - 4" x 6"
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45 - Hand Study

This one almost doesn't belong on this blog as it was completed from photo and life.  The pose was just too hard to hold.  I had thought about donating this to an auction for my Mother's church.  But I gave them my double hand study instead...Inspired by the one and only David Leffel.  His double hand study can be seen lower on the page here.

I've done both hands for class projects, but never got them back.  That one was the only one I've done since college.  A tough task painting your dominant had from memory.  But it can be done!

The photo is a little over exposed here.  But I'm just surprised I haven't found it a home by now.  As always thanks for looking.

Oil on Panel - 6" x 8"
$100 + $12 shipping (U.S.)

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44 - Radish 1

This was painted a little while ago... But I've been going through the stacks looking for inspiration.  Felt a little too hot to go for a hike today.

Anyway this was an interesting one.  I started with a pretty detailed drawing of the leaves.  That turned out to be a good idea, they dried so quickly!  Even quicker than orange peels.  I'm glad I had most of it down, because I had to work moslty from memory.  Such cool shapes.  I don't know why I didn't post this one right after it was done...I like it!

Oil on Panel - 5" x 7"
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The Wright Woods Three

These are some of my first flirtations with plein air with oils.  It's hard to get out with a day time "job".  Tried watercolor (gouache) a bunch in college, but I was always too impatient.  All of these are from about the same place on progressive years.

The group I painted with for these are all much older.  So they want to pull up and park right where they're going to paint.  They really don't the stamina for a long session either.  That said, none of these are quite finished.   Alan is a snowbird, so we don't get together very often.  We haven't gotten together yet this summer.  Anyways, I thought it was cool to see the progression and how the scene and my approach changed year to year.

Hope you like them.  I really had no plans on selling these pieces.  But I might consider it if they went together.

All Oil on Panel - 5" x7"
Contact me: prplsmurf9@aol.com