Wednesday, December 31, 2014

"2015"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
THANKS FOR FOLLOWING
THANKS FOR ALL THE COMMENTS & SUGGESTIONS IN 2014
I WISH YOU ALL A WONDERFUL 2015!
BACK AT IT
MB



Friday, December 12, 2014

"BUSTER"

"THE OTHER MOMMA'S BOY"
I added some whiskers but didn't get a photo so you'll have
to use your imagination on this one. 
8" X 8" goes with Chase the original Momma's boy.
I'm taking some time off - it's the holidays and you are all busy 
 I'm pooped - it's time for all of us to reflect - or drink
or eat or party or ???????
Thanks for following - have a wonderful holiday!
See you all in 2015

"CHASE"

"MOMMA'S BOY"
I guess that's it in a nutshell. 
Here was another challenge - why do I keep doing this to myself?
The photo is so blurry I couldn't see any facial features etc.
My advice to everyone out there - GET A CAMERA!
These phone photos are crap. 
Maybe it's the operator I don't know but I haven't seen a decent phone photo yet. 
I always say I'm not a miracle worker I'm just a painter.
Thanks for that rant.




"SOPHIE"


A HEART AS BIG AS AN OCEAN
I just wrapped up all my dog commissions. Trying to force them 
to dry in my house because they have to get put in the mail.
This one is 8" X 8" and Sophie is a Blue Great Dane.
The client ordered a subtle portrait. 
Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to be subtle????
 I think I got it - in fact I think I nailed it. 
Remember those Bracco Italiano's I painted last year?
Well that assignment really made this assignment easier.
It's a good thing when it all works out.
Thanks for looking.


Sunday, December 7, 2014

"FISHERMAN'S WHARF"

"LUCKY LADY"
6" X 6"
First in the San Francisco series. I had to start somewhere.
More to come.
Thanks for following.

"LONELIEST ROAD II"

This was also a blah daytime photograph turned into night. 
Thanks for looking

"THE LONELIEST ROAD"

Nevada State Highway 50
We took a detour on our way to California in 2012.
Saw a sign for the Loneliest Road and decided to give it 
a go. It was indeed lonely but I have a number of odd images
that have been sitting around so this is the first. 
This was originally an ugly daytime photo that I tried to turned into dusk. 
Thanks for taking a look!


"THE KITCHEN SINK"

First Friday - Dec. 5th - demo painting at the gallery
It's a long story and it's below if you can or want to get through it.

photo reference for painting of my kitchen sink

Thursday night Dec 4th the gallery I belong to had a meet and greet your painters night. 
Four of us presented our work - ideas - and whatever else came to mind.
Gregory Block was the first to discuss his work and he's pretty famous 
needless to say it was a tough act to follow. 
He explained in detail his painting titled "JACOB'S LADDER"(click to see his painting).
He takes everything into consideration to set up his still life arrangements.
  Meaning of the objects chosen - color palette is a huge consideration - lighting is essential 
He paints from life - in other words he sits or stands for days
in front of the still life and paints what he sees - I could go on but you get the drift.
I was so relieved when another painter was chosen to follow Gregory's presentation
that by the time they got to me I could just be me and a lot of the audience had drifted.
As most of you know I paint the still life that just happens and I paint it from a photo.
I was in my kitchen wednesday night and I saw my sink in a whole new light. 
Snapped a number of shots - chose one - and painted it for the Galleries First Friday Event.
Everyone that had been at the presentation the night before 
asked me if my "The Kitchen Sink" was a response to Gregory's "Jacob's Ladder"? 
Well that got another conversation started.
I have the shelves -  darkness at the top - bright light below. Objects in a row
(if you can tell what they are). So yes it is a kind of response but from a completely 
different place. Then I started to think about Picasso and Braque(I'm not comparing myself
so don't misconstrue my drift here) but Picasso would visit Braque's studio and if
Braque was painting a vase that said vase would end up in a Picasso painting the next day. 
The crux of the matter is that everything comes from something or somewhere.
Call and response in music - learning and art it's everywhere.
I don't know if any of that made sense but it gets you thinking. 
If you really want to get your mind in a bundle go see "Birdman" 
it's not for the faint of heart nor is it some easy movie going 
but it will get you thinking it may even hurt a little! 
Hey if you made it this far you should get a prize. 
Thanks for following.










Wednesday, December 3, 2014

"REVIEW"

I wish you all a great weekend. 
We're hoping for snow - it's been dry and we love to ski.
LATER - MB

"64 COLORS"

Here's the 2nd version of my crayon box.
There are 3 paintings in all and perhaps a large one.
Thanks a bunch!


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

"STIMULUS PACKAGE" HOUSE PORTRAIT

 An architect friend of mine called me and said can you paint a house?
I said with a roller sure but with a small paint brush I'm not so sure.
So I gave it a go. Here's the finished product and they bought it so I'm
happy -  hence the title Stimulus package - merry christmas to me.
Here's the photo I worked from. Too much hill and too much 
background. I've cropped it here to what they wanted. They 
wanted the house larger and the pond included. Solution 
below. I'm revealing my tricks that could come back 
and bite me in the a--! 
I took a sheet of plexi - propped it up on 2 kleenex boxes
with a white sheet of paper underneath. I should've recorded
how I did this but I didn't. Took another photo of the reflection. 
And there you have it - reflection on a pond minus the hill.
Thanks!
I'm painting like mad just can't show anything cause it's 
stuff for christmas. 


