Works In Progress II

Since these are only about 8 X 10 inch sketches, it doesn't take long to finish them. The second photo actually had some notes written in pencil by Grandpa on the back: "Flat tone sky, edge of bright cloud, sun in color." I tried to follow his ideas and made it a somber sky and sea. (The tug is towing the ship out to sea.) Now I need to decide which one to make into a larger (15 X 20) painting. Any suggestions? Thanks again for the kind comments!

Works In Progress

My 'manager' (aka Kathryn Church) urged me to post more...so here 'tis. I usually like to put finished works on here, but this is what I'm up to right now. I'm doing two small studies of two different B/W photos my grandpa took in Toronto. So, from the top you can see my whole table with the small (2X3 and 3X4) photos and my sketches of each. I use blue painters tape to hold down the papers (it doesn't stick and tear like normal masking tape).
The first painting sketch is obviously (I hope) close to being done, while the second is just in the pencil and mask-it stage (I use a masking fluid, sort of like rubber cement, to protect small areas I want to keep white).
From these two studies I determine coloring, intensity, and values (lights/darks) that I will use in larger paintings of these subjects.
My grandfather, my father and I all shared a love for ships and water. I really enjoy using photos that not only did my grandpa take (perhaps close to 100 years ago), but also ones he used for paintings. You can see some of his paint drips on the photos, if you look closely.
Thanks for looking!

Northern Michigan Red Barn

After doing a number of winter paintings, I am ready to start thinking about summer (which, in Moscow, means thinking for about five more months!). So, I had this barn in my files, which I borrowed from Bill Church's photos taken in the Glen Arbor, Michigan area. I love the texture of old wood, soaking up the sun, don't you? The silo makes a neat center piece, too. Hope this warms up your day!

Christmas Morning '78

Yes, this is ancient history, and we are way past Christmas now. But I dug this out of the closet and hung it in our family room this year. It's an acrylic I painted while in college and the moment, yes, even the apartment, on that day meant a lot - Carolyn was due pretty soon, in fact, only about two weeks later. The Pooh Bear my mom had made for our baby was in the yellow package! So, there you go...my nostalgic post, over thirty years later.