Detail of Current Work in Progress

Detail of GE WIP  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

 

I've been out of the world for a while, but I'm close to finishing up the underpainting of my current piece. This is a cropped image showing a detail. It's pretty rough, but it's a start. There have been rumors of a possible corporate commission, but as yet it has not materialized. If it does get the go I'll need to put this painting aside until until I can complete the commission. My next post should show which direction this story takes. 

Ryan PT-16 Complete

Ryan PT-16  |  24 x 24  |  Oil on panel

It's been two months, and it's finally complete. I say "finally" like I'm glad it's over, but not so much. I loved working on this painting. I just hope someone will want to buy it. Now comes one of the hardest parts of this "job", figuring out what to paint next. 

Ryan PT-16 Underpainting In Progress No. 3

Ryan PT-16  |  24 x 24  |  Underpainting In Progress No. 3

With the addition of the remainder of the engine cowling, exhaust ports, wings and the Ryan logo the underpainting is done. Now it's back to the beginning, starting with the prop. This will be the final WIP image. The colors area little whacky with each of these posts. Shot with different camera's under different lighting conditions.The next post will be the completed painting with an image taken with the "good" camera. Really hoping I don't screw it up!

 

Ryan PT-16 Underpainting In Progress No. 2

Ryan PT-16  |  24 x 24  |  Underpainting In Progress No. 2

 

Progressing apace as it were. Engine cowling with inlet ports and more rivets. The color of the background in this image is closer to the actual color than that in the first WIP image. 

Happy New Year!

 

Ryan PT-16 Underpainting In Progress No. 1

 

Ryan PT-16 |  24 x 24  |  Underpainting In Progress No. 1

I came across this Ryan trainer at the  National Championship Air Races in Reno back in 2012. I've been holding onto this photograph since then. I know aircraft art has a rather limited audience, but it's my favorite subject to paint, so here we go. I know this will take a while to complete (there are a lot of rivets in this image) so I thought it would be a good painting to include some In Progress shots. Here's number one.

bread

Bread  |  16 x 16  |  oil on panel

 

My last painting of 2020. I don't know if that's a good thing or bad. Anyway, Karen really wanted me to paint some bread again, so I obliged. One of my more funner subjects to paint.

It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, "it's been a strange year". I'm very fortunate that I have my painting to keep me centered. I'm keeping a glass half full kind of attitude these days, believing that 2021 will, for the most part, prove to be a less interesting year (for all of us). Before I go I'd like to thank everyone who visited my social media sites these last twelve months. It's very encouraging to see the "likes" and read your wonderful comments. I'll be back here again in January with a somewhat larger piece that should warrant some "work in progress" posts. 

So, Happy Holidays . . . and have a Happy NEW Year!

POOL

POOL  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

 

It seems like I've been working on this for an eternity, but I'm finally calling it done. Next up was supposed to be a larger piece, but I'm kind of liking this 16 x 16 inch format, so I'm bumping that selection for a smaller piece. When that's done I think I'll be ready for something a little larger. Two compositions are vying for that spot. One is a 24 x 24 and the other a 30 x 30. 

Crayola No. 2

Crayola No. 2   |   16 x 16   |   Oil on panel

Karen just painted a Crayola box for her upcoming show at Shain Gallery in October, and it reminded me of the Crayons I painted back in 2014. I've archived the probably 50 photographs I took of it so I thought to myself, "I've still got all these images why not pick another composition and do it again". So I did. Now I'm contemplating the next painting and haven't decided whether it will be another 16 x 16 or move up to a 24 x 24. They're two completely different subjects, so I'm going to prep both panels, then maybe just flip a coin to decide. The coin toss idea is helpful because if I think "ugh" instead of "yay" when the results are in I can be pretty confident that it's the other subject that I really want to paint.

Heinz

Heinz  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

I really like sinking my teeth into a large painting, but lately it's been fun working smaller. It satisfies that need for "instantish" gratification. I know I've done a bunch of these ketchup paintings over the years. They remind me of my introduction to the photorealist artists when I discovered the work of Ralph Goings in the seventies. Fortunately I was able to see one of his paintings in the flesh at OK Harris in New York before they closed their doors in 2014. Anyway, now I'm back to the most difficult part of this job, deciding what to paint next. Right now I'm not sure but I know one thing, it will be no larger than 16 x 16.

