Reworking A Painting

The original version of this painting painted in Fall/Winter 2010

I am framing up some small ones with the new little frames I made. As I was doing this I saw this painting which I painted last Fall or Winter. I always liked this one but I wanted to try adding some flowers in the foreground to add some interest to the dry Summer grasses. When I got to the easel that tree to the left was competing with my right side tree. I decided to lighten and make the shape slightly smaller. Eventually, I ended up readjusting the base of the eucalyptus tree too....reworking a painting, even a small painting, can lead you into more work than you might think. Having two shapes with close sizes and close lights and darks was a compositional error on my part and I'm glad I caught it.

 My reworked painting July 2011

Reworking is strange too. I see things that I like in both versions. Some of it though is the camera. My original Nikon 5200 took the first pic and the second was taken with a Nikon L11. Both Coolpix models but the L11 is newer, has more megapixel capacity but the white balance and lens cannot even come close to the older 5200. Anyway...it was fun to make the adjustments to this painting...taught me some lessons and reminded me of how easy it is to get sloppy and forget some things.    

Hillside Evening

"Hillside Evening"

12x16 Oil on Panel

Trying to improve an older painting that I felt was never quite complete back when I painted it. I went back in and repainted the background mountain, added moredetail to the foreground hillside and slightly adjusted the tree tops. I'm happier with the finish now. I don't usually go back over older paintings but this one grabbed my attention the other day while I was going over my older work. There is just a yucky feeling I get when painting over dried paint. I don't prefer painting over wet paint either. I like painting over tacky, sticky paint which is where my paint usually is by the end of the day or the next morning. Despite all of that ,this one ended up with a decent look to it so I'm calling it quits at this point. 

Santa Ynez Hillsides

"Santa Ynez Hillsides"

12 X 24 Oil on Canvas

I've painted the view from our deck looking across the valley many times. A lot of times I focus on a neighbors oak tree or the ridge you see in the mid ground of this painting. In reality, there are homes that dot the ridge line there and I decided to paint this one minus the homes. I love the color of the hills against the distant blue Figueroa mountains. The foreground here is all out of my head since there are nothing but dry grasses on the hills at the moment. Fun to throw in some color and a tree or two....actually, that tree looks a lot like my neighbors!

Building a French Companion

Above you can see the French Companion I recently built. The French Companion is smaller than the French Mistress but they both look and do the same thing. I decided to build mine because I had the scrap wood laying around from past projects and didn't feel like waiting for the FC to be shipped had I ordered one online. At this moment the FC is on sale at ASW for $52.99.

Here is how I built mine. The panels are 3/16 Luan I had purchased a while back at Home Depot. First I cut three panels of luan. These measured 13x16 and two 13x8. Then I cut pieces of 5/8 x5/8 strips of wood to fit along the edges of the panels. These are just butt jointed, nothing fancy. The frame strips are just pine that was cut from an old piece of 2x4. I glues these to the panels and then shot in a few brads to reinforce them (you could use short finishing nails too).

I then went to Ace hardware and bought 2 12" piano hinges for $8 a piece. Once I had those I lined up the panels and installed the hinges.

 I then stained it with red oak stain and then waxed it with the Howards Feed N Wax. Here is the view of the box closed. for transport.

A view of the box open ready to be sat on the drawer of the French easel. I was going to buy some small latches to keep the doors closed but couldn't find any. I'll hunt online for those. A bungy cord will work for now.

Ready for action! It's that simple...cut panels to size, glue and nail on wood frame strips, screw on hinges, stain and wax....Use! It gives ample room now when using the French easel to lay out your paints, palette knives, turps, coffee cup, donut, and has a nice amount of room to mix paint. Very easy to build.

Summer Landscape

"Summer Field"

12 X 24" Oil on Canvas

I've been doing other art related things keeping me away from painting so it was time to jump back at the easel. Yesterday I finished building a French Companion for my French easel and I painted this one to try out the French Companion. Works great and it's nice having the added room when using the French easel.

I started this one out trying a darker sky...sort of a slate grey. It really popped those pink mountains and gave it the look of when the sun starts coming out at the end of as storm. I called it quits, went inside to eat dinner and when I came back I decided to lighten the sky. I hate messing with the sky once a painting is done but that "after the storm" look was a little intense. Ya had to be there. 

Anyway....good painting to get back to the brushes with. 

Small Oak Frames

I needed some small 6x6 and 5x7 frames for smaller works and decided to make some. To make these frames all that's needed is a table saw, a palm sander, a large rubber band and some wood glue. I have a mitre saw, or "chop saw", as they are known so I used that to speed up cutting chores.

I purchased red oak strips from Home Depot that measured 1/2" X 2 1/2".

