Capitol Dome

12"x12" oil

This is not in any way a response to the election. I paint the capitol frequently. I can almost see it from my studio (Harrisburg PA). This is a backlit view but my photo tunes down the light from behind. So I'll blame the camera for the latest darkness over the capitol. I paint, like jazz, classical and any weird music you'll never hear on the radio. Obviously, I'm not a right winger. Pennsylvania just elected one for congress. It took us until a few years ago to be able to buy alcohol on Sundays(Rendell, our current and leaving govna')had a few likes other than Philly cheese steaks) and you still can't buy anything other than beer in a "convenience" or grocery store. I dread what Toomey is thinking of going back to. Ok, I promise not to mention politics ever again on the blog.This is supposed to be about painting, self torture,struggle, conflict and survival. I just did this painting and I see it is completely about the election. I'm thankful I have a roof over my head and the furnace works.

oops. posted all images backwards. Not only that but blogger has switched me to a presentation that I can't seem to change. At any rate I tweaked yesterdays piece and reposted and here is a shot of my disaster area studio and a a few shots of tonights piece through developement. I like the mirror reflection. ps. when working from a laptop, environmental conditions can be very nearly replocated. My schedule demands it, so I say it is so.

upstate new york

11"x14"
So while doing this one I went through what alot of artists go through. I contemplated changing my whole direction. I really only wanted to show a certain key of light. Particularly with this scene. I probably could have done 3 colors and felt more satisfied. I feel ok with the piece in the mirror and perhaps will figure out my latest feelings towards painting. I've been doing this long enough to never trust my mind. I'll just paint on..............

The skies have it

5"x7" oil

My glass is neither half full nor half empty. It simply contains 1/2 of its potential volume.

The weather isn't getting better or worse. It is changing due to changing conditions.

It's election time. Seems to be lots of money for adds. Rock the vote...............off to the kitchen to fill my glass.

Happy Halloween

11x14


HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This is a pumpkin I carved out with a palette knife a few years back. In fact, I think it was my first blog post.
Back from Pittsburgh. I reshot the gray day paintings in better light so you can see them a bit better on the post 2 days ago. Tom now has the west end view piece so couldn't reshoot it. May or may not paint tonight. At anyrate, I'll be sure and cast a spell....heeeheeeheeeeheeeeheeee

west end overview

11"x14" oil plein air

Wen't to the Pittsburgh overview park. Great spot. A couple photographers there. I could only paint around noon time so no interesting light. Just tried to get Pittsburgh skyline. Most cityscapes boil down to a few essentials. The challenge is finding them!

Pittsburgh gray day

both 5"x7" oil plein air

The day was rather lackluster for painting. Cloudy, cold and windy. Held these 2 in my hand while painting. My friend here want's a painting showing the traditional view from the westend lookout. Will try tomorrow. It's supposed to be sunny. These are from settlers cabin park.

My friend here is an abstract painter and I will be attending his opening tonight. Congrats Tom! Now get online!

Ommegangs backside

11"x14" oil

This is the brewery viewed from the rear. It's such an interestingly designed structure. I fought tooth and nail with this one.

Off to Pittsburgh for a few days. Will be plein air painting there.

Ommegang Brewery

5"x7" oil

Paint the things you have feelings for. Ok, I love Ommegang's beer. Particularly three philosophers and hennepin. Ommegang is a belgian style brewery near Cooperstown, NY. and near our camp. They make beer the way it's supposed to be. GOOD! Very creative folks with new varieties every now and then but the standards are always strong in more ways than one. The brewhouse looks very European. You drive "through" the structure to park. All brewing is done on one side and bottling and storage on the other. This is a view of the "drive through". Prepare for more pieces of this place. I intend on a winter excursion back there to paint alot.

City rain

40"x30" oil

So I did this one. The blog image is a bit dark. Will retake a photo under better conditions. The goal is to capture the city. The eye tends to get caught up in the lights.............new photo taken in natural light is now showing.

back in the cool morning air

12"x12" oil plein air

Finally got outside to paint this morning. Nice crisp air. I went back to my buddy's farm where I did the grain silos painting oh so long ago. I don't think I've done a plein air piece since spring so I was happy with the experience and the piece I think. I always need to see them in a month or two to gauge the result.

