The Window Well

The Window Well

This is a deep set window in a Castle at Chorey, France.  The softness of the light grabbed me.  The bearing wall was the thickness of the well, down on the ground floor.  I just loved this small little space.

It's always an adventure...

Edge of Town

Edge of Town

From my photo overlooking the edge of a village in southern France.  An opening in a large black cloud seemed to spotlight some of the roofs.  It caught my eye and I took it with my cheapie pocket camera.

It's always an adventure...

Charcoal study for Provence Harvest Afternoon

Provence Harvest Afternoon

This is a light/shadow study for a photo I took in Provence several years ago.  The late mid summer's day light is on the stone wall, casting the most sumptuous peach color.  The light in Provence is truly very special.  I would so love to go back and paint more of it.  It's like the Creator is saying  "...Go ahead, just TRY to capture the beauty of this if you can...".

It's always an adventure...

Charcoal study

Chateau Neuf du Pape Study

Right before switching off the light in the studio late last night I stopped, sat down for 15 minutes and sketched this out.  It has been haunting me and I had to get it down on paper.  

From a photograph I took in that small southern France town, famous for the wine of the same name.  I had to reconstruct the shadows since I couldn't wait for the sun to come back when I walked by the first time.  I may have to computer model this in Sketch-up to get it right.  I just remember it was striking when I came upon the view into the courtyard.

It will be an oil painting eventually.  Stay tuned.

It's always an adventure

Parklane Gallery - December

These works will be on display at the Parklane Gallery in Kirkland for the month of December, 2012.  Most of the art work at the gallery is on special sale through the end of the month.  There is also gift wrapping available.  I'm 'on duty' December 28 from 4 to 8PM.

It's always an adventure...

Street Steps

Street Steps

This is an oil of the study done oil pastels.  Don't know if its better - just different.  I tried to be very efficient with brush stokes and knife work, let the canvas show through if it wanted to and quit before getting muddy.  

Detail - 6 strokes

(yeah ok, I got lucky)

It's always an adventure......

Soggy Morning (re-shoot)

Soggy Morning (re-shoot)

Lighting is better this morning (ironically quite soggy after the rain here too) for taking another scan of this one.  I put my art on a music stand and set the camera on high-res on my tripod.  Can't do it when it's raining/

It's always an adventure...

Soggy Morning

Soggy Morning

Just finished this one tonight finally.  I need to photo the work in daylight, however.  I'll post another one.  It's getting that time of year in Seattle where we have 7 to 8 hours of daylight, and most of that is really only light grey at best.  This is oil on 16 x 20 canvas board.

It's always an adventure...

Barn Door

Barn Door

This is using my oil pastel crayons on gesso board, 8 x 10.  There was something about the light in this that made me want to try to capture it.  

It's always an adventure...

Afternoon Market

Afternoon Market

This is an oil pastel on watercolor type paper that can accept oil base without bleeding into the paper.  I did this from a photograph I took in a village in southern France a few years ago.  I'm still experimenting with technique and what does what to what with colors, paper and other media.

This will be on my wall at Parklane gallery in December.  Our gallery discounts will still be in effect.  This one is 11 x 14.

It's always an adventure...

November at Parklane Gallery

November at the gallery

I have 5 new works up this month.  Main Line Open is oil.  The others are oil pastel, which is a new medium for me.  You can scroll down my blog and see these individually and on full screen.

Parklane Gallery is going to do special holiday discounting starting right after Thanksgiving this year.  Some works will be a flat $100 bucks.  Some larger work will be going at a good discount, depending on the artist.  The gallery is a Co-op, so every individual sets their own prices and, this year, discounts.  

Check out the website for more info:

www.parklanegallery.com

Note:  I will be tending the shop on Friday November 16 from 3 to 7pm, and Saturday November 24 from 3 to 7pm if you want to stop by and say hi.

It's always an adventure...

Lunch with Lauren

Lunch with Lauren

This is my first oil pastel on gesso block, 12 x 12.  From a photograph taken in southern France, my daughter Lauren sitting in the sun at a B & B.   This will be at the Parklane Gallery during the month of November.

It's always an adventure...

Main Track Open

Main Track Open

I finally finished this painting which has been languishing as I've been learning about oil pastels.  It's from a photo I took in Salina, Kansas.  I tried to capture low light spilling onto the open-ness along the tracks.

It's always an adventure...

Lefkara Street

Lefkara Street

This is from a photo I took several years in Lefkara, Cypress.  Actually I did it from a pencil drawing of the same photo.  Oil pastels on Canva-Paper, 12 x 16.  The towns on the island of Cypress are a photo-rich environment.

It's always an adventure.