"Stuck in the Middle"

8x8 oil

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This is my last painting for 2015. This may sound crazy, but, these bottles took on a bit of character. The two outside bottles look confrontational and the brown bottle is, well, stuck in the middle. I haven't given them names, so, I guess, I'm not that crazy.

"Cup and Spoon"

8x8 oil

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I've painted this cup several times in the past couple of years. I don't know what it is, I just like it. I guess it's the simplicity of the cup and spoon that attracted me. I wanted to capture the reflective glass and the contrast of the metal spoon.

Day 3- "Cup and Spoon" (In Progress)

Okay, call me crazy, yes, I'm going highly detailed on this painting. I'm loving it though. So much so that I thought I'd share an "in progress" shot. It's a pretty simple composition. But, how many times do we look at the beauty of simple things in life? Such as the reflection in the cup, for one, that I'm trying to capture.

"Couple of Kodaks"

8x8 oil

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"Kodak Duaflex IV"

8x8 oil

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At first I was a bit intimidated to paint this camera. Silly, huh, to be intimidated by a camera. There seemed to be a lot of detail I didn't want to deal with. It wasn't bad at all, I had fun with it. Now I want to paint two more cameras I have. One is a stereoscopic Kodak and the other is a Kodak Instamatic. So I'm going to paint a Kodak series. Fun, right?

"Beater n' Bowl"

8x8 oil

I painted this for the upcoming Wayland Academy Alumni show. I am delivering it this Friday and plan to stop in to see Bev Dohmann (my old art teacher). She is the one to blame who started me off on this art adventure, so long ago.

"Yellow Ball"

8"x 8" oil

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I have been having fun painting glass objects lately. What a challenge it is to capture the light and the refractive quality of the pencils in the jar.

I hope you enjoy and thanks for looking.

"Vegas Memories"

8"x8" oil

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My dad died over 20 years ago and I've had an old steamer trunk of his. In the trunk was a bag full of old matches he had collected. Matches from Chicago, Aspen, Playboy clubs around the country, and these matches and ash tray from Vegas. It just brought back a lot of memories of my dad. Even though I called this "Vegas Memories", it's really about him.

"No Spoons"

8"x8" oil

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"Getting the Wrinkles Out"

8" x 8" Oil

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I really should have called this "Bella's Iron". My youngest daughter picked this out for me to paint, when we were at the local consignment store. That was 4 years ago. She kept asking me when I was going to paint the iron. I think she gave up on me. But, here it is. I knew I'd get around to it.

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

"Sunbeam"

"Sunbeam" 8"x8"

Oil

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The last 6 months have been very enlightening for me. Since I have been painting full time, I have been able to really explore who I am as an artist. What I like to paint, what medium I enjoy working with. You know, all that art stuff. I have played with plein air, realism, acrylic, oil, back to acrylic, then finally landing on oil. I have found I am a studio realist artist. I do really love the freedom of plein air but will only continue to paint outside as an exercise to help me in the studio.

Anyway, you can expect more work from me along the line of this one.

Enjoy and thanks for looking. 

"It's The Real Thing"

12"x12"

Acrylic on gessoed board

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Not sure what to say about this. Except I had a blast  painting this one. After 3 attempts I finally completed this piece. The first 2 attempts I used oil paint, then decided I can get the same look using acrylic and it will dry faster. And I was right, go figure.

Enjoy and thanks for looking.

"7th and West Main"

11 x 14 oil

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I just got back from a great workshop with Anne Blair Brown, in Nashville, TN. This painting was done from a plein air study. I brought it back and re-painted, trying to apply the things I learned.

I met some other artists, the weather was good and I had a great time.

Thanks for looking!

"House of Blues"

8"x8" oil

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Ahhh, spring is here. The snow has melted. It was a beautiful day when this house caught my eye. Everything was blue, the sky, the house and the car. My wife came up with the name. I was thinking "Feelin the Blues" But, she is so much smarter than me.

