#30 "B8" "8x10" oil

Just got back from Montana where we spent some time with Jim and Toni on their beautiful ranch on the Yellowstone River. It is the ultimate eye candy with beauty everywhere you look. Jim and Toni raise cows. I got to ride with Jim on the "swather" as well as some hiking and a trip to Big Timber for the rodeo!! All and all it was just a great visit. Last year when we were visiting, I rode with Jim and we checked fence lines. We pulled up to a particular spot and I took a picture of some of the cows that had gathered along the fence. Always thought it would be fun to try and paint some cows..... so.... here is "B8" and his buddies!!!

#29 "Charles Bridge" "16x20 oil

About a week before 9/11 I drove my daughter Darcy to the airport to see her off on her journey to study abroad in Prague, Czeck Republic. Needless to say, I was very apprehensive but excited about her opportunity to live in a foreign country. In November of 2001, I flew to Prague to visit and spend her 21st birthday with her. It was a wonderful trip in a most exciting city. When you visit Prague, it's the architecture that is most impressive. One of the highlights was just hanging out near the Charles Bridge. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century! Now that's old!

#28 "Blue Gondolas" "18x24" oil

It's been awhile but I decided to try another Venice scene. Must thank Candy and Todd for the photo. This painting (18x24 oil) sure provided me with many challenges and and a whole bunch of problems to solve. This was definitely the most difficult painting I've tried. It's interesting for me when I complete a painting. While satisfied in many ways, I usually can't wait to get to the next one. Linda says I'm my own worst critic and that is soooo true as I start breaking it down in terms of how successful I think I've been in doing what I set out to do. I've learned from CW that there are fundamental truths that must be followed in order to create a truly successful painting. When I complete one, I try and decide how successful I've been in each of those areas. In my head I rate them on a scale of 1-10 and try to come up with an overall score. I then look at the areas that I've rated myself a see where I fall short and where I've succeeded. Each painting is such a learning experience... maybe that's why it's so much fun.... tiring, but fun.

#27 "Ristorante" 11x14 oil

It's been 30+ years since I've been to Venice. However, my friend Candace and her husband Todd were fortunate enough to travel there last summer as part of a wonderful cruise thru the Mediterranean. Some of the photos were posted on Facebook by, "Candie" and I took the liberty of downloading a few of them. Thank you Candace and Todd for the inspiration!!! One of several photos that struck me was of a ristorante on one of the Venice canals.
I just wanted to be sitting at that restaurant having pasta, and sipping a fine Chianti!!! Not sure if Candace or Todd took the photo but this what they saw. Hope to get back to Venice one day but until then, this will just have to do! Godetevi il vostro pasto!

Update! Todd took the photo while he and Candie were on a gondola ride! I did a little research and found that the name of this little hotel/cafe in Venice is Hotel Ca' Fortuny.

#26 "Ella's Mom" 11x14 oil

My granddaughter, Ella Rose Nickels -->

This is a painting of, "Ella's Mom" when she was a little girl. Of course, that is my daughter Darcy. About a year ago we traveled to Richmond, Virginia and visited Terry and Jane Mohr. Jane found an old photograph of Darcy and gave it to me. She must have been about 4 or 5 at the time. She was wearing one of her favorite dance costumes. Darcy loved to dance and would entertain us most evenings with a dance in front of the fireplace. I think it was Jane who happened to take this picture as Darcy stood in front of the living room window. The light illuminated her dress from the back and side as she struck a rather shy pose. Darcy is now, "Ella's Mom" and I'm sure it won't be long before she and Matt are afforded the same pleasures she granted her mom and dad when she was just a little girl. I decided to photograph my progress as I painted this afternoon.

This painting, "Ella's Mom" has found a new home in Carlsbad, California.


Turn up your sound and click the play bar above to watch a 60 second video of painting, "Ella's Mom."

#25 "Nineveh Road Barn" 9x12 oil

Well I guess if you're from Indiana, ya gotta paint a barn! I started this painting back in August. I made a few changes and I'll live with it like this for awhile but I have a feeling I'm going to go back in and make some more changes. This barn sits at the corner of State Road 252 and Nineveh Road. I've been passing this barn since the early 1970s on my way down to mom and dad's cottage on Sweetwater Lake. This past April (2009) I was on my way to Sweetwater for the annual, "opening" of the Ah Kum On Inn. It was time to get out the lawn and deck furniture etc. It was early spring so there was a hint of green in the trees but the grass was already a vibrant shade of green. Since it was morning, there is nice shadowing on the side of the barn and on the barn roof the from chimney. It won't be long before we repeat the ritual... and I pass by once again, the "Nineveh Road Barn".....

