Another Commission Update...

I had to stop painting so I can pack the van.  I should
have done that on Monday... it is super windy and cold.

It is time to start showing again. 
This weekend you can find me in NJ.
CBA Arts and Antiques Show
Held at the Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ
This is a long standing show that I have done for many
years and has had lots of recent changes.  Adding
antiques is the latest.  I fit right in!
Sat. 10-4 and Sun. 10-2   ($5 admission)Hope to see you there!

Also, my January watercolor classes finished today.
I still have a few spaces in February if you are interested
send me an email and check out my Student Blog!

Now to my commission...

OK, I was getting a little tired of painting baskets.  They
can be slow and a bit tedious.  I needed a change so I
worked on the crock.

 

 

 

But I am diligent so it was back to the top basket.  This is the first set of washes.  I will go back over
each rung until the color suits me.

 

 

 

 

Basket is almost finished...

 

 

 

And an overall view ~ Still lots to do
I think you can click over each photo to enlarge.
Notice how the weave on each basket is a little different.

 

 

I am very happy with the way this is looking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commission Update...

I put aside the first painting and wanted to
paint the objects in the second.  I have a pair
that will be hung together.
My plan is to tie them together later.
After spending a large amount of time drawing this
basket I slowly started painting each part of the
weave.  In a sense, I became a basket weaver for
a day.  Going back over with washes to make it
darker on the bottom and right side.  I love this
basket, would not change a thing.

 

 

I used this for my demo at the Lititz Library last night.
Hope everyone enjoyed themselves.  It was a full room,
I took lots of questions, talked about commissions while

painting.  I enjoy myself at these talks and no question is
to much!
Here are the beginning washes on the bowl.

 

 

 

A finished bowl and most of the second basket...

 

 

 

An overall look, I am starting the top basket.
You can see how I underpaint each weave.

 

Basically you are viewing 2.5 full days/nights
of painting up to this point.  You cannot rush it.
Taking time to slowly increase the shading, drying
hard with a hair dryer between each wash.
I think you can click over top the painting to enlarge it.

FYI: Time to sign up for February watercolor classes.
Held in Lititz at my studio.  Everyone works on their own
painting at their own speed.  Only $65 for a set of 4
classes and if you sign up for February and March it is
only $60 each set.  Very reasonable!

2013 Winter Series #12

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #12
6"x 4" Original Miniature Watercolor

Another view from my recent Lancaster County
morning travels. 

I actually painted this on Friday but ran out of
time.  We went with friends to Philadelphia over
the weekend.  Saturday we did the tourist thing.
National Constitution Center, Liberty Bell, Visitors
Center, Independence Hall and on Sunday we
went to the new Barnes Foundation.

Today I worked on my commission.
Spent all day drawing  the basket and I want to
finish the basket on the upper shelf before bed.

Tuesday night I am giving a demonstration at the
Lititz Library at 7pm (free) and plan to use the
other commission painting as a demonstration.

2013 Winter Series #11

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #11
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor

Another view from my recent Lancaster County
morning travels.  Cold here but still dry!


It is official... Our son-in-law Ben was sworn in today
in Albany, NY.  He is officially an attorney!  Even
better, an employed attorney.  Ben and Abbey are
headed to Killington, VT to ski for a few days.

Commission update

Commission Update:

I spent most of my day working on my commission.

The last object is now finished.

 

Here is a view of everything.  Next is the bottom part
of the cabinet. Right now everything is just floating in
space.   Just wait till you see it all come together!
There is still several full days of work.  I am having so
much fun with this, I see the completed painting in my
head...

I am in the third week of teaching and have the student
blog updated.  Click here to see their work.
Linda has my schedule finished up to September.  Most
of the shows she applied for you send in a jury fee and
email photos of my work and they decide if you fit into
the diversity of their show.  If accepted I owe a hefty
show fee!  So while we know where we want to go we
have to wait to see if they want me!

2013 Winter Series #10

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #10
6"x 4" Original Miniature Watercolor


I passed this scene early this morning on my
way to market.  Had to come home and paint it.

I taught two classes today, used the blog and the
commission for demonstrations.

 

Commission Update:

I have the pewter plate almost finished.

2013 Winter Series #9

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #9
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor

Commission update: 
Today I concentrated on this bowl filled with lemons.
Notice how each photo becomes richer, deepening the
colors, working on the shadows,adding thin layers of
washes, drying between.

Heritage Series #6

Painting A Day ~ Heritage Series #6
Original Miniature Watercolor ~ 4"x6"

A Civil War drummer...
This is the last of my Heritage Series.
It was a good experience to be able to
study and practice portraits for a full week.
But I am back to winter scenes and still life.

I worked on my commission over the weekend.
Had an enjoyable Saturday with my client
here to watch me paint.  I hope I impressed
them with my great skills!
I am working on each object and in the end
incorperate everything.  I do keep going back
and adding a bit more detail 

Just returned from the American Music Theater
to see Elvis Gospel.  I am not a great Elvis fan but
he was excellent.  And icing on the cake was
The Stamps also singing!

Heritage Series #5

 Painting A Day ~ Heritage Series #5
Original Miniature Watercolor ~ 5"x5"

1865 Officer in the US Colored Troop.
I would like to believe we have come a
long way... but I am not so sure.


It is that time of year, Linda has my teaching
tables piled with show applications.   I
hate when my input is requested, so much
to consider;  application fees, show fees,
gas, hotel, weather... sales.
Finally went in to see my Mom, they had a
quarantine for 2 weeks.  I had to wear a
mask which makes conversation fun.
$365 later my furnace is repaired!  Should
never had them come out last night, didn't
have the part anyway.

