OC Painter

Gele Tulpen

2012-01-15T15:49:00.000-06:00

Camping Oak Grove

2011-08-06T16:24:00.001-05:00

Camping week-end. almost too hot to enjoy anything. But a little shade and my watercolor, I really enjoyed the day. I got a sunburn to prove I was out there. Great week-end.

Farm Scape 2 FINAL

2010-09-21T20:58:00.001-05:00

Final on Farm Scape number 2. I'm quite happy with it. I like the way the farm house came together. I'm quite fond of the fields too. They feel fluid and in motion the way they always are in Iowa.

Moving down the road.

Farm Scape 2 WIP

2010-09-20T21:30:00.002-05:00

Day 3

When the morning sun hits this acreage, the home place lights up like a beacon in a sea of green. Later in the day, the magic is gone and it all takes on the same hues as the surrounding country. My house is a little large right now, so that might undergo some remodeling in the next round. I like where the fields are right now, very fluid and feel like they would move the way they will in the wind - very ocean-like.

Farm Scape 2 WIP

2010-09-16T09:39:00.008-05:00

Day 2

Day 1

Composition Sketch

Farm Scape 1 WIP

2010-09-02T06:29:00.009-05:00

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

I'm starting to work on a series of "Farm Scapes", those interesting acreages which I see both on my way to work and back home again. I taking a cue from artist/blogger Dave Malan and I'm trying to work out my composition through several re-drawings of my scene. This is actually the third and I'm liking the technique. A painting in the making.

Farm Scape 2 Study

2010-08-29T21:02:00.002-05:00

Here is another candidate for my Farm Scapes. I'm working on a series of images I see when I'm going to work and back home again. The white farm house in this image pops out of the trees in the morning and there are some really interesting shadows. Now it's a question of how to compose the near space. Corn, corn, soybeans and corn. It's all the same but each field is different in color and texture, especially in the morning. I'm leaning towards a tall narrow composition to emphasis the fields--which are lush as can be this year.

Painting Again

2010-08-10T22:09:00.000-05:00

Cookbookery

2010-07-29T06:33:00.001-05:00

I've been working of a project involving a cookbook. These are digital sketches based off of pencil sketches. Some are better than others and I have my favorites. I think as a whole they'll work well for the cookbook.

Lake Pahoja - morning calm

2010-06-29T06:28:00.003-05:00

Vacation - Camping - Fishing - Painting

The morning was beautiful, the evening was a little stormier, o.k. a lot stormier. I remember looking for the lake during the storm and couldn't see it across the field. I'll try to capture the storm in another painting, but for now I'll remember the calmer moments, the sun, the breeze, great food and friends.

Mini Daisy

2010-06-24T06:31:00.000-05:00

I've seen a lot of the trading card size around lately. I love the idea of trading small paintings. Here's my first attempt at the miniature canvas. I've got to find the right brush size and the right level of detail. Don't want to overwork -- again. :o)

Keep painting.

Daisy Decor

2010-06-20T15:09:00.001-05:00

The Daisy project is complete, I'm quite please with the outcome. It always makes me a little nervous about painting directly on a wall, especially when it's not my wall.

They're all a little different and all free-hand. Hopefully they complement the room nicely and I hope Autumn enjoys them for years to come. It was fun to do.

Continuing Daisy studies

2010-06-11T06:08:00.001-05:00

Continuing studies for the daisy project. Not sure about the color. I like the colors but I don't think it will work with the rest of the composition that's planned. It's why we do studies I guess.

Daisy Motif

2010-06-09T20:55:00.000-05:00

Working on a different project. Here's the start of an idea for the border.

Daisy's inspire.

Daisy's are in Bloom

2010-06-08T21:16:00.001-05:00

The Daisy's are in bloom in the garden. Thought I'd take a little inspiration. I think I need to do a little more observation and stop just making stuff up. Work in progress. We'll see where it goes from here.

Red & White Parrot Tulip - color study

2010-05-30T18:27:00.000-05:00

Tulip Festival is over for two weeks now, but the tulip photos I took are great for reference. Here is a color study for what I hope will be a much larger painting in the future. Enjoy

Tulip Time in Orange City day 3

2010-05-15T16:30:00.001-05:00

Tulip Time in Orange City day 2

2010-05-14T16:35:00.001-05:00

Tulip Time in Orange City day 1

2010-05-13T16:41:00.000-05:00

Tulip Time in Orange City

2010-05-12T06:26:00.003-05:00

It's Tulip Time in Orange City. Today begins the three-day festival of all things Dutch.
The weather can only improve as the week goes on. The tulips are beautiful and my wooden shoes have a fresh new coat of paint. Scrub the streets and bring on the bands! Let the festival begin!

