Survivor Left Blogistan

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 337

2012-01-27T21:24:00.002-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be starting a new painting. We're headed out west to Sedona, Arizona, one of my favorite places. I'm painting a scene viewed directly from highway 89. It is seen in the photo directly below. I snapped this one on my trip there last August. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 8x10 inch canvas.

Highway 89 is the main road through town. This scene is just south of the touristy area of Sedona. The photo has actually been cropped a bit, removing the roadway from view. I like seeing the house with the buttes to the rear. These and other redrock buttes are seen throughout the town

I started this piece by delineating the broad areas of the painting. Sky, buttes, house and foreground were mapped out in different shades.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 336 Celebration Edition

2012-01-20T21:47:00.004-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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.

There are many changes to be seen this week. In fact, with the changes I had intended and those than became necessary due to a mishap, much of the canvas has been repainted. Continuing my race to the bottom, I've now painted in the porch steps and perimeter plantings. Note that the plantings in front are mostly in shadow. Adjacent to the lefthand step is the simple railing seen in the original photo. Out front, the lawn and paths are now complete.

Along the way, I opened a tube of yellow paint to add a bit more highlight to the roof. It was only some time later that I noticed that small spots of yellow had splattered across the canvas. Thus began the great Physick Estate revision of 2012. I had to retouch parts of the windows, siding and roof. Note that it also became necessary to repaint most of the posts and windows of the closed in porch due to another mishap. Sigh.

Also repainted was the sky. (Sez Yoda) This was done when I noticed that portions of the lefthand roof needed slight reshaping. I then needed to match the small portion of changed sky color. The entire thing was done over. In fact, that really was the path of least stress.

Despite all of this, the painting is now done.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new painting to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.335

2012-01-13T19:55:00.003-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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 changes this week are many. First, there are those 2 trees. I've leafed them out a bit. Note that the highlights fall toward the top as with the house behind them. I then continued down to more green, the lawn. It now better defines the two narrow paths to the house. Note that the tree to the right now sprouts from the correct side of the path to the right. Those paths now lead to the steps, or what will be steps. I've also marked out the area for bushes between the two sets of steps. Finally, I've also tweaked and added details to the house, including the second story shutters.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As
always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.335

2012-01-13T19:55:00.000-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 334

2012-01-06T22:55:00.001-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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.

For this week I've concentrated my efforts on the porch. Note that the glass enclosure of the porch is not original to the structure. It likely came into being when the house became the Mid Atlantic Arts Center. However, the basic porch structure (posts, large brackets and roof) appear as intended by the architect. I've now refined those brackets and painted the glass panels in between. Note that the glass panels end before the right side and the edge of the original porch floor can be seen. I've actually spent quite a bit of time on this portion of the building. I'm now ready to move on to the area below the enclosure. That will be my goal for next week.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 333

2011-12-30T23:45:00.000-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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.

This was a crazy week and left me little time to do more work. I did manage a few changes. I've now begun the foundation under the porch. Right now it exists as a red line of paint. Eventually it will have the stairs and foundation plantings seen in the photos. Additional changes are seen in the trees seen on either side of the house. To the left, the large tree has been mapped out with the exception of the trunk. The smaller tree to the right has received the same green paint. Each will have highlighted and shadowed areas in future installments.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol. 332

2011-12-23T22:22:00.001-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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.

No need to look back at the prior week's photo to see the changes. I've finally begun the porch and its prominent posts. I started by darkening the areas between the posts. It's interesting that the darkness of the porch is a counterpoint to the roof, with the lighter house body in between the two. I've also begun the large brackets. These will need further reshaping but at least the general placement is established. I've still got to place some red paint beneath the porch deck. It seems that I'm working from top to bottom in this one.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 331

2011-12-16T22:17:00.001-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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.

Sometimes I need to compare the painting with the photo from the previous week to accurately guage my progress. This is one of those times. Although I've revised early every part of the house this week, it will likely require a look back to see how far things have come.

I've now completed much of the surface. I may revise the tower widows to be less white but I'm pleased with most of the structure. Note that the front-facing dormer window in the upper left has actually been moved to the left so that it sits in line above the large windows directly below. I've also revised all the darker blue trim lines. These are now in proportion to the other elements. I almost forgot the most visible change, the highlights on the roof. The painting will be lit from the left as in the photo.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 330

2011-12-09T21:09:00.003-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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 didn't make as much progress as I would have liked but there are a few significant changes. The porch posts are now (finally) straight. Compare both photos and the difference become readily apparent. I've also continued to clean up the facade, most noticably the upper tower to the right. I've also begun to add paint to the tree to the right. I've even sprinled a few spots on the large tree to the left. You'll have to use your imagination for that one.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 329

2011-12-02T21:00:00.000-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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 used this installment to add to the roof and correct some small areas. The roof has now received another layer of paint along with some highlights to help define the various gables. I'll probably add to the highlighted areas before this is done. Below the roof I've changed angles and attempted to get things properly in line. The hanging roof in the center now demonstrates appropriate perspective. I've attempted to get the porch posts in order but they still need further attention. Finally, the paths seen in the photo now divide the grassy area.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 328

2011-11-25T20:57:00.000-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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.

This week I've concentrated my efforts way up high on the roof and sky. The roof has received some red paint bringing it closer to the look of the original photo. Of course there are layers of paint to come.

Around the house, the sky has recieved a layer of blue paint. This may not be readily apparent on your monitor. It was my attempt to delineate the house from the background. Here too there will be more paint as time goes by.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 327

2011-11-18T21:34:00.000-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below.

I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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 don't believe that I've ever applied so much paint to a canvas in a single week. Almost all of the white is now covered with paint. I've added a grayish blue to the entire body of the house. Where the sky was still unpainted I added the same color. The effect is that the house now appears to emerge from its background. It's not what I was originally going for but it makes for interesting effect. I'll likely take a more conventional approach when I next work on this piece.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 326

2011-11-11T18:40:00.002-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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 had some time this week to put into this piece now that the power is back. I've continued to add to the outline and many, many details. The outline is now mostly done. The many roof sections have been darkened for contrast and, thankfully, the perspective has been adjusted just a bit. It now works much better. I am satisfied with this week's progress.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 325

2011-11-04T21:17:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the painting of the Physick Estate in Cape May, New Jersey. It is seen in the photo directly below. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a 12x12 inch 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. Sort of.

Shortly after last week's installment, I managed to slather a sloppy swath of green paint on the lawn area of the canvas. And then the great October snowstorm hit the east coast. It appeared at my Hudson Valley home Saturday at about noon while I was outside mulching fallen leaves. Within a few hours there was perhaps a foot of snow on the ground. And then the power went out. It would not return until Wednesday at 4:30 in the morning.

Thus began what would be some of the most difficult times we've had in this house. Sleeping for four nights in an unheated house in 25 degree weather made for some very uncomfortable nights. We spent some time in a warming center at the middle school but then came back to sleep in our cold beds. Peanut butter sandwiches were eaten by the light of solar-powered lantern. We played twenty questions. I caught up on my book on Chaco Canyon architecture. Blankets were piled high on our beds.