I  ripped that down the middle to make two strips of 1/2" x 1 1/4. I then cut this into an "L" shape on the table saw. All cuts are done at the same time to keep the wood thicknesses identical which is what you want later when glueing the wood pieces together.

At this point you just cut your lengths of the sides of the frames by cutting your mitre cuts at 45 degree angles. To make it easy, cut the end of one strip of wood at a 45 degree angle. Use one of your paintings to measure out where to make the next cut.

After cutting you just glue the pieces together. I used a large rubber band to hold the frame together until the glue dried enough to hold which was about 30 minutes. I let them sit overnight to let the glue dry completely.

The next day I sanded the pieces smooth. Put a slight radius on the edges, which means to just lightly round the edges or the frame and corners

After that I then applied Howards Feed-N-Wax which contains bees wax and orange oil. This is gives the wood a nice luster finish. After that you give yourself a headache trying to decide which painting to frame! If you have a table saw and a bit of time that's really all you'd need to make these frames. You can sand with sandpaper if you didn't have a palm sander. It is an affordable alternative to buying frames. I enjoy wood working, gives me time to think and by the end of a few hours of work I have something in my hands that will outlast me and it looks good. I can say I made it and saved some money too. It might sound like a lot of work but after you do this once you will realise how easy it is to make these.

              

Frames...and Making Lemonade

Straight out of the box....

I order my frames from a company who, for me, has the best prices and some of the best looking frames. I dig their frames and they have a good selection. Unfortunately, I've had to repair some of these frames and usually wait up to 2 months to get them. But, you can't beat their price and they have great looking frames that I like. I'd buy my frames locally, and that means most of central and southern California, but I'd have to pay about 1/2 to 2/3's more cost...and for the same frames. But that's California, we love paying more for gas, milk, real estate, cereal, meat, and frames.

In my shop it goes....

Being a starving artist who orders frames as needed, which means as needed really soon for a show, I end up repairing the damage so life can go on. I received a frame today, dusty and about half of the inner part wasn't stapled together so I took it all apart and then fixed it. I made lemonade.

All fixed!

This economy is horrible to art sales and you have to do what you can to keep costs down and things moving. Yesterday, I finished making 8 small 6x6 oak frames for some smaller pieces and was on cloud nine with how good they came out. Up down, Up down...hahaha. Thank God I took wood shop in high school.
   

Los Olivos Quickdraw

August is going to be a busy month. I was fortunate to be invited to paint in the Quickdraw event in Los Olivos on Saturday, August 20. The event will begin around 10am and will be followed up with a live auction and then paintings by the artists on display at St. Marks In The Valley Episcopal church right down the street from the Quickdraw. This event usually draws a great crowd and is the highlight of art events in Los Olivos. Los Olivos is very laid back and has all the charm of a small town life. There are plenty of wine tasting rooms and art can be seen at Gallery Los Olivos, Youngs Gallery and the Wildling Museum. It's a cool little town. 

 Ted Goerschner and Marylin Simandle painting it up

There are some real favorites of mine in this event, Ted Goerschner, Richard Greene, Joe Mancuso, Joe Milazzo, Marylin Simandle just to name a few. I've met Milazzo and Richard Greene...nice guys. Many of the other artists I know very well and have much repsect for.

Gordon Luce starting to add detail after block-in

In the past they have also had Gordon Luce and Mark Greenaway whose work I like a lot too. I'm not sure why they are missing this years event.

Here is some more info on the event....

The day will feature live music, a silent auction, and more Quick Draw artists' paintings offered for sale nearby at St. Mark's In The Valley Episcopal Church. The Los Olivos Rotary will be offering lunch for sale too!
Come early and spend the weekend! Friday night a special preview Wine & Dessert Show will be held 7:00-8:30 p.m. at St. Mark's. Pre-sale preview tickets can be purchased http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1832329547 for $20.
Tickets at the door: $25

Participating Quick Draw Artists

Vicki Andersen, Betty Carr, Howard Car,; Gwen Cates, Jim Farnum, Julie Fish, Priscilla Fossek, Ted Goerschner, Richard M. Greene, Ron Guthrie, Gary R. Johnson, Sheryl Knight, Lee Kromschroeder, George Lockwood, Joe Mancuso, Joe Milazzo, Vel Miller, Linda Mutti, Richard A. Myer, Cathy Quiel, Camille Renga-Dellar, Ray Sevilla, Marilyn Simandle, and BJ Stapen.

Click here for all of the details on the event....

Arroyo Seco Sycamore

"In The Arroyo"

22X28 Oil on Canvas

This is the second painting that has been juried into the California Art Club show in South Pasadena at the Fremont Gallery. I snapped this pic just after framing it. This is on the path just north of the Colorado Street bridge and the 210 freeway bridge. There are some really nice sycamore trees on that path that give awesome shade when it gets hot down there on the trail.