Backdrops are in the air!

2010-04-29T06:08:00.000-05:00

Both drops are now hung on the stage, they're not complete, but getting them off the floor and onto the pipes is huge. Now I can check out my perspective and scale a little bit easier. It makes it harder to paint, but easier to correct.

Show and Tell

2010-04-28T21:25:00.001-05:00

The Show is Up

2010-04-27T16:58:00.000-05:00

Although it's pretty small and tucked away in a dark corner, I have a showing of 20 pieces at the Northwestern College Theater Building Lobby for the next 10 days. Pretty exciting for me, I haven't had a showing since I was a senior in college. Hopefully there will be some public reaction and good things will come of this. You have to start somewhere.

I post pics when I can get some. Thank for all the encouragement over the years everybody.

Backdrops - continued

2010-04-24T21:00:00.001-05:00

Backdrops in progress - long Saturday afternoon at the town hall...

The drops are coming together, I have a few more nights on them and then they get hung on the pipes. It's almost easier at that time to tweak on them, but it gets harder to find time to get to them. The actors are now on stage all of time and I almost have to take time off from my regular job to get to them. Ach, what problems. :o)

I moved the scaffolding in front of them at one point to try and take a better picture. I have to do a lot of photoshop manipulating to get them to look like this, they may be distorted, but at least you can see what they sort of look like. Both are still works in progress.

Backdrops and Art Show - life is good

2010-04-24T08:19:00.002-05:00

Sorry for not posting lately, life has been getting busy in exciting ways.

The backdrop project is coming along nicely, I hope to have them completed by the end of next week. The interior scene is mostly complete, a few touch ups, then we'll hang them and then the real tweaking begins. The exterior scene will come together this weekend and hopefully Monday and Tuesday. I'll be working on them this afternoon; hopefully I can get some pictures before I leave. They're just too big to photograph well lying on the floor.

Other big new is an Art Show. It will be going up on Monday in Northwestern College's theater building lobby and be up for about 10 days. I've been framing and preparing all week and my knees are sore, but it's well worth it. I've put together a lot of work from the last 15 years, some of it is student work, some are oils, some watercolor, some pastel.I'm all over the place with media and style, but that's what my studio looks like. The Orange City Arts Council has done a nice job of getting everything together. It should be a great show. It's been nice to get this work out of storage and into a frame.

It's one of the first shows I've done since leaving college, so I'm a little nervous about public reaction. But I think I've got some nice work; everything should be just fine. I'll try to post some pictures of the show as well.

The backdrop painting begins.

2010-04-16T22:14:00.002-05:00

Here is day 4. So far it's matching the concept color study pretty well. I've got some detailing and line sharpening to do, but it's only a few days away from hanging. Of course at that point, the tweaking begins, then the over working. :o) Sorry about the skewed lines, it's hard to make a collage of all the photos, the thing is too big and I can't get far enough away at this point. Once it's hanging the pics will get better.

More to come.

Bunny Tracks! Yum! Get me a spoon!

2010-04-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

It sure is getting cold in the studio, my subject is getting all warm and eaten. All I really want now is a spoon!

I need to call it complete. As much as I like having ice cream around, other projects are calling. But most of them involve ice cream so its really o.k.

Thanks Alice for the interesting challenge. Check out the other delicious entries at Calypso Moon Artist Movement. Lots of good stuff.

Bunny Tracks - Good for what ails ya!

2010-03-31T21:15:00.005-05:00

Another art challenge. STARVING ARTIST A work in progress

Starving Artist from Calypso Moon Artist Movement. The challenge is to create a painting about what is delicious but not necessarily good for you. I'd argue about that last point. Ice cream has kept me very healthy for the last couple of years. I haven't had a cold since I started eating ice cream everyday. It's a theory that's working for me--so I sticking with it.

Recommendation -- Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks. Nothing like it!

Backdrops McAfee Home

2010-03-28T16:30:00.002-05:00

3.29.10 A few final details to go, but for a color concept, I'm calling it done. I'm sure much of this will change as the real thing starts being put up on the drop. Now the real fun begins.