When the power finally came back I was not in a mood to work further on the painting. I will have more done for next week.

The current state of the painting (such as it is) is seen in the photo directly below.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.324

2011-10-28T09:45:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be starting a new painting of, yes, another Cape May, New Jersey house. It is seen in the photo directly below. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on a large, or what passes for large here at SPP, 12x12 inch canvas.

This is the Physick estate. The building is perhaps the most famous house in Cape May, New Jersey. It is built in the so-called stick style, a peculiar but distinctive architecture where structural elements appear at the building's surface. (Notice the horizontal and vertical elements.) I took this photo on a recent trip to the area. This one will present a tremendous challenge but I'm not backing away. I've accomplished two personal milestones this year and I'm not going to stop now. (50 lb weight loss/running and first acceptance into a juried art show.)

I began the piece with an outline of the house, painted in a light blue. At this point, the outline is only partially complete. I'll have it finished for next week along with other progress. I've added some of the blue to the sky for contrast with the outline. (Yes, the perspective is a bit off!)

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 323

2011-10-21T21:19:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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've addressed a number of details for this week's installment. Note that the windows now have the details that give the house much of its character. These include the diagonal sections on the upper windows. Out in front, the bushes have received highlights, providing definition and a 3 dimensional quality. Highlights have been added to the grassy areas and bush far to the rear. Finally, the sidewalk has received some blue for a more varied surface.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have an entirely new painting to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 322

2011-10-14T21:10:00.002-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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've continued working toward the bottom of the painting. Against the house I've laid out the basic shapes of the two bushes standing in front. These will receive details and shadowed areas in the weeks to come. Below the bushes, I've whitened the sidewalk a bit. It awaits its own details, also to come. The strips of grass at the curb appear for the first time. Details will follow as well. There is still much to do.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.321

2011-10-07T22:31:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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've continued working on the front steps. They now have shadowing to the right side. I've left the openings where the white lit portions show through. I've continued to the sidewalk, which now has its first coat of paint. It is currently slightly green but will change before this is done.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 320

2011-09-30T21:42:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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 concentrated my efforts on two specific areas for this week's installment. First, to the right rear of the house, a bush now occupies and fills the formerly empty space. It will receive some highlights and shadows in the next few weeks. I had attempted to paint the shed seen in the photo but it didn't look right. The bush fills the space nicely and carries up the green color seen in the lawn.

The second area of progress is seen front and center. The front steps have now been defined in the same way as the porch posts. I still need to paint blue shadows. These will further define that space and provide a 3 dimensional quality. Stay tuned.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 319

2011-09-24T00:35:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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 now fixed the bay windows on the right side of the house. Both those of the first and second stories now line up. Additionally, highlights now appear on the central second story area. These are consistent with highlights/shadows seen elsewhere on the structure. Finally, and most obviously, the house to the left makes its first appearance in the painting. It is seen mostly in shadow. In the coming weeks, the shed seen to the right rear in the photo will make a nice bookend to that side.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 318

2011-09-16T21:31:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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've spent time going over the entire house. Although the front porch still needs some help, the main body of the house is close to its final appearance. Windows and roof have been refined a bit. The roof now shows as a highlighted area, lighter in appearance than the side walls. Note the downspout on the front right side second story, now cleaner and with shade and highlight.

I'm happy with most of it but the windows on the right side don't quite line up. I'm not sure if I'll bother to change it. I'll let you know next week.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 317 + Bonus

2011-09-09T21:33:00.002-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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've been on vacation and was able to devote little time to the piece. I did manage to begin the lawn, currently seen as a swath of bright green in the foreground. The house now appears firmly grounded. ;-)

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

While away in the southwest on vacation, I visited the town of Pecos, New Mexico. There we visited Pecos National Historical Park. I photographed the scene, later painted on the small 5x5 inch canvas, seen directly below. I carried it along with a few tubes of paint and a single brush in my small backpack aboard my flight from New York. My hotel room in Santa Fe provided a nice substitute studio for my efforts.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 316

2011-09-02T20:48:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the temporary detour from the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. Instead, I'll have a bit more progress of the Mazda 787B seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on a large gallery-wrapped 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 began by filling in the broad areas of color that make up the car's body, red at the fenders and green for the upper surfaces and roof. (I can see that I need to move the front wheel toward the rear of the car a bit.) I've continued the color up onto the spoiler at the back of the car. For some helpful contrast, I've added some color to the background and foreground. There is a lot of work to do here but I've got almost a year to complete this piece. The next President's Show won't be held until August of 2012.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 315: Doubling Down For Rejection

2011-08-26T19:28:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be taking a brief break from the Cape May shingle style house. I'm starting a long term project in anticipation of an event that will take place next summer. It is the LeMans-winning Mazda 787B seen in the photo directly below.

Now I'll tell you how I arrived at this decision. Earlier this summer I entered two paintings in my first juried art show. This means that 3 seasoned artists review all the entries and determine which will go into the show. The show, which is currently underway, is being held by the Kent Art Association. The two that I chose are old Saturday Painting Palooza projects that may be familiar to long time readers. Both are favorites of mine. They are seen in the two photos directly below.

Now after talking to several people, I was fairly certain that the 1949 Packard was the stronger entry of the two. I spent many weeks doing it several years ago and I believe that it shows. There are paintings within the painting including reflections that could stand on their own as independent images. It was a personal milestone for me. The cacti are nice but certainly less notable.

I, along with many other artists, left my two pieces for the judges. KAA sends out its decisions by mail. One Saturday a few days later, my envelope arrived with our other mail. I tore it open anxiously. And I was rather surprised. The Packard was rejected, the cacti were in the show.

Subsequently, I discussed the results with my sister-in-law, an artist whose work has appeared at KAA and won one of the awards in the same show several years earlier. She noted that the association seems to prefer landscapes. Furthermore, the frame on the cacti was far more flattering to the painting it contained. (And of better quality.) Presentation counts. Sigh.

So, in anticipation of next year's event, I've decided to present them with another car, a thumb in the eye, so to speak. Yes, I'm doubling down for rejection. It's part of my newfound I've got to be me approach to social considerations. What can I say, I like cars. I'll also present them with something falling under the heading of conventional landscape just for a balanced approach. As an aside, this painting is on a large gallery wrapped canvas that won't need a frame.

I've had this image (from Wikimedia Commons) for some time. The time now seems ripe and I can take my time doing it. I'll provide updates from time to time in this space.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 314

2011-08-21T20:37:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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 a distinct break with my usual recent habits, I spent plenty of time with the painting this past week. Much has been accomplished, but I am left with a dilemma. I was able to take the details much further. Windows now appear at the very top in the front-facing gable. The porch overhang has been reshaped along with the posts. The railings now extend down to the street level. Both gables have had their inner surfaces reshaped.

The result is an appealing image, but not the kind of painting that I had intended. Or that I usually do. This one now has a plein air style, an image done fairly quickly on site. I usually paint in a tighter, fussier style. I like what I see here and will not overpaint it, at least not yet. I'll continue with it this way and see how it goes.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 313

2011-08-12T11:02:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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.

