A very good friend lost his father a few months ago, and he and his mom have been having a particularly tough time. He asked if I could create a portrait for his mother in memoriam of their beautiful marriage. Attached is the finished product - it was given to her for mother's day this year.
I had the pleasure of celebrating Easter with my family at Café Vocar amongst 6 of my paintings currently decorating the dining area. Thank you to Michael and JoAnn at Café Vocar! They look fantastic and dinner was delicious and fabulous! Anyone in the Milwaukee area, I highly recommend a visit to the café soon!
Café Vocar
932 East Wright Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
414-264-1465
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A while back I bought a few aquabords, inspired by a demo I'd seen with another artist. Aquabord is an Ampersand product - a board treated with a porous clay surface that works well with aqua based media. I bought the boards and then they sat there - for a long time. I had no idea what to do with them.
A couple weeks ago I took a class in a totally different medium, oil and wax. The techniques I learned in that class got me thinking about those aquabords again. I pulled them out last night and below is the result.
With aquabord, you have a lot more flexibility in watercolor than you ever would working traditionally on paper. The surface of aquabord allows for you to remove paint and build layers of marks and washes in a totally different way to the permanent nature of working on paper. I am thrilled at this first attempt and can't wait to try more.
Here's a video that shows a bit how aquabord can be used.
(Above: Sweeney admiring my work. Or maybe it just smells nice.)
Just got back from a fantastic workshop at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, WI with James Edward Scherbarth. The workshop was Oil and Cold Wax. This is the third workshop I've taken in this medium, with three different instructors. Each time I learn something amazing and new, and my work improves each time.
The first class I took was with Lisa Pressman at Shake Rag Alley a couple years ago, and she focused on R&F Pigment sticks with the cold wax. That was my start with the medium, and I was hooked immediately. The tactile quality of the medium, the infinite techniques, and the layering - so much more flexible than the watercolor medium in which I typically work.
In February, I took my second class with instructor Dianne Martia at Water Street Studios in Batavia, IL. Diane reinvigorated my passion for the medium, teaching me all new techniques focusing on oil paint from the tube mixed with the wax, incorporating stencils and mark making techniques, and combining marble dust to increase the textural possibilities. My passion was re-stoked.
That class led me to Jim Scherbarth's class, which was filled with 9 other artists of varying levels of experience. What a great group this was and how lucky I was to be part of it. Jim led us each day with demos on new techniques and inspirational talks and exercises on how to develop your individual voice as an artist. The group as a whole had enormous creative synergy, each person inspiring and encouraging each other. The work from the artists was awesome on so many levels. We also had the great luck of viewing several pieces of Jim's work on display at a local art walk on the same weekend. Seeing his work in person his work was an enormous treat - he is truly inspired. It all leaves me itching to get back into the studio.
Following are works completed in Jim's class:
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I look forward to future collaborations with these wonderful artists, taking more workshops, and continuing to develop my artistic voice. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Babs had to get in on the fun too.
I've been spending the cold nights and weekends indoors painting. I've added a few to my "Snow Day" series and a few others as well that don't quite fit into a series yet. I may be starting a new series...
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In February, I took a painting workshop with instructor Dianne Martia at Water Street Studios in Battavia, Illinois. What a blast I had. Two full days of learning, and experimenting and playing with paint.
The workshop was in the medium, oil and cold wax. I'd taken a similar workshop a couple years ago with Lisa Pressman at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point and loved the medium immediately. Learning from a new instructor opened many doors - she featured working with oil paint from the tube, mixing it with the cold wax medium and then building up layers of color and texture withing the painting. Two of my favorite techniques from the class were working with templates and increasing textural options by adding marble dust to the medium.
Great fun! Great class! Thank you Dianne!
Below are some paintings completed in the workshop, and click here to see my full portfolio of oil and cold wax works.
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What a treat! I've always loved painting portraits and this season kept me really busy! Here are a few of the finished commissioned works.
All I need to create a portrait is a good photo of the subject. In focus and with good lighting.
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I had the delightful opportunity to meet in person a new collector of my work, D'Lynne Schade. I was extremely flattered to hear from her after she'd purchased "Sordid" from the Leigh Gallery - she'd contacted me to find out where she could see more of my work. I let her know I am showing at the Andersonville Galleria and she went and picked up two more paintings - "Reconsider" and "Last Regrets".
These three encaustic works are part of my "Discarded" series, inspired by vintage photography.
D'Lynne invited me to see the works hanging in her home and I am thrilled to report that my work hangs among many other impressive pieces. D'Lynne has a keen eye for compelling and important work and visiting her home is like a trip to a great gallery.
Thank you so much D'Lynne! They look fantastic in your home!
Thank you to Chris Martin for his recent purchase of "Chicago Woods". It fits beautifully in your room, Chris!The work was inspired by the beautiful colors of late fall in the Chicago Forest Preserve near my home. Each time I drove by I'd literally gasp at it's beauty - especially on the sunny afternoon that gave me the impetus to create this painting.
This painting is a large scale water media work. I employed watercolor, watercolor crayons and watercolor pencils to create this painting. Framed, it measures 44" x 36" and is a great size for a large wall, as shown in the painting at left.
This painting is available as a giclee print in any size up to 15" x 22". I also have greeting cards featuring this image. Please contact me for details.
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