I had ordered another frame for the smaller painting but it didn't arrive on time for the turn in of work for the show. We did that on monday and that new frame I had ordered was leaning against my front door when we got home from turning in the work. If it wasn't for the 130 mile trip back down there I would have taken it down to switch the next day but with gas prices hovering just below $4 a gallon that isn't going to happen. 

  

South Pasadena Show

I'm happy to say that I finally got around to entering work into a California Art Club show going on in South Pasadena. I've missed a few due to other art projects going on and scheduling problems so it is nice to finally get back into one of their shows. I was very lucky and managed to get 2 paintings into this show and one of them was used for the show card. That painting looks better in the actual flesh....trust me. Anyway...if you're in the area this Saturday come on by. There is no fee to come to the gallery and check it out. This is a new gallery they are using this time so it will be nice to see the paintings hanging in a different place this time.
See you at the show!    

The Arroyo Seco

"Fading Light At The Arroyo"

18" X 24" Oil on Canvas

A while back I was shooting reference photos in the Arroyo, the riverbed that runs from Pasadena down into Los Angeles close to Dodger Stadium. One of the scenes I caught was the fading light leaving the arroyo in shadow but the trees high up on the edge of the arroyo walls still lit up. I like that sort of stuff, haha. I decided to paint this one trying to capture that light. I like the lack of direct light and it's effect on the greens and dried grasses in this scene. Some slight bit of light giving the hillside scrub a hazy look...fun stuff to work with.   

California High Desert

"California High Desert"

24" X 36" Oil on Canvas

You know....I've kept from posting this image for about a week. The problem is I just cannot get a decent pic of the painting and it has been driving me crazy. I've used 2 different cameras and tried every setting I could think of. The painting looks pretty good here on the easel but some of the colors here in the photo are just reading a bit too intense. The yellows on the sage bush in the foreground have too much contrast in relation to the rest of the plant. On the easel the contrast of greens/yellows are more subdued and the greens of the sage brush are a bit better milky-green looking. I don't know if it is a Nikon thing or not...yellows come screaming through both of these cameras....and yes, I've tried all of my photoshop tricks to fix it all but I'm tired of messing with it so I'm just going to post what I felt was a bearable photo of the painting. Sometimes some paintings just don't do well in a photo but look fine in a real life setting....this is the king of those types, hahaha.     

BINLADEN DEAD AT LAST!

Just a quick note...we've just heard Binladen has been killed by American Forces.....YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Savanna May

"Savanna May"

16" X 20" Oil on Canvas

Painting & Pencils

" Savanna May", 16X20, is coming along nicely despite the pencil line fun

A few years ago I asked an artist friend of mine if he used a pencil to do his initial sketch on his awesome portrait works. You'd think I had asked him if he enjoyed using dog food when making meatloaf. That guy hates the idea of using a pencil for sketching prior to painting. Comes from experience. If you use a pencil many times the pencil lines will show up through the paint....especially the lighter areas of your painting. This is the normal look when using watercolors but you don't see it so much in oil painting.

I have used pencil to do my sketching for landscape work which is fine because I hardly sketch much at all when doing landscapes. Usually the line of the mountain tops is the only problem area I have with the pencil showing through so I just scrub it lightly with the brush and it goes away. Other times I will wipe that line down with turpentine...just enough to leave just a trace of it but the paint covers it no problem. And of course, a lot of times I do the sketching with a small liner brush using a wash of turps and yellow orchre...that method works the best. The problem is I sketch a lot due to the to the detail when painting marine scenes. I can't paint a marine scene over a loose sketch. I have to have the drawing pretty exact before I paint. For a marine sketch I go back to using a pencil simply for the control I have with it. Besides....it is easier and faster to erase a pencil line than it is to go back and wipe out a line when using paint. With pencil though you have tons of line work to cover with paint. I've been thinking about maybe trying to do my initial sketch with a light grey marker pen. Tombo & Prismacolor both make markers with various greys. I'd think a 10% cool grey would probably work great for this and the oil paint should easily color this.

Some of the pencil lines still showing through in this detail shot of the painting...when the paint sets up I'll go back over them but it is tedious.

So, the next time I'm down in Pasadena I'll stop into the Blick art store and pickup a couple of these guys to try out.

Bandon Oregon Sailboat

"Shade In Bandon Oregon"

16"x20" Oil on Canvas

Ok, just finished up the sailboat in Bandon, Oregon today. Geeze this one took forever to finish. Too many distractions lately. This is why an artist needs a studio up in the hills. I'm happy with it but of course there are always things I wish I had done differently...like the boot stripe color. By the way... a boot stripe is the line of color (here a pale greenish blue) painted above the bottom paint (here a dark red). That boot stripe is actually the same color as the stripe just under the cap rail and gunnel (the deck edge). I made a slightly darker mix of it when painting the boot stripe but it blended too much with the still wet paint of the hull so it reads lighter now. Also, the bottom paint should have been a true red darkened down with ultramarine blue but I used alizarin crimson just because that is my normal operating red. In this painting I don't like the crimson. Most bottom paint red is a dull true red color. Also, there is that loose thing...hahaha.