Once again, I've gotten less work done than I would have liked. I did manage to begin to finally address the details of the house. I've redefined the windows in an attempt to get things in their proper positions. The size and proportions of the front-facing windows are now much closer to what I am seeking. I've begun the same process on the right side windows. Above, the point of the front-facing gable has actually been moved to the left so that it sits directly above the center of the banded windows. There is still much to do.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.312

2011-08-05T21:50:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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 continued to sort things out but this was a particularly crazy week. I did not get nearly as much done as I would have liked. I added to the foundation, previously a victim of benign neglect. It now follows around from front to back, broken only by the root of the chimney. Above, Windows now punctuate the right side of the building. Above that, the chimney top pokes into the sky. Out front, the stair railings have now been placed. There is much to do but the major configuring is now done.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 311

2011-07-29T21:42:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cape May, New Jersey shingle style house. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch 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'm still rearranging things a bit. Note that the porch posts are now closer together. The lower left outer wall aligns with that of the second story. On the right side, the roof now follows the line of perspective. Above, the right-facing gable makes its first appearance. I've darkened the body of the house in anticipation of the layers to come.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.310

2011-07-22T22:18:00.004-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be starting an entirely new painting. We're headed back to Cape May, New Jersey. There's another late Victorian/Shingle style structure that I've had my eye on for some time. It is seen in the photo directly below. (I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch canvas.)

Usually at this point I would show you a canvas with a collection of simple lines. This time around I've moved a step or two beyond that point. I began by painting in an underpainting of light blue above (sky) and darker blue below. The darker blue still shows on either side of the house. After starting the outline of the house I added the first layer of body color and the white (trim) areas. Note that this house is not placed how I would have liked. When starting the piece, I failed to account for the foundation. As such, the house extends further down toward the bottom of the canvas than I'd like. I'll see how it goes but may make changes down the road.

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below. (Yes, my perspective is waaay off.) Note that the photo has altered the colors and given the painting a yellowish cast.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 309

2011-07-15T21:28:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Ferrari F430. I will be using the photo seen directly below.

I'm using my usual acrylic paints on a 5x7 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.

This week I've finally addressed the long-suffering background. I did not want to paint the background seen in the photo. After some consideration, I settled on a simple mound with a thin bit of sky at the top. I'm not sure if this is a mountain or just some large shrubs, but it works for me. And with that, the painting is done.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have an entirely new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen href="http://paloozapaintings.blogspot.com/">here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.308

2011-07-08T20:54:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Ferrari F430. I will be using the photo seen directly below.

I'm using my usual acrylic paints on a 5x7 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.

This week it's all about the details. Front and center is my rendition of the NYS license plate seen in the photo. I toyed with the idea of putting my initials there, something I did in a painting many years ago. In the end I decided to stay true to the photo. Above the plate is the famous prancing stallion. To the left, the wheels/rims have been completed. These are a fashionable split 5 spoke design. Below, the rear tire now has some tread for gripping the road. To the upper left, the side view mirror sprouts from the fender. Also revised is the lower panel running between the wheels.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.307

2011-07-01T21:39:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Ferrari F430. I will be using the photo seen directly below.

I'm using my usual acrylic paints on a 5x7 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.

There are many changes this week. I was not satisfied with the placement of the righthand exhaust port. It was drooping and threw off the perspective. I have now moved it up into a place more consistent with the perspective of the car. I've also revised the air extractor, once again. I now consider that portion complete. The tailights now have their white centers. I've also revised (and enlarged) the rear wheel and tire.

I've finally started the highlights of the car body. When viewing a photo and considering it for use as a painting, I'm usually figuring how I would complete various aspects. Here, I had long anticipated the technique that I would use to paint the highlights. It was done with a thin, watery mixture of light blue paint. I think that it works fairly well, at least so far.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 306

2011-06-24T22:04:00.002-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Ferrari F430. I will be using the photo seen directly below.

I'm using my usual acrylic paints on a 5x7 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 wasn't able to accomplish as much as I would have liked for this week. NN11 took most of my available time, leaving little for installment 306. I did manage to push ahead with some details. The air extractor (below the license plate) now appears as it should. Note that the ridged sections are lit and the recessed portions are shadowed. To each side, the exhausts now poke through their respective ports, two to each side. (The one to the right is a bit too low and may need some revision.) Above, the marker lights now appear in red. The tires and rims now await only their final details. Things are going fairly well but there is much left to do.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 305

2011-06-17T13:57:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Ferrari F430. I will be using the photo seen directly below.

I'm using my usual acrylic paints on a 5x7 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 write this as I'm gttingread for NN11. I'd love to meet any of our regular readers that will attend.

For this week I've actually done a fair amount of revision even though this is not readily apparent. I'v reshaped the roof and fenderline as well as the rear window. I've also added another layer of black paint to the body. The lights now appear in red and have been gently reshaped. I've gone over (lightened) the shadow and air extractor but these will both need to be darkened once again.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 304

2011-06-10T10:28:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Ferrari F430. I will be using the photo seen directly below.

I'm using my usual acrylic paints on a 5x7 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.

For this week I've continued (exclusively) to refine the Ferrari. A darker layer of black now covers most of the car. I've reshaped the lights and exhaust ports. The window glass now appears in blue. Below the car, the shadow now appears darker, probably a bit too dark. I'll resolve that before we're done. The car is almost ready to receive its highlights.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Belated 6 Years

2011-06-04T23:01:00.002-04:00

6 years and hundreds of posts. Happy belated 6th birthday SLB!

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.303

2011-06-03T21:58:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Ferrari F430. I will be using the photo seen directly below.

I'm using my usual acrylic paints on a 5x7 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've addressed several areas for this week's installment. First, there's that bright green background. The final version will not look at all like this but for now it provides your color-challenged host with a nice foil for the car. Newly covered in paint are the the lights, wheels (or rims for the gearheads on attendance) and the exhaust ports. The body has a fresh coat of black but this will not be the last. Finally, the stripes on the pavement have been darkened.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.302

2011-05-27T21:29:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Ferrari F430. I will be using the photo seen directly below.

I'm using my usual acrylic paints on a 5x7 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.

Armed with only tubes of black and white (and derivatives thereof), I started to fill in the outline of the car. First came the thin black paint covering the body panels. More thin paint, in gray, was applied to the windows. Next came the tires. Note the diffuser, in grays and black, at the lower rear of the car. All of these are in only the preliminary phase but you can see how things are coming together even at this early stage.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

DSL is back!

2011-05-27T21:27:00.002-04:00

After a month of dialup, our new DSL modem (over a different provider) is now functioning! Living with 2002 technology was fun for about an hour or so. A month is more than one should be asked to endure. Long live our new modem!

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.301

2011-05-21T09:11:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be starting an entirely new painting. I will be using the photo seen directly below.

No doubt that regular readers will be a bit surprised by my subject matter. I've actually been carrying around this photo of a Ferrari F430 for some time. I like this shot both as a fan of fine cars and as a painter. It presents the vehicle in an interesting way and provides challenging forms and reflections. I'm looking forward to painting the blue highlights onto the black body color. And I needed to get away from all those Cape May houses for just a bit. (But not for good, of course!)