3.28.10 Continuing the color work-up, fleshing out the details and spaces. The work goes on. Hope to have these finalized before I begin work on the full-scale painting.

3.26.10 We begin the next concept workup for the Bye Bye Birdie backdrops. Interiors aren't too bad, the trouble is, what do you really do with all the space at the top. Not many of us have twelve foot ceilings, and most of the space really isn't that interesting. I guess my goal is to make you NOT look at it. Curious thing to do really. A successful painting is one which you don't notice.

La Mercado 3 - more concepts

2010-03-27T21:52:00.000-05:00

Working on another round of conceptual sketches for the Hispanic Marketplace. It's a lot of guess work on my part. It's a place I've never been and probably won't get to experience in my lifetime. I have a temptation to turn everything into US Southwest architecture. I'm being told to work more with concrete rather than adobe. But color is an option--lots of wonderful bold color. That will come in time.

Sweet Apple 4.4 and FInal

2010-03-25T20:37:00.000-05:00

Well I'm calling this concept complete. The next step will be to transfer it to the backdrop and then the fun begins. That will probably happen next week. I need a big floor and it's not available until April. Until then I'll start the concept for the other drop and think of ways that I can overwork this idea.

It's never complete until it's overdone!

Sweet Apple 4.3

2010-03-24T21:07:00.003-05:00

And the beat goes on...

Continuing to work out the details.

Sweet Apple 4.2

2010-03-23T20:51:00.002-05:00

Continuing to work out the concept issues. I need to do a little research on old store fronts. Need a little variety to make the space interesting. Eventually this will be a large backdrop for Bye Bye Birdie. 12' x 32' A little daunting, but challenging and fun.

Sweet Apple concept 4.1

2010-03-22T21:26:00.003-05:00

Starting to work out the details at a larger size. Still trying to get the perspective right. This will be a split backdrop, there will be a free-standing house exterior on the right-then it appears residential. Then there will be a free-standing city building on the left--then it should appear part of small town Ohio. Viewed as a whole painting, it doesn't make a lot of logical sense. But for this project, that's o.k.

Here's the original thumbnail. I always want the drop to be an extension of the stage, not just a painting to play against. Still trying to figure out the front edge.

Black and White and Red All Over

2010-03-18T21:16:00.001-05:00

Well, here is the final work for the Calypso Moon Artist Movement "Collectibles" challenge. Interesting things happened once I started painting. I haven't painted in a while, not since last November. It was nice to pick up a brush again. My red accordion is my favorite, even though it was one troublesome reed--it has the best tone and it doesn't weigh a ton and a half.

Enjoy.

Collectibles

2010-03-16T21:07:00.012-05:00

Second attempt at a composition for the Calypso Moon Artist Movement challenge. Not too exciting yet, but I like where it's going.

The dumb cross-eyed cat in the corner is Shemp--the stooge nobody likes.

My collections seemed to come from other sources. I wasn't actively collecting cats. And really, how many accordions do you need. I was sort of funny how quickly they multiplied and filled the basement. Now I know where concertinas come from.

Collectibles

2010-03-13T12:44:00.007-06:00

Here is a quick study for composition. There is another art challenge site out there called Calypso Moon Artist Movement. This challenges was to select two of the things which we collect and create from that. At one point in my life I ended up with 3 Black Tom Cats, 4 accordions and two concertinas. Curiouser and curiouser. Most of that has moved on.

Here is an opening composition. We'll see where it goes from here.
--I need to work on my cat-o-nat-o-me!

La Mercado 2

2010-03-11T06:00:00.002-06:00

Still working on the street set for the open air market. This concept is a little less cluttered. I'm trying to figure out the space more than sell the idea of merchandise everywhere. It has to make sense without all the stuff. This place will be in 3D so I've still go to turn around and put together what would be standing behind me. A work in progress.

...and the other side of the room. Not quite as clear, still working on make the space make sense. The telephone pole in the corner is a common element. View scene one as if you were standing in the middle of scene two. View scene two as if you were standing in the empty bin on the long wall.

La Mercado

2010-03-02T19:42:00.003-06:00

Working on a concept for a street market. Trying to get the overabundance of choices, the canyon of buildings and the feel of the open air market. I have to resist the temptation of making my concrete buildings too castle like. I don't think they want large stone building, but rather gray concrete. Attempt one of many.