A few of years back my son and I went to Story, Indiana in the hills of Brown County to hear an outdoor concert. It was a perfect August evening and the concert was held on a stage built out from an old barn in a hollow behind the old general store that has now become a terrific restaurant and inn. When I was a kid growing up in Indiana, I used to hunt, fish and camp at Burr Williamson's place just a few miles from there. This was back in the 1950s. We would hike thru the woods down to that general store in Story to get candy and anything else a few quarters would buy.

However this night, almost 50 years later, most folks brought a blanket and sat outside underneath an August moon. There was a roaring bonfire casting flickering shadows into the woods that surrounded us. In addition to Ramblin Jack Elliot... we heard a local singer/songwwriter by the name of Tim Grimm. He sang a song he had written called , "Better Days" about a farm family and farm life. I really liked this song so I decided to learn it and record it myself... The song reminded me of my Grandma and Grandpa Schuyler's farm in North Judson, Indiana. It was the Schuyler Dairy. I put a few photos of the farm etc. towards the end of the song ........ Now, Randy Jackson might say, "it was a little pitchy" and he'd be right but, what the heck!!!



Turn on your sound and CLICK ON THE PLAY BAR above to see the slide show and hear the song.

#24 "The Lighthouse" 8x10 oil

I know I said I was moving on from, "lighthouses" but this is an 8x10 that I started months ago and couldn't get it the way I really wanted it. Yesterday I got it out and truly mixed a few pots of paint and just messed around. Can't say for sure if I'll keep it this way but it was fun being kinda reckless as I tend to be a control freak and it's hard to let go sometimes. I will say for sure.... not gonna post any more lighthouses in the near future!!!

#23 "The Lighthouse" 18x24 oil

My long time friends Dave and Diane Harrison were over for dinner a couple of weeks ago. Dave asked me why I didn't do more large paintings. I think because I was, and still am kinda new to this whole thing.... large paintings intimidated me somewhat. Well, after Dave's question to me, I decided to do an 18x24. After the first day of working on it... I was somewhat happy with the results but it needed some reworking. Went back in on 2/1/10 and worked a little on the sky, the rocks at water's edge and the ocean. Highlighted some of the cliffs with a few strokes of pure chroma! I think I'm done with lighthouses for awhile.... hope to start something entirely new this week!!!


Below is a short 30 sec video of the Pt. Vicente Lighthouse... great place to watch the gray whale migrate, dolphins play or simply enjoy the peace and tranquility.... I'll probably change the video from time to time.... today, 2/2/2010, kinda cloudy, cool... rain in the forecast.

#22 "Selma's Living Room" 8x10 oil

After visits to the TC Steele home, ("The House of the Singing Winds") outside Nashville, Indiana, I decided to paint an impression of the living room inside the home. There have been so many wonderful paintings of the exterior including the gardens that I decided I wanted something different. One of TC Steele's most famous paintings is of his second wife Selma in her garden. It certainly is one of my favorites. For some reason, when I toured the house, I thought of Selma. Well, I didn't have her, but I did have her living room, preserved much as it was when she and TC shared their home in the early part of the 20th century. I'm sure she sat in one of those chairs and enjoyed a book or conversation with TC. The House of the Singing Winds, the grounds, gardens and the museum are a must see if you're in the Nashville, Indiana area. Be sure to take a peek inside the house. I did and this is what I found!

#21 "Garlics" 9x12

Finally completed this still life that was started in Victoria's studio at the Stutz building in Indianapolis this past August. Just haven't had time to get out the paints this fall but that's gonna change. This is my first still life. It's so much fun to paint with someone.... Victoria and I painted, talked, laughed and did a lot of, "talking to ourselves" as we worked! Thanks Victoria for inviting me once again...... you're the best!!

