Downstairs Creations

THAT WAS FUN!

2012-02-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

Finished the new pastel over the last few days. I enjoy this medium so much more than my trials and tribulations with watercolor. With pastels and acrylics I seem to be able to work past of fix mistakes. Watercolor, for me. is very unforgiving!

ANOTHER START

2012-02-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

Baseball practice has started so I can't seem to find much time downstairs with my art. Thinking another pastel will be the easiest for me to work on. Watercolor is too frustrating and lino or woodblock too time consuming.

ANOTHER FOR THE "DIDN'T MAKE IT" STACK

2012-02-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

Luckily, not a lot of time spent on this watercolor (maybe that's the problem). I really need to come up with a plan and then work it through on one of these!!!

PASTEL RETURN

2012-02-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

Finished wolf pastel that I started a few weeks ago.

"Art is either plagiarism or revolution"
~Paul Gauguin~

MICHAEL HALBERT ILLUSTRATOR

2012-01-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

I found this great tutorial clip on Youtube showing Michael Halbert doing a scratchboard/pen and ink drawing. It is long but I couldn't stop watching. With so much computer graphics being used now, it is fascinating to see hand drawn art.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAYnXJyK3cM

His website is a treasure of different types and styles of art.

http://inkart.com/index.html

One of mine. Not even close!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

2012-01-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

If I would have known that I was going to live this long...I would have taken better care of myself!!

NEW PASTELS

2012-01-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

Two new pastels that I recently finished. Both from pictures we took on one of our trips back east. Country side in Vermont and a house we rented on Ile Verte, an island on the Saint Lawrence river in Canada.

ETCHING TO TEE SHIRT

2012-01-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

This solarplate etching I did turned into a great Tee-Shirt idea. I have a number of things available at Cafepress and this one has been kind of popular.
http://www.cafepress.com/jgbcreations

JOHN SALMON

2012-01-13T10:39:00.000-08:00

I happened upon a website of watercolor paintings done by John Salmon, an artist that lives in London England. He has posted a couple of demos on Youtube that I really enjoyed. As he begins a painting you would think that there is no way that they could turn out well. Kind of like my watercolors! The difference is that his turn out fantastic. Take a little time to see how watercolor should work.

VERMONT

2012-01-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

Pastel from our trip to Vermont. Mud City Loop. What a great name!

WOODBLOCK PRINT

2012-01-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

"I believe in working hard. Painting is serious. A vice, not a play thing." ~ Bernard Buffet ~

Okay...I guess I don't take it quite that serious. I am just having fun!

'Devil Music' Reduction woodblock print on Japanese Torinoko paper.

2012 FIRST

2012-01-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

Working on the first pastel of this new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-12-31T10:26:00.000-08:00

Reduction linocut on Japanese Gampi paper.

STEP-BY-STEP

2011-12-27T09:01:00.000-08:00

I found this great website belonging to watercolor artist Mark Stewart. Here you can see examples of his fantastic paintings and he also shows three different step-by step watercolor demonstrations. A great help to people like me with watercolor deficiencies!

http://www.markstewartwatercolor.com/watercolors/casestudy.25.7.16.25.0.0.html

ANYTHING WITHOUT SNOW

2011-12-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

We have been dealing with snow for the past week so I did this pastel with no snow anywhere!

Pastel on Strathmore paper.

END OF THE YEAR

2011-12-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

Trying to put everything into some kind of order in my studio so I can start out the new year feeling a little bit organized. One area still showing a glaring weakness...watercolor! I can't believe the number of attempts and the number that ended up in the 'nice try' pile. I should give myself an 'A' for persistence though!! Here's one that came close to what I was trying to do.

SO MANY WAYS TO PRINT

2011-12-09T10:24:00.000-08:00

Storm Brewing...Monoprint on Rives paper.

MIXED MEDIA

2011-12-03T08:25:00.000-08:00

This painting started out as a watercolor but, as almost always seems to happen, changed to acrylic pretty quickly. Watercolor...my never ending challenge!