McAfee interior final concept

2010-02-27T16:58:00.001-06:00

Here is the final concept sketch for the Bye Bye Birdie backdrop. Once I get the go-ahead I'll work up a color scheme. Probably should collaborate with the set designer first. :o)

What do you think Lois?

St. Louis Airport - before the flight

2010-02-18T18:08:00.003-06:00

...and suddenly we're boarding; the sketchbook was put away...

Business Travel Day 2 - Happy Little Tree

2010-02-17T20:00:00.004-06:00

Second story up and 10 feet from the window. Rarely get this vantage point on an evergreen. I nice little Chickadee joined me for a while. Now that's a happy little tree. Thank you Bob Ross-we miss your way of looking at the world.

Business Travel Day 2

2010-02-17T18:05:00.004-06:00

Out the Window -- take the view you get and make the most of it. Over the frozen pond, beyond the struggling fountain, past the Canadian Geese, you'll find a nice apartment complex. Funny, but nobody was sunning themselves on this beautiful February morning.

Business Travel and Business Buffet

2010-02-16T17:54:00.002-06:00

Traveled from Omaha to St. Louis this week for a business trip.

Lots of down time. Lots of sketch time. I made the best of the waiting.

Ate too much.

Plane Travel Time - The Reader

2010-02-16T17:52:00.003-06:00

Who do those people in First Class think they are anyway...

USA Today...

all of us in coach had to read USA Yesterday!

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day. Kiss someone close to you!

OXO D

Bonnet Girl

2010-02-11T22:04:00.000-06:00

1-2-10

2010-02-10T21:50:00.000-06:00

1-2-10. . .and he made it. Way to go John!

The Beetle

2010-02-08T20:41:00.001-06:00

I've been working on a sketch of my old Beetle, I've had a little trouble with the perspective, even now the old bug has kind of a droopy front end. I had to put down the markers and pick up a pencil, markers can be too unforgiving sometimes. Still, I like where it's going and it's a lot better than the other studies I've been attempting. Keep sketching.

Canoe the Sioux

2010-02-06T21:47:00.000-06:00

One of our favorite things to do when we were kids saw to canoe down the Sioux River. It meandered right through the middle of town and you could easily spend an afternoon paddling from one end of town to the other. All you had to do was arrange for rides for the drop off and pick-up. My dad was really good at judging how long it would take you. He would always be there, ready for the pick up. Obviously this is from a reference photo--right now it's January...in Iowa...the river is frozen solid.

And the canoe is stuck in the ice.

Toys From My Desk - Animaniacs

2010-02-05T18:32:00.002-06:00

Here's a piece from the "Toys From My Desk" collection. Animaniacs always cracked me up. Pinky and the Brain was a favorite too. I always seem to collect these odd toys--mostly I think they're Happy Meal prizes--I don't really know were most of them came from. Handy subjects though. Enjoy!

Apple Apple

2010-02-04T22:09:00.001-06:00

Always a standard when sketching--the basket of apples or the line-up of pears.

Solo apple.

T on her Trike

2010-02-03T21:41:00.001-06:00

Here's a sketch of my niece on her tricycle--looking cool of course.

She's in her twenties now, but still looking cool--as always!

FARMALL F20

2010-02-02T21:38:00.003-06:00

A quick sketch of the tractor my Dad used on the farm, FARMALL F20.

Self Portrait

2010-02-01T06:45:00.001-06:00

Not a bad likeness, but it sort of looks like a police composite sketch.

Look for me on the most wanted poster. :o)

Spud

2010-01-30T22:08:00.002-06:00

Dutch Dance

2010-01-29T21:00:00.000-06:00

Mousing Around

2010-01-28T22:10:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I've done a self-portrait. Need to keep at it.

Sweet Apple 4

2010-01-27T21:59:00.000-06:00

Lois, I think this will be the one. I'll work it up to the next level.

Sharon at Work

2010-01-27T21:58:00.001-06:00

Sorry Sharon, this isn't the most flattering of images--but you keep ducking behind the files cabinets and then picking up the phone. You're making this very difficult.

I guess that's that makes you good at your job.

Sweet Apple backdrop study 3

2010-01-26T21:33:00.002-06:00

Career Center

2010-01-26T21:32:00.002-06:00

Sleeping Beauty

2010-01-25T21:12:00.000-06:00

Long hard day, sleep comes early. Beauty sleeps.