Completed this painting on October 19, 2009

#20 "Summer at the Lake" 8x10

When you sit on the deck at mom and dad's cottage on Sweetwater Lake in Brown County, Indiana, you gaze across the cove at Bill's dock. Bill is a grandpa to triplets! On my annual migration to the lake, I've watched the triplets fish off of Bill's dock every summer. Once again the grandkids along with some friends were visiting a couple of weeks ago,.... Ahhh... "Summer at the Lake."

Completed 8/27/2009

"Summer at the Lake" has a new home at the Ah Kum On INN on Sweetwater Lake.

#19 "The Sweetwater Swan" 5x7

This is a painting of the, "Sweetwater Swan"..... this guy (the swan ... not me) comes in to mom's cove and hangs out once in awhile. He sat motionless and the water was pretty glassy except for the drip from it's beak causing a small ring below.

"The Sweetwater Swan" now has a permanent home at Sweetwater Lake!



I wrote a song a few years back called the "Ah Kum On Inn" song. It's about my mom and dad's life at the lake. When you, "sit on the deck and watch the ducks and squirrels," you look across the cove and see Bill's dock and you just might see the, "Sweetwater Swan!".

CLICK ON THE ARROW BELOW TO PLAY THE SONG....

#17 and #18 "Country Road," 8x10

I'd be interested in opinions here so feel free to comment below. 

This is a little study of style. I've painted two small 8x10s of the same thing. I will do a third in the near future. In the first painting I tried to stay loose and not get trapped paying attention to trees, mountains, roads etc. Just trying to see values, color shapes etc. The second is an attempt to tighten things up a bit. Overall I'm happy with both because they've served a good purpose. I certainly have my opinions about each but I'd like feedback. I'll post the third when I get to it. Below is the story of the paintings...

While driving through the Santa Barbara County wine country just outside of Los Olivos, we happened upon this view of the countryside. We had the top down in Linda's little convertible and it was just a picture perfect day! We pulled over to just take in the views and appreciate the solitude of the moment. We had traveled about 5 miles up this road and didn't pass one car! (Far cry from the 405!) Next time I go there, I want to know where that curve in the road takes me......

Completed on August 12, 2009

#16 "Wedding Table" 9x12

Linda and I were married on May 17, 2009  at the Ojai Retreat in Ojai, Ca. http://www.ojairetreat.com/index.html  It was just the two of us, a minister and a very kind lady whom we had met earlier in the day and invited her to take some pictures. 

That morning Linda and I went shopping for table decorations. We purchased a vase, flowers and a white table cloth. 

The day before we had been wine tasting in Los Olivos (of Sideways fame). We happened on to the Saarloos & Sons wine tasting room. We learned about the history of the family and their wines. Upon mentioning that we were going to be married the next day, we were given this lovely bottle of wine as a gift. Depicted on this label is the wedding photo of the union in 1945 that created SAARLOOS & sons. On the left Bertha Saarloos on the right Gilbert Saarloos. Linda and I thought it would look great on our table. We felt it was very appropriate. 

If you're ever in Los Olivos, stop by... they are wonderful people and produce great wines!!

http://www.saarloosgroup.com/SAARLOOSANDSONS/Welcome.html

Completed on July 27, 2009.

#15 The Shed 5x7

This is a painting from a photo taken from Wendy and John Lusk's deck (June 2009) on our recent trip to Montana. We were guests of Toni and Jim Lusk (sister and brother in law) at their beautiful Montana Ranch. I was waiting for the sun to come out and capture some of the ambience. It did briefly and lit the countryside with so many different colors and the Rocky Mountains appeared far off in the distance. The little shed in the foreground was a nice contrast to the vastness of the landscape. BTW, the steaks were great as were Cori's peanut butter cookies!!!!!!

 This painting, "The Shed" has now found a new home in Reed Point, Montana!!

Completed 6/18/2009

#14 Pelican Bay 8x10

Visited our friends Dave and Diane Harrison in Naples, Florida this past April. They live at Pelican Bay. It's a beautiful beach community and they have a lovely home there. One thing that continued to catch my eye was the red and blue umbrellas. Most of them were blue but the lifeguards had red ones. It was a nice contrast with all that blue. We sure had a great time...... when I think of the beach at Pelican Bay, this is what I think of......

Completed this painting on 6/13/2009

This painting, "Pelican Bay" has now found a new home in Naples, Florida!

