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"

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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"

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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

 

 

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"

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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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8-30-2021 - Bird Box

 

The start of something different. I went looking for somewhere to paint this morning. (I've really grown quite fond of my little quests.) Stopped at the grocery store and saw this little arrangement. The box sort of reminded me of a tour of sake a friend ordered at a Benihana. Random, but, I digress. Got a little lost in the main carnation for a minute. They get confusing! This felt like a good point to take a break. This is a little larger than my usual blog painting. It'll be interesting to see where it goes from here...

 

8" x 10" - Oil on Cradled Panel

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8-13-21 - Ray Lake Forest Preserve

 

Managed to sneak a painting in before work today. I was setup before 7 and ready to go. The sky lightened and grayed as the sun rose. I chased it at times. There was some really intriguing colors, I did my best to capture the mood.

When I got to work the power was out. We were trying to figure out how to work under the emergency lights when it came back on. Only about half an hour lost... Ha! If that's all Friday the 13th had for us... Now, now. I don't want to get too carried away and press my luck.

Ray Lake - 9.75" x 5"

Gouache on paper

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Just for good measure a shot of my view and setup part way through. I've really enjoyed this cigar box pochade... It's an almost unaltered Acid brand box. If anybody should be interested, I've stashed a few away.

 

8-12-21 - McHenry Dam

 

 

 

Today things started off a bit haphazardly. I headed out the wrong direction just to get through the traffic. (Everything around here is under construction.) Having been forced another direction, I ended up changing my intended spot and went to the dam. Turned out I forgot to transfer my panels back to my usual bag. So gouache it was for this morning! It turned out to be a nice morning. Couldn't have planned it better..

Below is a shot of my view. Taken after I had pretty much packed up... Thanks for looking! Have a great weekend!

McHenry Dam - 8-12-21

Gouache on Paper - 10.5" x 5.25"

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7/22/2021 - Water Pump at Wright Woods

Thursday seems to be the day I get to get out lately. Wasn't sure where I was going, but I ended up at Wright Woods in Vernon Hills. This was a fun little study, I'm glad I painted it in oil. It gave me a chance to soften some edges and adjust some other little things that might not have worked out in gouache. I really enjoyed painting the bike rack too. The sun was in and out as I painted. The news this morning suggested it was overcast due, in part, to the fires out west. I'm not sure myself, but I do hope this finds you all safe and well.

Have a great weekend! As always thanks for looking.

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07-01-2021 -- Wheeling Rock Plant

 

I think I had drawn this one up before the rain last week? Either way, it became completely overcast while I was working. Sounds strange, but I really just lost the idea. Yesterday was so nice, that I decided to try again around sunset.. There was a lot more warmth about the structure. This one really forced me to try some new things. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process!

Gouache on paper - 7.25" x 10"

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While your here I had taken a process shot... always fun to see what happens afterwards. You can also see a little of my paint box too, I replaced the Cotman watercolor kit with gouache. It comes apart to make an extra mixing area too. I hadn't added any white yet in this shot, usually just use that at the end.

 

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy the long weekend!

07/01/2021 - Willow Stream

 

After a week of rain, I was able to get out for a little bit this morning. This is a view of Willow Stream Park, right by the house. The water level was higher than I expected, so I changed a little from my planned composition. This park gets a lot of foot traffic! I avoided too much conversation by just hanging out the side door of the minivan as I painted... It is such a wonderful day out. Maybe I'll be able to get out for a little later today or this weekend.

Hope you all enjoy the holiday weekend! As always, thanks for looking!

Gouache on Paper - 8" x 6"

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06-17-2021 - Island Lake Bank

 

 

 

My boss has been kind enough to let me have some time during the week to paint. Trying my best to make the most of it. I happened upon this bank on a drive the other day. It appears to be out of business. There is actually a bit of graffiti on one of the planters that said "Have a nice day!" I sure did! It didn't make it into this small study as there was plenty of information to keep me busy. It's been nice pushing paint around and trying my hand at some new things these last few days. Hope to keep the momentum going...

Hope you enjoy the weekend! Thanks for looking.

Oil on Canvas - 6" x 12"

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The weather was awesome today so I snuck out for a sketch after work. This was the side lot of a Kmart years ago. (Our old storage unit was behind the fence to the left.) The building stood empty for quite a while. Now all that remains is the few businesses on the out lots and part of the parking lot has been taken over by a car dealership. Landscapes are all still experiments to me, so this was a fun little departure for me.

Hope you enjoy it. As always thanks for looking!

Gouache on paper - 19 cm x 25 cm

(The size makes more sense in metric)

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Now that the spring semester is in the books, things are starting to settle down. I'm getting into some sort of schedule anyways. I've been eyeing this tree for a while. It is just a few minutes from the house. I was able to find a nice spot in a lot where I could paint from the car. (It's been oddly hot here for spring.)

Hope you enjoy it! Have a great weekend!

Gouache on paper - 8" x 6"

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3-14-21 - Grapes and Silver Cup

  

Set up a new still life stage in a closet that should make it easier to control the lighting. No more having to wait till dark or the right kind of lighting during the day... Decided to give it a whirl before I go back tomorrow. Was a nice way to spend a Sunday! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Grapes and Silver Cup

6" x 9" - Oil on Panel

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3-9-21 - Daffodils

  

A couple bulbs of Daffodils for this morning. This is the last week before I go back to class. Was nice to sit down and paint something different. Spring is coming! It is supposed to reach the upper 60's today. Hope you are feeling the change of seasons too...

Oil on Panel - 5" x 7"

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