Post Cards

Inspired by Peggy Stermer-Cox I broke out my watercolor pencils. I whipped out a couple of post cards for friends. I had a little trouble with them at first, but started to get the hang of them after a bit. If anyone wants to do a post card exchange with me let me know.

Goat Head Soup

All done. The picture didn't come out so well. The blacks stand out a little more than the real deal. But you get the idea of the peice.

Further along

I have not been painting much this week as I have been very tired from work. But I got a little further along tonight.

Art Walk that night

The art walk went well. I was set up in the restaurant Sagi. Everyone there was extremely nice. And their food is fantastic, a good combo. Also I sold a piece. Woo Hoo.

Ridgefield Art Walk October 3rd and 4th

I will be in the restaurant Sagi for the art walk. I'll have 18 pieces there. The images below are from last year. In the second image you can see me in the bottom right in the brown and white striped shirt.

Join us in downtown Ridgefield on Saturday and Sunday for Art Walk! Hello! Come on downtown for Art Walk taking place Saturday from 1 - 6 and Sunday from noon - 4. More than 50 artists are installed in 41 stores, restaurants, offices and boutiques. They are available to talk with you about their work and many of the stores and businesses are running specials. There will be music in the streets and refreshments in the stores. Yellow and Blue Art Walk balloons will indicate participating businesses. A free raffle will be held at the end of the day, Saturday, at 6:00 at the Ridgefield Community Center/Lounsbury House, 316 Main Street. Maps are available there on Saturday beginning at 12:30 p.m. and will be in the stores on Sunday. Ample parking is available on Governor Street at the Balducci's lot, or at Veteran's Park School or on Main Street across from the Ridgefield Community Center at St. Stephens. Anyone visiting all locations on Saturday or purchasing more than $200 worth of meals, goods or services is automatically entered into the free raffle which has 22 prizes. Watch for a piano dressed in zebra and hot pink and if the mood strikes you...well..."Sit Down and Play!" On Sunday, maps will be in stores. Some artists and stores are not available and some artist locations may have changed. We hope you enjoy this event. Please let us know how we can make it even better next year! See you this weekend. Laura Misciagna (misciagn@sbcglobal.net) and Anne Marcus (annemarcus@ureach.com), Art Walk organizers.

Step 2

Funny, I had a certain direction I wanted to try with this piece but I didn't go there. Then I had to fight the urge to go in my original direction when I new direction pulled me. Always go with the piece. My words of wisdom for tonight.

Step One

Sweat Shirt

The Chamber of Commerce asked me to design a sweat shirt for town. They want something color to target kids. Here is my first round of ideas.

Here's Looking at You

I had planned to add acrylics to this, but I think it would subtract rather than add to this piece so I left well enough alone. 1/2 sheet watercolor paper, ink ad watercolor.

Abstract 1118

While waiting for my watercolor layers to dry I started fooling around with acrylics on old canvas boards. Here is the first one I finished.

Phase 2

Some watercolor added. Bullet holes almost gone :-)

Here's Looking at you

After a few lazy days I have started a new one. I have also been framing. I'm getting ready for a couple up coming shows.

Three Gulls Revised

I wasn't happy with the lack of legs on the gulls, so I added them. Now I think the piece is worse. Maybe I'm just focusing too much on the legs now. Oh well, can't win them all.

Three Gulls

Half sheet of cold pressed watercolor paper. I only used ink and watercolors. I wanted to keep this one simple.

All Done

I have added the acrylics and the piece is now done.

Watercolor Done

The watercolor portion of my demo is done. next up...acrylics.

background done

I'm still having trouble taking a good photo of my art. I'll have to try something new tomorrow. Anyway, I'm done with the background. Next up, the flowers.

Second Color added

I am having a difficult time getting a good photo. But here is the second coat of watercolors.

The Belles - WIP

Back by popular demand. My quirky art process so here is a WIP thread.

First I start with a photo that I have taken.

Then I play around with card board corners that I made until I find a composition that intrigues me.

Then I do a pencil sketch. Sometimes it will be really tight if I think it needs it. Usually it is pretty loose just to get the shapes and composition correct.

Then I add the ink. I use the dropper from the bottle top to apply the ink. While the ink is still wet I roll bottles through it, a stick, a mayonnaise jar top or what ever else I have handy.

Next is the first layer of watercolor. This is to start getting the flow of the piece don. General colors in place and start tying it together. I'll do about four watercolor layers.

I'll post more as I get more done.

Mushroom update

And it gets bigger and bigger. I guess I should put something next to it for size reference.

Charcoal Figure #1

Another quickie charcoal while I work out my next piece.

Bell Bottoms

All Done.

Charcoal Man

The humidity is bad this week. Since it is taking forever for the watercolors to dry, and I don't want to be idle, I popped out this charcoal.

More color

A little further along. It takes forever to dry in this humidity. And I'm not motivated enough to pull out the hair dryer and speed things up.

I was hit up at wetcanvas to be a guide in the abstract/contemporary forum. Basically I act like a host. I also keep my eye out for trouble makers. So watch out troublemakers, I have my eye on you ;-[

And now for something completely different

Here is a cool looking mushroom growing in our yard. We decided to let it grow to see how big it gets.

Color Added

'nuff said.

Bell Bottom Blues starts

Starting a floral. 1/2 sheet hot pressed watercolor paper. These are flowers growing in our yard. My wife wasn't sure what they are called. Some sort of bell.

Touch up A Still Bee

I wasn't that happy with the A Still painting. I got a couple of good pointers at the wet canvas site and touched it up.

A Still Bee Complete

Well I stayed from the sock and went back to the traditional brushes. None the less, it is all done.

A Still Bee

Started a new one. So far I have only painted with a sock.

Pinkies

I know it has been a while since my last post. I ruined the lilies painting. But I didn't let it get me down and jumped right into this piece. But with the fourth and multiple fire works displays I didn't keep a steady work pace on it. Then when I finished pinkies I wasn't happy with it so I stewed on it for a couple of days. Now I have it to an acceptable point and here it is. Enjoy.

Sold

I sold my Sendak tribute piece today. I'm on a roll. I sold a painting last show too. Here is a little more work on the latest painting. I'm still not able to get a good photo. I'll have to work on that.

Lily of the Valley in progress

Sorry about the bad photo but you get the idea. I start by adding a thick layer of gesso on the canvas then add texture with my bag of tricks. When the gesso dries I stain it with a burnt sienna/cadmium yellow mixture. Then I start painting.

Three Pears

Here is another all acrylics piece. 18" x 24" on stretched canvass. 

Mimi

I am hosting the June Abstract/Contemporary challenge at the wet canvas site. My challenge this month was to create a painting without using a brush or palette knife. There have been some good ones submitted already. Here is mine. I only used a wash cloth, beer bottle and a stick.

Purple Spikes

I finally finished this acrylic piece I have been working on. 18" x 20"

Inking Stage

Well here is the inking stage. Next up...color. I did this with a dip pen.

More Wild Things

Here are a couple of idea sketches for the Wild Things show. I did them with a tablet on the computer.