Kirkland Artist's Studio Tour

I'm 'camped out' here at the studio this weekend, both days from 10 to 6.  Haven't sold much yet but hope springs eternal.  I've always wanted to fence some artwork.

http://kirklandartiststudiotour.com/artists/

here's the web site if you're in town

It's always an adventure...

Peaceful Afternoon

Peaceful Afternoon

I wasn't sure what to title this one.  It's a vineyard somewhere in France, can't remember where.  The land form draws you in and it's just - peaceful looking.  It will be at Parklane Gallery during May.

It's always an adventure...

The Cannon Art Studio at Finn Hill Winery

My art will be on display for the next month or so here in the wine tasting room:

Finn Hill Winery

18800 - 142nd Ave. NE, Suite 5A

Woodinville, Wa.

206.409.4378

rob@finnhillwinery.com

www.finnhillwinerey.com

Come by and taste some great wine and see some of my recent work
(Previously on display as featured artist at Parklane Gallery in Kirkland).

john and Rob

It's always an adventure...

Passing Storm

Passing Storm

I made this one up, from a photograph I saw.  I added the barn and roads and some clouds to be a bit more dramatic with the light.  I wanted to capture a sense of space and the big sky (although this is somewhere in France, not Montana).

It's always an adventure...

Vineyard painting study 2

Vineyard Study 2

A charcoal study for an upcoming painting.  The light will be a big part of this one.

It's always an adventure...

Over Hill 2

Another first layer pass for a vineyard scene.  Looks a little like the Kansas flint hills.  I might just do some of these and quit 'n leave it be.  This took me 15 minutes.  What?


It's always an adventure....

Overhill

Overhill

This is "day one" of paint layers for this painting of a vineyard in France.  I almost want to stop here and leave this as it is.  We'll see if it improves with more detail (or not improves).  A great experiment for me.

It's always an adventure...

Featured Artist for March

I am Parklane Gallery's Featured Artist for the month of March, 2013.  I've been working on 7 new original works, now up on the wall in the front of the Gallery.

Hope you can come by.


It's always an adventure...

Chair in the Window

Chair in the Window

This has been a favorite photo of mine for some time.  It was taken in a bed and breakfast castle and is a view from our room out onto the small vinyard.  It is in Chorey, France, and was an unexpected find.  We slept with these windows open on a warm spring night.  It's far off the beaten path, south of Dijon.

I sat in this chair for awhile before sunset as a gentle misty rain fell and the frogs began to croak.  It was so quiet.  So quiet.  I could almost hear the hooves of a horse drawn carriage coming up the path as if 200 years past were that very evening.

I want to sit there now.  It's why I painted it.


It's always an adventure...

We'll Leave the Light on for You

We'll Leave the Light on for You

Yeah, something a little different.  I admit, I found this on the internet.  I looked and looked but no copyright.  So if there is one, let me know and I'll find them and settle up.  I modified this quite a bit.  It was a photo.  The light was SO intense, I was struck by it.  Really fun to do this one.  I considered doing this on a black canvas, but the paint is cooler.

It's always an adventure...

Still Standing

Still Standing

I did a charcoal study for this last month.  I added a few more things to add to the depth and composition.  This will be up on the wall next month at PLG.  I'm always experimenting with stuff, so it's a bit of hodge-podge and perhaps wrong here and there.  But as an artist....unlike my former profession as an architect....I don't really need liability insurance for this kind of thing.

"...a doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can only advise the client to plant large trees..."

-  Frank LLoyd Wright

And an artist can paint over, walk away, or just start another painting.

It's always an adventure...

Sunday in Luxembourg Gardens

Sunday in Luxembourg Gardens

As I get closer to having to be finished with several larger works they start to come together quickly.  I've been working on 7 major paintings since January for the Featured Artist show at Parklane Gallery.  I have 4 more to finish.  This is just finished today, an oil, 16 x 20, from my photo I actually took on a Sunday visiting Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.  Love the guy laying across 3 chairs in the corner.

I had to wait awhile to take this without a stroller or skater or gaggle of folks walking in front of me.  I wanted to get a clear shot of those marvelous little 'sun-spots' on the pristine gravel surface.

It's always an adventure...

Wine Storage Building, Vaison la Romaine

Wine Storage Building in Vaison la Romaine

This is from a photo I took during the week we stayed in Vaison la Romaine, southern France.  It's the back of a huge wine storage facility.  The sun was just setting in late April.  The colors struck me.  Now that I am painting regularly and have studied some, I have come to understand what has been said of the light in this region of France.  It truly is magical.  I tried to capture it, but  -  not quite.

This one is 18 x 24, one of my biggest works to date.  

It's always an adventure....

Featured Artist in March

It's almost here!  I've been painting, painting, painting to get ready for my first 'Featured Artist' showing of my fledgling career.  I'll have about 18 to 20 works on display at the Parklane Gallery from March 5th through March 31st.  Over 80% of the work will be new, completed over the last 3 months.

I have grown as an artist this last year.  Heck, I've grown in the past 3 months putting out all this work. Life is good!  Come share a slice of it with me on Friday, March 8th at the Parklane Gallery from 6 to 8 PM for the Friday art walk in Kirkland and my artist's reception.

It's always an adventure.....