PRINTMAKING PLUS

2011-11-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

Another website with great art. Mariana Bartolomeo uses etching, wood block, monoprint and mixed media to create unique and beautiful pieces of work.

http://www.virtu-studio.com/Page1Navigation.html

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2011-11-24T07:47:00.000-08:00

Much to be thankful for this year!

HOLIDAY CARD

2011-11-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

I finished (well almost) the pastel I have been working on. The timing should be perfect as I think it will make a good holiday card.

SHE DOES IT ALL

2011-11-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

Belinda Del Pesco is an artist that I love to follow. She works in art areas that I find so exciting. At any given time you can see fun monotypes, collagraphs, woodcuts plus great watercolor paintings.

http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/2011/11/monotype-monterey-retreat.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BelindaDelPescoFineArtBlog+%28Belinda+Del+Pesco+Fine+Art+Blog%29

The link above is to a good monotype lesson she recently posted.

LEARNING CURVE

2011-11-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a new pastel that, so far, I'm really happy with. Learning how to use gouache as both an under-painting, and a way to brighten some of the pastel areas.

FINEART AMERICA WEBPAGE

2011-11-07T09:59:00.000-08:00

Fineart America has provided webpage space for me to display some of my art. It took a while, but I now have a number of pieces uploaded in different galleries.

http://john-brisson.artistwebsites.com/

LINOCUTS

2011-11-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

Not as elaborate as the Mark's prints...a couple of mine. Baby steps!

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

2011-10-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

Mary Mark is an artist who creates wonderful reduction linocuts and pastel paintings. She is probably one of the foremost lino artists in the country. She lives and works out of a 120 year old church in New Richmond, Ohio. Her website http://www.marymark.com/WelcomePage.htm shows some of her pieces and also has a section explaining the process.

WOLF PASTEL II

2011-10-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

I have made some changes and added to my wolf pastel based on a second photograph of the subject. More detail and more trees!!

WOLF PASTEL

2011-10-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

After watching a couple of Roberta Baer pastel video clips I started a small pastel painting of a wolf myself. Nothing like the work that she does, but a lot of fun for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si-3A_sKmkw

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2011-10-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

Today is my wife's birthday. The wonderful woman who let's me use the downstairs of our house as my art and music studio.

Watercolor that I'm working on now.

GRANDPA???

2011-10-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last few days watching my first grandson while number two was born. I'm still thinking that I'm too young to be a grandfather! Levi came into this world at 8 pounds 12 ounces. That's making your presence know!

Pastel that I did of Liam (First grandson)

FANTASTIC SCRATCHBOARD ART

2011-10-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned scratchboard art and how much I enjoyed the different times I've attempted a drawing in earlier posts. If you would like to see how it is properly done, visit this Youtube clip of Canadian artist Al Weitzel creating a beautiful wolf piece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF9uFyWx3fk&feature=related

EAST COAST

2011-10-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

Spent the last five days in Baltimore, or more specifically, Annapolis. I went to the Navy, Air Force football game to see Kriss Proctor. I coached him here in Big Bear, so quite a treat seeing him play. The game didn't turn out as I would have hoped, but I enjoyed seeing the academy and what Kriss' life is like now.

Not much time for art except a quick watercolor study.

BATTLE OF THE BANDS

2011-09-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Our little group played the other night in the Battle of the Bands. We weren't part of the competition, just the closing music while the judges were voting on the bands. It's great to play with these guys because they are the most popular teachers in Big Bear which means we can do no wrong!! Battle Night

GENIUS LOST

2011-09-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

Today Jim Henson would have been 75 years old. The world really needs him right now!http://youtu.be/jtqOaabx1j4

WATERCOLOR MADE EASY

2011-09-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

Well...not so easy for me but love watching someone who makes it look like it is. I've mentioned before that I have become a huge fan of Sterling Edwards. I have a few of his DVD's and hope to attend one of his workshops in the near future. He does his paintings with so little effort and so fearlessly. Works with big brushes and paints with loose bold colors. Just fun!

