plein aire time !

Bernie and I got out for a couple hours in the cold to paint. We originally intended to paint a barn/water scene but the windy was pretty brisk in that open field. We opted for "Miracle Meadows" and utilized our artistic license. (The road was made up! Ha!) All in all it was a great time of sunshine and fellowship for us. As always, feel free to comment, Dean

morning coffee

This ended up being an exercise in shading mostly. The spoon is one I am definitely going to try again. Silverware is not one color but a myriad of reflections of their surrounding objects. Thanks for looking, Dean

Paint night!

I got at the paints tonight and painted a tube of paint and palette knife. I tried a different perspective, I was almost looking straight down on the subject.

Dominoes anyone?

Thought I'd paint something different. It was something I think we all played at one time or another. What do you think?

empty bowl

Here is a small bowl I painted. Trying to find the right colors is challenging but and exciting adventure.

Fuji

I was told by a friend they like Fuji apples better so I painted one today. They certainly are different with the red and green on the same apple!

Apple

Well I thought I'd try fruit for a bit. I find them a lot harder than they look. Comment if you like.

Another candle

Here is one I did tonight with the candle unlit. I am enjoying working with shadows and trying to get them right. I got help from Bernie with this one. I had the wrong color on the wall. If it's still wrong that on me! Ha! As always, feel free to comment.

By candlelight

I painted this tonight in an 8x10 format. The largest I've tried lately. I have not wanted to use too much paint, it's expensive! Ha!I know I will have to be doing this again. It is a challenge to paint "light". Please comment if you have any ideas for me. Dean

canteen

Here is a civil war canteen I borrowed from a friend. I believe it is one of the first things I ever painted when I started 3 years ago. I was a lot easier this time:) I am enjoying working on small still life's because you can knock them out in an hour or hour and a half. please feel free to comment, Dean

Pitcher

Here is a painting that was fun. I really liked the shadows on this pitcher because they help to shape it. I am definitely going to do it again and next time add the designs that are on it. Feel free to comment, Dean

plate & knife

Here is one I did in an hour and a half tonight. Tried a plate and knife. I am going to try again. It was challenging. PLease feel free to comment, Dean

Pepsi anyone?

Had to put away acrylics. Was getting lazy I think. Anyway I got out the oils and did a small 4x4 ish of a can of pepsi. I tried not to drive myself nuts and did it in about 45 minutes. Feel free to comment, Dean

camping!

It was a hot one yesterday as the "OOPS" group met for a painting and a cookout. There were 10 "die-hards" there toughing it out. Ha! Around 2 hours into it we got hit with rain and 40+ mile an hour winds. Not one person complained. It was so hot we welcomed it! Thankfully it really cooled things off too. Here is the scene I was looking at. The truck was parked there after I started. I left it out because I wanted to keep the painting simple and for anyone to identify with it. I did this one in oils so it should be dry by christmas with this humidity! Ha! Thanks for looking, Dean

flowers

Had a few minutes today and stepped outside to paint. Saw the flowers and tried that. My attention to detail was EXTREMELY poor. Was not in the mood at all to try and replicate, all I wanted to do was suggest. THanks for looking. Dean

The process

Here are a few pics I took from the painting I just finished. It was recommended that I post the process I went through just to change things up a bit. This painting was done in oils again. I first did the sketch in burnt umber and put in the darks/shadows. From there I started adding color while trying to maintain the values I used with the burnt umber. You can see the stages in which I added color. I started with the background and moved forward. As you can see I am learning to do railroad tracks and this is the first crack at them. As always, feel free to comment.

Back at oils

I tried oils again today. I am going to work at them more and try to get better at them. This was fun to try and I enjoyed pushing the paint. As always, feel free to comment, Dean

The rescue

Here is a picture I started with just the pepsi machine. It kept getting more involved as I went. I thought it would be cute having a little girl trying to get a soda. Then I thought it would be funny to have a little boy bringing a ladder but that didn't work out so I had him come to the rescue with pepsi in the wagon. As always, feel free to comment.

catching up

I have been painting a little but playing music even more, Sorry I have been remiss on posting. The first picture is one I did of one of my ukuleles. I tried to knife in the strings but Got too much paint on the knife. Oh well. the next one is a rework of the "supporting the arts". I put a small piece of pottery in the foreground to add a little depth to the painting. I painted the hat and bobber/lures at one of the painting nights with the brush-ka-teers. That one has been interesting. I ask women and they do not see the hat but every man I showed did. What's up with that? The last one is a painting that was inspired from a photo I took in savannah, Ga. It reminds me of when a young boys fancy turns to girls. I tried to convey awkwardness and shyness. Enjoy, Dean

Florida and brushes

Here are two paintings I did in the last week. The first one was in florida. I did it on a windy day inside the recreation room at my mothers condo in florida. It was basically from my head. That day was too windy for me to paint outside. The next painting is one I did last night with the brush-ka-teers (minus one). We had a couple options of what to paint and I chose the brushes. I got a bit carried away with the background but had a great time doing it. I was especially pleased with the shadowing and muting of the background. As always, feel free to comment. Dean

"Cottage View"

Here is a painting I did for my aunt. It is a view from the front of my grandfather's cottage. What makes this a little different is that it is only 2 3/4 inches tall and wide. It was fun trying to paint a little smaller. As always, feel free to comment.

new year!

The first picture is a acrylic I did of Megan's husband Paul fishing. I don't know why but it photographed really bad. I may just mail it to him. Not sure if he has room for it in Okinawa. The picture of the boat is one I did today. It is an oil painting. I have not painted in oil for quite some time. Once again the photo isn't that great but it was fun trying to paint in that medium again. As always, feel free to comment and thanks for looking. Dean