Still, I think it works and now on to the next painting.

Current Work In Progress

I haven't been posting much lately but not because of not painting. I've finished off about 3 or 4 paintings but they were versions based on a particular painting and I don't want to post 5 similar paintings on here. Also...the normal things that life brings, family and winter storm damage has kept me busy too. Winter storms bring not only bring rain but high winds which knock branches, and at times, trees down. We also have our usual bout of water getting into the barn and workshop so it can get really busy around here with back to back storms.

Bandon WIP...working title

So anyway....this is a painting I'm working on right now. Figured I needed to post something. This scene is from the coastal town of Bandon, Oregon. I passed through it on my way back from Coos Bay last year. Beautiful small town with great fish and chips, crab, quaint little shops and nice marina and waterfront. I haven't painted hardly any sailboats so I thought this one being worked on would do. Hard to not love the lines of a sailboat even if you are a powerboat person. I should have this one finished in another day or two. This image isn't the greatest since it was taken with a diiferent camera...my normal camera had a dead battery and it's charging now. I'm trying to keep my edges soft but my marine work always has a totally different look than my landscape work. I'll go back in the end and try and soften up some more on it.

A Detail of the painting....

Well...back to the easel...I want to get everything painted in so I can get to the part of dialing it all in. This one is taking forever to do...usually the marine pieces always take days to do. It's all of that detail and line work. I'd like to paint them looser but that never happens with me. I think I'm just going to have to live with my work like that, at least for now.

Wildling Museum Demo

The Wildling Museum, Los Olivos, CA

As forecasted, rain Saturday and Sunday this weekend, the weekend of the demo I would do at the Wildling Museum in Los Olivos. Watching the weather channel we knew the rain was on it's way and the weatherman was right on the money.

When Linda and I arrived to set up it was dry still but overcast and cold. Needless to say very few people came to the event put on by all of the art venues in town with artists giving demonstrations at various locations. At the museum I would guess maybe 50 people came by but I think the cold kept them moving to take things in before heading for home. I met some nice people and a few of the other artists stopped by to talk. The rain came and I came away with a decent eucalyptus painting and went home a little wet and with some freezing hands and feet.

Brrrrrr! Doesn't look that cold huh...ya had to be there. I forgot to tell Linda to take the flash off so there is a bad glare here on the painting. One artist came by and turns out she lived in Hawaii at the same time that Linda lived there and her daughter went to the same school as Linda's daughter....small world. A photographer showing at the coffee shop came by and all 4 of us had a lot of laughs. It was nice to be out hanging with artist friends.

This is a better pic of the painting...pretty common subject with me lately, these eucalyptus trees, I'm messing with various color strategies. The sky doesn't show well here but it is this nice greenish blue blending into a light violet towards the bottom...too subtle to show good in this pic. I don't know what is up with my digital camera that has worked great for the last 4 years...might be time to get another one with more megapixels. That little camera (old faithful) gets good details of anything under 16x20 but it's just not taking good images of the larger paintings. This painting is an 18x24 so the details get blurred. Lots of distractions out there today and there are things I might change on this one but overall I'm pretty happy with how the painting came out. As for the day spent there, well, sometimes nature works with you and sometimes it doesn't. Despite the cold I think we all had a fun time of it.

Santa Ynez Valley Morning

"Valley Morning"

9" X 12" Oil on Canvas
Just a quick painting that I painted this morning while looking out of my backdoor and seeing this scene. It was a small section of the landscape visable and took about 1, 1/2 hours. I didn't have time to work on a larger piece since I need to get ready for the demo tomorrow at the Wildling Art Museum. Come on out, it's going to rain, thunder and probably be windy! hahaha. Why do a demo on a good day right? hahaha. I heard the forecasted rain for this weekend a few days ago but that's ok...the museum has a large wrap around porch and even it it got that ugly they offered a room inside...but I like it outside. We'll see what happens.

Figueroa Mountain Foothills

"Foothills Of The Figueroas"

12"x16" Oil on Canvas
This painting was started as more of a sketch to practice dialing in warm colored grasses but eventually worked it's way to a more completed painting. I also used this piece to experiment with atmosphere and depth wanting to get more of a "thickness" in the air across the valley. I didn't overly push that thickness in the air because I just wanted it to evident in the painting and not overbearing. My reference photo had a more crisp look to it since the air is so clean and clear up here so I added what's in the painting. I'm happy with the results and that's what is more important than the actual capturing of what was there in the photo.