Lemons

Lemons

12" x 16"

Oil on hardwood Panel

It's been a long break since I did a still life. I enjoy them but usually find another portrait or landscape that I would rather be working on

This painting was suggested by a GCA entry about light, molding and shadow.

Sometimes achieving the simplest effect can be the most difficult. The panel is flat and creating the illusion of three dimension objects in a believable fashion is the goal

As is usually the case no pure black was used

John Holbrook

John Holbrook

24" x 18"

Oil on hardwood Panel

[click on the image to enlarge]

I tried this subject twice previously before getting a pose through the under-painting stage that I thought worked well

For this portrait I wanted a more typical corporate boardroom approach [although it must be admitted that I'm not always a great fan of such a pose]

John has strong features and I felt it was coming together well

The limited palette and the warm/cool balance seemed to express my feeling.

I hope that you can feel the vision and the warmth of Johnny

I like the 'presence'

The ultraviolet blue to his right is a bit more subdued in the actual painting. It got an artificial boost out of the processing.

Sleeping Princess

Sleeping Princess

16" x 12"

Oil on hardwood Panel

This was just a delightful painting experience.

Of course I love the little one.

I was also drawn to the bedding and the opportunity to experiment with that in a small way

This could be titled "Sleeping Angel" however I realized that she is a princess and daughter of a Heavenly King while working on the painting.

The skin tones were soft and yummy

I hope that you can share the feeling

Center of the Village

Center of the Village

12" x 16"

Oil on hardwood Panel

I was attracted to the basic setting of the American church in a setting with darker hills behind it.

This lead to modifying the design to get the emphasis that I wanted.

This could be New England or a small town in Utah, such as Wallsburg or Midway.

I find myself drawn to this painting - it speaks to me or moves me about what I value.

This is perhaps the last snow scene for  a time as I have other projects underway. 

Peaceful Home Valley

Peaceful Home Valley

12" x 24"

Oil on hardwood Panel

Another painting with a New England setting.

A peaceful design suggesting a more tranquil time.

A worshipful relationship with our Heavenly Father is essential to such peace.

Breakfast with Morgan

Sharing Breakfast

18" x 24"

Oil on hardwood Panel

I've enjoyed working on portraits during the last year.

This painting allowed me to create a small group scene in a very everyday situation.

Two small children being fed or encouraged to eat breakfast.

I was especially pleased with the little girl's pajamas and all the clothes were interesting. 

And I'm loving working with hair

Still I have a good deal to learn about painting portraits but I'm enjoying the experiences

Cornish Hills

Cornish Hills

[after Metcalf]

18" x 24"

Oil on hardwood Panel

Willard Metcalf painted this more than a century ago. It is one of my favorite landscape paintings.

In an effort to understand it's structure and unity, I decided to try to paint it myself. However Metcalf painted his nearly square and I'm not a great fan of square landscape, so I modified the design into a rectangle.

I wish I had the original to compare the surface control and brushwork.

It was a great exercise for me, as I discovered things about it in trying to create it that were not obvious to me just by studying it. Lots of great stuff involved in his creation of this masterpiece.

A photograph of Metcalf's original painting is below. And, sad to admit, better than mine