Christopher Greco: December 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

Concrete and Cactus -
Highway Overpass, Cactus, Roadside,Daily Painting

10x8 oil on masonite panel.
Concrete and cactus, too interesting to pass by. Sometimes the idea or concept for a painting is better than the painting. I think this is one of those times. This isn't really a concern, the goal was to commit to this concept quickly for later execution or at least consideration.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Roof Top Warm Up -
Dallas, Parking Garage, oil painting,Daily Painting

8x8 oil on canvas panel.
A warm up sketch after a few days off for the holidays.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Noon, Near The City -
Dallas, Bryan St.,Daily Painting

8x8 oil on canvas panel.
A very limited palette. Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber and Ultramarine Blue were the main color elements for this painting. I added Alizarin Crimson at the end to get the deepest darks, I might have also picked up a little bit of Burnt Sienna (my palette tends to get a little sloppy). I piled on the lights with my knife.
This is my last sketch for a few days, I am heading home for Christmas tomorrow.

I have decided to bump my prices in 2012. Costs have gone way up and my sale are sluggish, kinda/just like like the the economy... I think it might be better for my ego to be not selling at higher prices. I may try ebay but I'm not sure yet.. it might cancel out all of the ego gains from the higher priced non-sales.

A very Merry Christmas to everyone

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Morning Rush -
Dallas, Rush Hour, Live Oak St, N. Haskell St.,Daily Painting

10x10 oil on canvas panel.
A morning rush hour sketch at the base of the AT&T building.

Stop and Watch the Sunset -
Dallas, Deep Ellum, Gaston St., Malcolm X Blvd.,Daily Painting

20x20 oil on canvas.
This is an intersection close by my workplace. My interest is the contrast of the large AT&T office building catching all of the beautiful setting sunlight and the small buildings and businesses in deep shadow and the birds watching.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Pine Trail -
Myles Standish State Forest, Daily Painting

6x8 oil on mounted canvas panel.
Another sketch from a trail through the Myles Standish State Forest.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Morning in the Pine Forest -
Myles Standish State Forest, Plymouth, Massachusetts,Daily Painting

6x8 oil on mounted canvas panel (Raymar).
The challenge was to simplify a complicated lighting condition. I think it works ok.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Liberty Street Fountain -
Fountain, Sunlight, Dallas, Daily Painting

10x8 oil on linen.
I held this painting to work on for a few days because I just couldn't decide if it was done. I think part of my reluctance to call it complete has to do with the surface I worked on. I recently purchased several types of boards from Raymar and this was my first painting on their Double Oil Primed Belgian Linen. I love it! It is my all time favorite surface. Unfortunately, it is more expensive than any of the other choices...I have nine more linen boards left, I will either use them up immediately or jealously hoard them.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Plimoth Watch -
Plimoth, Plymouth Colony, Pilgrim Woman, Daily Painting

9.5 x 12 oil on masonite panel.
A woman from 1621 watching the strange visitors from 2011 strolling down her dirt street.

In The Colony -
Plymouth, Plimoth Colony, thatched roof, Daily Painting

9 3/8x12, oil on masonite panel.
The view from behind one of the small houses of Plymouth Colony.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Plimoth Fashion -
Plimoth, Plymouth Colony, Pilgrim Woman, Clothing, Bench, Oil Painting,Daily Painting

11x8 oil on masonite panel.
Another sketch of a woman from Plymouth Colony and the colorful clothing of the 1600's.

Sun in the Forest -
Myles Standish State Forest, Pine Tree in Sunlight, Oil Painting, Daily Painting

9x12, oil on masonite panel.
Another sketch of Myles Standish State Forest. I had a great time painting these trees. The graphic design quality of the branches and needles of these pines seem to paint themselves. I just kind of followed the brush.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Shore Pines -
Myles Standish State Forest, Pine Trees, Oil Painting,Daily Painting

7 5/8 x 12 3/8, oil on masonite.
This is from my trip in September. We spent a glorious morning at the Myles Standish State Forest. We began to follow a trail into the woods when we came upon a sign, which was coincidently about the same time I noticed the sound of gunshots off in the distance and some that wern't too far off in the distance...I decided to stay close to the road.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Plimoth Color -
Plimoth, Plymouth Colony, Pilgrim, Woman,Daily Painting

11x8 oil on masonite panel.
Another from my recent Plymouth Colony trip. I use the original spelling in the title but the modern version in my text. One of the things I learned on this trip was that the pilgrims didn't wear the black costumes and buckle shoes and hats. In fact their clothes were quite colorful.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Main Street, 1621 - SOLD
Plimoth, Plymouth Colony, Pilgrim Women, Daily Painting

10x10 oil on canvas panel.
This isn't just Main Street, it's the only street at Plymouth/Plimoth Colony.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The English Pointer -
English Pointer, Dog Portrait, Oil Painting, Daily Painting

10x10 oil on canvas panel.
I used a photograph I took a few weeks ago as reference for this sketch. I am not a fan of using photo reference for my work. It isn't an aesthetic issue, it's that after years working as an illustrator, it feels too much like work used to. I rarely do any preliminary drawing before painting but after a futile start on this picture I had to scrub the panel down and do a quick drawing and it helped quite a bit.
I also used Maroger Medium. I have known of this oil medium for years but only just purchased a tube. I'm unsure of how it should be used but plan on experimenting with it for awhile.

Pages