This one will be painted on a smallish 5x7 canvas using my usual acrylic paints

I began by painting a rough outline of the Ferrari in blue. Once again, placement on the canvas is crucial. This is actually my second attempt, the first one having been done on an inadequate square canvas.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.300 Blogiversary

2011-05-13T21:35:00.003-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

Unfortunately, we are still without our DSL this week, and it will continue this way for a few days yet. Dialup truly sucks. Perhaps we'll have DSL later on this week. Sigh.

Now as to the painting. I've made many changes. At the lower portion of the canvas, I've finished the steps and railings. In front, the bushes are now complete with higlights and shadows. On the upper right, the trim is now complete. I've also gone over the sky once again. The painting is now complete.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.299

2011-05-07T07:56:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

Unfortunately, we lost our DSL this week, and it is still out as of this time. Hopefully I will be present in this thread via dialup. Our Netzero DSL is now supported by an office in the Phillipines. I have made many (free) overseas calls, all to no avail. With all the stress and time wasted, I devoted little time to the painting but did manage a few additions. I'll set them out below.

Note the crosshatched arches on the lower right. I've changed them yet again. After a close examination, I realized that they were handled incorrectly. I've now repainted them by using white lattice over a blue background. Previously, they had been painted in the opposite fashion. I'm now satisfied. I've also restarted work on the bushes. They now appear in a bright green, a shade which will undergo some change in the coming installments.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 298

2011-04-29T22:14:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

For this week I've continued to work on the interior sections of the upper and lower porches. Though I originally intended to leave those portions somewhat undefined, I've now changed my mind. Accordingly, I've added to the trim, now seen in bright white. The windows now provide a nice (dark) contrast.

Above, under the central gable, I've done the same for that single attic window. Note that it has finally been reduced to an appropriate size. Finally, the crosshatched area to the lower right has been subdued a bit.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 297

2011-04-22T21:05:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

There are lots of changes this week. Most notable are the interior portions of the porches. I've attempted to add the windows and door without overwhelming the existing elements. Note that the porch ceiling is darker than the walls. The glass of the windows is a variation of the blue seen in the other parts of the painting. I've also added details to the porch posts and to the lower right side. I've got to revise that crosshatched area before I'm done.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 296

2011-04-15T20:54:00.002-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

I've continued with the small details of the house. The railings and supports are now complete. I'm not totally satisfied with the details of the supports but settled on this version after 2 attempts at something more complicated. Note that I've used blue for the piercings and not pink. These details carry around to the right side which now appears cleaner. I do have a few minor adjustments to make before moving on th the lower right. Beyond that there is still much more to do.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.295

2011-04-08T20:54:00.002-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

I've finally started on those fussy Victorian details. The detail just under the upper porch roof has now been duplicated on the lower level. Below these details, the so-called gingerbread of the porch brackets has finally found its place. I've attempted to keep it a relatively simple echo of that seen in the original photo. One can easily get carried away. I've also added the shadows to the upper portion of the porch posts. Finally, I've started the railing details but these need much more work.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.294

2011-04-01T22:10:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

I've actually spent quite a bit of time revising things but it may not be readily apparent. First, and most important, I've finally addressed all of my perspective problems. Note that the porch posts to the left lean toward the center, the middle ones are straight and those to the right also lean inward. After looking at the photo carefully, I finally realized what I had been doing wrong. All other lines have been given appropriate points of convergence. Whew.

Moving beyond perspective, I've opened up the doorway, seen in the lower right. The pink now cascades to the porch floor. I've started to define the steps and railings below. To the right, the tall bush stands in front of a shadow. All of these elements will need more work in the coming weeks.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 293

2011-03-25T20:26:00.001-04:00

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

I've continued to refine the structure. The details of the gingerbread now reside within the arches. More details are seen at the top of the two story porch. I'm using blue as the shadowed areas of the white trim. Note the blue shadows under the eaves. Within the gable the window has assumed a shape close that of its final appearance.

I've added more pinkish color to the wall behind the porch. This will need to be changed and lightened before I'm done.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 292

2011-03-18T21:46:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

You'll have to look closely for some of this week's changes. It's easy to see that the sky has received another layer of paint but the changes to the house are more subtle. The arches are now much more refined and almost ready for some gingerbread details. They now appear in white as does the right side and lower portions of the building. I hoping to have some details for you next week.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 291

2011-03-11T22:02:00.000-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

Though it may not be readily apparent, I've actually reworked most of the painting. I started by adding a layer of light blue paint over the porch posts and trim. This is to serve as the shadowed portion of the trim. The lit portions (yet to come) would be painted directly over parts of the blue in a bright white. I then added some blue-green paint to provide underpainting for the bushes.

I then went back and reconfigured the pink body color. Some of this pink became mixed in with white while reshaping the posts once again. This unintended result is actually rather appealing. I do like to embrace happy accidents but I'll have to carefully consider which in which direction this will go. I will (hopefully) have things worked out for next week.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 290

2011-03-04T21:59:00.000-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Pink House in Cape May, New Jersey. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

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

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

Unfortunately, I did not get as much done as I would have liked. I did manage to paint in the base coat of the sky. This change provides a nice delineation for my color blind eyes and pushes the house forward visually. The final color will be a much lighter blue. Note that the blue continues under the porch roof the left side. I then painted the base coat of the body color of the house itself. The columns received a little white paint. There is much left to do in the coming installments.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 289

2011-02-25T21:38:00.001-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be starting an entirely new painting. I will be using the photo seen directly below. I'm working on an 8x10 canvas in my usual acrylic paints.

The photo shows the Pink House, a well known Victorian structure in Cape May, New Jersey. I've usually avoided the well known houses (tourist oriented) but this particular photo appealed to me.

I began by setting down marks at the edge of the canvas that I'll use to orient the image and set the proper proportions of the various elements. They are still visible. I then did a rough outline, in pink of course. I've got to work on that perspective.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As ways, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 288

2011-02-18T21:03:00.001-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cold Spring, New York structure. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-wrapped (thick) canvas.

I'm using the photo seen directly below.

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've revised several areas of the painting. A nicel cloud now appears directly over the building with a second smaller one to the left. In the street below, the blue car has now had its highlights added. This was accomplished with some thin white paint applied direcly over the blue. Note that the white paint continues over the windshield, obscuring the interior a bit but not hiding it. The cars to the rear have also been highlighted. The partly seen car to the left of the blue one also received some love in the form of thin red paint. It now provides a good spot for the artist's initials, a good thing as this piece is now done. Finally, the remaining windows have been addd to the left side of the Mansard roof.

Artist's note: While I don't consider this to be one of my best, it does have a charm of its own. It's unfortunate that I was not able to capture that ivy. Let me know what you think.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new painting to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 287

2011-02-11T21:05:00.002-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cold Spring, New York structure. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-wrapped (thick) canvas.

I'm using the photo seen directly below.

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've had some time to spend with this piece, and it needed it. Note that the photo below is rather poor. I just couldn't get a good one much as I tried. The colors of the blue up front and the building (at least the left side) are not true. That car is waaaay too bright. There is actually a series of shadows above the 2nd story windows (left side) that do not appear in the actual painting when viewed directly.

