#82 and #83 "Lemons and Vase"

8x10 oil on linen

A couple of still lifes done over the summer.  Both done at the Stutz Building in Indianapolis. The smaller one (8x10) was done in 45 minutes as Victoria and I were trying to stay loose after spending far too much time on the 9x12. Would have loved to have stayed with it but the idea was to do something in a short amount of time so as to now get so carried away with detail. Very hard to do a still life in 45 minutes but it's a great exercise! Oh how I would love to go back and mess with it!!! But, it is what it is!!!

The larger one took more time and my good friend CW Mundy added a few strokes when he came down to check on us. Learned a bunch in a short amount of time!!! Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing with a brush in my hand!!! Gotta keep plugging along!

9x12 oil on linen

Indiana Icons

SOLD!
 The "R.H. Ledbetter" has found a new home at 
Lake Maxinkuckee!

 This is the "R.H. Ledbetter."  It's an 18x24 oil on canvas. The "Ledbetter" is the tall ship that can be seen on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana. She's an icon on the lake and belongs to the Culver Academy.  We were spending the weekend with our friends Todd and Cindy Leuck who have a charming  cottage on Maxinkuckee.  We spent several fun hours on the lake in their boat. Crossing the lake, CaptainTodd circled the Ledbetter several times enabling me to get a few shots of her. This is pretty much what she looked like on that beautiful summer day! 

"R.H Ledbetter 
Unavailable

The second painting  is of the interior of the TC Steele home in Nashville, Indiana. The "House of the Singing Winds" has been the subject of many well known artists throughout the years, including TC Steele himself. To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever painted images of the interior. This painting, a 16x20 oil on canvas is called, "Selma's Living Room." Selma was the wife of TC Steele and the subject of one of TC Steele's most well known paintings, "Selma in the Garden."  

"Selma's Living Room"  

The third painting is a 9x12 oil on canvas of the infamous, "Broad Ripple Canal."  During August of 2012, while crossing the canal on a very hot August morning, I was struck by the reflections and shadows cast upon the canal's edge and the the calm water of the canal itself. I pulled over, grabbed my camera and caught this image.  

"The Broad Ripple Canal 

my912c1@mac.com

If you are interested in previewing any of the paintings, I would be happy to arrange a showing.

Jim Cahill

#81 "R.H. Ledbetter" 18x24 oil on canvas

Spent a great weekend on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana with our friends, Todd and Cindy Leuck. They have a beautiful lake cottage and we had the best time! It was a little slow getting their boat launched but once we did, we were off and running around the lake. On the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee is the amazing Culver Academy. It's a private school with a rich heritage and superb reputation. Probably the most recognized  icon on the lake is the R.H. Ledbetter. It's Culver Academies' "tall ship." Todd took us in close so that I could photograph it. This is pretty much how she looked on that beautiful summer day! Thanks Todd and Cindy!!!

2013 Indiana State Fair Professional Fine Arts Show

I am very honored to have had both of my paintings selected and exhibited in the Professional Fines Arts Show at the 2013 Indiana State Fair. "Selma's Living Room" and, "The Broad Ripple Canal" are on display in the Home and Family Arts Building from August 2-18.

#80 "Early Morning Catch" 8x10 on linen

This little guy was passing out front while I was on my walk. It was early in the morning.

I've always used canvas prior to this. Working on linen is a huge difference. Anyone wanna buy a bunch of canvas?

#79 "Portuguese Bend" 8x10 canvas

A quick plein air painting of Portuguese Bend on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southern California. The natural beauty of the coast line is breathtaking. The Prickly Pear Cactus in the foreground was blooming.

The name Portuguese Bend comes from the whaling activities of Portuguese whalemen from the Azores during the 19th century.  Long gone are those hearty men but the whales remain. We see the grays as they migrtate yearly. Sometimes we are treated to rare sightings of Blue Whales. Humpbacks and Orcas are also seen. The peninsula is a remarkable place with a very rich history. I've lived on the peninsula since 1980 and I never take for granted it's awesome beauty.

The spot where I painted is on my walk...

Portuguese Bend

#78 "Indiana Drought" 5x7 oil on canvas

"Indiana Drought"

While traveling the backroads from Columbus, Indiana to Sweetwater Lake in Brown County I couldn't help but stop the car and capture a photo of a scene all too familiar. The sky was dark overhead and it looked as if we might get some much needed rain. I could see the rain falling in the distance but most of it never reached the ground as it evaporated in the hot sun. The corn was stunted and the tassels were burnt. Normally this time of year (August) the corn is high and and there are fields of green. Not in the summer of 2012.

#77 16x20 oil on canvas "TC Steele Home"

TC Steele Home

Finally got back to the studio. It's been awhile! I decided to revisit a painting I did a couple of years ago. I wanted to try it on a larger canvas. This is an interior shot of the TC Steele living room in Nashville, IN. TC Steele was an American Impressionist painter  (1847-1926) known primarily for his Indiana landscapes.

His home has been preserved and is an Indiana State Historic site. Many of his paintings are exhibited in his studio. A visit to "The House of the Singing Winds" is a real treat and one understands where Steele got much of his inspiration for his landscapes.

#76 "Manhattan Beach Pier" 9x12 oil on canvas

"Manhattan Beach Pier"

When the marine layer blankets the coast, color kinda disappears.  This was a quick painting experimenting with values.

#75 "Kayaking" 5x7 oil on canvas

Kayaking at Sweetwater

Whenever I think of Sweetwater Lake I think of kayaking. I don't do it so much but we have 2 kayaks and whenever mom can or my sister Deb can.... they do! It's always best early in the morning before the speedboats are allowed to ramp it up at 10 AM. The lake is so calm and quiet.

