Easel Project... part 1

Any project takes way longer than your first estimate. On friday I thought I'd be done with this one by the end of the weekend. Not even close.

Anyway, I'm making some modifications to my easel (Richeson/Best Santa Fe II). First, the small tilting work tray was simply not cutting it for me, so I built what is essentially a long narrow desk with a sliding palette. This way, everything I need - palette, brushes, mediums, etc. are directly in front of me at all times, and I'll have to do a minimum amount of turning and reaching while at work. That part of it is clearly visible in the picture. The second part is to build a small framework to hold the panels while working. That's sort of visible as a mockup - all the odd pieces of scrap lumber where a canvas normally goes. This part is still in progress. Once the whole thing is done, I'll post a better pic.

Embracing the chaos.

As far as my studio is concerned, I don't leave well enough alone. In fact, I seem to be hard-wired to go in there every 6 months and "rearrange" (that reads: tear it to pieces, let the overflow spill out into the kitchen, living room, and dining room for days, then s l o w l y reassemble). It's been one of those weekends, and I'm wondering if I'll actually be able to get in there and paint on Monday.

I decided my Santa Fe II easel just wasn't cutting it anymore, so improvements were in order. Actually, I think the mods are really cool, and will help the way I work a lot. I'll post some pics when I finish... on Sunday night... I hope...

(Oh yeah, that really isn't a picture of my studio... it's too neat.)

Painting A Day: Blue Bottle

"Blue Bottle"
Oil on linen on masonite, 6 x 5 inches
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In Progress

Currently on the easel. Should be finished and available tomorrow.

Painting A Day: Olive Oil

"Olive Oil"
Oil on linen on masonite, 6 x 6 inches

I'm always interested in the way light changes when it passes through different objects. Here, the glass bottle and olive oil captured, reflected, and split the sunlight in some really beautiful ways.

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Shelf Painting: Mexican Ceramic

Shelf Painting: Mexican Ceramic
oil on masonite on oak, 2 x 2 inches
Sold

While I've been working on some larger pieces, I thought I'd offer a few "Shelf Paintings". Mounted on blocks of solid oak, they are free-standing pieces, and would look great on shelves, tables, desks, etc.

This humble little mexican ceramic has shown up in at least a dozen of my paintings. I bought it for about 25 cents at an open-air market in Tepoztlan, which is a small town about an hour from Mexico City. The woman selling them was 90 years old if she was a day, so I didn't even bargain over the price - besides, I was too exhausted from climbing up a sheer cliff to see some pre-columbian ruins. Anyway... I love it, and it's likely to show up in even more paintings.

Thank you, Arthur C. Clarke

I like different Science Fiction authors for different reasons, but nobody could create a sense of wonder and majestic awe like Arthur C. Clarke, and that for me is what SciFi is really all about. Farewell.

Painting A Day: Olives on a Red Dish

"Olives on a Red Dish"
Oil on masonite, 5 x 5 inches

A trio of big rich olives, a fiery red Japanese ceramic, and an aged wood serving tray, all bathed in golden afternoon sunlight... it was simply irresistable.

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See how this painting was made, start to finish:

Itsy Bitsy Sushi

Something different today - I've been doing some of my "shelf painting" miniatures recently, so I thought I'd offer a few here. Mounted on blocks of solid oak, they are free-standing pieces, and would look great on shelves, tables, desks, etc.


Itsy Bitsy Sushi Number 1
oil on masonite on oak, 2.5 x 2.5 inches
Sold




Itsy Bitsy Sushi Number 2
oil on masonite on oak, 2 x 2 inches
Sold

Painting A Day: Silver Creamer on Windowsill

"Silver Creamer on Windowsill"
Oil on masonite, 5 x 5 inches
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Throughout the course of the day, I often see objects around my house or studio that I think would make good paintings. In this case, the windowsill came first; I'd been admiring the way the sunlight fell on the wood, and wanted to include it in a painting. I guess that almost makes the creamer an afterthought. Anyway, if you examine the reflections, you can see the rest of my living room.


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Painting A Day: "Take Your Time"

"Take Your Time"
Oil on masonite, 4 x 10 inches
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I can't really explain the title for this painting; it was one of those quick inspirations. It does seem to capture the whimsical nature of the composition... or maybe it's just what the sushi might be thinking.