My attempt -

BIG BEAR ON HIGH

2011-09-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

Acrylic painting on Arches watercolor paper. I can make the watercolor paper work, just not the paint!!

FIRES

2011-09-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

The recent fires in Southern California brought back memories of 2007 and the fire in our mountain area. Thousands of acres burned and mountain communities effected. Big Bear was evacuated and we spent many days with my son and daughter in law. Knock on wood...this fire season has been a bit calmer.

Big Bear Fire - Acrylic painting on Arches watercolor paper

A LITTLE BIT OF BLUES

2011-09-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

Mr. Hooker's Hobo Blues. That's the way it was done!!

Bass Work - Reduction linocut on Japanese paper.

STAYING WITH PASTELS

2011-09-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

While I'm on this pastel high and drooling over wonderful paintings created by fantastic artist, another site to mention belongs to Paul Bosman. Another artist who's roots are in Africa but now lives in the United States, his works are in oil, acrylic and some beautiful pastels. His colors are so subtle, yet draw you right into the picture.

Another of mine below. Really!!!

PASTEL ENVY

2011-09-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

Reading one of my older art books, I happened upon some pastel paintings by an artist named Dino Paravano. He paints all kinds of subjects in oil, acrylic and pastels. His wildlife work done in pastels is what especially caught my attention. Truly fantastic. He lives in Arizona presently, but grew up in Africa which shows in his work. Time well spent on his website.

http://www.paravanodino.com/

One of my pastels below. Not quite the same!!

PASTEL PAINTING

2011-08-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

My friend and artist from the Pacific Northwest (Lopez Island) Anne Karp started working with pastels again and got me interested in working with them also. They allow such a fast paced session and are so forgiving of my lack of drawing talent. On the left is a beautiful pastel by Janet Sullivan, an artist from Montana. Below is one of Anne's and one that I did.

IMITATION

2011-08-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I found an artist that produces such fantastic art that I had to try one of her scratchboard subjects. Thanks for a wonderful practice subject and session C. Sheeter and I. Villi (reference photo).

2011-08-22T09:39:00.001-07:00

MONOPRINTING

2011-08-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

A monoprint is a single impression of an image made from a reprintable block, such as a metal plate used for etching, a litho stone or wood block. Rather than printing an edition of multiple copies of a single image, only one impression may be produced, either by painting or making a collage on the block. ~Wikipedia~

A monotype lesson. http://www.monoprints.com/info/how_to.html

One of my prints to the left.

STILL REVAMPING

2011-08-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

I am finally almost done reworking my studio area. Should not have taken this long but I procrastinated with the best of them on this project. The drums and guitars in the other part of the room were way too inviting!

Just to feel like I wasn't neglecting art completely, I did do another small scratchboard.

PRINTMAKING

2011-08-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

Margaret Rankin is a printmaker from Toronto who uses a variety of techniques and subjects for her art. Definitely worth spending a little time on her blog site.

http://magprint-original-prints.blogspot.com/

VISIONS OF DON HENLEY DANCED IN HIS HEAD...

2011-08-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

My grandson playing my drums. We have him for a couple of days and enjoying every minute!!

Thanks to a fellow blogger (Jeannette) I bought an Arches travel notebook to practice watercolors with. Great for sketching and value studies. I'm not any better, but wasting a lot less paper!

I LIKE GOOD SAX...

2011-08-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

Surrender your whole being to a note, and gravity disappears...with one chord, John Lee Hooker could tell a story as deep as the ocean.

—Carlos Santana

This print was used on a T-Shirt which

sold well on Cafe Express

Good Sax

Reduction Linocut

MATT BROWN REVISITED

2011-08-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

Matt brown is the printmaker that inspired me to start making my first prints. I happened upon him giving a demonstration at a fair in one of the New England states ( can't remember which one now). I go to his website http://www.ooloopress.com/index3.html and blog periodically to see what new prints he has created. He works with multiple blocks and on my last visit, I see that he is getting much more intricate with his technique.

