#90, #91 and #92 A study using, "Three Pieces of Fruit"

#1 5x7 on oil linen panel

Well I'm getting real tired of looking at fruit and the right brain, left brain battle continues! The transition from painter to artist remains illusive but it's attainable and I get an occasional glimpse...

#2 5x7 on oil linen panel

That said, this is an experiment for me. I've decided to do a series of small paintings that consists of three pieces of fruit. The idea here is to  mess with value, chroma, design, paint manipulation and the play between light and shadow to see how they all influence each other. It's VERY challenging but fun. These are the first four in the series of still life paintings that I've done attempting to address the above. I'm going to change the palette for the next series of three pieces of fruit.

#3 8x10 oil on linen panel

My post after painting #1 in April of 2014

After a couple of days on the sidelines at an amazing art workshop in New Harmony, Indiana earlier this month, I've been motivated to "experiment." I get caught up in the same old trap time after time, allowing my left brain to dictate when I KNOW it's my right brain I need to pay more attention to. It's a constant battle! With this little 5x7, I attempted a couple of things. One of my goals was to demonstrate 3 different values with various degrees of chroma. To this, I partially succeeded. Another goal was to breakaway from too many edges and allow the edges that I do allow to have meaning. Again, I partially succeeded. Finally, how to use chroma effectively. As with the values, degrees of the use of chroma is very important. If all of your subjects have the same value and same degree of chroma, then there is nothing to draw attention to the part of the painting that you're trying to draw attention to. This painting was a real attempt at doing all of the above. It's a first step! So much room for improvement!

One thing "relearned" was always solve all of your problems before that first brush stroke. I thought this little painting out, prepared and then painted. Now, with that said, that doesn't always mean you're going to get a Monet! What it does mean is that IF you do it over and over, your chances of a successful painting increase tremendously. I want to thank my good friend CW Mundy for allowing me to observe a couple of days at the workshop. It was very, very rewarding. I hope that next year I can attend full time!

* Side note... I was so excited over the "relative" success of this little painting that I couldn't wait to get back to the studio. The following day I did just that. The results..... I scraped it! Why? Because I really didn't take the time to solve all of the problems. I got sloppy. It was a total mess...

#89 "Palos Verdes Bluffs" 5x7 oil on linen panel

Palos Verdes Bluffs

Quick little 5x7 study from a photo I took a couple of days ago while on my walk.  

#88 "Cheers" 11x14 oil on linen panel

Patrick James Cahill

"Where Everybody Knows Your Name, and They're Always Glad You Came"

This is my Grandpa Patrick James Cahill. He was my dad's father. He died when I was pretty young but I have a couple memories of him. One  day when I was probably 11 or 12, he stopped by the house to see us. I was a hot shot little league pitcher and Grandpa Pat being a huge baseball fan, wanted to play catch with me in the backyard. He said show me what you've got! To me he was my grandpa but he was still an old man, probably in his 50's or early 60s at the time. I was a little concerned that he wasn't up to the task. He assured me that he was so I leaned back and fired one at him. Much to my surprise, he caught it just fine!!! Mostly I know that he was a drummer during the vaudeville years. He played  drums in the pit at the Terrace Theatre (101-05 E North Street) in Danville, Illinois. Built in 1907, this was Danville's largest theatre for nearly 20 years. In fact, it was too large to be profitable; it was torn down in the early '30s to make way for a supermarket. The site is now a parking lot. Whenever the big acts would come through Danville on their way to and from Chicago, that's where you would find Pat and my dad whenever he could sneak in to watch. Grandpa Pat was known to have a drink or two. Perhaps that was the Irish in him. In his later years, sometime during the1940s  he was a bartender at the grand ol" Claypool Hotel at the corner of Washington Street and Illinois Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. This painting is from a photo of my Grandpa Pat tending bar at the Claypool. (101-05 E North Street)

Claypool Hotel

Contract signed in 1934 by Grandpa Pat to play double drums with the Barnett Brothers Circus...

#87 "Turn, Turn, Turn" 9x12 oil on linen panel

Pete Seeger, (May 3, 1919 - January 27, 2014) had a profound influence on my generation.  During the 60s, it was his music that many of of listened to. We played and sang his songs and were inspired by his wisdom and conviction. He was a "giver" and for that I am thankful. The world lost a great man, but his songs  will always be with us.

"Cheers"  

I went to the studio yesterday, turned on Pete Seeger songs and painted this. What a great day... listening to his music and painting his image. A very good day indeed....

#86 "Greg at the Roxy" 8x10 oil on linen panel

Not sure what to think about this. First of all.... I loved painting it. For me, this was about light, shadow and color. Not sure exactly how all that works from a technical aspect but this is what I painted. I'm finally trying to paint what I see and feel instead of approaching everything from a technical/science aspect. Sometimes I lose me in that process of painting how and what I'm supposed to paint. I guess at 67 I'm going through my terrible twos! Having never been formally trained as an artist, much of what I do is by the seat of my pants with the addition of support and critiques from a couple close friends and fellow artists. So here's the risk. Paint by feel or proven technique? I'm sticking my neck out here and going by instinct. I can then evaluate what I've done by the science of painting that I've been trying learn. Have I mastered that science? By no means BUT I've certainly gotten better. So it's time to throw in a few "experiments" for better or worse. I'm hoping that throwing caution to the wind and combining feel, and inspiration with the technical/science, my personal style can evolve. I think when, as an artist you can combine all of those elements... Bingo!! Not there yet but I can see it coming! I'm determined to get there.

Since I was at the performance that night, this is especially significant. Greg is currently playing with a band called Illumination Road. They are an excellent rock band and we all hope they have a bright future! Here's a sample of their music and a video of photos from that night!

#85 " Sail Away" 9x12 oil on linen panel

"Sail Away"

Just wondering where these people came from and where they were going? One of the things that fascinates me about living on the coast are boats. We have such a variety that pass by. Nothing is more intriguing to me than the large sailboats. I always wonder, just who are these people?

I was particularly struck by the light passing thru the sails on this  two masted sailboat. Were they headed down the coast to Mexico, Central or South America? Maybe just to  Catalina for the weekend or perhaps a journey around the world....

#84 "Spoonflection" 5x7 oil on canvas

"Spoonflection" 5x7 on canvas

Well it's been awhile! We visited our good friends Tom and Lana Cochrun up on the central coast a couple of weeks ago. It was for our west coast, "Chill." It's always great wine, food and fun! We were all seated at the table getting ready to "partake" when I looked into my spoon and was mesmerized by the reflection of the chandelier in my spoon! Don't ask me why but I became fixated on that darn reflection. Lana was seated next to me and looked at me kinda funny and asked what I was looking at? When I told her, she got it!!! She could have been just humoring me... not sure.  I've been thinking about that darn spoon for a couple of weeks now so I decided to paint what I saw. I think on this one I've broken most of the rules for how to create a great painting. Well I don't care.... this is what I saw! So here's to ya!!!

#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"