studies, paintings and stuff

"Late October"

2012-01-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

23x 22", oil on linen

Some new stuff

2011-11-23T11:47:00.000-08:00

... for Small Artworks Invitational show at the Art Spirit Gallery.

"The Gift Bearer", oil on canvas, 12x12"

"North Argonne Road", oil on linen, 10x10"

"Morning on Bruce Rd", oil on canvas, 12x12"

December 2 - January 7
The opening reception on Friday, December 2 from 5-8 pm.

The Art Spirit Gallery
415 Sherman Avenue
Coeur d'Alene, ID

"Girl in Russian Shawl"

2011-10-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

40x16", oil on canvas

Available at The Art Spirit Gallery

A 3-hour study

2011-10-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

This study is from last Saturday's "Art In The Making", which is an annual event in Coeur D'Alene. 12-15 artists get together and paint, draw and sculpt from live models in the Coeur D'Alene plaza. People come, watch and ask questions... The night before, I had a solo show opening at The Art Spirit Gallery. Instead of giving a demo at the gallery on Saturday after the opening, I opted for Art In The Making. Less scary when you have a dozen great artists around doing the same thing :) For someone like me, who is so used to the solitude of the studio, it's still rather intimidating. Also, I'm not an alla prima painter, and this is certainly out of my comfort zone... But we had a great model, and I'm quite pleased with the result. I'll let it dry and then probably go over and finish it sometime.

"Wrong Town"

2011-10-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas, 24x24"
Available at The Art Spirit Gallery

"Last Day of August"

2011-10-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

47x16", oil on canvas

(sold)

"Spokane. Early March"

2011-10-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas, 36x36"
(sold)

Finished this one a couple of months ago and forgot to post it.

I've been searching for a view like this one for over a year. Circled around the downtown, climbed on the top floors of parking structures, tried to get to any publicly accessible high place, and it was not it, and it was not it... Then, last March, I happened to be at an office on the sixteenth floor of the Seafirst building, the building that I hate with a passion. It dominates the Spokane skyline, it feels absolutely out of place, and almost everywhere you look in the downtown, you can see it - a giant striped mattress that tries to reach the sky. (Reminds me of this anecdote about Guy do Maupassant, who despised the Eiffel Tower so much that he ate at the tower's restaurant every day because it was the only place where he could not see the tower.)

And there it was, on the sixteenth floor of this monster - the view of the city, just like what I had in my mind. The weather was perfect, too - overcast, gloomy, heavy sky, wet streets, snow on the roofs.

It was a very brief visit, I could not do any sketches, did not have my camera with me either. So I snapped a quick shot with my cell phone. Unfortunately, the image got corrupted, my laptop refused to recognize it, and I only could view it on the phone screen, a small thumbnail, about an inch by inch and a half.

Yet, I learned that a very bad photo makes a great reference for a painting. It provides some information, but not too much, and most important - it does not dictate how to paint, like beautiful photos sometimes do. Of course, painting a late winter scene in July was a fun challenge, too.

a little something on the side

2011-10-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

"Paint Tubes", 8x10"

"Redhead"

2011-09-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas, 20x20"

"Adelle"

2011-08-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

30x40", oil on canvas

"From the Skywalk"

2011-08-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

40x16", oil on canvas

Just wanted to paint a mask.

2011-07-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

"Reverie", 24x36", oil on canvas
(sold)

"Pink Peony"

2011-06-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

12x12", oil on linen

(sold)

"Long, Long Day"

2011-06-19T15:58:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas, 48x24"

"Old Friends"

2011-06-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

...sat on their park bench like bookends

18x30", oil on linen

"Rainy Day. Sprague Avenue"

2011-03-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

30x30", oil on
(sold)

"George"

2011-02-28T16:33:00.000-08:00

12x16", oil on linen
(sold)

"Sea Shells", again...

2011-02-25T11:01:00.000-08:00

8x8", oil on canvas

"Courtyard"

2011-02-18T13:16:00.000-08:00

10x10", oil on linen

(sold)

Just finished this one

2011-02-11T22:29:00.000-08:00

"Mandatory Celebration"
24x18", oil on canvas
(sold)

Rainy day

2011-01-17T12:20:00.000-08:00

Another quick study for a larger cityscape.

8x8", oil on canvas board

(private collection)

Study

2011-01-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

for a larger painting

6x12", oil on canvas

"Aunt Lianne"

2011-01-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

Forgot to post this one...

