Colors added

After getting the composition laid out, I rough in the colors of the painting. Up to this point, I have been working in acrylics. They dry quickly so are easy to work with, especially if I change my mind about a color or an element of the composition. Then I switch to oils, which gives a lovely rich quality to the colors.

Drawing and Roughing In

Here's a snap shot of the final drawing I did, then worked from to rough in the line work for my Mountain Ash painting.

New Commission

I'm working on a new commission for one of my favorite clients. This client has a special skill for commissioning subject matter that comes naturally for me. This is the color study I did after we had nailed down the concept for the composition. The subject matter is Mountain Ash.

Frontenac Park

$350

I am honored to have been asked by the Red Wing Art Association to do a piece for the posters for their 2012 Fall Festival of the Arts event. I wanted to capture something of the season and the landscape that I enjoy when participating in this fair. I typically camp in nearby Frontenac State Park for that weekend, so that became the inspiration for this composition.
I look forward to seeing the final poster design!
oil on paper, 14.5" x 18.5"

Maple Leaves & Black Birds

$325

My studio group is hosting a group show with the theme of Black & White next weekend. This is a new piece that I did for the show.
15" x 30," oil on canvas

Martin Everitt

A baby name Commemorate the Date painting. Martin Everitt was born to parents who love gardening, the farmer's market, and cooking.

Waiting on the Stairs

I don't really do portraits—people or pets. Except, apparently I do pet portraits now... I really like these two cats though, so maybe they are just an exception.

Lady Slippers

This commission came from an artist I met in Chicago last December. Although it doesn't have a name or date, I am filing it under my Commemorate the Date portfolio since it follows the rest of the standards. This is an 8" x 8" oil painting on wood panel. I plan to make prints for the 2012 art fair season.

September 18, watercolor

A new watercolor Commemorate the Date. Cala lilies with... does anyone recognize and know the name of these purple flowers?

Nathan Choi

Here's another birthday present for another nephew. Nathan is from South Korea, so I used the national flower of Korea—Rose of Sharon, or hibiscus. Nathan is 7 this year, so I used a more manly color palette.

October 17

This Commemorate the Date order was a Christmas present for a couple in New York state.

Hill Joseph

This is a belated first birthday present for my youngest nephew. His mom, my sister, gave me the idea about the snail—she pointed out that kids and snails both leave behind a trail of slime. :) I added the yellow leaves because he has an autumn birthday.

July 14, 2012

My last post reminded me that there is another invitation project I am working on. The commissioners of my Prairie Smoke and Birch painting from last spring are getting married next summer, and are featuring their artwork in their Save the Dates and invites.

June 16, 2012

A new Commemorate the Date. You may have noticed the date is six months from now. The bride who commissioned this piece is also using a Commemorate the Date design for her Save the Date cards, and plans to have us make her invitations as well. We are honored!