I've now reworked all the windows and darkened the left side of the building. In this instance, the scene in the painting is lit from the right. I've also fixed most of the perspecive problems. At the top of the building, the decorative ironwork is now seen. In the street the cars to the rear are now complete. The cars in the foreground still need highlights and reflections. Note the interior of the blue car. Finally, the curb of the unseen block to the right makes its first appearance.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 286: 2 Steps Back Edition

2011-02-04T21:32:00.001-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cold Spring, New York structure. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-wrapped (thick) canvas.

I'm using the photo seen directly below.

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 the years since I've been doing this series, I've not been shy about showing sometimes questionable progress on my paintings. In fact, some of the earlier paintings were of a quality to which I'd rather not admit. The reason I bring this up is the back and forth changes for this week's installment. You'll see what I mean.

I started by finally attempting that ivy clinging to the brick of the central structure. Try as I might, I just couldn't get it right. After spending considerable time I had the mess seen directly below.

Needless to say I was disgusted. I was actually ready to abandon this piece but came back to it after some time and additional consideration. I decided that I would use my editorial eye and simply leave out the ivy. Of course, this would require redoing/restoring various elements of the structure eaten by the offending ivy. I did some of this work and added a shade of red to cover the ivy. Note also that the car in the foreground actually makes some progress forward as well as the iron detail above the Mansard roof.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 285

2011-01-28T20:36:00.001-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cold Spring, New York structure. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-wrapped (thick) canvas.

I'm using the photo seen directly below.

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.

There are lots of changes this week. I've added another layer of paint to the roof and walls of the central structure. The roof now appears in grays and the outer walls in a salmon shade. The grays will stay while the salmon will receive another layer for next week. The windows and doorways have recieved details in gray and white. I've got to add shadows to the arches, hopefully for next time. Note the dentil detail of the lower roof. Both the roadway and the building to the rear have also received some gray paint.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 284

2011-01-21T21:47:00.002-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cold Spring, New York structure. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-wrapped (thick) canvas.

I'm using the photo seen directly below.

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 changes this week are a bit startling. I've continued to refine the existing arched windows and have added the others to the front of the building. They are now far closer to how I'd like them to be but will still need a bit of work. Above, the roof has assumed a more accurate shape and received its first layer of paint. I've begun to refine the roof windows. Above that, the sky has received more paint. Below, the shop windows have been added but that rectangle at the corner of the building will be removed. In the street, the 3 cars to the side of the building make their first appearance. Finally, and perhaps most notably, the building has reveived a layer of bright red paint. This will serve as a layer upon which I will build several others.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 283

2011-01-14T21:08:00.001-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the painting of the Cold Spring, New York structure. I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-wrapped (thick) canvas.

I'm using the photo seen directly below.

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've extended the building and adjusted the perspective a bit. Looking again, I think that the perspective could use a bit more adjustment. The original photo just has a bit more drama.

I've also added some base color. I will be building layers of color to achieve some depth. Note that the arched windows have been placed but will need some adjustment when I change the perspective. There is much to do. Finally, note the cars in the foreground.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 282

2011-01-07T18:16:00.002-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be starting an entirely new painting. We're moving from Cape May further north into the Hudson Valley. I've lived in the Hudson Valley since 1994 when madame boran and I were fortunate to have acquired an old 1930s cottage where we continue to reside.

I'll be using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-wrapped (thick) canvas.

I found this structure in Cold Spring. Cold Spring is a picturesque old Hudson River town and the setting for my next subject, seen in the photo directly below.

Notice that this Victorian era building is seen in the photo in the above-linked Wikipedia article.

I started by placing the outline of the major elements on the canvas. Seeing the canvas side by side in my photobucket page I realize that the lines are wrong. The building needs to stretch farther to the rear of the canvas and the perspective needs to be more extreme. Lots of work for me. And I'll have some of that done for next week.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 281

2010-12-31T16:07:00.002-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

I'll be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May Victorian house. I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-style (thick) canvas.

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

Since that time, I have continued working on the painting.

With the holidays I actually did find an appreciable amount of time to work on this painting. There is little that hasn't changed since last time. I've revised most details of the house. Most notable among these is the turret itself, now softly shadowed across its curved surface. In fact most of the lighting has been softened. Note that the turret's windows have been narrowed. The porch to the left has had its perspective revised, details added and shadows applied. On the roof highlights and shadows now make for an interesting geometric pattern. Below, the street and sidewalk are now complete. The bushes and trees are now green and shadowed. Finally, the sky is a pale but complex pattern of blue and white. The painting is now complete, and I am very happy with it.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 280

2010-12-24T20:51:00.000-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

I'll be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May Victorian house. I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-style (thick) canvas.

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

Since that time, I have continued working on the painting.

Well, I didn't get to add any color to the existing blues. Instead, I've gone over all the house details and added a few more. The windows and shadows are now darker and more defined. I will soften these in the weeks to come. Notice the "eyebrows over the windows in the turret. The lawn is darker and ready for some green. To the rear, the house next door is more defined yet still distant. Finally, the sidewalk in the foreground makes it first appearance.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 279

2010-12-17T21:36:00.002-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

I'll be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May Victorian house. I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-style (thick) canvas.

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

Since that time, I have continued working on the painting.

In prior installments, I have written about paintings occasionally having their own way. Sometimes I just feel like I am being led down a path toward the finished painting. And so it is with the current piece. This painting has spoken and made its path clear. I will follow it to a degree but to what extent is not immediately clear.

This path made itself known after painting some of the details seen in the original photo. With the addition of the various windows and porch details several things became clear. Firstly, blue would remain a dominant color. I will vary from the path a bit and add a few other colors but they will be secondary. Secondly, as in the last piece, I will avoid drowning in the pinpoint details of some prior paintings in this series. I have used a single medium-sized brush up to this point and will continue with only that one until this is done. In doing this, the fussy details possible only with a small brush will be avoided. The form of the building will remain the most important consideration with the details remaining secondary.

For next week I intend to add some of that additional color.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 278

2010-12-10T21:35:00.003-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

I'll be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May Victorian house. I'm using my usual acrylic paints on an 8x8 inch gallery-style (thick) canvas.

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

Since that time, I have continued working on the painting.

Unfortunately, I had many distractions this week and did not get done as much as I would have liked. I did manage to add a dark layer of paint to the various roofs as well as the lawn. The street, sky and body of the house have each received lighter-colored layers of blue paint. Note that I've begun the shadowing on the house that will become more pronounced as the painting progresses. The shadows occupy the right side while highlights are on the left-facing surfaces. Finally, the tree has been painted with an intermediate color of blue. I will begin to add other colors for next week's installment.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 277

2010-12-03T18:53:00.002-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be starting an entirely new painting. I'll be using the photo seen directly below.

If one can have a relationship with a house then I have had a long and continuing one with this structure. I've actually painted this house twice previously, once earlier in this series. Neither version was particularly satisfying although the one that predates this series hangs in the b2 boy's room. I'm still intrigued by this house and will try it again.

