"Mickey's" 8"x6" Oil on Linen

I love this austere-looking corner pub for several artistic reason but also because it contrasts with the "fellowship" which happens within its walls.

This morning I had the company of two other Plein Air Painters of Chicago, Ellie and Karen Phipps (check their blogs for their take on this location). We had to paint very quickly as the lit side soon move into the shadow side of the building.

Although the bright morning sun made the shadows in general cooler, the red brick was relatively warmish with a purplish cast. The shadows on the sidewalk and road were much cooler than the shadow-side of the building.

Normally I don't sketch first rather I start with large masses of color and value. But for this piece I did "draw" with paint to create and redesign (just a bit) the angles of the roof tops to enhance my design. I really liked how the buildings pop against the sky.

I used two differnt sizes palette knives and my largest round bristle brush. No medium, just lots of lovely oil paint.

We still plan on getting some night painting done so please stop by again soon for those postings.

I'm off to paint with the "Fernwood Ten" in Niles Michigan. If you click on my events listings you'll see their beautiful website. In addition to a paint-out, the Clark Gallery will be showing six of my landscapes through the summer. Preceeds from these sales assist in operation costs of the Fernwood Botanical Gardens and Forest Preserve.

"Scalawag Onion" (sold)

I love shopping at neighborhood farmers markets because they often have veggies that I normally don't see in my local grocery. Although green onions are very common these were so wild, fresh, and colors intense that I thought they'd make a nice study. The roots were long and had a life of their own which inspired the title of the painting. This is mostly a palette knife painting although I did use a brush in areas were I needed to tame down the rougher palette knife strokes. 6"x12" oil on linen

"Corner Pub"

Plein air painting this morning was really great because Karen Phipps and I tackled the same corner = excellent discussion on many painting issues such as; is the light warm, are the shadows cool, what temperature is that colored wall, composition etc. And on top of all that, I'm still painting on this smaller size but trying to convey a big feeling. In otherwords, though it's only 8"x6," if painted well, it should command attention from quite a distance.

Amusing and interesting trivia regarding this pub at http://www.chibarproject.com/Memoriam/Rich%27s/Rich%27s.htm

8"x6" ($99./$145. framed)

0il on linen mounted on archival museum board

unfinished

"If life gives you lemons,..." well you know the rest of the saying. This is another demonstration piece which I painted for my students. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it another time.

12"x16"

oil on linen

"Fall Bounty"

This wasn't painted today but it is an alla prima oil painting made with a palette knife. A painting friend set up the still life and chose artifical lighting. It was fun and challenging to paint something arranged and lit out of my comfort-zone.

8"x10"

Oil on Linen

($190.)

"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)

http://www.hong-sammons.com/

"Wedges" www.hong-sammons.com

I could smell these lemons as I painted them with a palette knife.

Oil on Linen

8"x8"

($195.+$6. s/h)

City Colors - "Fresh Blooms"

I'm not good in the heat and humidity so this bit of color in the shade really grabbed my attention.

http://www.hong-sammons.com/

11"x14" Oil on Linen

($99. + s/h)

"Red"

website: www.hong-sammons.com
12"x12" ($190. +$10s/h)
Oil on Linen
ready to hang, gallery-wrapped stretched canvas

Red is my favorite color, particularly the various hues found on a red delicious apple. This is painted with a palette knife to get the lushy color and meatiness of the fruit across.

"Just a Slice" (sold)

I love painting fruits and vegetables because their colors are so clean and intense. I think that's why I've been making them bigger than life and using a palette knife. The subjects feel like I need to paint them really gutsy.

9"x12"
Oil on Linen
website: www.hong-sammons.com

"Orange" (sold)

Really worked to make this orange feel 3-dimensional and get the colors just right.

8"x8" Oil Painting

"Red Dee-lish" (sold)

8"x8"
Oil on Linen
gallery-wrap ready to hang

"A Slice of Life"

One of my aims with today study was to get a feeling of the compact, dense, weight and form of this granny smith apple as well as express the simple and perfect beauty found in nature.

8"x8"
Oil on Linen
(Click Here To Bid)
gallery-wrapped, ready to hang

A Taste of Provence

This woman is a vendor at one of my favorite farmers markets here in Chicago. Her flair for color and confident stance compelled me to create several small oil paintings.
It was a fun challenge to describe her through her body language.

Oil Sketch

8"x6"
$99.