Train Tressel

This work is not yet finished, but some of the techniques used in it take a lot of time to perfect. For example, smudging the mountain just right to get the best blend of colour to keep the eye seeing the many shades, shapes and contours of a mountain side. Highlighting and shading is the key here, along with perspective. When painting, even drawing, keeping items in the distance small is the obvious must, but how big do we make them when they are close up without taking away from the actual image and especially when they are meant to continue on, off the canvas or paper? Draw out a rough sketch! I hate to say it, but I cannot draw worth beans and some of my drawings look as though a 2 year old did them! And...sometimes, I can't see what I am painting, even though it is right in front of me so, I grab my phone or camera and take a picture of it. Surprisingly, I see more through the picture then what I am actually seeing on the canvas. It is just how the eyes work!

Harbour

Again, it has been awhile...sometimes works of art take longer then expected. In this harbour scene, I found drawing a rough layout helped and even though there is not much too it, getting the perspective just right takes time. Again filling in areas with my three-step bush technique fills in holes and areas that might not look 'just right'.

Start with the background...In this painting, I bagan with the lighter colors. Using sunshine yellow, a dab of orange, a hint of purple, white and ivory, I started in the middle of the canvas bringing my light colors across to create the morning sky. Next, using a deep blue mixed with a drop of black and starting from the outter top corners of the canvas, I brought those colors inward, towards the center. Then I used a lighter blue mixed with a drop of deep blue and began in the middle of the top part of the sky bringing them out to mix and mingle with the deep blue and black mixture. I used this technique of blues and black for the bottom as well, which brings the lighter part of the sky to life. Once this part of the background is set, take a thin brush and underneath the top sky of blue, one the yellow, place a thin line of white. This will separate the sky (yellow & top portion of the blue sky) even though they are part of the same sky and make the top darker part of the sky come forward. Then...on the bottom of the yellow part of our sky I used a black to create the tree-line. Doing this, it tricks the eye and sets our land. Stay tuned for more on this painting as we attempt to paint it step by step.

Ladder by the Apple Tree

Background first! In this painting, I used a sponge to create the background trees by lightly dabbing the sponge in several shades of green, using ivory highlights. Then, to create the tree trucks I used a thin brush with black mixed with brown and then again highlighted with ivory. If you have ever looked in to a clump of trees, branches, limbs, twigs and tree trucks are everywhere! I like painting trees because they are never wrong. This painting is of a picture I take of the same area three times a year. The ladder by the tree is in my yard and has been for fourteen years...why, I am not sure, but everytime I snap that picture, it still looks beautiful.

Simple Pleasures

In this painting, I used my three-step bush technique. (found in detail on my blog) As you can see, this is not only a great space filler, it also adds depth to any painting by adjusting the size and finally, adding the highlights and shading. My three-step bushes work wonders when you need to add or cover up that mistake...or when you just don't know what to put in that spot. For the rocks I used a gray, using a mixture of black and white, this way, gray shades can be controled. Remember, rocks are everywhere in all shapes, sizes and colors. Adding highlights and shading again give them depth and can add to the effect and shape. Simple things

in your art work can make it look great, and as I always say...there is no judging of art and in nature or landscape works...nothing is out of place or wrong, they are exactly where nature intended them to be.

Paintings from the window...

Welcome! This painting is a picture I took out my bathroom window one wintery morning. Sometimes ideas and inspirations come from the strangest of places, so snap that picture and paint it! The ridges on the bottom of the canvas is...from recylcing an old painting and turning it in to a work of art once more. I always reuse my canvas'. Painting them black or even white covers up the old and makes way for the new! Also...I think the ridges give it character and definition. In art, there is no wrong or right, there is no bad or good, it all depends on your own personal taste, likes and dislikes. Just like people, some look good from far away!

Meadow

This is simply a nice work of art, if I may say so. As an artist, I rarely like my work as I see the flaws, the mishaps and cover-ups, but this one...I just really like it though it is up in my house for display...it is for sale as is all my work.

Simple Trees

I was messing around one day with a sponge and dipped a piece in to the gobs of leftover paint I had on my pallet and began to dab it on to a canvas. Dipping the sponge in to about 4 colours of green, I lightly dabbed here and there, then added some ivory to the the mix to lighten things up. By adding small lines of black and thin lines of brown, I created the trunks of trees. Also, light can be reflected well with ivory, not white. Artist Note Use ivory in daylight and evening works...and white in night time

Since it's been so long, I thought I would add some more of my work for you to enjoy. All my paintings vary in size from 4x9 and up.

Hello everyone! It's been a very long time since I have posted, but that doesn't mean I haven't been painting! In fact, I am going to need a new house with all the new paintings I have. Which brings me to another point! Recently, I decided to go through the paintings and canvas' I already have and weeding out the ones I didn't like, almost like cleaning out your closet. With those painting I did not like, I painted over them and while some of them had so much paint on them, I found the the gobs of dried paint added to the effect of the new painting! I am also happy to say, I have also sold two pieces! And that all my work is for sale.

I hope you enjoy my work and please feel free to comment.