Snow Shadows

The days are now getting longer, and so are the shadows.

A sign casts a shadow across the street.

With all the new snow, it's a beautiful mess.

I thought this was a bit abstract.

(Or maybe I'm just pooped from all the shoveling)

Oil on gesso'd board 5"x5"

Happy New Years Everybody!!

Winter Robin

I went to Deardorff Apple Orchard to look around for things to paint.

They now have a winery called Parley Lake. This was there first year,

and the Parley Vue is a hit!

They have several types of wine.

I may have a foot in the door to sell some art at the Orchard/ Winery

store on location.

Anyway..I spotted a robin eating crabapples.

A rare site & cool to me. (5'x7' oil on gesso'd board)

I thought this would make a nice Christmas post.

Thanks everyone for stopping by to see my blog.

Merry Christmas!

Snow

It's here! Snow!!

And we got a ton of it. Most people dread this when it happens, I

make the best of it and deal with it.

This is a view out my back window at the studio.

(of course the -20 below windchill is Brrrr!)

Ice fishin' sign

Bob is a friend that loves to ice fish. His stories are unbelieveable!

He had me make a sign for the fish house this winter. (sort of

a good luck thing.)

Soon we'll be "hammerin' the crappies & sunnys! Maybe a walleye

or two! Northern pike is another type of monster we catch.

I'll keep you posted, as I want to do some winter paintings in between

all the action.

(This sign is reflective vinyl on wood board, my cartoon fish

look like Bob, ha!)

Mr. Meowie

This is my cat Mr. Meowie.

My wife thought she'd take him to"Petsmart" to see Santa.

(yes, for the cat that has everything, you take him to see Santa)

I thought it was an accident waiting to happen, it was!

But when Renee's on a mission, I get outta the way.

Mr. Meowie is an artist, he drew blood.

I'm so proud of him!!

Monday Morning

Back to it.
I Had a nice Thanksgiving. Hope all you did too!

I'm thankful to have a Monday morning with a

full work day ahead of me.

This is the back alley by my studio.

That's my window at the lower right.

5'x7' oil on gesso'd board

STOP

Another veiw out the studio.

Thats my red truck, it's a "Rat Rod!"

8"x10" oil on gesso'd board

Musette and the "Grassy Knoll"

Dr. Sketchy was last Sunday at the 331 Club.

Musette was our model. She's something else. (OO-LaLa!)

Since it happened to be Nov. 22 they themed this scene

around the Kennedy assasination.

"Thank God they missed her!" I titled this.

This sketch was a 15 minute pose. I spent another 15 minutes

tweeking & putting in bullets.

Charcoal, pastel on moleskin tablet.

Night Fix

I started this painting last week. Eager to catch the moment, I got lost.

What would MacGyver do?

I contacted Tony Peters, (California Artist) since I knew Tony liked

nocturnes and is a merited Artist.

Tony was kind enough to spend some time to give a critique.

Thanks again Tony! I think it helped this piece a lot!

Sometimes you gotta work late

I met with some possible clients the other day, and realized how early it is getting dark.

The city lights were on and I needed to finish up.

It occured to me that this moment could make a nice painting, (part of a series Tony Peters

had commented on, (thanks Tony)

So I decided to stay and work on this piece. It's not done, it's really ruff, but the blog must be fed!

5'x7' oil on gesso'd board

Sunny Days

There is an elm tree up the road that seems to hug you as you go by. The leaves

are golden. The autumn sky is true blue!

5'x7' oil on gesso'd board.

Dutch Elm

These lofty giants that line our boulevards are disapearing at an alarming rate.

I lost mine last year.

Unless something can be done, they will be extinct in our life time.

Studio View

Last week it was raining for 3 days, so
I painted this view out my window.

She likes color, wants comfort, she wears a big hat.

Gouache on gessoed board.

Pallesades

For Minnesotans, it's a must see.

It's hard to desribe it, you have to be there.

I can see the curviture of the earth from Pallesades.

It will lure you.

Quick Paint

Gary and I registerd for the quick paint event.

We have 1 1/2 hrs. to paint a scene from the area.

Gary chose lake Superior, I chose a lone pine.

We both liked the other's painting better. (go figure!)

Gary Hittle

This is my friend, Gary Hittle.

I've known Gary since childhood. We both had been caught drawing

during class many times. You can still catch us drawing, and now,

painting too!

Gary introduced me to Grand Marais, and it's Art Colony, thanks Gary.

Grand Marais, Mn.