#13 The Greenhouse 8x10

This is an 8x10 of my sister and brother-in-law's greenhouse in Alaska. It's just a great place to hang out in the morning with a cup of coffee. Every year they plant flowers and vegetables in their raised gardens. A very special place! I look forward to getting back there soon! Trying to practice one thing Monet teaches and that CW is teaching me. Monet says when it comes to impressionism, I'm gonna tell something but I ain't gonna tell ya everything! The emphasis here is on the hanging pot of flowers but the greenhouse is ever so present. What is that in the window?

This painting was completed on 5/24/2009.

"The Greenhouse," now has a new home in Cooper Landing, Alaska.

#12 Tall Ship 8x10

It's been a month or more and I haven't really had an opportunity to get out the paints. I made time today and did this little 8x10 of a brigantine that comes by every so often. There are two of them and they provide training adventures to at risk youths. It was a rather quiet, marine layer kinda day..... not alot of wind... just kinda like what you see here....

Painting was completed May 12, 2009.

"Tall Ship," has a new home in Columbus, Indiana.

http://www.brigantines.com/

#11 Trans Pac

After, "tweaking" the lighthouse, I just had to try something else. I was frustrated. I had some paint left over and hate to waste it (recession you know). So I decided to try something very different. The fact that I didn't overthink it or put so much pressure on myself seems to have worked to some degree. I just sketched it out and started, "marbelizing" like crazy (CW, you would be proud... I just loaded the brush and hit the canvas!!) I let the paint stay where it landed and how it landed. I, "overdid it" a bit when it came to the marbelizing the sky but I needed to just do it and not back off which is what I've been doing. Now that I've done that, I can tame the next attempt at this technique. But for now, what ya see is what ya get. I know I could go in and tweak this one but I ain't gonna. I'm leaving it just the way it is. (I lied, I just "tweaked it" but not all that much and I'm thinking about going back in again!) Somebody save me from myself! I think that the painting lacks a focal point.... a place where the eye just goes automatically. I'm not sure how to incorporate that at this point but I'll keep thinking it thru and IF I can, I'll go back in and see what I can do. I'm thinking I've gotta, "pop" one of those sailboats! Any suggestions?

The painting is from a photo I took in July of 2005 at the starting line of the Trans Pac. www.transpacificyc.org. The Trans Pac is a sailboat race from So Cal to Hawaii and it's held every other year. I woke up that morning and looked out the window only to see many large sailboats grouped together on a very overcast morning. I grabbed my camera and headed for the cliffs where I sat and watched the boats jockey for position. This is the very start of the race. Within 20 minutes, the boats had all disappeared into the heavy marine layer on their way to Hawaii.

Competed on 3/14/2009

UPDATE! 3/16/2009 I've added a little, "highlight" to one of the sails to hopefully draw more attention to a point on the canvas. At Victoria's suggestion, I lengthened the sail a bit and arched it along the left side to give it more motion. (Hmmmm, I wonder if it won!) Can you tell which boat I'm talking about? It's subtle but it's there. Thanks for the tip Victoria!!

#10 The Pt. Vicente lighthouse in the morning..

This is my 10th painting. It's a 16x20 of early morning at the Pt Vicente lighthouse in in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Pt. Vicente Lighthouse The more I do, the more I learn and the more I learn that I don't know alot. I can plan and plan in my head and visualize the end result BUT, I can't nail one yet. I have mixed emotions about this one. I know some things I did right and some that I did wrong. I like the flag mast shadow on the lighthouse and the way the morning sun hits the side. Might rework the sky someday but I need some expert advice first..... it isn't what I was after but I've decided to leave well enough alone for now. I did "go back" once before and absolutely destroyed a painting! (*see #3) I reserve the right to TRY this one again at some later date!! For now, I'm going to try something completely different . Little frustrated......

Still trying to nail one!!! Completed on Friday the 13th! March 13, 2009

June 14, 2009 ..... I had put this painting in the closet..... there were just too many thing wrong with it in my opinion. Without going in to detail, the easiest thing to rework was the sky..... I changed the sky and it works a little better now.... gonna leave it like this for the time being....

#9 Greg and His Strat

This is my first attempt at doing people! This is my son Greg playing in his band, "Retro Transit Authority." www.retrotransitauthority.com The focus of this painting is primarily Greg's stratocaster..... the long curving black of the guitar against his shirt that has a very light value to it. The big lesson I learned on this painting was to NOT be tempted to make Greg's face, "look like" Greg. It would detract from my light/dark value contrast. The bass player in the background was alot of fun. Basically, all that is painted is his face, neck area, both hands, and his guitar...... all against a blackish background.

