"Silver Pitcher" 5x7 oil on canvas

"Silver Pitcher"

Getting back to it! Very quick still life. It's been awhile so I needed to try something! Hopefully gonna be able to spend some time in the studio this next couple of months. It's been too long!!

Painting at Sweetwater Lake in Indiana

#1 "The Point" 8x10

#2 "Red Canoe" 8x10

These are the two 8x10s I painted on the dock. Both took about an hour each. #1 is a view of the point across from mom's. #2 is the canoe on Bill's dock. I did #2 entirely with a palette knife. That was fun but struggled. Really needed to go back in on this one and clean up that mess of a reflection of the canoe! That is problematic as both paintings have found themselves on the wall at the Ah Kum On Inn back in Indiana! Maybe next time I'm back I can clean that up a bit. Fun day!!!

It was a great day! Victoria Gillieron and I headed south to mom's cottage at the Sweetwater Lake in Brown County, IN. The weather was perfect and we both completed two paintings......

#64 "North Shore Surfer" 8x10 oil on canvas

This "dude" just came off a 22 foot plus wave at the "Pipe" on the North Shore of Oahu. These guys are amazing athletes! Spent hours watching these big wave surfers risk it all during the "Back Door Shootout."

#63 "Grace" 11x14 oil on canvas

I lost my sister Sharon Cahill Leavitt on June 19th, 2012. She died of non smoker lung cancer in which radon gas is the leading cause. So, if you haven't had your home checked for radon gas... do it!

This is a painting I did of Judith Shea's "Grace Basin."Grace Basin is sculpture that was outside my sister's room at hospice in Columbus, Indiana for the 17 days she was there before she passed. Everyday, my mom, sister Deb, brother in law Mike, and my niece and nephew   gazed upon this beautiful  piece of sculpture as we sat by Sharon's bedside offering what comfort we could. We moved Sharon's bed into the middle of the room so she could share in it's beauty. She had a very calming effect on all of us. Because we gazed upon her face daily, I decided I wanted to try and capture what I experienced. Like all sculptures, she changed with the time of day, shadows and the level of light. She never disappointed.

So this is my interpretation of, "Grace." She is dedicated to my sister Sharon. We love you and miss you. I think about you everyday...

Sharon Cahill Leavitt

#62 "Mom's Flowers" 11x14 oil on canvas

After a week in Las Vegas, I finally got back to my studio. Sister Deb ordered a beautiful bouquet of flowers for my mom's 90th birthday this past February. They were beautiful!!! I took a picture of them so that I could someday paint them. Yesterday I got a chance. When I went to the studio I had something else in mind. I didn't expect to paint these today. Last week while in Las Vegas, I went to the Bellagio and saw the Monet exhibit. It was so inspiring and I tried to carry over some of the things I observed from absolutely one of the best ever! But first and foremost, these are my "Mom's Flowers," and I must say, that was all the inspiration I needed!!

This is the evolution of a painting. The three photos below show you how this painting changed as a result of stopping, living with it for awhile and then going back in and making changes that enhance the over painting.

4/24/2012 After looking at it some more, I decided to go in on more time. I darkened the value in the lower left  side to  put more emphasis on the side of the vase that is being lit. See if you can see any other subtle differences.

Final "Mom's Flowers"

4/12/2012  Update.... Second Mom's Flowers....Saw an opportunity to enhance some of the flowers. I found that the upper right (see below) portion of the painting almost seemed faded. Decided to rework some of that area. The painting is now more balanced than before.    

Second "Mom's Flowers"

4/4/2012 This is the original "Mom's Flowers.

First "Mom's Flowers"

#61 "Identified Performers" 20x16 oil on canvas

"Identified Performers"

In November of 1975, Pickin' magazine  had a photo contest. Pickin was a magazine for bluegrass and Old Time Country Music. At the time I was most definitely in to the music!  There was a bluegrass festival in Santa Barbara, CA so Steve Guidone, Ron Mayes and I decided to enter a play a few songs. Gene Libbea (one of the absolute best) was kind enough to play bass for us that day. Tina Walski, of San Bernardino, CA snapped this shot from behind the stage and entered it in to the photo contest. The magazine dubbed us as, "Unidentifed Performers."

