Daylily

I painted this from a photo I took of one of many daylilies growing in my garden. Daylilies are one of my favorite flowers they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. My mom got me hooked on growing these beauties. Between my mom and my grandmother I now have quite the collection. I enjoy walking around my yard to see what is blooming. This daylily is one I don't have a label for and I'm not sure what it's name is. I would like to give this painting a better name so mom or grandma when you view this will you let me know what this daylily is called so I can give this painting a proper name. So anyway, before I started this painting I went out to take more photos of the flowers in bloom for future paintings. I've attempted to paint flowers in the past and was never successful at it. So last night I took on this challenge (again) hoping for the best. With the collection of photos I've taken of these daylilies I think it will make a great painting series.
10in x 10in oils on canvas.

Kiwi and Kitchenware

This is my third painting in my café series. I bought some new more expensive brushes before I painted this and what a world of difference it makes.

I also wanted to update everyone on the Oil Heritage Art Show. I entered two paintings (Fountain Park and Delicious Apples) into this show. The artist reception was on Monday, July 21 and the painting Fountain Park won 2nd place in the intermediate category for oil painting, and Delicious Apples won 1st place in intermediate. I was shocked! I didn't expect to really win anything, but it was very rewarding to see those ribbons on my paintings.

10inx10in oils on canvas.

Coffee Mug

Wow! Two paintings in one week a new record for me. If your interested in buying this painting or the Tea Time painting email me. I currently do not have these listed for sale on my website yet.
6in x 8in oils on a cotton panel

Tea Time

This is the first painting for my café series. I have found that still life painting is one of my favorite things to paint, and you will see more of them here in the future.
Recently I ordered a sample pack of Raymar panels these are the best thing for painting on that I have found. The paint flows so much easier than a normal stretched canvas. I am very impressed!
6inx8in oils on a linen panel.
Pricing info to come later.

Sunrise over Hilton Head Island

I took a couple of months off from painting which I probably shouldn't have. Now I got back into it again and I get frustrated when my paintings don't turn out the way I want them to. This one for example, I was trying for a realistic painting but I ended up painting more of an impressionistic style. I need to start painting more often to back into the swing of things. I was going to do a series of beach scenes but after painting this one I'm going to paint a series of still lifes instead, just until I get back into the flow again.

Hilton Head Island

I just got back from vacationing in Hilton Head Island, SC. It is so beautiful down there I took a lot of pictures. My Sister-in-law and I woke up at the crack of dawn to capture these great pics. I probably took about 200 pictures so now I have a ton of references for painting some seascapes.

Crucifixion Of Jesus

This is an album cover I painted for a friend of mine Jeff Motley. He recently recorded his first demo which you can listen to on his myspace page. For this painting I found references of some statues and combined them with a sky background. I flipped the original orientation of the sky to make it look like the heavens opening up to welcome Jesus home.
SOLD!
9inx12in oils on canvas.

Portrait Part 3

Well this was my last class. I've learned so much and I think my painting techniques are improving. I now know a lot more about the painting process. There is more to a painting then just the photo you are painting from. You have to decide on what will be your focal point, making value studies and then putting it all on canvas. I feel that I can now look at my subject and see past the details and focus on the masses first and details last. This was always a problem for me at first but, now I am evolving into a better painter. Here is the portrait I've been working on it still isn't finished I only put color on the face. The eyes, hair and the background still needs finished. I'll of course keep you posted on the progress of this painting.

Portrait Painting In Progress Part 2

I finished the value tone layer. I had some trouble with the nose and it still doesn't look right. Everytime I tried adjusting it it got worse so I had to stop messing with it. Maybe I'll have more luck with it tomorrow when I add color to it.

Portrait Painting In Progress

I am learning how to paint portraits in class this week. I used the grid system to transfer the picture to the canvas. Of course I still need to finish massing in the darks and lights then next week I will be adding color. The photo I'm using for this painting I found on www.sxc.hu. I like the overall look of this photo and the lighting was nice. I brought this photo in to Adobe Photoshop and blurred it so I didn't focus to much on the details and it helps me to see the shadows and the lights easier. I use Photoshop a lot for adjusting photos to the way I want to help me out. I am trying to not rely on the computer so much and I have started drawing value studies. I drew several value studies for the painting below making the log the focal point. But the painting didn't turn out as I intended it. The log and the rock are now competing with each other and I'll have to go back to this painting and tone down the rock so that it isn't such a dark value. I'll lighten the log so it then becomes the focal point again. I have learned so much from this instructor and I am glad that I was able to take the class. This will help me improve with my painting. Next week is my last class.