I've started this piece by painting an outline in blue. The house has been carefully placed upon the canvas. I've painted a thin layer of blue paint that will eventually become the sky. Hopefully I will finally do this interesting house justice this time around.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 276

2010-11-26T22:43:00.003-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May house. I'll be using the photo seen directly below.

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've made a number of changes this week. The house to the right is now darker and totally without details. It just seems to work better. Note that the photo has darkened it a bit. There is now a touch of green on the strip of lawn directly at the foot of the house. It matches the green on the tree to the far right rear. The stairs have had a dark area added underneath as in the original photo. Finally, some gray has been added to the roadway, which picks up the gray of the roof. The painting is now complete.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 275

2010-11-19T22:33:00.002-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May house. I'll be using the photo seen directly below.

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've actually made a number of changes but they don't seem to show up well in the photos. Starting at the bottom, the street and sidewalk have received some attention. They appear sharper and darker. (For next week I will add some color to the strip of grass.) To the right, the house next door is also darker but I think that it may need to be darker still. Or at least grayer. To the left, the tree to the far rear now has a bit of green on its highlighted portions. Below the tree, things have been sharpened a bit. Above, the sky has actually received another layer of paint. Finally, on the house itself, the stairs and lower portions have had some sharpening of details. I still have a few more things to add.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 274

2010-11-12T21:22:00.003-05:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May house. I'll be using the photo seen directly below.

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 made a number of changes this week. The roofs and windows are now seen in gray. I may alter the windows a bit but the grey will stay for now. The windows to the right are now heavily shadowed like the siding around them. I've added to the background to the extreme left side. The details, and especially the white areas, push the house forward a bit. Finally, I've added a layer of paint to the sky and the structure to the right as well as details to the foreground. Each of these will need more work.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 273

2010-11-05T21:47:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May house. I'll be using the photo seen directly below.

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've continued to work on the painting, adding opaque layers of color. I haven't talked much about technique so I'll add a few words here. I've used only one thick brush to add all the paint applied since last week. I'm told that art schools use such an exercise (painting with only one thick brush) to get students to focus on the big picture rather than fussy details. My use of this same process has resulted in an image that presents me with a dilemma. I like the current image very much. In fact, I'm torn. I'm not sure that I want to add much more to this piece. I like the rather raw image that still manages to convey the house well. In fact, better paintings often manage to convey their messages with a minimum of paint. So, I will make a few changes and then decide.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

What's The Matter With Kansas? (And the USA)

2010-11-02T18:34:00.006-04:00

How can the misdeeds of 8 years be undone in less than 2? They can't. Yet the electorate is apparently expecting the impossible. Poised to turn back Democratic majorities, people are narrowly focused upon quick economic relief. While understandable, such a view both expects too much too soon and leaves aside other important issues. Various reforms have been put into place during the course of the current administration but these are largely ignored. Sadly, it's (only) the economy stupid, and it (apparently) had better be quick.

Years from now (hopefully) the textbook writers will take note of the 70 plus pieces of legislation that have been passed up to this point. Sadly, they may be the only ones to recognize them.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 272

2010-10-29T22:31:00.003-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May house. I'll be using the photo seen directly below.

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.

As you can see, I've decided to go with blue shadows. The highlighted areas will be grays and whites. Accordingly, I've added blue shadows to all the left-facing surfaces except for the house next door. I've also added details to the porch and front steps. There is much, much more to do. I'll finally start adding some opaque color for next week.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 271

2010-10-22T23:16:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the turreted Cape May house. I'll be using the photo seen directly below.

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've now applied paint to each of the major elements of the painting. I now have a dilemma. In the past, I've often painted shadows in shades of blue, as seen here on the left side of the structure. However, in one of my older paintings, I used various shades of gray with white for the highlights. The shadows were the deepest of the grays. Such an approach would be more consistent with the photo but I do like the blue shadows seen here. I'll have to think about this for a bit. You'll be able to see the result next week. In the meantime, the current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 270

2010-10-15T21:23:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be starting a new painting. I'll be returning to Cape May for the structure seen in the photo directly below.

This is a house built in the twilight of the Victorian era in the first few years of the twentieth century. I've had my eye on this one for a while. I took this photo about a week ago while in Cape May for Columbus Day weekend. Most people were walking the beach while I was stalking my next subject for SPP. Go figure.

I will be using my usual acrylics on an 8 x 8 inch gallery-style (thick) canvas. I'm much more commfortable with this smaller size. The last one (12 x 12) was large for this series.

I've started with a sketch of the house in blue. It's not placed exactly as I would like it but the thing just started painting itself. Anyway, I'll make adjustments as needed.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 269

2010-10-08T23:18:00.021-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the Cape May transitional-style house. I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) 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've now addressed the long-standing problem with those upper right widnows. I've reshaded the lower portions. I'm now satisfied but it took me a while to figure out exactly what it was that was bothering me. I'm glad to have soleved it.

I've now completed the foreground. The lawn and shadows now drape down to the street just as they do in the original photo. The painting is now done. It feels like I've been doing this one for tool long but it feels good to be finished.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have an entirely new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 268

2010-10-01T21:57:00.003-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the Cape May transitional-style house. I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) 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.

There are many changes this week. The major ones are in the foreground. First of all, the steps are now done. Note that only the upward facing portions of the handrails appear highlighted. (white) The remainder of the trim is shadowed in blue. The shingled right side of the steps is highighted like other rightward-facing portions of the structure. Below the steps the lawn has been painted with a shadowed portion. I will still make some minor changes before I am done. The decorative shrubs appear both highlighted and shadowed. Below that the sidewalk and street have been started. I need to do more work here but you can get an idea where things are going.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 267

2010-09-24T22:23:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the Cape May transitional-style house. I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) 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.

There are many changes this week, some large and others small. First of all, the sky is now done. The blue parts are deeper in color and there is a hint of clouds. The photo has actually lightened things a bit. The left-facing highlights of the house have been lighened a bit to provide more contrast. Also providing more contrast are the dark shadowed areas under the awnings. I've also revised the the left-facing 2nd story windows. They are now simpler and their color less jarring. Finally, I've sharpened many of the small details. The house is now nearly complete with only the steps needing some attention. On to the foreground/background.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 266

2010-09-17T22:25:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the Cape May transitional-style house . I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) 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.

It's a quantum leap this week. The house is nearly done and I've begun the background. I'll run through the changes below.

The awnings are now nearly complete. Highlights have been added to all right-facing portions. The body of the house is now seen in shades of brown appropriate to the shingles in the photo. Once again, the right-facing portions have highlights. I will lighten these highlights a bit before all is done. These browns were built up from the prior red shade making for a rich color. Most trim is now (nearly) complete with highlights in white and shaded areas in blue. I'll need to fade the blue of those right-facing second story windows a bit. They are just too bright. On the right side, the columns have been revised and the stairs have been repositioned.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 265

2010-09-10T20:56:00.003-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the Cape May transitional-style house. I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) 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've now painted in the areas seen beneath the awnings. This is only a first paint layer of what will be heavy shadows. I've also added a layer of paint to the house body. It is now a bit more like the shingles seen in the original photo but still needs much more work. The left-facing parts of the house now contrast with the highlighted right-facing areas. (No political implications intended.) Finally, I've added the first layer of green below the house. It will one day soon be a nice lawn.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 264

2010-08-27T22:22:00.002-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be taking a one week sidetrip from the shingled Cape May house.