12x12", oil on canvas
(sold)

"Still Life with Books"

2010-11-18T09:31:00.000-08:00

Oil on linen, 10x8"
(sold)

"Billy"

2010-10-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

Oil on linen, 12x12"

"Art in the Making"

2010-10-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 9 from 1-4pm

- A demonstration by 15 professional artists drawing and painting from 2 live models and accompanied by live music in the Coeur D'Alene Plaza Shops (210 E Sherman Ave)

This is an annual event, and I was invited to participate. Last year I did some charcoal drawings, this time I'm going to paint. Here are some photos from 2009 Art in the Making(courtesy of Rhea Giffin)

"Inventor"

2010-10-06T12:38:00.000-07:00

24x20", oil on canvas

"Waiting"

2010-09-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

Charcoal on cradled board, 36x24

Available at The Art Spirit Gallery

"When I Was Young, I Had Many Ambitions"

2010-09-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas, 36x24"
(sold)

"Riverside & Lincoln" - finished

2010-09-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

Just realized that I never posted a photo of the finished painting, so here it is.

Summer just flew by....

2010-08-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

If you are in town, please join us for the opening reception on Friday, Sptember 10th from 5-8, at The Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur D'Alene, ID. Kathy Nelson will give a charcoal demonstration in the gallery on Saturday, September 11 from 1-3.

"Matriarch"

2010-07-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

30x15", oil on canvas

"Post and Main"

2010-07-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

30x30", oil on canvas
(sold)

Head Study

2010-06-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post this one. It's charcoal on board, about 20x16".
(sold)

On the easel

2010-06-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

This is one of the paintings I'm working on for the September show, it's 30x40". Why, oh why am I not painting a small cabin in the woods with one crooked window?

I love seeing other artists work in progress, but I'm always very uncomfortable about showing my unfinished stuff.
Right now it's in its ugly state - sadly, all my painting go through this. The beginning is very exciting, all the possibilities are there, I can see in my mind what it's going to look like... Then comes this "ugly stage", when the freshness of the start is gone, but things are not quite there yet. Very frustrating, but somehow I need those wrong colors and wrong layers to get me where I want to be with a painting - eventually.

"Joseph"

2010-05-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

14x18", oil on canvas
sold

"One Way Alley"

2010-05-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

36x24" oil on canvas
sold

"In the Studio"

2010-05-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

20x30", oil on linen
(sold)

I'm finishing a few larger paintings this week, here is one of them.

"Tomatoes on a Blue Plate"

2010-04-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

12x6'', oil on canvas
(sold)

"Monroe Street Bridge"

2010-03-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

30x40", oil on canvas
Available at The Art Spirit Gallery

Work in progress

2010-03-01T11:39:00.000-08:00

30x40"

Monroe Street Bridge - underpainting.

I'm actually a bit farther along with this one. Normally I don't have patience for such a detailed underpainting, I just block in the main shapes and continue with color. This time I wanted to figure out the architectural elements and perspective first, hoping to avoid some frustrations and reworkings (is that a word?) later.

"Opera House. November"

2010-01-22T18:31:00.000-08:00

36x36", oil on canvas
(sold)

I've been getting a bit sick of working in a small format, so I spent the past month or so on my larger paintings that were patiently waiting for some attention. Just finished this one.

"Opera House. November" is going to be at Works from the Heart Art Auction that benefits Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture. The event will take place on February 20th, 2010.

"Hannah"

2009-11-27T09:27:00.000-08:00

12x12", oil on linen
(sold)

I finished this one a while ago and just realized that I have not posted it.
It's going to be in Small Works Invitational show at The Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur D'Alene.

"Persimmon"

2009-10-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

7x5", oil on canvas board

No, it's not a pumpkin :)

"Listener"

2009-10-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

12x9", oil on linen
(sold)

"Gathering"

2009-09-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

oil on linen canvas, 12x12"
(sold)

"Black Plums"

2009-09-03T16:13:00.000-07:00

8x8", oil on canvas board
(private collection)

Compass?

2009-08-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

10x8'', oil on linen

I'm not quite sure what this device is. Ted's Mom gave it to us a few years ago. I'm thinking it might be some sort of a solar compass, it has a tiny telescope and a bunch of lenses and mirrors...
Anyway, it reminded me of things that could be found in "Myst". For some reason, I miss Cyan terribly this summer.

"Red Plums"

2009-08-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

10x8", oil on linen
(sold)

"Peach on a Cutting Board"

2009-08-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

4x6", oil on canvas
(private collection)

"State Line, ID"

2009-07-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

12x12", oil on canvas
sold

I painted this one mostly on location, about a month ago. The day was partially cloudy, the light kept changing, and I kept chasing it - not a good approach. Also, trying to cram too many things in a small size canvas was a terrible idea. So, for the last couple of days I've been re-working it, sorting out the tonal values, and simplifying, simplifying, simplifying everything.