Grand Marais is a town in northern Minnesota. It has an Art Colony

that spans 62 years. (Since 1947)

Every year, there is a time artists come together to paint local scenes.

This week long event produces art note worthy to anyone, anywhere.

I was there for the first time, last year.

I was invited back this year, and went!

(I camped on the beach along Lake Superior.) This was my sunrise!

Dr. Sketchy

Every summer there is an "Art Crawl" in the

Warehouse District for the Arts neighborhood.

We all open our doors to the public, and let folks

get a peek at what we do.

Maybe make a sale or two.

This year I was asked to be a "ringer" at the 331 Club.

331 Club is a bar that entertains locals of all types.

We were set up outside, bands playing, eating & drinking,

and lots of vendors.

There were two models dressed in burlesque, posing as

we "sketched."

We had 5 minute poses as the crowd watched us, hoping

to advertise "Dr. Sketchy" to anyone caring to join in.

Drinking & drawing can be fun! I won a few prizes, and

met some interesting people.

I think people enjoy watching art happen, I received many

compliments from total strangers!

The model said she liked my work. She was very pretty.

This painting is gouache on gesso wood panel.

size: 2"x 3.5"

Scotty Boyz

Scotty is a friend that I've met. He lives near my studio.
Many times I'll get to work, check my calls, and Scotty
will be my only message.
"Wanna take a walk to the Island."
He calls me 2 scoops, (the new improved Bill, now with
2 scoops of raisins, Ha!)
Always good to hear from Scotty Boyz.
One day I asked him to get all duded up, "I want to paint your
portrait."
Scotty showed up, sat for about 1.5 hrs.
This was before I'd learned of the Zorn palette, but it still
was a limited palette. (I always throw in a little blue.)

Nicollet Island, Nord East

Sometimes you've got to take a break.

I enjoy walking down to the river, a couple of blocks

from my studio.

You can see Saint Anthony Falls from Nicollet Island.

It has a way of scaling yourself down, as everything

is so grand. The cotton woods, the 3rd. ave. bridge,

the scene of Minneapolis.

So I thought it would be fitting to paint a "minnie" of

this location.

The painting is no larger than a business card.

Here is my card, Nicollet Island, Nord East.

Learning from the Masters

There are so many artists I admire.

Sometimes I like to "sing their songs." It helps me to

understand, or learn by way of imitation.

(You should see my Rodney Dangerfield!)

Anyway, There is an Artist from Minnesota, Mike Lynch.

His work moves me.

I feel akin to it.

Mike lives just down the road from me. I pass his home

weekly on my way to the studio.

I bought all his watercolor blocks, (paper) at a yard sale

that he had.

"Sort of reminds me of my old uncle Arvin Kind."

This painting is one of so many spots "up north" that

we all have been to. Sometimes I go there in my mind

to have a drink, and get away.

Bills' Wilde

The local coffee house is called Wilde Roast Cafe. Themed around Oscar Wilde.

They make a good cup of coffee.

Recently there was an "Inspired Art Contest" that called for artists

to show there creative side.

I had just been introduced to a new color in oil paint. It is called,

Transparent Oxide Brown. I love it!

It has all the charm of a cup -o- joe, so I thought why not paint

Oscar Wilde, on a gilded canvas,( sort of Iconic ? ) near the fire place

where I sip my coffee. In Transparent Oxide Brown.

I was having fun. I did a quick sketch while having coffee. I then went back

to the studio and painted my sketch onto a gilded canvas.

I was sure to win. This is really cool. Wow!!!

Not everyone shared my enthusiasm, I did not win.

Sleeping in class?

Lin is a student that I give painting classes to.

One Monday morning, he came to class feeling

ill.

I mixed up a drink of balsamic & spring water

for him.

Soon he had fallen asleep.

I had just learned of a limited palette from

Dave Darrow, called the Zorn Palette.

This was an opportunity to use it.

(I cheated by adding blue, sorry Dave)

The Zorn Palette is : Ivory black

Titanium white

Cadmium red

Raw sienna

I added ultramarine blue and cobalt blue

because that was the chair color.

This is my first attempt at Zorn palette.

A splash of paint and wine

On Fridays, when possible, I like to splash a little

paint and wine!

This is oils on canvas. Approx. 6"x6"

Time: approx. 1.5 hrs.

Pin-ups are fun, so I thought I'd paint one.

I have a black cat, that's mischievous, so did

this and titled it "Your in the dog house kitty!"