Might just do the cityscape this afternoon. Will probably use yesterdays piece for reference.

Manhattan rain

7"x5" oil

Another preparatory piece for the big cityscape. I seem to be getting quite loose. I wonder what will happen with the big one. Plein air tomorrow. First in a long time. Might need the longjohns in the morning.

sketch

5"x7" oil

A quick study. I'm planning a large city scene, preferably in the rain. Possibly a nocturne. Haven't done a cityscape in awhile. This one felt good. Same approach as the coastal scene but a totally differnt feel. Feels abstract but recognizable. AAHHH, that is my goal! Create a tension then balance it.

Goin' Coastal (not postal)

16"x20" oil


I've regained my composure. Loose but delibrate brushwork on this one. It reads a bit tight but blow up image and see the strokes. Its probably more about the edges than anything. I can say my mind didn't wander a bit on this one. I still like that last one......whatever I was thinking...

a rare one (for me)

5"x7" oil

So here is a glimpse at a piece that I almost never let the public see. I've mentioned before that when I paint my mind rarely wanders on anything other than the next stroke. Well this one was scrubbed down once... sworn at multiple times....given a total death sentence.... all premixed paint was disregarded... my mind was all over the place...I finally said fU@me.com. Typically, I destroy these immediately. For some unknown reason this one still lives. I actually want to see what's inside this structure. I'm actually tempted to let my mind get in the way again. Perhaps some level of consciousness wants to be awoken. Just when you think your approach to painting is becoming "solidified" this happens. I'll sleep on it and see what happens tomorrow.

fall foliage

30"x40" oil

I had a bunch of paint on the palette and did not want to waste it. To be honest I struggled with a subject to paint. It reminds me of athletes that have to perform even on their off days. It felt like one of those days. You have to step up whether you like it or not. So I went big again. Contrast in edge work is significant. Below is a book that I find amazing and recommend for anyone who appreciates painting.

This book showcases a group that predates William Wendt and Diebenkorn. California colorists that sum up painting better than I could ever do. I wish my artist statement could be as well described as this groups. Here's a quote from the book that Wayne Thiebaud coined..,"the issue of transposition, where the painting always stays a painting, but there is this kind of duplicity of both being paint and material at the same time, sort of a simultaniety of variables. For instance, When Gile is painting a tree. yes it is clearly a brushstroke, but it's a brushstroke that periodically right in the middle of its being a brushstroke turns into a branch. It is that capacity and propensity for the paint to become the actual objectification of materials that I think are quite extraodinary."

happy birthday to me

30"x40" oil

Ok. So it's my birthday. Well, when you throw in leap years and time changes technically it's not. Frankly, I no longer remember my age. I really do have to do the math from my birth year. Turns out I'm 43. Anyway, I did this larger piece with the intent of keeping the looseness of the smaller ones. I think this one turned out well. I stuck with the large brush for almost everything. Keeping to the 1/7th size brush relative to canvas size. Indeed, up close one wonders what they are looking at. From a distance it becomes apparent. Again I took the photo indoors. Left side is a bit lighter but not a bunch.

Defining the artist

5"x7" oil

one last little guy before I go large tomorrow in studio. The wind is howling right now and will continue through tomorrow so plein air is on hold. (yeah the van would work but I'm staying in studio) I've been contemplating what makes an artist recognizable as an individual. Think about it. All the greats have a destinguishable body of work. When you see it you know who done it! Aside from the pop art stuff(find a niche and fill it) I'm intrigued by landscape painters that are identifiable by their work. What makes this so? Subject matter.....application....perspective....composition... palette....indeed all these things describe the artist. The ones we remember......did their own thing. Just a thought.....but one that I continually have.

feeling fine

5"x7" oil

I'm back to feeling good about pushing paint. Things are starting to click. Will approach large work this weekend..... Painting can solve many... many... issues. Painting can create many..... many..... issues.. Yes, we create our own environment!

backwoods

5"x7" oil

This scene reminds me of our family fishing trips to Ontario, Canada. There would be outpost camps along the lakes for the hunters and fishermen to camp. We stayed at the main lodge and boated in.