Copper pot

7"x5" acrylic on masonite

Boy. I didn't think this would be as challenging as it was. I spent more time than I would have liked on this one, but I enjoyed myself. I found this copper pot at a garage sale this spring and I have been wanting to paint it ever since. I didn't really know what to compose it with so I just grabbed whatever I could find, and got right to it.

I was a bit concerned that the placement of the egg was too close to the center. I decided to forget about it and keep painting. After putting in the colors, it didn't bother me as much. What do you think?

Overall, I am very happy with this one.

Apple or Pumpkin?

6"x6" acrylic on masonite

One of the toughest questions of the season... Would you like apple pie or pumpkin pie? It's always so hard to choose. I usually end up having both!

I learned a lot from this painting. The colors I used where the 3 primaries... Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson and Yellow Ochre. I also used Raw Umber, Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Yellow Light, Cerulean Blue and Titanium White. What I did my best to do was not paint with any white until the very last touches. I achieved this by not using white with any of my colors in this painting except for a little bit added to the stem of the pumpkin, and of course the highlights.

I learned a lot about color from a fellow acrylic painter of whom I have a lot of respect for, Roger Bansemer. Here are some links to youtube video's by Roger that explain concepts on color. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6148073469862105300
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3221736444129991924

The Cabin

36"x24" acrylic on canvas

This was another fun landscape to paint. Especially with the Christmas music playing in the background! It was fun playing around with the elements and modifying them a bit to make a better composition. I went back and forth on what to do with the foreground. I felt it needed to be softened with a shadow to add visual interest and also to include a path of light leading back up to the focal point (the cabin). In my opinion it worked and I am very happy with the results.

Glass Ornament

A coworker of mine asked me to do a painting of her dog on a glass ornament. It was a challenge to get the acrylic paint to stick. I found it was best to paint without water or very little of it.

Salt Creek

24"x18" acrylic on canvas

About a month ago in early October. My family and I went canoeing on the Salt Creek in Fullersburg woods. The leaves on the trees were starting to change and the breeze flowing through our hair was crisp and clean. Fall was in the air. As I sat in the back of the canoe paddling and steering, I couldnt help but look at my family and feel so proud and thankful. I thought to myself "it doesn't  get any better than this".

Chicago water taxi

Here is the painting I am currently working on. It is a view of the water taxi on the Chicago River coming out from under the Lake Street Bridge. This is a view I see everyday on my way home from work. I was inspired to paint this because I love the bright yellow and how it casts a reflection into the water. I also love the way the water splashes up as the boat moves and glistens in the sunlight. Chicago bridges and the old towers are so interesting to me, so I wanted to include that in the painting as well.

The colors are blocked in and I am starting to put in more details. I have been struggling a bit on what to do with the background. Not sure if I want to keep it simple or get more detailed? I am leaning more toward simple shapes because I dont want it to detract from the boat which is my center of interest. Thru trial and error this painting is beginning to take form. Hopefully it will turn out well. If it doesn't, I learned something from it.

I refined the boat and added waves around it to make it look like it was moving. I felt that the vertical lines on the building were taking my eye off the canvas. My solution was to break them up a bit as if there were patches of sunlight hitting the building.

I will probably add a few more touches to the boat but for the most part I am happy with it.

Today I worked on the concrete lamp post to the left of the painting. I want the viewers eye to focus on the boat which is the center of interest. Therefore, I darkened the lamp post as it was to light.

18"x24" acrylic on gallery canvas

I think I am going to call this one done. I added more details into the bridge and tower. The building was looking a bit to abstract for my liking, so I decided to suggest a few windows. A tree was added to the right, to soften the CTA portion of the bridge.

As I was walking past the tower this week I noticed a historical marker with the engraved date 1916. The Lake St. Bridge is one of two movable bridges in Chicago that carry both a CTA train above and 4 lanes of Car traffic below. I find these structures very interesting and I look forward to painting another in the future.

So Inspired!

Since I started my blog several months ago I have been so inspired by the many artists and friends I have met. I feel that I have grown so much as an artist with every post. Every time I paint I learn something, but I am also learning from each and every one of the artists that I follow. You are all an inspiration to me and I really appreciate your comments and for your interest in my work.

Because of my busy work schedule I have decided the painting a day thing is a bit to much for me as many times I get home very late. However, I still have such a strong urge to paint and I really want to keep it up. What I have been trying to do is paint everyday, but for a shorter amount of time. Even if its only for a half hour or an hour I am still making progress and continuing to learn.

I have had time to think while on the train commuting to and from work and also have been trying to carry a camera for reference photos more often. So my painting references and ideas have been building up. Many of my paintings are already planned and vary in subject to keep it more interesting.

After finishing the portrait last week I decided I would like to paint something a bit different. The painting will be of a scene of the city of Chicago. One that I see every day as I walk to the train. I hope to be finished in a week or two so stay tuned. I hope to post something soon.


Brad