In the past week I've been lucky to spend some time in Santa Fe. It's been many years since I was last there. While there, I was able to visit many art galleries as well as the Indian Market stalls. And I was inspired to do my own small painting.

As in years past, I carried a small canvas in my carry on bag as well as a single brush. This year I also carried a few small tubes of paint. Fortunately, TSA showed no objection. I painted this 4x4 inch canvas in about 3 hours with HGTV on in the background one evening. (My cable package doesn't include HGTV, so this was something novel for me.) The result of my efforts is seen in the photo directly below.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you on the Cape May painting. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.263

2010-08-20T22:29:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the Cape May transitional-style house . I'm using the photo seen

directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) 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've continued to address those areas untouched since the first installment in this cycle. The awnings have now been covered in a layer of red paint, the first of several to come. Above, the 2nd story porch has had various details added. A door and windows no appear in what will be shadows. All left-facing elements have been treated to highlights, but I'm not happy with the results. That will give me more to do for the next installment.

Next week's installment may not be posted at my usual time. Hopefully you'll still find me. Thanks.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.262

2010-08-13T20:58:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the Cape May transitional-style house . I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) 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 actually spent a fair amount of time adding to the painting. However, when I compared it side by side with last week's version the changes were somewhat less than dramatic. You'll have to look closely. The right facing gable and bay windows just below are now clearly defined. I still have to add the bay windows themselves but the housings are near complete. The three part window within the gable is close to its final appearance but I may make some small changes. The arch to the left of the two bay windows has also received much needed attention. It too is clearly defined.

The front facing gable is better defined but still needs attention. The roofs and body of the house have received a layer of paint. Texture, shading and highlights are still a way off.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.261

2010-08-06T22:52:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the Cape May transitional-style house . I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) 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 continued to map out the various components of the house. The shadowed white sections (left-facing) now appear in blue. The lit right-facing ones are currently a very light blue/near white. I've continued to add red to the shingled sections. Note that this is only a first layer and will change as I go along. The porch areas now appear for the first time. They will be heavily shadowed as in the photo. Things are starting to come together.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 260

2010-07-30T22:00:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be continuing with the painting of the Cape May transitional-style house . I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) 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 continued to refine the shape of the roof, especially the front-facing gable. The peak is now lower like that seen in the original. I have also added the first layer of color. The red paint acts both as a tool for refinement (narrowing those porch openings) and as a base for the paint layers yet to come.

I've also added the first layer of sky. Below, the lines defining the curb have been added and a layer of base color for the street. I may have to pull the curb out a bit. I still need to address the issue of perspective. It's not bad but there isn't the dramatic lines of the photo. It will be something to aim for in future installments.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Volume 259

2010-07-23T20:43:00.003-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I will be starting an entirely new painting. I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a large (for me) 12 x 12 inch gallery-style (thick) canvas.

There is a story that goes along with this piece. This is a transitional Victorian/shingle style in Cape May, New Jersey. I've had my eye on this house for years. It is only a block or so from the place where we usually stay. When the time came to get some photos a couple of months ago, I stood across the street and clicked away. An individual called to me. Actually it was two individuals, and they seemed genuinely concerned. I explained what I was doing and would show them the result upon my return in October. (I was shocked, shocked, that they weren't regular readers of SPP!) They joked that the could rearrange the porch furniture for a better photo.

I began with a sketch in blue of the house, careful to place it on the canvas. Looking at it now, I can see that the perspective needs some fixing. I'll start that for next week's installment. Hopefully, I haven't taken on too much here.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.258

2010-07-16T21:13:00.007-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the Arizona saguaro painting. The photo that I will be using is seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 5 by 5 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Cape May 2nd Empire house painted just prior to this piece.)

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've continued to work on the lower area of the canvas. I've added brush (as opposed to one individuals fetish with clearing it) and grassy details with their respective shadows. I've also revised the cacti. They now appear heavily shadowed with just one highlighted edge to the left.

The painting is now done. Note that only 3 colors have been used, blue, yellow and white. Perfect for a color blind painter.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new painting to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.257

2010-07-09T21:18:00.002-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the Arizona saguaro painting. The photo that I will be using is seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 5 by 5 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Cape May 2nd Empire house painted just prior to this piece.)

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've moved down to the middle and lower areas of the scene. The hills in the middle distance now appear in a layered green-over-blue with highlights at the peaks. I simply added a loosely painted watery green over the blue. The highlights had more yellow in the mix.

Below, I've begun to paint the cacti, carefully placing/sizing them to suggest distance. These too started as blue with highlights added to the left side of each. I've already outlined the foreground in anticipation of the coming changes. (Yes, it does look like the cacti are standing in a pond!)

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.256

2010-07-02T20:49:00.003-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the Arizona saguaro painting. The photo that I will be using is seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 5 by 5 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Cape May 2nd Empire house painted just prior to this piece.)

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've actually addressed all 3 sections of the painting in some way. At the rear, the sky has received an additional layer of white and blue paint bringing it one step closer to completion. The far mountains are now a solid mass with green highlights against blue shadows. I may have to lighten things here just a bit before this is done but for now my attention will be directed to other parts of the piece. Finally, the mid and foreground have no been painted in a olid blue. It is ready to receive various details.

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo irectly below. (Excuse my blurry photography.)

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.255

2010-06-25T21:56:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be starting an entirely new painting. The photo that I will be using is seen directly below.

I've actually been carrying around this photo for some time and have been meaning to get back to it. Now is a very good time. Before starting what I consider to be a major piece (major for me!), I want to add some needed variety to this series.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 5 by 5 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Cape May 2nd Empire house painted just prior to this piece.) I've never previously done a western scene on a square or gallery style canvas.

I started this piece by visually separating in my mind three horizontal sections. Below, the first section is comprised of the foreground/middle ground. In the middle are the far mountains. Finally, the third section is the sky. These have all been painted in shades of blue.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.254

2010-06-18T22:02:00.006-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the Cape May Second Empire house seen directly below. I'm painting the house from a slightly different angle showing just a bit more of the left side.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 6 by 6 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Hudson river scene.)

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 continued by first adding another thin layer of watery white paint fading slightly the overly bright colors of the house. At least they seemed overly bright to my color blind eyes. Unfortunately, the prior photo (above) was a poor image and does not make for a good comparison with the photo below. I then moved on to the tree to the extreme left side followed by the lawn, front steps and railings. Finally, I added the old iron fence and curb in the extreme foreground. (I've also revised the sky and right underside of the porch roof.) The painting is now complete.

Seen in the photo directly below is the current (and final) state of the painting.

I'm okay with this piece but would add more contrast were I to do it again. What do you think?

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new painting to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.253

2010-06-11T21:33:00.004-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the Cape May Second Empire house seen directly below. I'm painting the house from a slightly different angle showing just a bit more of the left side.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 6 by 6 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Hudson river scene.)

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.