CYMBALS AND SCRATCH ART

2011-07-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

My grandson called me (through his mother) to let me know that he thought he needed more cymbals for his drum set. Boy, does he take after his granddad!! I remembered that I had gotten a new set for one of my favorite kids in the world, Kriss Proctor. He said that Liam could have the old set. He is the starting quarterback for Navy this year, so probably won't be playing the new or old set. Liam is going to be one happy little drummer!!!

Newest scratchboard art to the left.

A LITTLE BIT OF ME

2011-07-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

I can't help but try and ponder

as I trace my dream

Are the lines on my paper

really what they seem

The lines are there for all to see

they try and tell my mind

But when the others look at them
I wonder what they find

I see the colors there on the page
they seem so bright and clear
But maybe I'm the only one
that's my real fear

Do the others really understand

the shapes seem bold and fair

Maybe they can't comprehend

or worst they may not care

The things that touch me oh so deep

are there in black and white

I've put it down for all to find

It's right there in plain sight

From these works and all I give

you'll find the real me

All the things that mean so much

please take some time to see

BURIED TREASURE (AT LEAST TO ME)

2011-07-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in my last post that I needed to start getting my studio back into some kind of reasonable order. I am now in the middle of that task with some rewards uncovered with my effort. I had a stack of paintings and various prints that had grown over the years to a pretty large collection. Many just needed to move on to a final resting place (fireplace), but others were fun to revisit. To the left is an acrylic painting I did of my wife and a friend when we were staying on lle Verte Island near Quebec a few years ago. It was the off season and we had the whole island to ourselves (literally). Reminded me of what a beautiful place the island is and what a wonderful and peaceful time we had.

PASTEL A WORKIN'

2011-07-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

I think I need to narrow my focus a little bit. Too many irons in the fire would seem to fit. I have a large woodblock going that I can't seem to resume because the blocks just don't work very well. A reduction linocut that is in the halfway stage. I am really excited about continuing my new attempts at watercolor with the Edwards techniques, and I still have this pastel I am trying to finish. I also need to sort through things in my studio and put it back into some semblance of order. Breathe John!!!

NOTE TO SELF...LOOSEN UP

2011-07-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

My new watercolor is still not quite finished, and not quite what I had hoped for, but I'm enjoying putting down paint without trying to be precise. When I paint with acrylics, I try too hard for photographic results. Much more fun without those expectations. Thinking I might actually get better at this!!

Older acrylic painting below.

PASTEL VS WATERCOLOR

2011-07-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my last post, I am attempting another watercolor. I'm at the halfway point with mixed results. Parts of it are pathetically bad, but other parts are close to what I was trying to do. For a "just in case" measure, I'm also working on another pastel! Sky work below.

TRY, TRY AGAIN

2011-07-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Sterling Edwards watercolors have given me the bug again. I'm going to attempt another painting. I have all the correct supplies so if it's a failure it will be easy to identify the problem.

Below is another scratchboard drawing I recently finished.

BACK TO NORMAL

2011-07-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

Most of the visitors have gone home and we can move around our little town again. Great fireworks show as usual!

HAPPY HOLIDAY

2011-07-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

Big Bear Lake and the Forth of July. Definitely the good and the bad. One of the best fireworks displays in Southern California happens over the lake. With that comes masses of people looking to take in the show and escape the heat down below.

Speaking of the lake, most of our waterfowl have returned to the valley. Below is an acrylic painting I did a few years ago.

Lunch Time - Acrylic painting on Arches paper

NOT THE ANSWER

2011-06-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, apparently it's the workman and not the tools. I bought some new watercolor brushes but nothing has improved in my painting. Even worse, my three year old grandson paints better than me!!

PREOCCUPIED

2011-06-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

We are taking care of our grandson for a few days. Computer time will suffer but a good thing!

