Wisconsin Culture

Wisconsin Culture (Still Life)

I completed my first still life. I was trying to capture the look and feel (shadows and light) of the 17th century Dutch old masters. Only, I wanted it to be a modern whimsical subject.
I began with a black canvas. This photo shows a bit of glare because the medium is not dry yet.

Spanish Moss and Blossoms

I recently completed the painting "Spanish Moss and Blossoms". It's technically not a completely original painting as I borrowed the basic concept from a print. My brother bought the old framed print at a rummage sale in Florida because he liked the frame. The print was in pretty bad shape-faded and perhaps some water damage. I decided to do a painting with the basic layout of the print but modified enough to be different from the original. I've called it "Spanish Moss and Blossoms". I used an acylic underpainting for values and a unique color feel:

Foamy Shore

Today I finished a seascape that I've been working on for some time. I spend a good deal of time working on the details of grains of sand and the ocean floor in the first few inches of waters. I also tried some different styles on the clouds. Still thinking about the title. Any suggestions? Update on October 1, 2010- I am calling this painting "Foamy Shore".

Stonehenge in Spring Updated

Stonehenge in Spring BEFORE

Stonehenge in Spring AFTER

Last June I was displaying my paintings at an Art Fair in Waupaca, Wisconsin. The painting "Stonehenge in Spring" was facing me all day. I'm alway critical of my own work, but staring at this painting all day was making me sick. So much was missing as far as light, shadow and perspective. A couple of weeks later I took the painting out of the frame and painted over it to include more shadows, light and perspective. Now, I can actually look at it without feeling sick. Comments, anyone?

Paddling Through Doty Park

So I've been experimenting with technique and colors-this is the result. It's from the perspective of paddling a canoe through the little canal in Doty Park in Neenah, WI. I played with the colors in my palette-no big changes, just "different". The trees are kind of mix of impressionist and realistic. It should be dry in time for the Bergstrom-Mahler Art Fair on July 18-two weeks from today!

Neenah Light

Today I painted the lighthouse in Kimberly Point in Neenah, Wisconsin. I tried to capture the park feel around the lighthouse by including the trees that nearby. I think the painting has an almost watercolour look to it. It should be dry in time for the Bergstrom-Mahler Art Fair on July 18, 2010 in Neenah, Wisconsin.

Dake to Columbia Lake Channel

Today I painted "Dake to Columbia Lake Channel". This is based on a photograph of the channel in the Waupaca Chain O Lakes in Wisconsin. Hopefully, it will be dry in time for the Strawberry Fest on June 19. The painting is similar in style to my last one (see "Tomorrow River Impression") with some impressionist artistic license added to the painting. Again, I tried to contrast the darkness of being under the trees with the light ahead as the channel enters into the lake.

Tomorrow River Impression

I painted this today. It's a change from my normal style in an attempt to do an impressionist painting of the Tomorrow/Waupaca river. This is the first painting where I was happy with the results immediately when the painting was finished. (Scary, huh?)

I like the deep woods looking out to the sunlight feel to the painting and hope to paint similar scenes in the future.

I tried to work light against dark with the morning sun filtering in through the trees. It should be dry in time to be displayed for sale at the Waupaca Strawberry Fest on June 19. This is one I I would be happy hanging on my own living room wall, but I guess I can always paint another one...

Western Mountain Lake

This was painted on May 8, 2010. I was attempting to provide some contrasts in light

and color with painting "traditional" landscape items (distant mountains, lakes, trees, etc.).

Island in the Chain (Dawn)

Today I painted the second in the "Island in the Chain" series. This is Island in the Chain (Dawn). I tried to capture the bright rays of sun just coming over the distant trees along with the early morning fog on the water. Hopefully there will be more Islands in the Chain...

Island in the Chain (Summer)

Today I painted the first in a series of paintings that will be based on the exact same scene, just "taken" at different times and/or seasons. Titled "Island in the Chain (Summer). The first of the series shows the island at mid-day in the Summer. Future additions to the "Island in the Chain" will include early morning with fog on the lake and the sun just breaking through the treeline, autumn and winter. At least this first one of the series will be available for purchase at the Waupaca Strawberry Fest on June 19, 2010.

Wild Flowers by the River

I've been working on "traditional" landscapes with distant mountains. This one has a hint of spring with flowers to provide some color contrast. I was trying to provide lighter shades of green with significant color and light contrasts.

March 6, 2010: Lower Chain O Lakes Hillview 2 aka (Whispering Pines)

Due to the popularity of my painting from the photograph from the Lower Chain O Lakes (in Waupaca, Wisconsin) Hillview (Whispering Pines). I painted another one today. You can compare to the first attempt from a few weeks ago posted below. This is an example of how I will paint commissioned paintings from landscape photographs. Please contact me if you're interested!

Snowy Lane

This has been a productive weekend! Today I painted "Snowy Lane". It's similar in hue to "Grand Chute December Scene" which generated a lot of interest at last week's Appleton Art Market and sold. I wanted to capture the same warm winter feeling with "sepia" tones.

Painted On February 27, 2010 "The Stone Wall"

I painted this on Saturday, February 27, 2010. It's a bit different than my usual technique. I actually painted some parts using black gesso and colored acrylics. After the gesso and acrylics were dry I used conventional oil paints. Also, there is a white basecoat on the top of the painting and a clear basecoat on the bottom. I was trying to keep the foreground and wall more focused and bright, with a softer back ground.

Painting from a photo of Waupaca Chain O Lakes

Today I tried something completely different. I found a photograph on the Waupaca Chain O Lakes Association taken from the Lower Chain called "HillView07". I attempted to paint the photograph (with a few minor modications to personalize it). Here is the photo and the painting. (It was kind of fun!)