This is the week that buds

High temps and early rain awoke the sleeping giant.  I've been watching this tree since New Years.  This week out came the buds. Next week they will be leaves.

Speaking of buds, this is my grandson Cody.  I've been watching him always and I call him Bud. I did this painting from a vine charcoal drawing from an earlier time.

Rhonda

I did a charcoal sketch of Rhonda and painted it on an oil primed surface. This is the first of many paintings I want to do of her. 4"x6" oils on board.

Morning sketch

I arrived in Albuquerque New Mexico early this week. Tuesday morning, I went out
to sketch this scene. I used pastel and pencil on a moleskin. I hope to do a studio
painting from it. Forgive the lighting, it's the best I have for now. I got back to Minnesota
yesterday evening and want to post this.

LaNor 1947-2012

This is a 'pic' of us kids back in 1959 at Christmas.

In less than ten years, we had dispursed. It was rare

that we would ever come together again.

That's me, the little guy on the left. Behind me is

my sister LaNor. She was a wonderful sister. She always called

 me on my birthday. I love you LaNor, I will miss you and

your silly jokes.

Auld Lang Syne

An old friend from high school stopped by today. We used to

draw hot rods in class.  So I painted a hot rod for "Auld Lang Syne"

Rhonda

I was invited to a friends Christmas get together this holiday season. I accepted. I met
a girl, Rhonda. Wow, she is very pretty.
The next day my friend called and said Rhonda commented I could give her a call. I did.
We got together for coffee, and watched the ball drop on New Years Eve. It was a fun
time.
I asked if I could sketch her, she looked so beautiful sitting there. This is my sketch, on a
moleskin with vine charcoal. It smeared a little. I'll do more!
 I want to see her again.
Now I understand the meaning of,"Happy" in New Years. I'm happy to have met her.
(I mentioned I'd like to do a post on my blog about her, she was ok with it!)

Looking to a New Year!

Commerce!  The buying and selling of trade. I will now be

offering one of a kind gilded frames and art through my

blog.  Starting the first of the year. I'll keep you posted.

Oil painting by Gerome. Courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Art. 

Oil primed surfaces

This is my first result painting on an oil primed surface. I used only one brush,(which is a no-no) but I just wanted to lay down some paint.

I now see a whole different animal. This is fun but the paint acts a bit different. I like
it. I need to explore more. Good thing I have a few more panels to paint on. I now
understand about "make a brush stroke and leave it."
There isn't a stitch of snow outside, but am eager to get out and plien air the neighbor
hood.
5"x7' oils, on oil primed surface.

How to..

For the past several years, I have been painting on

gesso'd boards. I make them myself from a recipe

I'd learned  from gilding.

They are very absorbent, and would allow me to work

in the "fat over lean method of painting. 

But there's been talk from folks about oil primed surfaces.

They say it makes a difference, and to try it out.

I've had this underpainting white for many years. I stopped

using it because it set so fast. Also with the bottle of

artist medium, it set quick also.

I went ahead and mixed the underpainting white with the medium. It mixed like taffy,
but soon had it buttery enough to trawl on with a palette knife.

I will try this oil primed surface out and let you know how it works!

meowie

An old friend stopped by to paint, so I caught/ did this pose of my cat. He moves  a lot!

James Gurney did a post about an artist that painted farm animals. They don't pose, so
 it's a good practice.(They move around a lot)
I love my cat. I wonder if I could paint him from memory?

Artist study

Going through some archives, I saw this and wanted to paint it.

 I can learn by painting from another painting. I never try

to do an exact copy, but if I can echo things, I know I'm learning.

oils on gesso'd board 9"x12"

St. Genevieve

I ran across this painting , and was stunned by it's beauty.  It reminds me of  my wife Renee.
She took loveing care of our children. She was a Saint in many ways, just like St. Genevieve.

  The artist, Charles Spaque Pearce was new to me. I did however do a pastel of one of his
paintings several blogs back. (a little girl with a white cap/hat on) I only saw the image in a book,
and didn't know it was painted by him.

So when I saw this painting of St. Genevieve, I started looking at his work. I am Thankful to have
the means to discover art that is "out there." Old & New.
My 'Big Kiss' painting was not accepted for what it was intended. So I'm free to do what I want
with it.
Back to the drawing board!

!News Flash!

I'm going to interupt my regularly scheduled program to bring good news: I'm going to be a Grampa for the 3rd time! WOW! I mean really, !WOW!

I found out, but was to keep it under wraps. But my son, Wes, just gave me the "green light" to announce it.
This will be their,(Wes & Audras') 1st time to have a child. So everyones excited.

They have been wanting to become parents.  Now they can  experience it.  I joked to Wes that now he can
throw all the Ideals out the window, and become a student of the child.

I believe that the child already knows how to be a child, He/She will teach them how to be parents! Ha!
This is gonna be GREAT!! (I mean that with a dab of devilishness, I do know they will be loving parents.)

Here is a picture of Wes & I when he was just  a stinker! I have since gained 500lbs. and lost all my hair.
But Hey, that's what kids will do to ya! ha:)

p.s. He has his mothers smile, and his fathers brains! Look out world!

-

Wow

Working large is a whole different animal. Not only did I go through
a ton of paint, I was able to loosen up and slash the brush with 'chords'
you can't do on a smaller scale.
Painting big is funner than I thought! :)

After some discussion with an artist friend, I decided to

paint this in oils instead of sign paint. Now I'm glad I did.

I made a much larger glass palette to accommodate  the colors

and mixing area. I wanted to try colors I've heard talked

about on other blogs. I wasn't so concerned with using

a particular color palette, or a limited color palette.

I wanted to try new mixtures to see what I could get. This is

an experiment I've wanted to try. If I create a monster, well

Halloween was just here!

This painting is not finished. I wanted to post its progress

at this stage. I don't want to fiddle with it, so a few dabs

here and there and I will call it done.

I hope you like it.

45"x48" oils on wood panel.

Big Kiss

I'm working on a 4'x4' wood panel. This is from a small painting I did awhile back.
I'm working out the values,(gray scale) befor I start painting. This is my first pass at
it.
It will be painted in signpaint,(enamels) as a part of 4 panels to be hung in and around
the metro area. All for fun, but they will be for sale!
I'll post the progression of this. Thanks!

idream

i think it's great to dream, infact i think it's what forms our real world.
pastel on paper 21"x32"

>"< Meowie

I love my cat! When I get home he is often watching out the window. I did a quick sketch,
and embelished it at the studio. No photos to work from.
pastel on paper 21" x 32"

a friends frame

Someone from blogsville sent me this frame. I was told to have this for one of my paintings!
I could gild it anyway I want. It's 8"x10" and what a treat! The profile is rather bold, so I must
paint something bold to work well with it. (It's all about the art folks!)
Now I need to find a bold subject!
This will be an ongoing project!

Gold bricks -n- Beer mugs

Today kicks off Oktoberfest!

Many of the micro breweries are proud to display there beers.
Minnesota is fortunate to consume these tastey brews.

Please drink responsibly! Thanks! ( Killabrew!)

re"PUB"lic

A couple weeks ago, I painted this logo on the inside wall by the bar. It was entertaining to
the customers during lunch time.
Now they asked if I would paint on the outside wall a bit larger so I have.
I was able to sell them on gold stars and gold beer mug, which I will do later this week.
I will post that when it's done.
sign paint,(enamels) 8'x16'