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Sunday, December 6, 2015

Palos Verdes Art Center


Linda and I enjoyed a great evening Dec 4, 2015  at the opening reception of the 2015 Palos Verdes Art Center Holiday Art Show. I was honored to have had two of my paintings, #106, "Fruit and Brass" (shown here) and #108 "BB and Lucille" juried  into the show and both will be displayed in the main gallery until January 3, 2016.  If you have not experienced the beautiful gallery at the Palos Verdes Art Center, now's a good time to go!
Palos Verdes Art Center

Dinner at the reception.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

#109 "Tea Time" 8x10 oil on linen panel

"Time for Tea" 8x10 on linen panel
 Wow! Not what I expected!!! As an artist you're supposed to know the end result BEFORE you start. I must admit, not so with this painting. Using my Grandma Schuyler's teapot and my antique clock (and an apple from Vons) I set out to do a very loose painting. As usual, my left brain dominated.  Hate it when that happens!!! That said, I love the composition of this  painting and the palette. I painted in all the shapes and values as I always try to do. This time.... I let it sit over a couple of nights. Today I came back to it and this is what I saw. VERY happy with this one. When it dries I will take it back to the studio for some ever so minor tweaks. This was fun!!!



Friday, September 18, 2015

#108 "BB and Lucille" 20x16 oil on linen panel




"BB and Lucille" 20x16 oil on linen panel
I decided to buy a decent easel. Like most things, if you have the right equipment, it just makes the job easier! This new David Sorg studio easel does just that. It also allows me to easily paint using larger canvas sizes. 

My first painting on the new easel is a 16x20 oil of "BB and Lucille." I thought I would include a couple of shots of the process. This painting was perhaps my greatest challenge so far. I certainly didn't realize it until I started slapping paint. I did it upside down which helped. There were so many challenges so I tried to solve them one by one. Each day I took it home and looked at it. Each day something bothered me so back I went. I think this will stay as is. One thing I can say, I can tell you things I didn't do wrong for a change! I'm overall very happy with it but it's always a quest for something better. It's a sickness!!!



Day one

Day two
Day Three Morning
Day Three Afternoon








Sunday, August 23, 2015

#107 "The Point" 8x10 oil on linen panel

"The Point" 8x10 oil on linen panel
Picked a picture perfect day to sit out on our dock and do a little plein air of the view. It is very difficult to paint green. I learned a few tricks from Scott Christensen last April in our work shop in New Harmony, IN.

#106 "Fruit and Brass" 11x14 oil on linen panel

Back home again in Indiana and have had a couple of opportunities to paint. This was done in my good friend Victoria Gillerion's studio at the Stutz Building. We always seem to get together and paint a couple of times while I'm here. CW's studio is right around the corner and of course he dropped in for a critique of both our works. He wanted me to bring the painting back to his studio the following day as he felt it had potential to be a very fine painting. The following day we set the painting on his easel and both took the time to critique it and decide what finishing touches I should add. I've taken two photos of this painting and neither correctly show the paint stokes, values and colors accurately so I will have to wait until I'm home to photograph it again. Until then, I'm very excited about this one!!!


Victoria now works part time in a framing shop and we decided I should spend a little extra for this one.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

#105 "Copper Pot and Fruit" 8x10 oil on linen panel

"Copper Pot and Fruit" 8x10 oil on linen panel

Well it's been awhile. I've really been in a rut and haven't found time to paint!  Seems I can't get to my studio lately! Found some time this week and decided to do another still life. After the plein air class last April, I was totally discouraged. I didn't complete one satisfactory painting the whole week! Looking back, I can see a couple of things that I would have changed. First of all, I used my alkyds. They are fine in the studio but outside, they dry too quickly for me. I'm slow which is another reason I have trouble. dIn a still life, I control the environment. Plein aire.... not the case! I need to practice over and over outside in order to "get it!" Hopefully I will make myself do it.

The reason I say all of this is because, when I'm in a rut, I go back to creating a simple still life. There is nothing like painting from life. I get to think about exactly what I want it to look like, compose it carefully, choose my key and then lay out my pots of paint. Usually 2 or 3 pots that I will use for my values. In my studio, lighting doesn't change and, clouds and shadows aren't moving etc. like that!

I've practiced with fruit quite a bit. This time I decided to add a copper pot that I found in a thrift shop in Palm Springs last February. The biggest challenge here for me was to make sure I drew the pot correctly! The pot had a handle and a spout. I never did paint in the handles but I did have the spout. After looking at it I decided that the spout added nothing so... with a few strokes of the brush, gone!!! Once I felt I had what I wanted...the fruit was pretty easy and I was off to the races!!!

