Tuesday, September 30, 2008

head study part 2

I woke early to paint on this head study before everyone woke in my house. I've been painting fast and furious for several different exhibitions. It's been really nice to slow down and search for all the subtle little passages. This morning I worked from a photo which I took of this model. It was really different going from life to working from a photo. Also, I used rags and soft sable brushes instead of a palette knife. I hope to get the model back to finish this piece.
20"x10"
Oil on Linen

Monday, September 29, 2008

head study

Today I started a portrait study. Unlike most of my previous paintings for this blog, I'm not concerned with taking this piece to a complete finish in the time I have set aside for "painting in a day". Instead I focused on value and form. I'm using a minimal palette of colors, rags, and brushes. I hope to keep developing this piece but will probably have to finish it from a photograph.
20"x10"
Oil on Linen

Saturday, September 27, 2008

"Red Bites"



I'm posting two paintings today because they are both demonstration pieces for two different classes covering similar information. (same cherry tomato too) In my work, it's important that my subject matter feels very 3-dimensional and has the appropriate sense of weight. I used the tomato to illustrate this as well as played with it's beautiful ripe red colors.
12"x12" Oil ($290.)
8"x8" Oil ($199.)

Thursday, September 25, 2008

peach


Worked on a still life study of a peach. Tried to convey the softness of the skin.
8"x8"
Oil
($145.+$5.s/h)

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

"Docked" (sold)

We had a tough plein air day - dump truck nearly ran us over, rude people, broken equipment but the biggest problem, not being able to connect with that creative side. I think I scaped away three paintings because they felt so weak. This quick study was done at the end.
8"x6"
Oil ($125.)

Saturday, September 20, 2008



I reworked yesterday's painting tonight. I removed the buildings on the side. It felt too crowded now I feel as if it has some breathing room.

12"x9" Oil on Linen

Thursday, September 18, 2008

"Mary's" (sold)

Painted in Andersonville for their upcoming arts weekend.

Used cold wax in my oils today.

After photographing this I realized I had painted the tall street light dead center so I took it out of the painting. No time to reshoot the photo.

9"x12"
Oil on Linen
(175.)

"Sunshine in the City"

The back of St. John's is just as spectacular as the front. The bonus is discovering their sunflowers in full glory. Thanks Karen for sharing this find.

12"x9"
Oil
($125.)

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

"an apple a day" (sold)


quick little study done during a demonstration for a class I'm teaching.
8"x8"
Oil on Linen
($190.)

Monday, September 15, 2008

"After The Rains" (Sold)


After a couple of days of heavy rains and flooding I was finally able to get back outside and paint. This is our over-flowing river creeping towards our library.
6"x8"
Oil
($145.)

Saturday, September 13, 2008

"Harbor View"

Quick study looking toward the Navy Pier. I guess these harbor pieces have become my "haystacks/Monet."
6"x12"
Oil on Linen

Friday, September 12, 2008

"Harbor Drizzel" city colors series


Painted in a soft drizzel this morning. The lighting was great. All the city colors became more intense against the silvery gray sky.

8"x6"
Oil
www.hong-sammons.com

Thursday, September 11, 2008

"Along the River's Edge"


Broke this painting down into three triangles in order to make all the colors hold their shapes.
12"x6"
Oil
($175.)

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

"Lily Pool" (Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, Chicago)

This might be my new favorite spot to paint. My concern with this piece is that because of my compositional choice, it became too abstract to understand that I painted the water complete with reflections, lily pads and a bit of the foliage edging the pond. I really responded to the newly beginning fall colors.
6"x12"
Oil ($175.)

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

"Corner Room"


Painting with artificial light is quite different from natural light and continues to intrigue me.
10"x8"
Oil
($99.)

Monday, September 08, 2008

"SkyLine"-city colors series

Painted early in the morning with a palette knife. I was after capturing the feeling of the hazy light which caused the buildings to filtering in and out of view.

6"x12"
Oil
www.hong-sammons.com

Saturday, September 06, 2008

"Light Breeze" - city color series


I love painting the combination of city and nature. It mixes quite well along Lake Shore Drive.
12"x6"
Oil on ready to hang gallery-wrapped canvas
www.hong-sammons.com

Friday, September 05, 2008

"Messy Desk" (sold)

It doesn't take me long to make a mess even after spending hours cleaning my piles. But I think the mess makes a more interesting painting highlighted by artifical lighting.

8"x10"
Oil

Thursday, September 04, 2008

"Apricot" www.hong-sammons.com

Wanted to try to capture the softness of the skin in paint

8"x9" Oil on Linen

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

"Pomegranate"


This is fresh off the easel although the pomegranate itself is aged and getting dried out. I tried to get that across on the painting.
8"x8"
Oil on Linen
($195.+$8. s/h)

Monday, September 01, 2008

City Colors - "Dunes"

Chicago is a great place to live; good food, wonderful people, lots of city clatter, and beautiful landscape all tucked neatly together.
8"x10"
Oil
($199.)
www.hong-sammons.com