LATVIA PAINTOUT

This is my June entry to Bill Guffey's Virtual Paintout blog.


Ladies of Vilandes Steet
(16x12 oil on canvas panel)

I found this old building at 11 Vilandes Street, Rega, Latvia. REF-IMAGE. I liked the cool gray figures against the warm yellow orange wall, and am always on the look out for patina that comes with age.  I am only about half done with this Painting. The stones on the right side need details like the ones on the left, the lower half of both figures are have quite a bit of detail work. You can see some of the pencil drawing on the doors, you can see what they will look like from the reference photo. Also the gray lower walls have a lot of brown tones. I will probably leave out the graffiti. I will  repost the image when completed.

 

JERUSALEM PAINTOUT

This is my May entry to Bill Guffey's blog VIRTUAL PAINTOUT.

Harod's Gate (12x9)

I enjoyed hiking through the historical Old City of Jerusalem. My reference for this painting was on the South end of Harod's Gate. The contrast of the dark arch and the sun lit path made and interesting composition. The second arch provides a repetition of shape, and the man provides a focal point.  There are a lot of subtle colors which are a challenge to paint.

ONE OLD & TWO NEW

Verdigris Turret (14 x 11 oil on canvas panel)
This painting was done in January from a "Google map street view" in Boston [reference].
I just finish cleaning up a few things and now feel it is worthy of a frame.

Clothespins (14 x 11 oil on canvas panel)
This painting was done from a photo I found at one of the art challenge blog sites. Capturing the glass jar and the distortion of the clothespins seen through the jar was quite a challenge.

Padlocks (12 x 9 oil on canvas panel)
The reference photo was from the Google map at Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy. I simplified the walls and made them darker to bring out the locks. I believe a lot of the white on the locks was due to the use of a flash. So I used a lot of yellow ocher, gold ocher, and raw sienna on the locks. My wife suggested the changing the text on the lock at the bottom to represent our two granddaughters.

I have included the reference photo here since it is no longer available on the Google map.

NEW ORLEANS update

I am not sure how much improvement you can see in the finished New Orleans paintings below.

On Pat O'Brien's the shutters have been completed, the iron work and shadows on the lantern have been improved, and all edges have been improved.

Here the hanging HALL sign, and the sign over the door have been finished. The window with iron work, radiating spokes, and porcelain beads is also complete. This painting with all it's details was quite a challenge. But I really enjoyed working with all the subtle colors.

NEW ORLEANS VIRTUAL PAINTOUT

This painting was done for Bill Guffey's VIRTUAL PAINTOUT blog.
I wanted to do a painting in the French Quarter, but it was hard to find good lighting. The Google car photoed this area at the crack of dawn so most areas were either very dark and all shadows, or very bright and washed out.


Pat O'Brien's (14 x 11 Oil on canvas panel) Ref Photo

We visited New Orleans a couple of years ago, and were in Pat O'Brien's for one of their famous Hurricanes. I was surprised to see this site was one of the few with sun light. The diagonal shadow line was lowered to bring more light on the sign. I still have a little work to do on this painting but wanted to get it posted on Bill's blog.


Preservation Hall (12 x 16 Oil on canvas panel) Ref Photo

Preservation Hall is next door to Pat O'Brien's, but the Google picture was not very good. I found this user photo in the Google System and just had to paint it. I love all the subtle colors on the walls, and letters on the trombone case sign. I still have to finish the HALL sign and the widow, both of these are just roughed in. I will post it again when finished.

JERSEY VIRTUAL PAINT OUT

This is my July entry to Bill Guffey's VIRTUAL PAINTOUT blog.

"Elsie" (11 x 14 oil on canvas)
When I saw Jersey was the location for the VPO, my first thought was Jersey cows. It is a small breed known for the high butter fat content of its milk. "Elsie" is a reference Elsie the Borden milk here in the US. I used two reference photo for this painting.
Farm REF
Cow REF
I liked the farm scene but the light was poor. I found some cows with better light and thought I could bring up the light on the farm buildings. The painting is almost done, but needs some work on the fields and hedge.

CAPE TOWN PAINTOUT

This is my March entry to Bill Guffey's VIRTUAL PAINTOUT blog.


"Spaza GUGU" (14 x 11 Oil on canvas panel) REF PHOTO
As always I spent a lot of time virtual hiking all over the area, and saving potential painting locations. I really like this location and have no idea what my painting title means. I liked the composition of this image. There is an interesting light and dark pattern on the two figures. The row of posts draws your eye into the point of interest.

BOSTON PAINTOUT

This is my January entry to Bill Guffey's Virtual Paintout Blog.
VERDIGRIS TURRET WINDOW (14x11 canvas panel) Ref Photo
Lo Anna, and I keep wondering what it would be like to sit in this window. Do you think the room is decorated with furniture from the period of the building? I modified the reference photo by widening the turret window and wall to the right, narrowing the shadow areas to the left, and moved the lantern to the right. I also removed a drain pipe, some fencing, and a cellar window.
I still have some minor painting to do on this piece. The fire escape shadow needs a little work, and I want to get more green into the turret window.

Bonsai Club Gift

Coastal Live Oak (5 v 7 Oil on canvas board)
I have been painting a small Oil each year for our End of Year club party. I usually like to feature a tree in the painting. This year I selected a coastal live oak, on the Laetitia Vineyards.


Here is the framed painting.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND PAINTOUT

This is my August entry to Bill Guffey's VIRTUAL PAINTOUT.
I decided to include a couple of photos of my painting process in this post.


This photo shows my pencil sketch with the reference photo on the computer. I preserve the sketch with a spray fixative. Then when I start painting with thin washes of paint the sketch shows though the paint.


Here is the first pass laying in some of the local colors .

Saint Paul's Anglican Parish Hall (14x11 Oil on canvas panel).

It is not signed yet as I like to go over it with one more coat of paint, making minor adjustments. Ref Photo