Finally...

2009-07-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

When I posted a progress photo of this one back in April, I thought I was close to being done. Boy, was I wrong! Anyway, it's finally finished and it needs a title. It's basically another take on the same subject I painted two years ago - "Advisor". I might just call this painting "Advisor 2"...
Now I have to wait for a nice cloudy day to take a better photo of it.

It's approximately 47x20", oil on canvas.

Update: the title is "Letting Go", and it's
available at The Art Spirit Gallery

"Peruvian Lilies"

2009-07-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

8x8", oil on canvas paper
sold

"Passenger"

2009-07-10T18:45:00.000-07:00

16x16", oil on canvas
(sold)

Once in a while I get a painting so stubborn, that it makes me wonder if I have learned anything at all.
After more than three months, I think, this one is almost finished. I'll probably tweak it some more in the next few days, but it's 99% done.

"Washington Grown"

2009-07-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

6x4", oil on canvas
(private collection)

"Black Cherries"

2009-07-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

4x6", oil on canvas
(private collection)

"Apple and Glass"

2009-06-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

8x8", oil on canvas board

"Baby Pears"

2009-06-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

5x7", oil on canvas board

"Irises in a Glass"

2009-06-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

6x4", oil on canvas paper

I'm a terrible gardener, even my irises grow disfigured and unhappy.

"Lauren"

2009-06-08T22:48:00.000-07:00

This is from today's life drawing session at Terry Lee's studio. Graphite on paper, about 22x16''.

"Perfume Bottle and Black Mirror"

2009-06-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

7x5", oil on canvas board

"Lilac"

2009-05-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

5x7", oil on canvas board
sold

"Window Shoppers"

2009-05-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

7x5", oil on canvas board

This is painted from a sketch I made from life a while ago (about mid-February), hence Valentine decor in the shop window. Sometimes life is... full of surprises.

"Pear Blossom"

2009-05-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

4x6", oil on canvas paper
(private collection)

"White Roses"

2009-05-06T19:21:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas, 18x24"
(sold)

Composition/tonal study

2009-05-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

4x6", oil on canvas paper

These three gentlemen were sitting in a hotel lobby, so engaged in their conversation that they did not notice me sketching them. I just loved the rhythm of their poses, and how the three of them formed one weird shape...
Today I dug out my little ink sketch and worked a small oil study for a larger painting I have in mind.

"Oriental Lily"

2009-05-02T00:13:00.000-07:00

5x5", oil on canvas paper

sold

"Two Lemons and a Glass Pitcher"

2009-04-28T05:10:00.000-07:00

6x4", oil on canvas paper

"Lemon"

2009-04-23T00:08:00.000-07:00

5x5", oil on canvas paper.
(sold)

"Conductor"

2009-04-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

12x9", oil on canvas
(sold)

"Red Clay Pot and Grapes"

2009-04-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

10x10", oil on canvas.

Work in progress

2009-04-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

This is a detail of a larger painting I've been working on for quite a while (and today). It's about 48 by 20 inches. I'm trying to finish this one by the end of April.

"Radishes on a Plate"

2009-04-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

10x10", oil on canvas

"Green Apple (2)"

2009-04-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

5x5", oil on panel

Work in progress - "White Roses"

2009-04-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

18"x24", oil on canvas.

This is not exactly a small study, I've been working on this one every day for a week and a half (I'm surprised the roses lasted this long!). I'm getting close to being done.

It feels like the painting needs some strong horizontal element, maybe the edge of the table where it meets the wall needs more definition. On the other hand, I'm curious if I can pull it off without such an obvious solution. Now I have to wait for the paint to dry before I continue, so there is time to think about it...

With that, I'm done for the day. I have a show opening tonight at The Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d'Alene - "New Work by 12 Artists".

"Green Apple"

2009-04-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

6"x4", oil on canvas paper

"Backyard"

2009-04-07T23:19:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas paper, 7x5"

Head study for "Passenger"

2009-04-05T23:16:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas paper, 7x5"

"Garlic on a Blue Plate"

2009-03-21T17:11:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas paper, 5x7"
(sold)

"Grape Tomatoes"

2009-03-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas paper, 5x5"
(sold)

"Tangerine on a Blue Plate"

2009-03-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas paper, 5x5"

"Christmas Ornament (2)"

2009-03-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas paper, 5x5"
(sold)

Yes, it's March, and I still have Christmas ornaments laying around...

"Christmas Ornament (1)"

2009-03-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas paper, 4x6"