New Work: Sunset Impression, oil 30 x 30 inches

Sunset Impression, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches

This is a cropped version of a 5 foot sunset painting from months back. I was intrigued by the idea of doing that bright ball in a painterly rather than decorative or illustrative way. It's so easy to do something ordinary out of a sunset. I wanted this oil to really push the color and light.

Once I cropped the composition down from the larger version, I was left with the basic parts of the sunset. Every remaining element would be very important to the overall success of the piece.

From the start, I decided that the overall color would be tangerine but to keep it interesting, a lot of different colors were applied the canvas and remnants of many of those colors remain. This work was done in about 5-6 painting sessions. Each time I returned to the easel the painting was demanding more power, contrasts, glow, etc. It was a very simple composition but it required a lot of moves and attention before it came to life.

It was also very important to just leave it alone between sessions. Sometimes in the busy - ness of working to a finish, a lot of interesting subtleties go unseen and get covered up. It was nice to return to the studio and see those previously hidden notes present themselves. Those little gifts were left in place or used to take the oil further along.

Honestly, it seemed like it would paint itself in the dark of the night at times and surprise me with some positive developments while I was sleeping. If you are watching, the paintings will speak to you as they evolve. 

New Work: Ocean Patterns, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

Ocean Patterns

Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

$4200 unframed

This is an oil started as a demo in my June, Making it Fine Art Workshop at my home / studio in Castle Rock, CO.  This is my first seascape in oil, but since we were all in class to make some new moves, I was compelled to begin an ocean canvas for the first time.

It all began with a good start, locating the brightest and darkest parts of the scene, freely using a variety of colors - some arbitrary to keep things interesting. I had severely cropped the source photo from a recent trip to Galveston, TX. This image represents just a fraction of the original photo. 

I kept the brush marks loose and free. As it turned out, any number of color combinations could have been used here and I will do so in future versions. My focus to was make an engaging work of art without being too representational. There is much for the eye to take in with the overall textures and colors shifting along the vertical and horizontal directions.

This three foot square oil is a nice success, a sketch for larger works to come!

Monet Filmed While Painting Water Lilies in Giverny

Click to view this film made in 1914 showing Monet being interviewed and painting at his home in Giverny.

Watch carefully and you can see how he takes in the subject, his brushes, palette and paint application. Surely this is not Monet working at full power with his immaculate white coat, but there is plenty to see here.

How did he ever keep from setting his beard on fire? The dangling ciggie ash creates a dramatic tension... it's an art film!

Enjoy this history. We are lucky to have this film of a master at work.

Museum 2013 calendar on sale

I just saw that my favorite calendar from the Metropolitan Museum of Art has been discounted down to eight dollars apiece. Thought you might be interested. :-)Ken

Take a private year long tour of the rich and varied collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our Page-A-Day® Art Gallery Calendar 2013 offers 365 days of art— right on your desk. It features some of the Museum's finest and most beloved pieces and represents many media, from painting and sculpture to furniture and armor. As you unveil a new, beautifully reproduced image each day, you'll find old favorites and make fresh discoveries. The plastic packaging ingeniously converts to become an easel.

160 pages with 315 illustrations (295 in full color). Includes a reusable plexi frame. 6'' x 7''.

Here's the Museum link to order

Video: Pierre - Auguste Renoir

This is unique, silent footage of the great Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).  He is seen at home, working on a canvas, smoking, talking and thoroughly enjoying himself.

His hands were severely crippled with rheumatoid arthritis.
Uploaded to youtube by Nick Wallace Smith.

Video: Degas on film, early 20th Century

This is unique footage of the great Post Impressionist painter Edgar Degas (1834-1917) as an old man walking in a Paris street early in the Twentieth Century.

This footage was uploaded by Nick Wallace Smith on Mar 22, 2011. Nick remarks, "I'm amazed the film was shot - he seems to have been almost ambushed."

At this time, Degas was suffering from eyesight problems and as often the case, he was wary of being photographed.

The music is by the composer Eric Satie....one of my favorites.