Monumental Valley

Happy Easter! Here is the finished painting. Of course I waited til my last day off to finish it. I just couldn't get motivated this weekend so, I had to forced myself today to get this painting done before my next class. I of course didn't get a start on my snow landscape I still have to find a picture to paint from. Nothing like putting things off til the last minute. On this painting I did end up using my palette knife to get a nice textured effect on the mountains in the background. I also used my palette knife on the piece of driftwood as well.
9inx12in oils on canvas.

Landscape Work In Progress

This is the landscape I chose for my painting class. I found this photo on www.sxc.hu it is a photo of Monumental Valley. I'm still not thrilled on how it is coming along. I think that I might end up using my palette knife for the mountains in the background. With using my palette knife it may be easier to get more of a rock texture. Right now they are to sketchy for me. I am suppose to have this painting finished by my next class plus, start a painting involving snow. Which having a three day weekend I might be able to accomplish this.

Photographer credit: Enrico Nunziati

Delicious Apples

I've been inspired to paint still life. Here's a pair of apples I spent hours struggling with, and after all the time I spent on it I am pleased. I had many interuptions with my son constanly popping in and checking on my progress plus, needing me to do things for him. My son loves watching me paint but he really gets in the way sometimes.
9inx12in oils on a canvas panel. SOLD!

MMMM Donuts! Finished

Here is the final result of the donuts. I think it turned out pretty good.

Mmmm Donuts!

Well, I started my first painting class and this was the first exercise. In this painting you'll see just the toning layer that isn't completely finished this will be my homework. As I look at this painting more and more I'm still not happy with the shape of the donuts they still need some work.

This instructor is very helpful and I feel that I will learn a lot from him. The next class I'll be finishing this painting and starting a landscape which, I need to find an inspirational photo of to bring to class.

Here is the finished toned layer I just finished tonight.


9inx12in oils on a canvas panel

Work In Progress

Here is a painting I am currently working on. It is another picture of Fountain Park I took on the same day as my previous painting. This is the rough first layer of this painting (the toning layer). In a couple of days I will start adding color to it and of course refining it some more. I hope to have this painting complete by next Sunday.

I have been doing a lot of studying lately with the way the old masters used to paint. Learning about my mediums and how to use them properly, mixing colors, different painting techniques and different styles. This information was very thorough I figured out things I've done wrong with my previous paintings.

My painting class starts next week and I am so excited! It's going to be a great hands on experience (I Hope!). This instructor (Bill Perry) is coming up from Pittsburgh I have checked out his work and it is impressive. He also teaches watercolor actually most of his work is in watercolor. I almost tempted to take the watercolor course because at the time The Art Center changed the times of the classes and the watercolor classes were in the evening (I work during the day and I can not take the earlier class). The classes were switched around again and now I am able to take the oil painting class. Although, watercolor might have been fun to learn too. I might take a class if it becomes available again.

Fountain Park

This is Fountain Park in Franklin, PA. I took this picture back in August with my digital camera. Here is my son running up to the fountain. It was a beautiful warm day to play in the park. I can't wait til summer I'm so sick of all this cold weather. I have pictured here the beginning and ending stage of this painting.
9inx12in oils on canvas.
I also wanted to share with you I have become a member of the Meadville Council on the Arts. There will be a Member Exhibit in which I sumitted two of my paintings for (Spooky Forest and Interior), Friday, February 1st until March 1st. The open reception will be on Friday, February 1st from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the Heeschen Gallery in the Market House 2nd floor, Meadville, PA. This reception is free and open to the public with refreshments and musical entertainment. Feel free to stop by and visit with me and other artists. Hope to see you there!

Old White Mare

I used a loose style with this painting. Lately, I've been observing other painters and their techniques to help me improve. I hopefully will be attending a 7 week (one day a week for 7 weeks) painting course in February. It's been a good 16 years since the last painting class. This is something I'm really looking foward too. My paintings (I think) have improved since I first started back in July, and this painting course will help me work some of those kinks out.
9inx12in - oils on canvas.

Photographer credit  for username Beer at sxu.hu

Paintings at Art Gallery!

These paintings will be on display at the Transit Fine Arts Gallery in Oil City, PA starting January 19th.

The Koi Painting - SOLD!

The Field of Flowers - $75 (framed)

Spooky Forest

A Spooky Forest painted with gesso. I was going to add some color but, once I finished with the black and white I thought It looked just perfect the way it is.
16inx20in gesso on canvas, painted on all sides. SOLD!