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

"Undercover Ford"

8"x8" oil

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These truck paintings don't seem to be real popular. But, I am loving painting them. So that's what counts, right?

This is from a place that sells restored vintage cars and trucks. It is actually for sale. I didn't even look at the price. But I would love to buy it.

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

"Don't Blink First"

8"x8" oil

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It's paintings like this that keep me painting. I loved painting this truck. Everything seemed to go right. I took my sweet time painting because I was afraid I would screw it up. The whole time I kept thinking I was having a stare down with the truck and who was going to blink first. I think the truck lost because I think it turned out pretty good.

Now, what to paint next? Any requests? (you know this is just a test to see who is reading these posts ;))

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

"Chevy Truck"

12"x12" oil

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I've returned to painting a truck. I painted an old one awhile back. I really enjoy these front end views. I might be on a truck kick for awhile. I hope you don't get bored.

Enjoy and thanks for looking.

"Wisconsin Farm Yard"

8" x 8" oil

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This is a farm I pass by on the way home everyday. I love this farm. I will probably paint it more from different views. I was trying to concentrate more on creating some interesting texture with my brushstrokes. I liked how the shadows are crossing the driveway.

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

Back to basics

I hit a wall this last week. I'd start a painting and it just wasn't working like I wanted. Can you say FRUSTRATING! So I decided to regroup. I started reading Richard Schmid's "Alla Prima" book. It is such an awesome book. I realized I just have to slow down a little and think more about each stroke I put down on the canvas. I decided I am going to create his color charts, one each day, consisting of the colors I use. After I did that, today, I started a new painting but first creating a value study. I always want to skip or rush through this stage. I didn't do that this time.  So, here are today's accomplishments. I feel so much better!

"Snowbound"

8" x 8" oil

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These ole cars are stuck here for the winter. Well, actually they have been stuck there for years. After that last snow storm they caught my eye, out in that snowy field. And guess what, I had to paint them!

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

"T Intersection on The Trail"

8"x8" oil

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I need to explain the title of this painting. I live at the end of this road. The road is called Pottawatomi Trail and everyone just refers to it as "The Trail". I go to the post office and they say "oh you live out on the trail". This T intersection is the only intersection on the trail. So, hence the name of the painting. Last week we had a big snow storm come through and the next morning the sun was out casting great shadows across the snowy "trail". I had to paint it!

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

"Cooksville Store Sunset"

8"x8" oil

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Returning to landscapes in preparation for the upcoming Plein Air festivals this summer. It's hard to think of summer when we just got dumped on with over a foot of snow. This sunset gives me hope and warms me up.

"Toasted"

oil 8"x8"

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I know, I know, not the most original title for this painting. I kept imagining that the cord was checking itself out in the reflection or that it was trying to slink away to avoid being plugged in.

Either case I had a blast painting this old toaster.

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

"Wallflower"

8"x8" oil

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After awhile these objects start taking on personalities. This guy, to cool, is kicking back, waiting for a good looking female beater to walk by. Then they can mix it up on the dance floor.

Enjoy and thanks for looking!

"Lager Lager"

8"x8" oil

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I have had this old bottle of Lucky Lager beer. It is dated June 4, 1937. I just had to paint it.

I know it must sound like I've had a few beers from the title. It's just 'cuz of the label.

Enjoy, and thanks for looking.

"Hung Up"

8"x8" Oil

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I really enjoy painting this phone. You will probably see more of it later on. I titled this "Hung Up" after my last painting, I guess the person was left on call waiting to long.

"Call Waiting"

8"x8" oil

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Who remembers the day when all you had to do was put the phone down to put someone on hold?

I really loosened up my brush stokes with this painting. I really like it. What do you think?

"Scrambled?"

8"x8" oil

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Now that I have decided to paint full time, I am loving it! This is a bit abstract for me, but I thought I would give it a try. I went down to my local consignment shop and picked up this cool egg beater. The poor eggs look a little scared wondering about their future.