Her photo, and one of Ralph Stanley and Keith Whitley, won honorable mention.  Abount a month ago, Ron Mayes sent me a bunch of photos from, "back in the day."  I noticed one of the photos was from the audience at that same festival! Well, you guessed it..... here's basically the same shot from the front! What are the chances? Sure wish I could remember what we were singing that day!

So today, even though it was 88 degrees and absolutely beautiful outside, I decided to go to the studio and mess with this a bit. Here's a16x20 I'm gonna call, "Identified Pickers."  Might just get back to the studio and really do this one larger and take some time with it....

This above painting of the, "Identified Performers now belongs to Steve Guidone who is on the left. Steve, Ron and I played in the band "Turkey Run" for many years. We loved singing harmony and still do!

This painting 16x20 oil of the, "Identified Performers" I did for Ron Mayes. He's playing banjo in the painting. Ron lives in Beaumont, Texas and is an amazing guitar player. We played music together for many years in a group called "Turkey Run." We still get together on occasion. Those high notes aren't as easy to reach but as we always say,
"We had a moment."

N

#60 "Market Flowers" 16x20 oil on canvas

Every Friday in San Pedro, CA there is a farmer's market on 6th Street which is the main drag and across from my studio. I decided to get some fresh flowers and stick them in an antique silver pitcher that I had purchased from a thrift shop across the street. I always enjoy the thrift shop visit as it is managed by a very interesting women who was a product of the 60s and grew up in the South Bay (Redondo Beach). She's always interesting to talk with.  I told her I would do a painting using the pitcher and when it was finished, I would bring it down to her store.

I really tried to focus on all of the elements that go into creating a successful painting. Of all my still life attempts to date, I feel many of those elements came together. Of course I can always sit back and pick it apart but I think this time, I'll just be satisfied with what I've got!!!

#59 "Greg's Vase" 9x12 oil

My son Greg took a ceramics class when he was in high school and made me this vase. Decided it was time to paint something besides a teapot! Now if I can just learn to paint something besides apples!!!

#58 "9x12" oil on canvas

Another "land Locked" boat in Alaska. While in Homer, we went to a boat graveyard so to speak. This is one I thought was particularly interesting because of all of the colorful dock bumpers hanging over the side.....

#57 "Homer Cabin" 3x5 oil on canvas

On a previous trip to Alaska, sister Deb and I snowshoed back to this cabin. It belongs to her friends Rita and Bill.  It was a beautiful spot and it snowed on our way in. Finally the snow stopped and I went outside and took a photo of the cabin and the warm glow of light coming thru the window.....  Magical spot!!! Visited there this past summer but it didn't look like this!!!!

Once again, I simply used the palette knife..... These look really cool on a small wooden easel!

#56 "Lighthouse" 3x5 oil on canvas

Last summer while in Indiana I decided to try a painting using only a palette knife. It was OK but I found that I really liked the way the paint lays on the canvas...... So, since I've got a few of these 3x5 canvas, I decided to keep messing around with the, "knife.".

#55 "Ninilchik" 9x12 oil on canvas

While in Alaska during the summer of 2011, we visited the little town of Ninilchik on our way to Homer. Saw this old boat sitting in the weeds. I'm going to look at this awhile and decide if I need to do anything to it. I've got some ideas....

#54 "Red Apple" 3x5 oil

Had some paint left on my palette so.....decided to paint a small red apple on a 3x5 canvas....

#53 "Green Apples" 11x14 oil

Back to the studio for another still life.... continue to use my grandmothers old silver teapot.....

January 19, 2012..... Decided to take this one back to the studio.  Changed the front apple to try and give the painting more pop...... jury's still out.... few other small changes.... might have to go back again!