SCRATCHBOARD GIFT

2011-06-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

Finished scratchboard drawing for a friend. I can't take credit for the composition. Saw a photograph on an internet site!

REALLY...WATERCOLOR AGAIN

2011-06-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm getting sucked in again. Watching a few Sterling Edwards DVDs has me wanting to give watercolors one more chance. He makes it look so easy. This time I'm starting with small technique studies instead of jumping in with both feet. Left is a tree study where the trunk worked well, but not the leaves.

Also started a scratchboard drawing from a picture I saw on the Internet that reminded me of a friend's dog. I'll give it to her as a gift when I finish.

NEW TWO

2011-06-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

I've started a new linocut with a twist. I separated (cut) the sky from the rest of the block. A technique that should allow me to ink it separately before printing.

Also a new, and very small (5X7) pastel.

A LITTLE BLUES

2011-06-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

"I got on a streetcar one day, the conductor held out his hand. You can't get no free ride here man, don't you understand." 'Stuff They Call Money' ~Big Bill Broonzy~

Bass Work - Reduction Linocut on Japanese Gampi paper.

WATERCOLOR AND MUSIC

2011-06-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

Great wet, loose watercolor technique and Norah Jones music...the perfect blog post!!

MARGARET EVANS

2011-06-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

I can't remember if I had posted anything before about this wonderful artist, but her pastels are fantastic. Her Youtube clips are where I first learned about the technique of applying paint (Gouache) to parts of the paper before using the pastels. Creates very different textures and patterns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9rbN2ooWEI

One of my attempts below.

IN THE PARK

2011-06-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

My print 'In The Park' placed third in one of Fine Art America's art contests. This is a multi-wood block print I did a few years ago.

TWO FAVORITES

2011-06-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

Not being very good in the watercolor department has not lessened my love of the art. My time is always well spent visiting websites of great watercolor artists. Belinda Del Pesco always has wonderful paintings to share like the this one of her cat.

Sterling Edwards is a self taught artist that has written books and produced DVDs on his beautiful watercolor techniques.

http://belindadelpesco.blogspot.com/

http://www.sterlingedwards.com/index.html

BOOTHBAY AGAIN

2011-05-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

Another pastel of Boothbay Harbor. We had a little snow over the weekend so this is really looking GOOD!

NEW TIMES TWO

2011-05-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

Watercolor envy raises it's ugly head. My school friend from many years ago sent me a scan of her newest painting. She lives on Lopez island in the Pacific Northwest where she does beautiful watercolor, pastels and photography. I always get pulled into trying another watercolor after seeing her work, but not this time. I finished a pastel I had been working on instead.

EASY THINGS FIRST?

2011-05-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

Each day I have these great intentions of getting back to work on my large woodblock project or, at the very least, finishing the linocut I started months ago. And then each day, I find an excuse to do something else. The woodblocks I purchased are giving me unexpected problems. I have always used Shina blocks but these are Mahogany (Luan) blocks that don't hold detail very well at all.

I did do a quick pastel from one of my pictures taken in Boothbay Harbor. Makes me feel a little less lazy.

JAZZ

2011-05-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Jazz is...an open-minded music designed for open minds.

~Author Unknown~

Devil Music

Reduction woodblock print

on Japanese Kozo paper

SUMMER?

2011-05-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

Just when I was ready to get the boats out and ready for the summer season...snow! We never get snow in the middle of May!!

'Coolin'

Acrylic painting on Arches watercolor paper

CHATEAU FRONTENAC

2011-05-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

A few years ago we made a trip up to Canada and, more specifically, Quebec. My father was born in this part of Canada and I have relatives that still live in the area. While there we visited the Chateau Frontenac. Built in the late 1800s', it is truly a spectacular hotel. Below is an acrylic painting I did when we returned to California.

BROWNIE

2011-05-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

"He who hears music feels his solitude peopled at once."

