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.

#37 "Lighthouse at Sunset" 16x20 oil

This is the Pt. Vicente Lighthouse at sunset. I was on my way home from northern CA (10/2010) and rounded the bend here in Palos Verdes around sunset. I pulled over and watched the sky and bluff light up with brilliant color. I took several shots that evening and I would like to try painting it again from different angles. I know some things I would do differently. It was fun to paint this but there were several times that I went back in and shouldn't have. I have to remember to lay down a passage and then leave it alone. Soooo hard to do.....!!

#36 "Grandma Schuyler's Teapot" 11x14 oil

This is my Grandma Schuyler's teapot.  Not sure she ever really used it as a teapot but it really doesn't matter.  She was a collector of cut glass and on occasion lectured on the subject. Grandma was an artist and musician, playing piano regularly at church. Most of all, she was a very fine and gracious lady. My memories of her are vivid as I look back at the many trips to the Schuyler Dairy Farm in North Judson, Indiana.

On September 23, 2010 at the suggestion of my good friends CW and Rebecca Mundy, I attended a Weekend with the Masters in Dana Point, CA. CW was participating and was one of several impressionists from all over the United States. They represented America's finest! Not only did I get to attend a couple of the workshops, I was fortunate enough to meet the likes of Quang Ho, Carolyn Anderson, Scott Christensen, David Leffel, and Dan Gerhartz. Being with CW, I got in on a few informal art discussions ( I listened only!) with Carolyn Anderson, CW and Quang Ho. Such a treat.

I attended the afternoon lecture/demo of Richard Schmid. It was in a large room with several hundred people. There were large screens on either side of the stage. Richard proceeded to sit down and paint a still life for us. He discussed certain techniques and added some humor as he worked. However, it was watching his process as he went from his palette to the canvas and back that was so intriguing. The greats make it look so easy. All in all, the day was very inspiring!!!

As a result, this is my first solo still life!!! (#35 is really #36 and is my second still life... I went in and changed this one and it's out of order. This was originally #35.... confused??? Me too.

This is a photo of my Grandma Schuyler and an article about her art exhibit published in the North Judson News, on September 29, 1976.

#35 "Teapot" 9x12 oil

My wife Linda Rendleman is co founder of the, Women Like Us Foundation. http://www.womenlikeusfoundation.org

Each year, they have an event fundraiser for the foundation. It is truly an amazing event with wonderful motivational speakers from all over the world. This painting was contributed to this years silent auction. Since this is the "Women Like Us Tea," I thought a teapot might be appropriate.

This is actually my second still life. I used the same teapot but added a green apple instead of the orange and changed the red apple to a different red apple.  I find that I like painting still lifes... can't wait to change it up a bit. Painting from life is much more exciting. Now I need to venture out and do some plein aire..... that worries me!!!!

"Teapot" has found a new home in Noblesville, IN

#34 "Another Look at Selma's Living Room"

While at the TC Steele home in Nashville, Indiana this past spring (2010), I decided to do some more interior shots of the living room. The lighting is so dramatic. My first painting of "Selma's Living Room" (#22) won a 4th place at the Indiana State Fair during the summer of 2010. This is the view from the other end of the living room. I have some more shots that I would like to paint in the future. Maybe one outside???

Critique from, "Paintings I Love"

Stunning, stunning, stunning!! Your palette and those thick and wondrous textures are such a joy!! Am esp. enchanted with the gloooooorious "olde worlde" look: This room could have been in my beloved old Grannie's beeeeeeautiful, old (300 years+)home in Bristol, England - right down to the look of the drapery, the furniture aaaand those soft and lovely peaches and pinks!! Adooooore this!! 5*++++++ Hugs, Charlotte

#33 "Pipeline" 8x10 oil

This was fun!!!

While in Hawaii a couple of years ago, my sister Deb and I ended up at a Big Wave surfing contest on the north shore. The waves were 20+ all day..... took a shot of this surfer just as the wave was beginning to break..... the wave would then completely surround the surfer in what is called the, "tube." If he's lucky, he gets shot out the end.... if not, well he's in a bunch of trouble!

I painted this fast and loose. Will do more in this style!!!

In my dreams!

#32 "Reed Point" 9x12 oil

While in Montana visiting with Toni and Jim we decided to go to town. We stopped at the, Waterhole Saloon in Reed Point, a town of about 300 people. When we got out of the car, I looked up the street to the north and noticed the dark skies and yet the sun was illuminating the old Occident Flour elevator that sits along the tracks. This is what the building looks like heading out of town. Thought it might make an interesting painting.

#31 "Sweetwater Swan" revisited ....... 9x12 oil

Back at Sweetwater Lake in Brown County at the Aw Kum On Inn. Taking another look at the, "Sweetwater Swan." It's full on summer with temps in and above 90 here in August. Nothing quite like being at the lake.

The swan hasn't been around much this summer. Rumor has it, he's hanging out at the north end of the lake.  Here he looks pretty comfortable and cool sitting on a rock that lies just below the top of the water, preening himself, watching the feathers float gently upon the surface.

2010 Indiana State Fair Juried Competition

Last summer (2009) after visiting the Indiana State Fair, I decided I wanted to enter the juried competition for the following year. You are allowed to enter two paintings. I chose, "Ella's Mom" #26 and "Selma's Living Room" #22. Both paintings were judged and then chosen for exhibition at the fair. That was a great feeling to have both selected!!! Much to my surprise, "Selma's Living Room" won a 4th place!!! I felt like the little kid whose  prized pig just won a ribbon! My wife Linda, my sister Deb and my mom went with me to the reception...... great afternoon!!!

Me and my mom Clara Cahill

My lovely wife Linda

Sister Deb Carlson

Me and Linda

#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!