#8 Point Vicente Lighthouse

This is a 5x7 of the lighthouse at Point Vicente in Rancho Palos Verdes on a calm, clear morning. www.palosverdes.com/pvlight/ This was my second attempt at this painting. My first was very similar BUT, it was fractured. My ocean was too dark as was Catalina in the background. This painting is better in that regard. Tried to show the early morning light hitting the side of the lighthouse. The painting was completed in 2/2009.

#7 Hermosa Beach Lifeguard Stand

This was my first attempt after working with CW. I did a little of the marbilization process that CW taught me. Painting was completed in January of 2009. I like the sky, sun and foreground. If I did it again, I would really play down the "wave action." The lifeguard stand might be a bit edgy.

#6 Painting with CW...

In November, (2008) I was once again in Indiana. CW CWMundy.com invited me to paint with him. Needless to say, I was excited but somewhat "intimidated." CW put me at ease and we proceeded to paint side by side. He just told me to do what he did. I learned so much that day, just as he said I would. I learned his technique of, "marbilization," how to mix pots of paint and how to, "load" my brush among other things.

He got me to focus more on values and shapes as opposed to the actual subject matter. A lesson learned but the implementation of which, still seems to elude me. I understand it, just can't do it well........I am trying to incorporate the, "lessons" I learned that day. It's a slow process for sure BUT, I will get it! Thanks CW for a great day spent with an old friend!!!

#4 and #5 Paintings of paintings

These are two paintings from paintings..... I did this in an attempt to see how others use color, brush strokes etc.  It was suggested that I do this before I start painting from my own photos. It was a great suggestion as it gave me some confidence and early on experience. They are 9x12s and were completed in October of 2008. My mom has the one on the left framed and hanging on her wall.

#3 My first attempt at a landscape...

My third painting was my first attempt at a "landscape." It's the Pt. Vicente Lighhouse in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. I liked some things about it BUT, it was too fractured, proportions of tree to lighthouse were not correct and my "ocean" horizon was way off..... I am trying to paint, "loser," trying not to be so literal..... if I can learn that lesson, I will progress. I went back and tried to fix it...... BIG mistake...... the painting no longer exists.........! I didn't and still don't have the ability to rehabilitate a painting after most of the work is done. Trying to recreate the values with new paint is a skill I don't have yet. Plus, I tried to "overthink" it. I created a monster and really messed it up. However, I will attempt this one again. I wished I had kept it in it's original form as shown here. It was what it was... Painted in October of 2008....

#2 Yellow Flower

Painting #2 is a 5x7 of a yellow flower. It's the first painting I did after working with Victoria. I painted it from a photo that I took several years ago. I liked the yellow, green and darkness of the photograph. This little painting took me 8 hours! I think it will always be special to me because of what it represents. ....Kinda like it. ...... It was completed in Sept of 2008.

#1 My first painting... August 2008

At the ripe, "young" age of 62, I decided to try my hand at oil painting. In August of 2008, I was fortunate enough to be invited to paint with a good friend who had encouraged me to try something I had always wanted to try but, NEVER in a million years thought I would.

Linda bought me an easel for Christmas, 2007 and it sat in the closet for months. I really didn't think I would ever use it.

While in Indianapolis last summer (2008), we decided to go to an exhibit at the Stutz building where Victoria Gillieron had a couple of her paintings displayed. Afterwards, Victoria, Lou, Linda and I went to her studio. I decided to purchase one of her paintings. In the process, Victoria suggested I come to her studio and paint with her! She knew of my "secret" desire as she had assisted Linda is selecting an easel.

The following week, I joined Victoria Gillieron: http://www.victoriagillieron.com/ at her studio in the Stutz building. Victoria was also a student of CW Mundy, a very close and long time friend of mine. CW Mundy's art can be seen at: http://www.cwmundy.com/

I spent 7 hours in her studio that day. Victoria would come by take a look, offer some advice and then go back and sit patiently while I threw paint at a canvas for the very first time. When I was done, I had my very first oil painting. It was very exciting and changed the way I saw the world and everything in it! Thanks Victoria!!