This is oils on gesso wood panel 5"x7"

(copy of original Joyce Balantine)

Time: approx. 2 hrs. unfinished

Please feel free to leave a comment, or complant!

"Live model" Renee

After some discussion on approaching a possible model, I did!
An agreement was made to have a "Live model" for the
time of 4 hrs.
Several postponements, and a PET Ct scan later, I was able
to convince my "Live model" that she was truly beautiful
and I wanted to paint her on canvas.
"You better do it now, because after Tuesday, my hair is
going to start falling out (again), she remarked.
Chemo Therapy can have that affect on people.

Renee is my lovely wife of 29 years!

She's been a cancer patient for 4 years.

I plan to continue painting on this piece, it is a good

start, but not completely done.

Nokomis beach

When I saw the photo my wife snapped of Holly, ( my Granddaughter ) I

knew it was a painting waiting to happen.

Thanks to Dave Darrow, artist extraordinaire, I was able to utilize the

workshop information and orchestrate and execute this painting.

Working from a photograph, I first did a pencil /charcoal drawing on the

11 x 14 canvas.

Next I toned the canvas, blocking in the background with a combination

of sap green and yellow ocher, with just a bit of cerulean blue.

I was now ready to begin painting.

Transparent oxide brown wash for warm shadows.

Flesh tones of alizarin crimson , raw sienna, titanium white, cerulean blue, and ultra

marine blue.

The swimsuit is cad red straight from the tube.

The pail is "thalo red" and the boat is cad yellow, yellow ocher, permanent green.

total time is just over 12 hrs.

I was exhausted as it's been a while.

This painting would not have happened without the help of : Dave Darrow. a.k.a.

Dave the painting guy.com

p.s. I water gilded the frame with pale gold (16 k)

and carving...

I've had an interest in carving since I was a

kid.

Whittling with a pen knife was pretty much it.

As I grew, I started using exacto's.

Now, I have a good collection of carving tools.

(a couple of chainsaws too!)

and Water gilding...

Water gilding is one of the earliest forms of gilding.
It is also one of the more sought after, as it has the
ability to present a work of art like none other.
A lost art of sorts, water gilding takes gesso, rabbit
skin glue, bole,(earth clay) and a variety of golds to
create.
I have a passion for this art form.
I would gild for anyone wanting there art displayed
as such.
Although I have worked with "period" profiles, to create
looks from other places & times, I most recently have
gilded with a minimal approch, bringing a more contemporary
look and freshness to the art itself.
This latter look is less expensive, and more suited to
the everyday paintings done today.
I still will carve a simple corner treatment from time to time,
as carving is another area I like to go.

and introducing himself...

Hello, my name is Bill Whalberg. I've been working in several
areas of the arts industries.
Sign painting is one of these. Since 1976, (when I
finished my schooling in commercial art & advertising.)
" Freelance " is the area I fell into mainly. I wanted to
remain independent, as the sense of freedom has a way
of directing my path.
Once a sign guy, always a sign guy, was the chant. However,
other areas of interest joined in.
I took an interest in oil painting in those earlier years. I
had painted and sold art to many people, some from around
the world.
I spent a great deal of time painting, displaying, and even teaching
this subject in the 1980's.
By the early 1990's, I had aquired a family, ( Wife Renee,
and 3 children, son Wes, Daughters Mindy & Heather.
I took a job at an Art Pubishing Company, as we always
needed the money to keep the fires burning.
There, is where I learned to Gild. I loved it. It was something
new, yet old as art itself, cool!
Trained by one of the top gilders in the country, (Rodger Neilsen,
a.k.a. Master Framers.) I was fortunate to make gold gilded
frames for the Russian art that was being introduced to an
American public for the first time.
The owner wanted a look different from the big gilding houses.
My job was to devise a "look" new to all this. Which I did.
It was the beginning of the end for me. Difficulty with other
people and the path of least resistance lead me to the door.
Freelancer once again, (wHo-Ho!)

Trinity Episcopal Church of Excelsior approched me about

gilding a cross for their sancuary. They had a design in mind,

and wondered if I could be able to produce it.

They wanted celtic knotting gilded, along with the "framing"

( front, sides & back ) of the cross.

The cross was constructed and delivered to my home studio,

where I did the gilding.

(The cross was surface gilded, or oil gilded.)

The illustration was rendered by another artist.

Trinity Episcolpal Church of Excelsior is one of the

oldest churches still standing in the metro area.

Built in 1864, you can see lake Minnetonka from

the front lawn of the church.

Although not a member of this church, I have

felt honored to receive such a commision.