Thursday, May 28, 2009
Big Tree in a Small Town 9"x12" oil
The clarity of the afternoon light was intoxicating. Everything just sparkled.
Afternoon Light and Shadows 6"x8" oil on linen
One of my favorite things to paint is the unusual view or unlikely subject. This is one of those. It seems as if you just stumbled in to it but, I have been looking at this spot for many months and yesterday "it" and I were ready to work together. I am very pleased with this painting.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thistle, Bow 6"x8" oil on linen
I love the color of these wild flowers but, you don't want to pick them...they hurt!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Black and White and Gray 9"x12" oil
I sort of abstracted the background, I think it works pretty well against the vase of flowers. Once again, there is loads of glare on the painting. The background is considerably darker than it shows here.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Golden Afternoon 6" x 8" oil - SOLD
That perfect time in the afternoon as the sun is moving lower in the sky. Everything was sharp and clear with strong light and shadows.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Below The Fields 6" x 6" oil - SOLD
Yesterdays painting was looking back on the road in, todays painting is looking forward on the same road. The rabbits were still there and still watching but not as closely as yesterday...I guess my painting doesn't interest them very much.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The Road In 6x6 oil
A small dirt road to the fields. I had a large audience of rabbits watching me. At first they were very frightened, running in every direction. By the end of this sketch they hardly paid any attention to me at all.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Small Town Style 11x14 oil
Late afternoon in front of a beauty parlor / barbershop. I like the vintage hair dryers and the mismatched chairs in the window, even a magazine rack in the shadows. This shop reminded me of the "beehive" hairdo's that always seemed to be sitting in front of me in church or the movie theater when I was a boy.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Fire Sky 20x16 oil
"Please don't hate me, cuz I'm ugly! Some dope took a bad photo of me, I'm really not as bad is this photo" It's true, the photo is REALLY ugly, the painting is just a little ugly. I don't know what I was thinking, taking a 16x20 canvas out to paint a sunset! The sun was practically down before I finished blocking in the house, I tried to finish as best I could from memory...in the dark.
UPDATE; I just took delivery of a frame I ordered for another painting that will be sent to the Butler Institute of American Art. I stuck this painting in it for ha ha's...and it looked pretty good. I think I like it now! Below is the painting in a frame.
I have also changed the title.
UPDATE; I just took delivery of a frame I ordered for another painting that will be sent to the Butler Institute of American Art. I stuck this painting in it for ha ha's...and it looked pretty good. I think I like it now! Below is the painting in a frame.
I have also changed the title.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Bedtime Reading 8x8 oil
I have been asked about the book on the bed. It is "Marjorie Dean, College Senior" by Pauline Lester. I think it was written in 1922 and is part of a series (Marjorie Dean, College Freshman etc. "A Series of Stories for Girls 12 to 18 Years of Age").It has an inscription inside, "From Evelyn Cowan, To Ruthie Ann Cowan, December 25, 1927. I have a number of books from the early 1900's for kids, they have great cover illustrations and the stories are very entertaining.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wild Flower Garden 10x10 oil
A very pretty wild flower garden next to the garage. I have painted more flowers this spring than in the whole rest of my painting life and I am enjoying it very much.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Stream Emerges From The Wood 8x10oil
This is the same stream I was beside on May 7 when I painted "Beside a Stream" (clever title...not). I followed the stream and found the spot where it exits the woods. I like the word "Emerge" better than "Exit", hence this title. In my small world and imagination, this was like discovering the source of the Nile. For me that is half the fun of my painting. I love the searching for new locations. I feel like an explorer even when I am in my own backyard because you never know when you will see something for the first time, something that you may have never taken notice of before...its magic, when that happens.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Spring, into the Studio 8x8 oil
I always surround my vegetable garden with Marigolds. Being away from home for work again, means another spring and summer without a garden. Fortunately, I can bring a little bit of "Spring into the Studio"
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Preparation Of Lunch 10x10 oil
There is hardly a meal that in my opinion, isn't improved by these ingredients. My kids won't go anywhere near anchovies. If, they only knew how many of their favorite "Dad" meals, include anchovy in them.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
A Table For Two 12x9 oil
A Geranium a dish of strawberries and loads of straight lines! It looks as if the flower and the berries are on a date. I was drawn to the composition, light and the subtlety of color and value but, I like the hint of a story too.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Beside a Stream 9x12 oil - SOLD
The springtime weather here in Alabama has been violent in its extremes. Thunderstorms and tornado's interrupted by a beautiful warm day every now and then. The weather cleared yesterday afternoon...so I rushed out to paint.I discovered this quiet shady spot, perfect for an afternoon of painting... the mosquito's liked it to.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Companions 10x10 oil - SOLD
I found a clump of these very pale pink flowers by the roadside. I have no idea what kind they are but they are beautiful. I paired them with a plate of blackberries in front of the blinds. This painting was done with a very limited palette. Alizarin Crimson and Thalo Green. There are a few little additions of Cerulean Blue and Yellow Ochre.
I also re-photographed and re-posted yesterdays painting (Tall and Short) under natural light, the color of the first photo was too far off and it bugged me.
I also re-photographed and re-posted yesterdays painting (Tall and Short) under natural light, the color of the first photo was too far off and it bugged me.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Tall And Short Of It 9x12 oil
Last night I received notification that one of my paintings has been accepted for the 73rd Mid-Year Exhibition at The Butler Institute of American Art. The painting is "A Boyfriends Car" and can be viewed below. I am really thrilled with this very unexpected news.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Daisy Pool 8x8 oil
One of the flowers had a broken stem. I didn't want to throw it away, so I put it in a tuna can with some water. I keep several left over tuna fish cans in the studio. When I need a new brush cleaner, I wrap one with galvanized wire mesh or screen and drop it into a tomato can and add mineral spirits. The sediment falls through into the tuna can. I have several store bought turp cans but none work as well as this method and the cost is a tiny fraction of the commercial cans.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Well Rusted in Retirement 16x20 oil
I am drawn to old cars and trucks that have been left to rust in a field, it seems such a waste.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Color of a Sunrise 7x9 oil
Painting at sunrise is one of my favorite things to do. The light changes so quickly that you have no choice but to simplify. I prepare for painting the night before. My brushes are clean, palette is clean and fresh paint is squeezed out. I hate rooting through my back pack trying to find a specific tube in the dark or low light and it eats up valuable painting time. Sunrise and sunset seem to be the easiest to paint. I find mid-day the most difficult. The color of the light, lack of good shadows, everything seems flattened out...much harder decision making process.
Best of all, before most people have even thought about their first sip of coffee, I've completed a painting!
Best of all, before most people have even thought about their first sip of coffee, I've completed a painting!
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