Unfortunately, I did not get as much done this week as I would have liked. An 8 hour loss of power last Sunday started things off poorly. After that there were various obligations. I did get to make a few changes.

I started with the windows. They now have the drapes(?) seen in those of the photo. Then I moved on to the top of the lefthand tower. I've repainted the window in the Mansard roof. It now falls into line with the other 2. Finally, and most noticeably, the sky has received its first layer of paint. It is presently a uniform blue. I will vary things a bit and possibly add a few clouds.

Seen in the photo directly below is the current state of the painting.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.252

2010-06-04T22:12:00.006-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the Cape May Second Empire house seen directly below. I'm painting the house from a slightly different angle showing just a bit more of the left side.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 6 by 6 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Hudson river scene.)

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

I've continued to refine the house. There are a multitude of small changes. Starting at the top, the Mansard roof (and its windows) now has a clarity of form and detail. This roof is the hallmark of the 2nd empire style. Getting the shape right is perhaps the single most important part of this image. I am satisfied with it though there may be a few small changes to come.

The cornice/soffit below the roof now has the suggestion of moldings and brackets. These also appear just above the first story. The windows and adjacent panel areas are now clearly delineated. I will continue with the windows for next week. Finally, the shadowed areas now provide a strong geometric quality to the structure.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

5 Years!!!

2010-05-30T17:43:00.001-04:00

Happy birthday to SLB! (a day late) Despite something of a change in content over the years, we're still here. Thanks for your interest and comments! Hopefully there will be many more years.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.251

2010-05-28T22:26:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the Cape May Second Empire house seen directly below. I'm painting the house from a slightly different angle showing just a bit more of the left side.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 6 by 6 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Hudson river scene.)

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.

Upon starting this piece, I believed that all of the small details would be included. I have changed my intentions as this painting has progressed. What I found (or what found me) was that a shadowed house with less in the way of detail would make for a more interesting painting. I have begun the process of delineating those shadows. They follow the vertical planes of the house. It is this house's geometry, highlighted by the vertical shadows, that provides the true interest here. The details are really secondary to the form. The focus on geometry will be further focused by a simplified pallette of colors.

Note that the shadow areas of the covered porches will have more variation in the final painting.

Seen in the photo directly below is the current state of the painting.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.250

2010-05-21T21:57:00.002-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be with the Cape May Second Empire house seen directly below. I'm painting the house from a slightly different angle showing just a bit more of the left side.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 6 by 6 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Hudson river scene.)

I continued by starting to apply color within the various components of the house. The separations of my outline provide a good roadmap. I'm actually changing things a bit to make a warmer palette. This has the dual purpose of helping with my partial color blindness. I can't see all of the subtle shades of this structure. An intermediate photo of the painting is seen directly below.

With further refinement I was able to bring the painting to its current state, seen in the photo directly below. Up to this point, all paints have been applied in thin watery layers.

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.249

2010-05-14T20:42:00.004-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be starting an entirely new painting. I am painting the Cape May house seen directly below. I'm actually painting the house from a slightly different angle showing just a bit more of the left side.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a 6 by 6 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the Hudson river scene.)

The house is constructed in the second empire style, a mirror of similar earlier French structures. These were often constructed during the 1870s through the 1880s. It will present a real challenge, especially on this rather small canvas.

I've begun by placing the outline of the house on the canvas, careful to leave room for all of its elements.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.248

2010-05-07T21:21:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the twilight Huson river painting. I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a small 4 by 5 inch gallery-style (thick) 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.

Where to begin? I've added the overpass railing. Below, the roadway has texture and shadows of gray and blue. Beyond the overpass, the large mountain is fully reflected in the water. The dark mass of the wooded peninsula appears in the middle ground. Beyond that, the railroad bridge passes over the water. The painting is now finished. This one was very quick.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have a new piece to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.247

2010-04-30T20:36:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the twilight Huson river painting. I'm using the photo seen directly below.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a small 4 by 5 inch gallery-style (thick) 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've now (mostly) completed those dramatic clouds. They meet the now complete hills of the Hudson highlands. Directly below the larger of the two hills, the reflection has received some additional paint as has the river itself. Finally, the roadway now has an additional paint layer as well as a line separating the shoulder.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.246

2010-04-23T21:41:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be starting with an entirely new painting. I will be using the photo seen directly below. It's a Hudson River scene taken from my car window a few months ago. The white balance was set for indoor lighting, giving those nice shades of blue. It was taken from a short overpass that I use every day during my commute. Some of the Hudson highlands are seen in the background. The bridge across the water is for trains.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a small 4 by 5 inch gallery-style (thick) canvas.

I've begun by painting some of the more significant elements. The overpass (roadway) appears at the bottom. In the middle ground, the highlands and reflection are placed and awaiting further attention. To the far rear, I've begun the clouds in the upper left. These first brushstrokes help me make certain that everything will fit. It's a good start.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.245

2010-04-16T20:49:00.003-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the shadowed Cape May house. I will be using the photo seen directly low.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a somewhat larger 8 by 8 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the towered house.)

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've continued to refine those front steps. They are now complete. There are now shadows thrown across half their expanse.

And then there are those bushes. (Yes, those are bushes and not sacks of fall leaves at the curb.) I've gone with simple shapes and shadows. They provide a good foil for the rather fussy details of the house. They likely aren't for every taste but, frankly, I'm not sure that heavily detailed bushes could visually stand up to the house. There actually is a series of colors contained within the green portions of the bushes. Unfortunately that does not show in the photo. I badgered madame boran as to her opinion of my bushes. She doesn't care for them. Well, I suppose they do add an element of controversy to the piece.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have an entirely new painting to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.244

2010-04-09T21:58:00.000-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the shadowed Cape May house. I will be using the photo seen directly low.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a somewhat larger 8 by 8 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the towered house.)

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've continued to work on the lower portion of the painting. The steps are now complete, the bright red accents matching those of the porch railings. Posts topped by planters stand on each side. These too carry the red accent lines. Above, the porch railings of the first story are now complete. On the left side one sunlit post contrasts sharply against the shadows. Finally, the street and shrubs have received some attention. The street looks much like it will in the final version. (Unless I decide otherwise. ;-) ) The shrubs will have highlighted and shadowed portions.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.243

2010-04-02T21:43:00.001-04:00

Hello again painting fans.

This week I'll be continuing with the shadowed Cape May house. I will be using the photo seen directly low.

I will be using my usual acrylics on a somewhat larger 8 by 8 inch gallery-style canvas.(This is a thicker canvas similar to the one used in the towered house.)

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've done yet more detail work this week. Starting at the top, I've finished the small roof overhangs seen on the left side. Moving down a bit, the downspout now begins where the roof overhang to the right ends. Slightly below that, the 2nd story railings now appear in red. My color blind eyes overlooked this until madame boran pointed it out to me. (I can see the red, my eyes are simply not as sensitive to color.) Moving down to the awnings, the support rod has been added between those on the front of the building. Detail has been added to the column separating the front and left side awnings.

Down on the ground, the space in the foundation along the driveway has now been filled. I've begun the front steps and porch railing but these will need much more work.

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

That's about it for now. Next week I'll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.