Rimi Restaurant, Nicosea, Cypress

Rimi Restaurant

Several years ago my wife's family were all invited to a wedding and wedding party in Nicosea, Island of Cypress.  A traditional Greek wedding and wedding week, full of parties.  At one of the luncheons, the bride negotiates with the proprieter just outside the restaurant while some 50 guests reveled inside.  WHAT a memorable time.  I have many photos which I will sort through and begin the process of putting to paper and canvas.

It's always an adventure...

Lapin Agile

The Lapin Agile

This is a small structure in Paris that still serves as a restaurant.  It was a favorite spot for artists in the 1870's during the rise of impressionism.  "The agile rabbit" translation on the gable.  The trees aren't dead.  This was in March of 1997 and the buds were just coming out.  They had been trimmed rather severely.

It's always an adventure...

Farm Pump

Farm Pump

I did this one really quickly from a photograph.  Again, it's a study for future work - haven't decided what medium just yet.

It's always an adventure...

Morning Farm

Morning Farm

I did this from a photo I had for a study for a future watercolor.  The light is coming from behind, making the hills in the background in some deep shadows.  the fence and its shadow make a sort of cool perspective, combining a one-point and two-point perspective in one drawing.

It's always an adventure...

Windmill

Windmill

I pulled this one out of the archives.  Did it sitting on the car fender one afternoon outside Salina, Kansas.

Roofs

Roofs

This is a study of rooms I did in charcoal back in 2004 from a photo.  I may do an oil study of it.  I've hesitated on the oil because I'm not sure how to effectively capture the texture of the tiles without exhaustive detail.  Something to work on.  Check back in - I may do a couple studies and put them up to look at.

It's always an adventure...

Minus 5 Degrees

Minus 5 Degrees

I'm taking a trip back to Kansas in a few weeks.  This reminds me of a sunset on a day with high clouds and a filtered sun that keeps its distance in respect to the grip of winter on the plains.  Cold.  Bitterly cold, even at the end of the short day.  Nothing has thawed for a week and the ground crunches.

It's always an adventure...

Surf's Up

Surf's Up!

I got this studying different surfs, waves, etc.  I wanted to catch the quiet but ominous power of the ocean swell and the moment it gives in to wind and gravity.  The scale of the lone surfer helps give the size.  What a ride!

It's always an adventure...

High Country Aspens

High Country Aspens

Again, a painting that turned out much differently than intended.  Took this from a photo from a friend.  The leaves were different on the photo than how I painted them.  It did have a 'cold' feeling to it and I think I did get that.

It's always an adventure...

Louvre Window

Louvre Window

I took this photo several years ago in Paris.  The light streaming in the window was striking.  The curators placed this statue with this in mind I'm sure.  I did some photo shop experiments with the photo and still like the painting the best.  There are still glitches.

It's always an adventure...

Dustbowl 1930's

Dustbowl 1930's

I recently read the book 'The Worst Hard Time' by Timothy Egan written about the history of the great dustbowl in the Oklahoma Panhandle, Texas, Kansas and Colorado.  It prompted me to go online and research some archival photos.  This is one that I sketched.  I wanted to capture the ominous nature of this phenomenon.  We grew up in Kansas.  My mom was a teenager when this was going on and told me some days were "...just plain dark outside...".

The book is a well written bit of history.  

It's always an adventure...

Table and Chairs

Table and Chairs

I pulled this one out from a stack of sketches I did last year.  I plan to do an oil of this one although I will have to make up the colors since I've misplaced the original photo.  What drew my interest initially was the intense sunlight on the table.  I played that against the darkness of the inner room.

It's always an adventure...

Reflections

Reflections

I saw a photo recently that I had to try a variation of with paints.  I haven'y done many works using reflections so I just used my imagination and went for it.  It has a rather haunting feel to it.

It's always an adventure...

90

90

I'm still not sure about this one.  I named it "90" because I started it one night at 10:30 after just staring at my board listening to Pink Floyd.  Finished it about midnight - 90 minutes.  The photo was with stone walls but I used stucco instead since it's easier to paint with a pallette knife.  Again, it was the light behind these walls and doors that intriqued me. Onward.

It's always an adventure....