Selected "Popular Art" on EBSQ!

"Bathing Yellow Irises" 18" x 24" Pastel

Today, I surfed over to one of my favorite art sites EBSQ and found on the home page (as of today) that "Bathing Yellow Irises" was selected as one of the "most popular" as determined by the number of times this piece has been favorited by members and patrons of EBSQ! How cool is that! This piece was painted in 2003 after a visit to my favorite watering hole, Hughes Water Gardens. The original has since sold, and giclee's continue sell well too! I had no idea! I guess, sometimes it's hard for me to believe that what I paint is for pure enjoyment, and others enjoy it too....humbling to say the least!

Women In Art

Since I have been busy gathering my taxes together (what a drag!) and not able to paint anything for a coupla days, I thought I'd post this up for those who haven't seen it yet. I will post once again after my books are done! But for now, this is my favorite Youtube video and I think you will like it too. And just for kicks, how many artist's works can you name? Music: Bach's Sarabande from Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 performed by Yo-Yo Ma, 500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art. Enjoy!

Painting Buddy

"Rosey" Fur-lined drafting table....

In the studio today for about 3 1/2 hours working away at a piece when up comes my painting buddy to help select the next color! Well, she could either be a pest, telling me "I need a pet!", or simply to say "It's time to stop and rest"
Too cute to pass up, I took this shot of her. I bet there are a million painting buddies out there, whether it be feline or canine, that have dipped their paws in the pigment.

Cafe' Seating 8.5" x 13"

Well, I've had to take a small break from my McMurry color studies simply because there are a few submission deadlines for shows I would like to enter. So here is a work that I have been wanting to paint simply because I love the reflections on the floor. It's the same interest I have in painting water, but it's a simple floor with colors coming from the unknown surroundings, possibly neon lights. This little scene was taken from a cafe' on NW 19th in Portland. Not sure of the cafe's name, but they do serve up some delicious soups and gourmet dishes. Here are the steps to the piece:


First the sketch on the Wallis sanded paper with charcoal pencil.


I used Createx airbrushing pigment to under-paint the intense orange and dark blue to give the piece unity. I picked the orange compliment to give the piece some excitement because this is going to be a predominately blue piece, and the dark blue simply because I needed a dark base.


Blocking in the darks and lights to establish value ranges.


Working on the floor and seating.


Adding the surrounding colors that attracted me to this scene in the first place..I can see it coming together now but still much to do.


Adding detail to the final piece like fixing the windows and door, adding the centerpiece, highlights on the barstools, etc. Finished!
Giclee' print available online at Imagekind.

Shadow and Light 5" x 5"

Shadow and Light (to be titled later)

This dark and light piece will be one of my entries into the "Shadow & Light" show this coming Spring at Pittock Mansion. I first set out to paint a color study on oranges, but as one might wonder "how dark can orange get?" Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't know. Probably not very dark, maybe a value of a 4 on the value scale. Hmmm. But, as I picked out my orange values and colors on the color wheel, and selected an image to work from, my "orange" intension went out the window! Ha! Window!
Anyway, this image fits well into the "Shadow & Light" prospectus theme. Below is a progress of the image.


First, my sketch.


An underpainting of Createx paint Deep Blue and a little dab of green on the plant.


The fancy love seat painted with dark burgundys and intense reds.


The walls/bookcase, details, checking values (lightened up the chair, illuminating the room more.)


The finished piece! A few adjustments are needed around the window area, but for now, this is it!

Art of the Pittock Mansion

Grand Staircase, Pittock Mansion (with Halloween cobwebs)

Today I was asked if my quick color study #5 (posted 12/14/07) could be used in an email announcement for the Pittock Mansion's Art show~"Shadow & Light". This will be a joint juried show at both The Broderick Gallery and the Pittock Mansion on Portland's First Thursday, March 6th, 2008. I have formally titled the piece "Petit De'jouner de Blu" which literally translates to "Blue Breakfast". The juror will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons voted by visitors. I hope to enter 3 pieces, one which I am currently working a color study...to be posted later....and the other one is posted 12/11/07~Color Study #3. (Lemons)

Here are the details:

Show dates: March 1~31st, 2008 at Broderick
March 1~June 30th, 2008 at Pittock Mansion
Artist Receptions at both locations~March 6th, 2008

Broderick Gallery, 814 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR
Pittock Mansion, 3229 NW Pittock Drive Portland, OR

Anyway, I hope to be at one of the receptions on March 6th. That will have be announced once I know where/if the pieces will hang. Oh, and the image above is the grand staircase dressed in cobwebs~hung for a Halloween tour.