~Robert Browning~

Brownie

Reduction Linocut of Clifford Brown

MICHAEL BOND ETCHINGS

2011-05-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

My ongoing and never ending struggle with watercolors has me enjoying printmaking more and more. Woodblocks, linocuts and an occasional foray into etching help make me feel like I'm doing something artsy. In my search for information on technique, I came across Michael Bond's website. An artist raised in England, he moved to Wisconsin where he has create beautiful etchings for over twenty five years.

http://www.michaelbondetchings.com/

Below is an etching I did of my grandson. It is printed on Rives paper and hand-colored with watercolor (the only way I seem to be able to use the damn stuff)

DOWN DEEP RHYTHM

2011-05-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

"The discovery of song and the creation of musical instruments both owed their origin to a human impulse which lies much deeper than conscious intention: the need for rhythm in life… the need is a deep one, transcending thought, and disregarded at our peril."

~Richard Baker~

Jammin - Reduction Woodblock print from a great blues painting.

AMY'S PASTEL

2011-05-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

I was able to put in time working on the pastel I am doing for my niece. Needs more work, but getting closer.

BLUES ETCHING

2011-05-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

Audiences like their blues singers to be miserable. ~Janis Joplin~

Hand colored solarplate etching on Rives print paper

BLUES

2011-04-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

As I started reaching deeper I realized that most of the blues of the day were done by men. Women just didn't have the nerve! ~Etta James~

Diva

Reduction Linocut print on Japanese Gampi paper

ASSIGNMENT

2011-04-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

I have been having a hard time with my woodblocks. The Luan was not a great idea. It does not hold detail like the Shina. Chips and peels very badly. I've been able to set it aside for a while because my wife has asked me to do something for our niece's wedding. It is just a few weeks away so I started a pastel that I know I can finish in time. Rough drawing and first layer done.

MUSIC AND ART - PERFECT COMBINATION

2011-04-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

An intellectual is someone who can listen to the 'William Tell Overture' without thinking of the Lone Ranger.

~John Chesson~

I'm not quite there yet!!

88s'

Reduction Woodblock print on Japanese Gampi paper

VIRTUAL BOOK

2011-04-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here is another little bonus found on John Stein's great website. This is one of three out of print books he has posted in their entirety. This one is a 1954 book titled 'Engraving on Wood' by John Farleigh.

http://johnsteins.com/art_books/engraving-on-wood-john-farleigh

WOODBLOCK PROJECT AND MONOPRINT

2011-04-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

I have the first block cut (needs some clean-up) for the floral woodcut and the second block is ready to be carved. Will probably be the last time I use this kind of wood. It does not hold detail like the shina.

Also did a quick monoprint just to rest my brain for a while.

JOHN STEINS REVISITED

2011-04-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned the wonderful website of John Steins in earlier posts and all of the fantastic printmaking information available there. I spent a little more time there this morning and found a post on a Lino-cut technique that I absolutely will try in the future. It's the 'Jigsaw Method' in which the lino block is cut into sections so they can be inked separately. This makes gradated inking much easier. The block is then re-assembled on the press and printed all at once.

Lino block cut apart.....

STARTED

2011-04-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

After weeks of procrastination, I started working on my woodblocks last night. Floral subject on ten blocks including the key block.

PIANO DREAMS

2011-04-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

"My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require." ~Edward Elgar~

Piano Dreams - Reduction linocut on Japanese Torinoko paper.

WILDLIFE CALL

2011-04-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

One of our local Big Bear resturants has contacted me about displaying a couple of paintings during the summer months. Since we just received another 5 inches of snow last night, I'm not sure that summer is that close yet, so probably no hurry. They are looking specifically for wildlife subjects. I have this acrylic of a cougar from our local zoo that worked well for me. Also an acrylic of an eagle that reminds me of paintings done on velvet that I've seen south of the border, but other people have given me good comments on it. Just being kind I'm thinking.

