Saturday Painting Palooza Vol. 160

Welcome back.

This week we will be continuing with the (West) Cape May, New Jersey Victorian house.  The photo that I'm using is seen directly below.

I am doing this piece in my usual acrylics and, once again, in an 8x10 format on stretched canvas.

When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.

 

Since that time, I have continued to work on the painting.

The roof has received another slightly darker shade of gray paint. It seems to work better, the above version was just a bit too light.

The chimneys have been reshaped in keeping with those in the photo. Shadowing of their details has been adusted to highlight their details. Keeping the focus at the top of the structure, the two arched windows on the right side have been reduced in size to be in proportion with the other details.

Finally, the roadway has received some excess paint but this will not be the final layer.

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.

That's about it for now. I'll see you next week with more progress.  As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Sedona

My travels have taken me to Sedona, Az, where storms and dark skies make for something similar to a scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Hopefully the weather will soon change for the better.

Utah Revealed (Or is it reviled?)

It is a burden being pretty much the reddest (redest?) place on the face of the Earth, but at least the scenery is spectacular. Here is a view from a hill in mid-Utah just below highway 70.



It almost makes up for all that redness.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol. 159

Welcome back.

This week we will be continuing with the (West) Cape May, New Jersey Victorian house.  The photo that I'm using is seen directly below.

I am doing this piece in my usual acrylics and, once again, in an 8x10 format on stretched canvas.

When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.

 

Since that time, I have continued to work on the painting.

In this week's cycle it's all about light, and shadow. The roof has been painted in a light grey with darker shadows cast by the chimney and front-facing gables. The light grey is lighter than I'd like and will be darkened slightly for the next installment.

The shadow cast by the unseen house to the right now accurately reflects its roof line. Finally, the windows are now blue, something that may change before this piece is done.

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.

That's about it for now. I'll see you next week with more progress.  As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Two In The Sun

Photographed the other day in southern Utah were these two circa 1950 Chryslers. Years of benign neglect has only served to enhance their appeal. (But no painting is anticipated.)

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol. 158

Welcome back.

This week we will be continuing with the (West) Cape May, New Jersey Victorian house.  The photo that I'm using is seen directly below.

I am doing this piece in my usual acrylics and, once again, in an 8x10 format on stretched canvas.

When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.

 

Since that time, I have continued to work on the painting.

Appearing for the first time is the sky seen here its initial first layer incarnation. It will receive several more coats before this is done.

The shadows have received considerable attention. Note that the light is coming from the right side. The front porch casts a heavy shadow beneath its roof. Around it the entire front facade is in a consistent shadow similar to that of the source photo. Extra paint was used to start the street.

Finally, the roof has been given an addiotinal layer of paint, but not its last.

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.

That's about it for now. I'll see you next week with more progress.  As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Interior Department MMS: More Scandals To Come

On July 30, 2008, a former high-level employee of the Interior Department's Mineral Management Service pled guilty in US District Court to the felony of violating conflict of interest laws regarding work subsequent to government employment.  Jimmy Mayberry could potentially receive a 5 year prison sentence and a $250,000.00 fine.

But this may not be the end of the story.

Washington, DC -- The criminal conviction of a top agency manager may be just the beginning of revolving door troubles at the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Workers at the agency are being told to expect more scandals to come.

And the said employees were informed of the possibilty by e-mail!

"Unfortunately, this may not be the end. I understand there are more possibilities of similar announcements as some IG and other investigations are wrapping up.  We will deal with them as they come."

What a unique way to boost agency morale!

MMS plays a highly significant role with respect to exploration and development of oil, natural gas and coal resources.  Recently, its duties have been abdicated in favor of the Bushco penchant for gift-giving to industry.

MMS occupies a pivotal position for oil, natural gas and coal companies with interests in energy exploration or development on public lands or offshore in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf. Recent actions by MMS have opened up vast tracts of the Arctic Ocean to oil and gas operations over the objections of the agency's own scientists. Similarly, MMS has ignored the advice of its own auditors in failing to collect tens of billions of dollars from oil and gas royalties that were lost to the federal treasury.

During the course of the Bush administration, a number of employees have left to enter jobs in private industry at least partially from opportunities they helped create.  A list of some is here.  

PEER again:

"Post-employment prohibitions do not prevent officials from subverting the public interest to enhance their own future private employment prospects," Ruch added. "This period at MMS has been a modern day Teapot Dome scandal but on an epic scale, as measured by the jaw-dropping give-away of public resources."

The end of this administration can't come soon enough.

 

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.157

Welcome back.

This week we will be continuing with the (West) Cape May, New Jersey Victorian house.  The photo that I'm using is seen directly below.

I am doing this piece in my usual acrylics and, once again, in an 8x10 format on stretched canvas.

When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.

 

Since that time, I have continued to work on the painting.

I have painted the walls of the house in white and medium blue reflecting the lit and shaded areas. (Note that the lighting comes from the right side.) Though some changes will be made, these are the colors that will appear on the house's final version several weeks from now.

The porch now also has lit and shaded areas, consistent with the rest of the structure, with the roof receiving a second layer of paint. The posts are not placed as I'd like them to be and will change for the next installment.

The painting still has the appearance of a night scene, something that will also change for next time when a sky will appear. Still, this does provide a stark contrast to last week's painting on velvet effect.

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.

That's about it for now. I'll see you next week with more progress.  As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

It's Back

The owner popped up wearing this shirt, again.



It has lost none of its shock value with time, but it has been some time since I have seen it. Of course, its owner sees it more as public policy statement.

In view of the quagmire that is the Iraqi war, it is just amazing that some still don't get it. What will it take?

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.156

Welcome back.

This week we will be continuing with the (West) Cape May, New Jersey Victorian house. The photo that I'm using is seen directly below.

I am doing this piece in my usual acrylics and, once again, in an 8x10 format on stretched canvas.

When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.



Since that time, I have continued to work on the painting.

I have started painting in the body colors of the house in shades that will reflect the final appearance of the structure. As such, the shaded front of the house is painted blue, the lit side is in white.

The roof, in a transluscent layer of paint here, will be a gray color with shadows added later on. I have also added a similar layer of paint to the roof of the building to the extreme left and the roadway in front of the house.

This juncture does provide for a very interesting abstract image, almost like a photographic negative. (For those of us who can recall film cameras.)

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.

Before concluding, as requested, seen directly below is the previous painting placed in a frame.

That's about it for now. I'll see you next week with more progress. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.