Flying Tiger

Flying Tiger   |   24 x 24   |   Oil on panel

I do a lot of photography, either in the field or creating still life set ups at home. Amongst all those photos there are always a few that I feel are just a little above the rest. Unfortunately due to a serious flaw in my mental abilities I tend to reserve these images for some future date when the time is "right", or I've gotten better at painting to utilize them. Because of this I rarely get around to actually using one of these, what I think of as, "really great" photos. Bogged down in this unpredictable world we all live in now I figured maybe it was a good time to use one of those precious photos. I'm not saying that this particular image will come across to the art appreciating/buying public as anything special. This only pertains to my perception of the image. I am glad I finally broke down and released this shot because it was really satisfying to paint.

inspiredapArt

Artist Katie Koenig https://www.kkoenigart.com/ came up with the idea of a socially distanced art show. It's an online small works exhibition with all the proceeds of the sales to go to the artists. Karen and I both agreed to participate. The show will run from June 19th to the 26th. There's a lot of good art, so if you want to check it out here's the link.

https://www.inspiredapart.com/

Coke Straw No. 2  |   12 x 12  |  oil on panel

Think Small No. 2

Think Small No. 2   |   24 x 36   |   Oil on panel

My first quarantine painting. It's the same bug I painted back about a year ago, after I came across it in a Whole Foods parking lot. Like I said then, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for this car, having owned two in my life. I was having a bit of trouble getting a good photo of this painting because the color was wreaking havoc with the white balance settings of both my cameras. This version is really close.  

I'm indulging myself with my next painting. Aviation played a pretty big part of my earlier life as a fan, a pilot, a skydiver and an aircraft mechanic, so I've picked a P-40 Warhawk. It's an image I've had stored for a while and I figured at this moment with all its uncertainty, it would be nice to do something that reminded me of that more adventurous time.

Mixer Commission

 Mixer Commission   |   16 x 16   |   Oil on panel

Finally . . . the first painting of 2020. A commission for a client of C. K. Contemporary Gallery. Off now to Blick to purchase a panel for the next painting. I've got a couple of different compositions for that panel and hopefully by the time I get it primed I'll know which one gets picked.

Pool Bowl: Orange No. 13

Pool Bowl: Orange No. 13  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

Even though I actually finished this painting in 2020, I'm calling it my last painting of 2019 since 99% of it was actually done in 2019. Coming up next will be a commission of my shiny Sunbeam mixer. 

12 Ounce   |   24 x 24   |   Oil on panel

Sometimes I just have to paint an empty bottle of pop.

Karen's Show at Shain Gallery

If it's October that means it time for Karen's annual solo show at Shain Gallery in Charlotte. This year was, I'm pretty sure, her biggest show ever. In number of paintings that is. A total of 30. A combination of new work and a few pieces relocated from other galleries.

It began as all of these trips do with an alarm clock, followed by a big bowl of food for the kitty, bagged organic apple and peanut butter sandwiches on Ezekiel bread, to be washed down with coffee in our insulated mugs, then select our destination on the Garmin, hit the play button for a little John Grisham on the iPod, and we're off.

It was a nice ride and fun to see everyone after a year away. We hung around a while and got reacquainted, and while we were hanging out a few "fans" came in for a preview of the the work prior to the opening.

Blind Trust

One of them bought Blind Trust on the spot! After that we went to have lunch at CO, another tradition while in Charlotte then downtown to check into our hotel. As it turns out our hotel card key not only gets us into our room it also gets us into the Mint Museum, so after a brief rest we headed out to the Mint. 

It's Never Too Late to Mend  |  Norman Rockwell

There was a lot of good stuff there, but for me the highlight was a Norman Rockwell.  I devoured every inch of this painting with my eyes. Man . . . 

We were there a couple of hours then it was time to get back, get cleaned up and make our way back to the gallery. The space looked great, the staff had done a wonderful job of hanging the show. A few guests had already arrived and wanted to meet Karen, so she dove in and I faded into the background to preserve the moment in pictures.

Lou beverage master for the evening

The evening went along smoothly, the weather was perfect, the guests were really happy to have an opportunity to speak with Karen. I don't think it could have gone any better.

Lou, Eli, Kimberly (and friend) chilling at the end of the night.

Lou, Sybil and Eli taking a break.

Sybil letting Karen know she had sold 17 paintings that night!

With the evening done and seventeen sold paintings under her belt Karen and I thanked Sybil, Eli, Kimberly and Lou for their hard work and returned to our hotel. The next day we decided to stay in town a little longer than usual to visit the Lark & Key gallery. Duy Huynh is one of our favorite artists and Sandy Snead, his partner in life and business, is always fun to talk with.  

We had a great visit then stopped at our new favorite Charlotte restaurant Living Kitchen. It's a totally vegan plant based restaurant with fabulous food, great atmosphere, and really friendly staff. Wish there was one here in Atlanta. Then it was back to  "the Rainmaker" and the road home.

Mix

Mix   |   16 x 16   |   Oil on panel

I wanted to try something kinda monochromatic and felt this mixer would be a good subject. It was definitely a learning experience and much harder than I anticipated. Trying to get those subtle variations in that smooth surface was a bear. Karen kept trying to convince me it was done but I just couldn't stop working on it. When it got to this point I finally said enough already, so I think it's done . . .

Sky Bucket No. 2

Sky Bucket No. 2   |   24 x 36   |   Oil on panel

Fortunately my first Sky Bucket painting sold pretty quickly, so I'm taking that as an invitation to visit the well once again. I'm hoping enthusiasm for this subject will last, and in the end, I'll be able to paint all four of my images.

Pool Bowl: Red No. 7

Pool Bowl: Red No. 7  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

I finished up the second Pool Bowl last night and when these are both dry and ready I'll be shipping them up to Rehs Galleries.