OLD PHOTOGRAPHS

2011-04-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

Belinda Del Pesco wrote in her blog about her collection of old photos she keeps and uses as subjects for her wonderful watercolor paintings. Watercolor still escapes me but, I too, have used photographs my wife and I have taken as subjects in some of my acrylic paintings. The piece to the left is one of Belinda's newer works. Below is one I did of Teri (my wife) at a car show here in Big Bear, and another of a biker cafe in the small town where Teri's mother lived in central California.

PROCRASTINATION

2011-03-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

So...I have this eleven block relief printing project that I know is going to be the most difficult attempt I've done. Looking around my work studio, I can see that it really needs a good SPRING CLEANING!! Coincidence ??

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT

2011-03-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

Finished a new pastel drawing (I never know if they should be called drawings or paintings) last night. It's on Canson Pearl paper and it's larger than my scanner, so this is just part of the drawing.

J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM

2011-03-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

The link below is to a great site if you're short on time but want your friends to think you're part of the museum smart set. The website lets you explore the museum's art collections. Also techniques, conversations and videos.

http://www.getty.edu/art/

Somehow, the acrylic painting I did of my son was excluded from the museum's collections.

PASSION PASTEL

2011-03-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music." ~Angela Monet~

PASSING TIME

2011-03-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

I have spent the past few nights working with pastels while waiting for my shipment of woodblocks. I have a couple of Linoleum blanks that I could start, but nothing jumps out at me subject wise, for them.

'I Need a New Gig' - From a jazz painting.

NEXT WOODBLOCK PROJECT

2011-03-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

I just placed an order with McClain's for blocks and paper for my next woodblock prints. This will be the hardest and most time intensive project I've attempted. Ten color blocks plus the key block. I have a good picture in my mind of what I want to do, just worried (as usual) about registration. "In thePark' (at left) was printed with four blocks and my hardest to date.

http://www.downstairscreations.com/Detail.htm

'In the Park' detail

ACRYLIC PAINTINGS

2011-03-11T11:50:00.000-08:00

My watercolor shortcomings have been mentioned in many earlier blogs. So many failed attempts, yet when I work with acrylics I manage to get close to the result I hoped for. Though I love the look that can be obtained with watercolor, I think I need to embrace the great qualities of the acrylic medium. The painting on the left is an acrylic done by Justin Beckett, a Canadian artist and photographer. Below are two of mine that turned out the way I pictured.

ARTIST TOOL KIT PLUS ONE OF MINE

2011-03-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

Here is another informational website plus an acrylic painting I did of an old historic cabin here in Big Bear. The Artist Tool Kit is filled with the basic concepts used in creating art. Animated demonstrations show many art principles including color, balance, line and shape and much more. Also has videos of artists at work.
http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/index.html

BRIGHTENS MY MORNING

2011-03-06T08:35:00.000-08:00

Santana and Laurel and Hardy...PERFECT! Santana's fantastic blues guitar lines with his Latin, African rhythms (plus that great percussion that I wish I could do) combined with the greatest comedy team EVER! The world became a better place with the pairing of Stan and Oliver. I'll have a good day today!!

DRYPOINT ETCHING

2011-03-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

Drypoint etching is an intaglio technique used in preparing metal plates for printmaking by means of which lines are scratched directly into the plate. Thicker lines are made by applying more pressure to the burin (graver) or etching needle (also a roulette, chalk roll and matting wheel). Thus incising the cold metal creates ragged ridges, called the burr, thrown up along to edge the furrows cut into it. The burr is removed in copperplate engraving but not in drypoint, where it is kept to produce soft, blurred line and painterly effects.

The etching on the left was done by Emil Nolde in 1907 and prints sell for $3,000 to $4,000. The prints I did (below) could be obtained for considerably less!!

ART HISTORY

2011-03-01T07:55:00.000-08:00

Below is a link to a wonderful site on art history. You can view different time periods or artists. Lots of information. I can remember laborious hours studying this in college. This is much easier!

http://smarthistory.org/