#52 "The Ohio at Madison." 9x12 oil on canvas

My friend Jeff sent me a photo he took down on the Ohio River at Madison. The photo captured  the feeling of a late August afternoon when the temps are high and the humidity is oppressive. The humidity adds such density to the atmosphere that it makes for great visuals. I went to the studio to try and save a still life I had started. That turned out so so but I wasn't satisfied with my days work. I decided to  do a small, fast painting before I left.  The goal was to emphasize the sun's glow in the water and the subtile changes in the values relating to the countryside.

#51 "Apples and Teapot" 16x20

My first still life after August in Indiana. Got back to my studio and was feeling pretty good! Decided to try a big still life. It was awful! Way to literal. Instead of scraping it, I just decided to use tissue paper and flick it lightly all over the painting..... It blurred the edges, spread the paint and gave me an almost abstract image. Went back today after a week and worked a little on the apples, especially the red one in an attempt to bring it into focus, creating  an edge, and pitting light against  dark and position it in one of the hotspots on the canvas. It was really fun to be this loose! Gonna look at this awhile and I'm already seeing things I might work on it a bit.

#50 Bill's Canoe" 5x7 oil

For #50, I did my first real, "plein aire" painting. Came down to mom's cottage on Sweetwater Lake, and set up my easel on the dock. It was a perfect day! Nobody on the lake as it was the middle of the week. The weather was perfect. The tricky part was the ever changing colors and values on the lake as the breeze would come and go. Intend to do more of this when I get back to Palos Verdes. Just had to get my "feet wet" so to speak.

#49 "Jeff's Dog" 11x14 oil

My first dog portrait. This is Jeff's dog. Fun painting to do. Did this painting down at mom's cottage, the Aw Kum On Inn on Sweetwater Lake in southern Indiana.

2011 Indiana State Fair and painting on the canal

I entered this painting (painted last year) into the 2011 Indiana State Fair. It's very similar to the painting I entered last year and received a 4th place in the non professional division. The difference is that this year I entered the professional division and was VERY pleased to have had it chosen for exhibition. I went out to the fair early yesterday morning to find out if it had been accepted. I walked all over the exhibition and didn't see it. Just as I was leaving, I picked up the brochure  that listed those chosen and saw my name. Looked up, and there it was!!! This is another interior impression of the TC Steele home in Nashville, Indiana.

Haven't been painting much as it seems I'm on the go. However, meeting Victoria on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at the Broad Ripple canal for a little plein aire exercise. We always have a good time painting together.

10/3/2011 Victoria and I did paint on the canal that day. It was hot but we still had fun! Photo was taken by a news reporter from the Indianapolis Star who was kayaking the canal and photographing the things he saw and experienced a long the way

#48 "The Jazz Man" 11x14 oil

There is nothing like the play between light and shadow. This painting of the, "Jazz Man" is a good example. Like most of my paintings, I painted this upside down, a technique I'm finally beginning to understand. When I stay true to the basics, I seem to get a more satisfactory result.

#47 "Bass" 20x16 oil

Back in the 1970s on the Strand in Manhattan Beach. CA
playing my bass with CW Mundy on the banjo.

Still jammin' in Manhattan Beach!
2010 ( That's CWs head in the foreground
still pickin his banjo...

Finally got back to the studio after what seemed forever. Just couldn't seem to find anything that I wanted to paint. I tried a still life and it really bombed. Then I got to thinking, I've been paying a lot of attention to my 1941 Epiphone B5 stand up bass that I've had since the mid 1970s. I researched it's origins and found that in fact, Epiphone has a very interesting past. Here's a link in case you're interested. Epiphone Bass History My bass and I have had some great times together and we're still making  noise! Thought it would be fun to pay a tribute to something that has brought me so much pleasure over the past 35 years by capturing an image of it on canvas....

If you scroll down to #45, "Road to Bean Blossom" there is a video slideshow of a recent jam session and of me playing that bass. The song is "Nashville Skyline Blues." Great song written by Bob Dylan and performed by our "Southland Band" a number of years ago.

 So here's to the stand up bass!!!!