The second biggest challenge was creating a combination of values and colors that gave the impression of copper. For my first attempt, I'm very satisfied. I bought a few other copper pots etc. that day. I have a feeling I'll be doing more!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

#104 "Waiting Patiently" 11x14 oil on linen panel

"Waiting Patiently" 11x14 oil on linen panel
WORK IN PROGRESS!

This is a piece I've been working on. I've spent a lot of time just looking at this painting in this state. I have some ideas and I think some big changes are to come. When I get back to this piece, much other than seated lady and one dog will be eliminated. The background will be come dark. This piece has demonstrated to me what NOT to do. At this point, it's merely a project for experimentation.

My high school classmate, Julie, rescues Schnauzers. We are friends on a social media site. One day she posted a photograph that just caught my eye and I thought it would make a fun painting. I'm going to look at this one for awhile and may go back in.

I love the way two of the   Schnauzers are sitting there waiting to see if anything might be coming their way while one just couldn't wait. I wonder if they got a table scrap? I'll let you know if I find out!!!


Saturday, February 28, 2015

#103 After "Purple Forest" by Paul Jean Martel. 12x16 oil on panel

This painting is based upon a painting by Paul Jean Martel, called "Purple Forest." Martel was a post impressionist born in Belgium but later moving to the US. He died in 1944. His works are gaining notoriety in the  art world. Interestingly enough, his daughter lives here in Palos Verdes and had the opportunity to meet her. I took a class today offered by local artist, Rodolfo Rivademar. We first visited the exhibit, discussed technique etc. and then set to painting. I really enjoyed doing this painting and felt like I captured the spirit of the original.




Friday, February 27, 2015

#102 "Three Pieces of Fruit" 5x7 oil on canvas

"Three Pieces of Fruit" 5x7 oil on canvas
Taking a workshop tomorrow so I went in to my studio to get some supplies and decided to do a quick still life of three pieces of fruit. The reason I really like doing these is because of the shadows and the ability to control the composition. Composition is always a challenge. Probably will go back in and tone down that reflection on the green apple and a couple of other minor adjustments. 

This was really fun! Looking forward to the works shop, Reimagining Paul Jean Martel (1879-1944):
A painting workshop with California Art Club member Rodolfo Rivademar.

This is my first workshop ever and I'm nervous but excited. In April I travel back to New Harmony, Indiana for a 4 day work shop with Scot Christensen. 

Will be taking this workshop and can't wait! Plein Aire is a real challenge for me.

http://www.christensenstudio.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=40189&Akey=72569C3T


                                                                           
For information regarding purchase please go to:
http://jim-cahill.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html


                                                                            

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

#101 "It's 5 o'clock Somewhere" 11x14 oil on linen panel

"It's 5 o'clock Somewhere"
Back to my studio! Not much to say about this other than I set up the still life, photographed it, gridded it and then painted it up side down from the photo while having access to the actual still life. Not sure if that's allowed, but I did it anyway!

For prices regarding this or any other piece go to:

http://jim-cahill.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Hawaii Paintings #98, #99, #100



Just spent an amazing month at Kawela Bay on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii with friends and family. We rented a beautiful old home and guest house. The home was the first home built on the north shore and that was in 1908! The owner, Marilyn Radzat http://wwwmarilynradzat.blogspot.com is an internationally known artist and her north shore home reflects her eclectic tastes. They have managed to maintain the original integrity of the home. It is located just a few miles from some the the worlds best surfing spots. We spent hours at the Pipeline watching the worlds greatest surfers catch up to 20-30 foot waves! Saw John John Florence win the Volcom Pro 2015 contest and Kelly slater's perfect 10.. Such amazing atheletes. It was the perfect month of rest, relaxation and I feel very fortunate.

Had the opportunity to do a couple of paintings. #100 "Wine Time" is my wine glass sitting in the sand with the base buried and the water approaching.  Wine is something we indulged in believe me!!!

#100 "Wine Time" 11x14 oil on linen panel


#99 "Pipe Waves" is an impression of the large waves that rolled up at the Pipeline. Their awesome power was hypnotic.
#99 "Pipe Waves" 8x10 oil on linen panel

#98  SMALL STUDY "hors d'oeuvres"  represents the hours of food preparation that was spent by some amazing cooks/chefs etc. Believe me, I was not one of them but sure enjoyed the fruits of their labor. I did a bit of kitchen duty.  I will use this little study to create a larger version of this subject matter. 
#98 "hors d'oeuvres" 8x10 oil on linen



Iconic Views and Remembrances
Our House for the month on Kawela Bay
Kawela Bay Rainbow from our deck




The Master





Wine on the deck before dinner

Amazing dinners night after night with great friends!

It was just as good as it looks!

Kelley Slater's 10 at the Volcom Pro 2015 held at Pipeline

Huge waves hitting the reef out front. You could hear the distant
roar all day and night. At the house, mostly what you'll hear below.



Did some of this!!!