Stained Glass

2010-01-24T21:29:00.002-06:00

coke all gone

2010-01-21T20:53:00.004-06:00

dance auditions

2010-01-21T20:53:00.003-06:00

The Home Office - aka the messy desk

2010-01-20T21:59:00.000-06:00

With Red Ribbons in Her Hair

2010-01-19T22:08:00.004-06:00

Profile one

2010-01-19T20:00:00.002-06:00

Aussie Open Day 2

2010-01-18T21:00:00.000-06:00

I know everybody is talking about Football right now, but we wait for the Australian Open. Tennis! Woo-Hoo! The only problem is that it's on so late at night. Alas. Serena is playing right now, but we love to watch Federer play. Go Roger!

Yarn Over

2010-01-17T21:16:00.001-06:00

Busy FIngers

2010-01-16T21:50:00.001-06:00

Attempt number two. My lovely model was sitting for me again tonight. I tried to focus less on the textures and more on the proportions. Getting better, but still needs work.
Still drawing.

Too many Textures!

2010-01-15T22:14:00.001-06:00

I think I was concentrating on all the textures in this one and didn't quite get my proportions down correctly. I think I'll try it again, if my willing model is willing. I can usually bribe her with a nice quiet evening and a hot cup of tea.

Sharon at work

2010-01-15T19:08:00.000-06:00

This is a little hard to decipher unless you live in my "Career Center" aka cubicle. This is just a quick view over my shoulder into the office of my fellow employee hard at work. Visually all of this is confusing, but I still like it. Nice sense of place-if you know the place-if you don't, it's just a mess. :o)

One Last Kiss

2010-01-14T21:47:00.001-06:00

Nanner!

2010-01-13T18:12:00.001-06:00

Hey! Lunch is over, throw that away and get back to work!

sure-shot

2010-01-13T17:38:00.000-06:00

JV Basketball warm-up

2010-01-12T21:42:00.001-06:00

Went to watch the JV game last night, took a few minuted during the warm-up to see it I could make sense of 15 moving subjects. Answer...nope.

Melancholy Meeting

2010-01-11T19:18:00.000-06:00

I should really be paying attention to the meeting and not doodling in the corner. Alas.

Firmly Focused on her Fingers

2010-01-09T21:43:00.004-06:00

Backdrops McAfee Home

2010-01-08T21:47:00.001-06:00

Backdrops Sweet Apple Ohio

2010-01-07T22:15:00.001-06:00

The Dining Room

2010-01-06T21:16:00.001-06:00

Glacier in My Driveway

2010-01-05T21:47:00.002-06:00

Tired of winter--and it's only just begun. It's supposed to snow 3-6 more inches tonight--I don't know where to put it anymore. I hope my trees don't disappear under the drifts. Ach, verdriet.

It's Grate

2010-01-04T21:14:00.001-06:00

My Little Town

2010-01-03T18:53:00.002-06:00

Curious Curio

2010-01-02T09:00:00.000-06:00

Kleine Klompen

2010-01-01T21:35:00.000-06:00

Nancy's Favorite Chair

2009-12-31T12:40:00.002-06:00

Queen of Crochet

2009-12-29T21:56:00.005-06:00

Christmas Travels in Iowa

2009-12-28T06:30:00.012-06:00

Sketches from Christmas Travels. Long cold wintery roads all over Iowa this season. Everything is white and gray, but still beautiful in some way. Thankful for safe travels through all the weather. Most thankful to be back home, safe and warm.

Pansy's on the wall

2009-12-23T10:27:00.000-06:00

This border goes all the way around the room. I'm quite happy with it, it adds a lot of nice color to the room and matches my original concept. My neck is a little crooked and my brushes are a little more worn, the plaster stucco walls can be pretty rough, but I'm pleased with the result.

For my SHMILY

The Adventure of the Copper Beeches

2009-12-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

...I am sure that you would never guess what it was...

The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips

2009-12-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

...out there jumped five little dried orange pips...

The Adventure of Twisted Lip

2009-12-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

...it was the toy he had promised to bring home...

The Adventure of the Six Napoleons

2009-12-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

...let me introduce you to the famous black pearl of the Borgias...

The Adventure of the Second Stain

2009-12-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

...tell him that a full confession is his only chance...

The Bascombe Valley Mystery

2009-11-30T06:00:00.001-06:00

...there was no sign of a place whence it had been...

The Adventure of the Dancing Men

2009-11-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

...but two mornings later a fresh inscription had appeared...

The Adventure of the Cardboard Box

2009-11-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

...and at once a whiff of the sea was perceptible...