Heritage Series #4

A Painting A Day ~ Heritage Series #4
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor
SOLD

Looks like the weight of the world rests
on her shoulders...


My commission...  this is the top painting
All hand drawn.  24" x 22"

This is the bottom painting, the plan is to hang them
vertically.  Starting underpainting tomorrow.

Heritage Series #3

A Painting A Day ~ Heritage Series #3

4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor

Another Civil War soldier...

Heritage Series #2

A Painting A Day ~ Heritage Series #2
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor

This portrait is from my buddies trip to
Liberia. 

Went to market, taught two classes, painted
this blog and have half the second drawing
done for my commission.  Plus had lunch at
Red Lobster to celebrate my Mom-in-laws
birthday.  Good productive day!

Heritage Series #1

A Painting A Day ~  Heritage Series #1
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor
SOLD!

What I look for in a portrait is character.
A face that shows the wear of life.
This is an 1890 soldier.

2013 Winter Series #8

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #8
5"x 5" Original Miniature Watercolor
SOLD!

I cannot remember what this building is,
I thought part of Gettysburg College but
cannot confirm that. I know it is in
Gettysburg, PA.   I am sure a client will
tell me and I will let you know!

UPDATE:
It is the Lutheran Theological Seminary (Gettysburg Seminary).
The building is known as the 1832 Old Dorm (now called
Schmucker Hall. In the 1993 movie 'Gettysburg', the cupola
is shown as an observation point used by Brig.Gen.
Buford (Sam Elliott). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Theological_Seminary_at_Gettysburg
Thank you to all who sent info!

I plan to do a week of portraits to honor
MLK week starting tomorrow.
I am rather excited about that.
Still drawing my commission... 

2013 Winter Series #7

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #7
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor
SOLD!

Another Gettysburg winter scene.

I am almost finished with the drawing on
the first commission... I will show it
tomorrow.  I was at my desk all day while
Linda was at her desk punching in the 4th
quarter sales/expenses.  So glad that is not
my job.  Keeping track of receipts is hard enough!

2013 Winter Series #6

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #6
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor

This was from a past winter trip to Gettysburg.
If you have not been there in winter, after a snow
I highly recommend it.  There is a silence you
cannot get in summer.

The meeting for my commission went well.
I think I have a direction and am excited to
start.  I think I will use it as a demo on this blog.
Plan to start tomorrow.

2013 Still Life Study #4

A Painting A Day

6"x 4" Original Miniature Watercolor

Another still life for my commission.
I am simply working on ideas that
my client can discuss with me.

Last class for the week was this morning.
Below is my Wednesday evening class.
Everyone is concentrating!

2013 Still Life Study #3

A Painting A Day
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor

Still working on subjects for my commission.
Another two classes to teach today...
concentrating!

2013 Still Life Study #2

A Painting A Day
6"x 4" Original Miniature Watercolor

Another still life study for my commissions...

 

4"x 6" watercolor

This lemon was also a study, demonstration in my
class.... $25.00 to the first person who calls or emails!
SOLD!

Classes started today!  I always enjoy teaching.

2013 Still Life Study #1

A Painting A Day
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor
SOLD!

This is part of a study for two large originals
I am working on.  I am trying to get ideas
together for my client to pick from.

It is about to get hectic here again.  I am
working on studies for my commission and
classes start tomorrow... yes you can still
join me this week... come on, the weather is
co-operating!

2013 Winter Series #5

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #5
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor


Again I borrowed from my friend Nancy.
This is from one of her photo's from Rock
Ford.   I like the monochromatic feel to the
bare trees and lone bench.  It is either lonely
or inviting depending upon your mood!

We had a nice lunch with Abbey and Ben at
the Dispensing Co in Lancaster.  They were
in town for a Hunter get-together.
Other than that it was a quiet day.  Set up the
house for classes which start on Tuesday...
there are still some openings, give me a call!

2013 Winter Series #4

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #4
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor


Winter has a stark look to it.  Patches of
snow left from a past storm.  A sky that
threatens bad weather.  This is how it had
been looking in Lancaster County.
Although today was rather nice.

2013 Winter Series #3

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #3
5"x 5" Original Miniature Watercolor
SOLD!

Thank you Stephanie Hartline for the photo you
sent me to work from.  It is her springhouse after
a snow.  Notice the snow piled on the plant.
I think a rhododendron...

2013 Winter Series #2

A Painting A Day ~ Winter Series #2
4"x 6" Original Miniature Watercolor
SOLD!

I love this painting, again thank you to
Nancy Bradley,  who took the photo from
Rock Ford Plantation in Lancaster County,
during our last snow storm.
I plan to make prints of this one. 
You are still buying the original watercolor
but knowing there will be prints available later.

I must confess that to make the snow falling
I had to use some white paint.  The roof and
snow on the ground is the paper but the splattered
snow is paint...  so I am not a total purist!

I met with someone who wants two large paintings
commissioned for her kitchen.  I am pretty excited
to come up with some ideas.  But it is always so
much harder to please someone than for someone
to simply fall in love with one already painted.
Much more pressure this way.

P.S.  Questions about this painting as a print.
Printed as an "Open Edition Print"  Meaning an
unlimited number.  I always print in the same
size as the original. So it will be 6"x4" and fit into
an 8x10" frame.  Retail $35

2013 Winter Series #1

A Painting A Day ~  Winter Series #1
5"x 5" Original Miniature Watercolor
SOLD!

Thank you David Lucas for the use of your photo.
I love the red of the barn surrounded by fresh
white snow.

In watercolor you save the white paper for the
white in your painting.  So you paint around the
snow, but you need to look at it like a puzzle.
Adding a bit of blue grey for highlight.
I am still in need of winter subjects, since I do not
like the cold it is hard for me to go out and take
photos!