#74 "Ella" 9x12 oil on linen

"Ella"

While this is not my granddaughter Ella, it just reminds me of her. If she were at the seashore, this is what she would be doing. Did this painting in Victoria's studio at the Stutz building in Indianapolis. We meet for breakfast, then "yack" a bunch in her studio before we get out the paints. Always enjoy myself  and sometimes I get a keeper! 

#73 "Broad Ripple Canal" 18x24 oil on canvas

"Broad Ripple Canal"

Painting is from a photo I took last August (2012) while visiting Indianapolis. This view down the canal just begs to be painted. Great fun!!!



TOP I painted a smaller "Broad Ripple Canal" a few months ago. I was pretty happy with the way it turned out so I decided to do a larger one. Compare this with #71.  This painting is a bit "softer" for lack of a better word.



BOTTOM After a critique, I went back in! I got my values off on the BOTTOM painting so I fixed the black hole by coming in with a still darker value but much less than before. The painting (UPPER) flows much nicer now. With the trees on the left BOTTOM I got in to too much detail. It was just too unlike the rest of the painting so I used heavier, larger strokes (TOP) . I think the painting works much better. It's hard to see from this photo but I used a palette knife to get a real nice effect on the  brighter two tree trunks. There are a couple of little things that I might change but for now I will leave it as is.

#72 Jeff Buckley 30x24 oil on canvas

This is a work in progress and is the largest painting I've ever done! I painted a very similar painting last year and decided I'd like to try it on a much larger scale.  

Jeff Buckley was an American singer songwriter who tragically died from drowning in 1997 at the age of 31. He recorded only one album  entitled, "Grace." Chart success came posthumously with his famous cover of Leonard Cohen's song, "Hallelujah" he attained his first No.1 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs in March 2008.

Jeff Buckley 30x24 oil on canvas

Click on the arrow below to hear Jeff Buckley sing this awesome rendidtion of "Hallelujah."

#71 "The Broad Ripple Canal" 9x12 oil on canvas board

Last September, the day before flying back to California, I was in Broad Ripple. As I passed over the bridge early that morning, I couldn't help but notice the shadows and reflections. I found a place to park and took a few shots.

This is also a favorite spot of my good friend CW Mundy. He has done some amazing paintings of the canal.

"Landlocked" Series from Alaska

I decided to group the three completed paintings from the, "Landlocked" series and place them on the blog. A couple of summers ago while we were visiting my sister Deb in Alaska, I snapped a few photos in both Ninilchik and Homer, Alaska of boats. These particular vessels were no longer in service and had found themselves in disrepair and for the most part, forgotten. 

We had originally gone to Ninilchik to see and photograph the old Russian Church. As we drove thru the village, my eye just continued to drift over to these old boats. We stopped the car and I walked thru the tall grass and approached each of them. I thought they were visually fascinating! Each of them evoked feelings of wonderment.  Both "Forgotten" and "Ninilchik" were found in the village of Ninilchik while "Bumpers" was one of many found in an old boat graveyard near Homer. 

"Forgotten" 11x14 oil

"Bumpers" 9x12 0il

"Ninilchik" 9x12 oil

"Landlocked"

If these ol' boats could talk what stories they could tell! Where have they been? What have they seen? Who were the folks that depended upon their seaworthiness...

#70 "Forgotten" 11x14 oil on canvas

"Foregotten"

Rainy day here in So Cal so I decided to paint another boat from the "boat graveyard" in Ninilchik, Alaska.

This is the third in a series of paintings I'm doing that involve boats that don't float, at least in their current condition and location. Just wonder where that ol' boat has been???

Santa Barbara Island Sunset

This is the third year in a row that I've videoed this awesome event! This is the sun setting behind Santa Barbara Island. It's a small island far off the So Cal coast and I would bet most folks from LA are totally unaware of it's existence. Every year at this time as earth rotates on it axis, the sun sets behind this tiny jewel making for a spectacular sight. I've put CW Mundy's, "Climbing Higher" from his CD, "Road Trip" as a background song. CW's CD can be purchased on his website, CW Mundy.com  Check it out.

Watch for the green flash!!!

Enjoy...

#69 "Identified Performers" 16x20 oil

"Identified Performers" having what we call, "A Moment."

This is the second large painting (16x20) I've done of the, "Identified Performers." Steve Guidone from Manhattan Beach, CA has the first and this one is now in the hands of Ron Mayes down in Beaumont, Texas. I've played music with these guys most all of my adult life and I can't tell you how much fun it's been! I wanted both to have a painting that would always remind them of the great fun we've had and our lasting friendship!!!

* For the history behind these paintings, scroll down to entry #61.

Here's another song from our band, Turkey Run that we had back in the 70s. This is Ron Mayes (owner of this particular painting) singing, "Tell Me Baby" live at McCabes in Santa Monica, CA. We always called Ron, "The Dove." In the actual photo from the front that is displayed in the video, Gene Libbea was  playing bass that day... Doesn't get much better than that!

CLICK ON THE ARROW BELOW....

#68 "Foxen Canyon Road" 11x14 oil on canvas

Jim and I at the Foxen Winery

For Linda's birthday, we went to one of our favorite places up in Santa Barbara County. Along with my sister and brother in law, we headed for, "Sideways" country. We stayed in Solvang but headed out to Los Olivos and points beyond! This is a view off Foxen Canyon Road. Took this shot while on our way to Foxen Vineyard to do a little wine tasting. Foxen Vineyard is one of the many locations used in the movie "Sideways."

Here's a pic of my brother in law Jim and I "recreating" a scene from the movie. We decided it was in ours and everyone else's best interest to steer clear of the acting business! Wine tasting is more fun!!!

Off Foxen Canyon Road

I did this painting in, "Sideways" country, upside down while standing right side up!  Think about it....

"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.