From vine to wine

Well here it is, a painting completed entirely from wine. It was quite a challenge since this media is monochromatic, forsaking my watercolors, ink and colored pencils was difficult. I used a cabernet franc from a local winery, they were kind enough to allow me behind the scenes to take photos and the gracious host, the winery manager, printed photos she had already taken for me to use as reference. I used the wine directly from the bottle as a wash and reduced it once for a medium tone and twice for a richer darker tone. However, this second process in reducing does make the wine a little tacky due to the sugars. A matte spray should keep it in check. I did use some masking fluid to help create the grapes and accents on the leaves and stems, I hope I was somewhat successful and I am looking forward to doing another one. This is a long process however, as many layers of wine are needed to create the deep contrast and even some of the light areas have several layers. Thanks for looking and I appreciate you visiting.

Somewhere in Europe

After a very long hiatus from my blog, almost exactly 2 years!  I have finally picked up a brush again.  This work is from a black and white photo taken by a very talented photographer, who used to host the Love Mother Earth blog, which I find is no longer online.  I was sad to see it was gone, her photos were brilliant and thought provoking.  I was lucky enough to have asked her if I could re-produce one of her photos in paint quite a long time ago and she was gracious enough to tell me yes.  So, here it is, 2 years later, an expression of my interpretation of black and white to color from that photo.

Chainsaw Massacre-SOLD

Titled so, because a friend and I thought this was the type of place where that kind of horrific tragedy might have occurred.  We were only more convinced of our sick, twisted ideas of this old northern Indiana farmhouse, when the grinding roar of a vacuum started up inside the house, at least we told ourselves it was just a vacuum!  Ha…..certainly added good memories of painting this landscape, as we laughed quite hard at our crazy story.  This was done plein style from the end of the driveway, per the permission from the old lady that dwelled within.  It is watercolor, pen and ink and colored pencil.  I love the old barn in this scene, but it has since completely fell to the ground leaving nothing but old wooden boards and debris…..Good times…..

JUDY, JUDY, JUDY

I did these two pictures of Judy Garland when I was in high school, before I spent money on too many art supplies, this is plain white poster board and a sharpie marker.  I did obviously, add some watercolor to the head portrait.  These are framed and hanging in my spare bedroom.   I have discovered as I get older, I am the only person in my circle of friends who know that she did much more than the Wizard of Oz with her career and some of my younger friends even have said, “Judy who?”  Augh.  Needless to say, I was quite an oddball, being a Judy Garland fan as a high school teenager and not banging it out to AC/DC like my student counterparts, what can I say?  I appreciate a strong, clear voice and the days of the silver screen.

That’s Grizzly-SOLD

Another small attempt at an animal to keep up the mix.  Not sure if this grizzly is laughing, yawning or growling at me, what do you think?  This is watercolor and colored pencil.

Sacramento Utopia

While house sitting for my sister for about a month last year, a friend of hers was most accomadating by entertaining me in activities, dinner and spontaneous fun in Sacramento.  Some of those events were at her home, she has a most beautiful, luxurious and tropical back yard, one of the largest I have seen in sacramento, where most yards are a small patch of green, hardly enough to let out your dog to do his business.  This is only a portion of her yard, in which I was prvilidged enough to attend cook outs and hang outs, very relaxing and quiet.  I did this as a gift to her in thanks for her time, kindness and friendship during my stay.   I know this one has been a long time coming, I have been working on this since before Christmas and it was meant to be a present for her before that day arrived, as usual, I am a slave to procrastination and I have just finished,  and now I  have to rush to the framer and get it shipped.   Oh, to have the ambition and drive to complete a task on time.

Sleeping Rhino

Another result of spending a day with Leslie, she has a way of unwittingly (well, I am unwitting, she is not) luring me in a direction that makes me become more ambitious than I really am.  After painting this drawing I did over a week ago, I actually completed another larger drawing and started to paint it….something that rarely happens when I am alone.  Granted, this piece is little like the titmouse, but, normally that’s a day for me.   Nothing wrong with a little push in the right direction I suppose.  Thanks Les, and I’m still not sure about this one.

Tufted Titmouse

I tried this titmouse to keep in line with my new found interest in painting animals.  I used masking fluid to help create the bird’s furry feathers and was almost able to use the same pallet I had out from the giraffe.  This is much smaller than my usual stuff at only 8″x9″, I didn’t want to get too adventerous yet and thought a smaller piece would be easier.   I’ll have to search my zoo pictures for a new reference idea, practice makes perfect, doesn’t it?  Well, it at least makes things a little better…..

ST. PAUL CHURCH IN ITS NEW HOME AND FRAMED

The people who bought this piece from me were excited to have it custom framed and matted and get it hung in their home, so they sent me this photo.   Ignore the reflection of their stained glass lamp in the upper right corner.   I thought that was very cool of them, I think they did a fabulous job on matting and I am very impressed with this elaborate frame.  Makes an artist feel good about what they do when see their work this way and being enjoyed.  I’ll certainly miss this one, it was one of my best.  But, I did have prints made before it was framed, so at least I have those.  Still, nothing is like the original.  Thanks to Depra and Stephane for sending me this.

Round Barn Winery Near New Buffalo Michigan

I finally finished this one, it was a long road, consisting of  many layers and patience I am normally void of while doing a piece with this much going on.   I managed to make it look alot like the barn in Michigan, so since that was the goal, I guess I am happy with it.   This is watercolor, ink, gouche and masking fluid.  I applied several layers of color on the barn over masking, then applied more masking on the colored layers before applying a layer of white gouche over top to finish the barn siding. I am always excited to start a new piece, but then wind up equally as excited to finish it!