Reviews from, "Paintings I Love"

"Beautifully done. Love the depth of color, rich textures and brushwork."
Ermis

#46 "Japanese Gardens" 11x14 oil

Linda and I decided to spend the day at the Huntington Library and Gardens in Pasadena a while back. http://www.huntington.org/. Such a beautiful place! We toured the library but spent most of our day walking thru the many gardens in addition to seeing a very impressive collection of 18th and 19th century British paintings and sculptures. The Huntington is the home of Thomas Gainsborough’s Blue Boy.

#45 "Road to Bean Blossom" 8x10 oil

Back home again in Indiana! Victoria invited me over to her studio to do a little painting. That is always a treat and we usually start with breakfast somewhere then dig in. This painting, "Road to Bean Blossom" depicts one of the country roads leading to the little town of Bean Blossom, IN. Bean Blossom is probably best know as the home of the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival. If you're in to Bluegrass at all, you know Bill Monroe!

4/11/2011 Drove thru Bean Blossom today. Beautiful spring day!!!

Here's a bluegrass song, we recorded many years ago at a festival in southern California. It's Bob Dylan's, "Nashville Skyline Rag." Fun music to listen to while on the, "Road to Bean Blossom!" I added these photos taken by Gary Sweeney http://garysweeneyart.com/ to the recording. We had a little jam session last fall at Steve Guidone's house in Manhattan Beach, CA. Great time!!!

#44 "Pipe" 16x20 oil

Another big wave painting. This is a 16x20 painting of of a surfer participating in the, "Back Door Shootout" held at the Pipeline on the north shore of Oahu this past  January (2011).

Once again we found ourselves sitting front and center on the beach watching these amazing athletes. There is something so special about the north shore. There's a vibe that you just kinda settle into. Nobody moves too fast and why should they? People just kinda do their thing. The awesome power of the big waves and the vibrant colors of the landscape all add to the ambience. Maybe it's the combination of all of the above that reminds us that we are all merely spectators experiencing nature's "bling." These big wave surfers get to experience it first hand...

This is a short video I took at  the infamous, "Pipeline" on the north shore of Oahu. To see these guys take these huge waves was really a thrill. It is just an awesome sight.  Back Door Shootout 2011.

#43 "Hallelujah" 8x10 oil

Didn't intend on painting today. I was just going to do a some touch ups on another painting. I had drawn this about a week before and it just sat.  I decided I wanted to paint something so very different from what I usually do.  Frankly, I was getting bored. For me, this is a major departure and has really motivated me. I REALLY enjoyed doing this painting. I named it, "Hallelujah." It was inspired by Jeff Buckley's haunting rendition of Leonard Cohen's    "Hallelujah."







Comments from, "Paintings I Love"

"Bold and beautiful painting with striking texture James!!!!!" 

Wayne D. Vander Jagt

"You've managed to convey powerful emotion with this work! Love the bold brush work!"

Jolante Hesse

"What a command of light and dark! Great emotive piece of art. Love how liquid this feels. An exceptional painting, painted exceptionally!" 

Jack KMC Childs

, United Kingdom


"Intriguing, strong and powerful abstract portrait painting
James....
Yes...the song is powerful to...!!
Magnificent the composition!
The bold lines....
The light on his face....superb.."
Kind regards,  

Robert Doesburg

, Netherlands

Click on the play button below to hear Jeff Buckley sing, "Hallelujah."

#42 "River Arno" 18x24 oil

This is the "River Arno" in Florence, Italy as depicted by a photograph sent to me by Dave and Diane Harrison following their recent trip to Italy. This was a view from their hotel windows. Not bad hey! Can you just imagine sitting on the balcony with a glass of wine while gazing down the river at this! .....I did a smaller study of this view a couple of weeks ago and thought it would be a challenge in a larger format. I've never worked larger than 18x24 so it was a challenge. I'm glad I decided to go for it. 

This painting has found a new home in Yorba Linda, CA!

#41 "Flowers from Farmer's Market" 9x12 oil

2/18/11
Decided to go to my studio today with no real idea of what I wanted to do. I took a rose from our bouquet of roses on the dining room table, a lemon, and 2 corks. I know, I know..... when I got to the studio it was Farmer's Market day. I decided to walk thru the market and see if anything caught my eye. This little bouquet of flowers did just that. I took them up to the studio, put them and the rose from home in to Grandma Schuyler's teapot and got this. It's my first time doing flowers and as a result, I learned some things not to do.... design and layout are very important...... I'll leave it at that. With that said, the white rose at the top and the other flower have more depth that what shows in the photo of the painting. I snap most of these shots for my blog with an iPhone.... unfortunately not exactly a true representation of the actual painting.

* Having this studio is fantastic!

As I said, learned a lot today and ready to go at it again.... all in all... not bad....


Update.... 2/20/11..... MAJOR SURGERY! (on the painting!)

From left to right.... in the first attempt at this still life I made some major errors in design.  Two white flowers means pour design at least as far as where they were in the bouquet. The eye just goes to the white.... poor design. The middle shot is after I went in and changed the white rose to a pinkish rose.... much better but still have the same problem because of the remaining white flower..... third shot is after I went back an reworked the white flower on the right... it's now  pinkish color also. This is a major improvement over the first two.  I've not changed anything on the teapot but this is what happens when you use an iPhone to take the photo in different light etc. I would say that the true color of the teapot is more representative in the photo on the left.... I have at least one more change that I am going make to make so stay tuned!

#40 "River Arno" 8x10 oil

This is a little 8x10 I did as a study. My friend Dave sent me a photo of this scene and thought it might make an interesting painting. I'd like to do it on a large canvas but wanted to get an idea for a palette etc. Got a few things to correct but you get the idea..... should be a fun painting. Not sure what to call it cause Dave never told me where he took the photo!

Update! This is the perspective from Dave and Diane's room on the River Arno in Florence, Italy... I wanna go there!!!

#39 "Salt Creek Road" 11x14 oil

Finally got around to painting after a crazy month. After the holidays we headed to the north shore for a week of rest and relaxation. Got home and spent the next three weeks doing some remodeling at the condo. Today was the first day I've really had to paint since I've moved in to the studio. Don't ask me why I decided to do a fall country scene from Indiana when it's 75 degrees and beautiful today here in So Cal. Hey, I needed to do something...... it's of Salt Creek Road in Brown County, IN. To get to Nashville from mom's cottage, you take this very scenic back road. It never disappoints!

My art .... studio!

After painting for the past 2 years in my living room I finally decided I needed a space. Setting up and tearing down to do a painting was not fun. I found a great studio space in downtown San Pedro, CA. What a fascinating place. San Pedro is a harbor town. It is extremely eclectic by every stretch of the imagination. I am at the corner of 6th and Pacific just across the street from the 80 year old Warner Grand Theater. A short walk down 6th street and you will find yourself at the harbor. The neighborhood is very artsy with several galleries and studios in the area not to mention restaurants, coffee shops and an occasional tatoo parlor. Every Friday is Farmer's Market. 6t Street is closed and the local farmers bring their produce etc. Also once a month on Thursday nights there is an art walk. I would sure like to participate in that one of these days.

Here's some pics...

Looking across Pacific Ave. That's us above the black sign.

Inside "My art..." studio

All the comforts of home.

Farmers Market out front on Fridays... That's the Warner theater
just above the tree on the left.

#38 "Big Wave" 9x12 oil

Aloha!!   So, what do you do when you're in -4 degree windchill back here in Indiana and everything is black and white? Decided to think color and warmth!!! This is another painting done from a photo I took at the Pipeline on the north shore of Oahu. Won't be long until we venture over there again in hopes of finding more big waves.

After seeing some paintings by my good friend Victoria Gillieron last week I was so impressed by how she painted so "loosely" on some of her landscapes. We talked about it for some time during the show. It reinforced what I've learned but seem to lose sight of. Not on this one... fast and loose, no "do overs"  this time. When the paint hit the canvas.... it stayed where it landed!!! This one was really fun.