Sunday, November 30, 2014

"SUPER - SIZE"

I have always wanted to do a large cupcake - so here it is.
8" X 8"
It was a lot harder than it looks.
Thanks!
It's available along with everything else on my website

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

DETAILS -SWEET RIDE

SELF PORTRAIT
this is my reflection in the bumper - crouched down taking the photo

Thanks for taking a look. I am painting San Francisco for something
a bit different. If they turn out I'll post.
TTFN!

PROCESS - SWEET RIDE


End of day 2

 Day 3 was the longest. This was the first 1:30 hours
 Went to the house for lunch after this - came back and
finished the painting. I worked for 5 hours this last day
because I had a 3 day goal and wanted to see if I could 
achieve that goal. It wore me to a frazzle but it was a 
great exercise for me at this time. I was driven.
Tomorrow is just some close up shots.
Thanks


MORE PROCESS

This is where I left it the first day

This is what my palette looked like at the end of the first
day. I scrape off all the mixed paint - cover my paint with a lid
so I'm ready for the next day.
You can see 8 X 8 reference photo in this shot. This
is my first stint the next day. I've been taking breaks every 
hour or two and walk the dogs around the block to get
the blood flowing in my legs. I always paint standing up
so I can move back and look at the painting. 
I paint without my glasses because then I don't need to 
squint. I'm lucky that way. 
Nancy commented that it looked like I finished the fender
the first day and never went back. And she's so right. My goal
for this painting was to finish in 3 days with no futzing(is that a word?)
No over thinking - no questioning - just DO IT!
Thanks





Monday, November 17, 2014

"PROCESS - SWEET RIDE"

I got one follower who requested process shots on the blog. So for now that's how it's
going to go until my website allows me to create an items page. 
 My palette colors - I didn't want to do a lot of intense mixing so I put out what I thought I would need.
I added more burnt umber, pthalo green, and turquoise  but other than that I never added more color to my palette for this 36" X 36" painting. I squeeze out my paints in the same order now. Makes life a whole lot easier. WN LEMON YELLOW, WN YELLOW, GAMB. INDIAN YELLOW, SHIVA RED MED, WN RED, WN ALIZARIN CRIMSON, WN ULTRA BLUE, WN PTHALO BLUE,
GAMB. PERM. GREEN- PTHALO GR- SAP GR- BRILLIANT GR- OLIVE GR, GAMB. RADIANT BLUE-RADIANT TURQ, WN COBALT BL, HOLBEIN HORIZON BL, GAMB. BURNT UMBER-ASPHALTUM, WN BURNT SIENNA, SHIVA TITAN WHITE

1st 30 min of painting. I start on the right side because I'm left handed.
Makes life easier for sure - not so many oh sh----t!
More tomorrow.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

"SWEET RIDE"

36" X 36"
Oil on canvas
I finished this painting in record time and I took pictures along the way. 
Turns out painting daily has really been helpful - mind blowing really!
You won't believe how long it took to paint this truck.
I'm not even sure I'm going to tell - if you want to know
you may have to email me. It's quite shocking.
I'm not sure if I could do it again either.
My new website will eventually have an items page 
 so the hope is that I will be able to post all the stages
of the painting in one place instead of clogging up the blog. 
If you would rather have the stages on the blog I  guess I need to hear about it. 
I am donating this painting - it's the hardest thing I've ever done. 
In terms of painting that is.
I'm conflicted to tell the truth. I love this truck and 
I love this rendition of my Routt County Fair memory. 
Thanks for waiting. 


Thursday, November 6, 2014

"HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY"

TO ME
 Today is the second anniversary for my blog, for painting daily or not and for taking a chance. Two years ago I didn't even know what a blog was - I had no idea what the paint daily movement was about - I was at a crossroads.
 I scoured the net for info. and started painting.
My first assignment to myself was 100 paintings in 100 days and the rest is history.
I have no particular genre or agenda - I paint whatever is in my heart that day.
It defies logic really but it's been fun for the most part - as well as extremely trying.
Thanks to Wayne Thiebaud, Monet, Degas, Goya, DPW, Carol Marine, Karin Jurick, Shelby Keefe, Timothy Horn et al.
Thanks for taking a look.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

"REVIEW"

I love this review board. If you paint you can make yourself
one easily, it's just chip board with riveted rows for the paintings
to sit on. I try to keep them in order but it doesn't always work 
out. It's a great way to see what has happened in the last
couple of weeks.
TTFN!

"BROWNIE BITE"

BABY BROWNIE
6" X 6"
oil on panel
This is my favorite!
Have a wonderful weekend we're hoping for some snow!

"REMBRANDT"

My other box of crayons
6" X 6"
oil on panel
Thanks a bunch for looking

"BRILLIANT"

6" X 6"
Oil on panel
I have wanted to paint my crayon box for quite some time.
Here's the first go at it!
Thanks for looking.


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

"THINGS GO BETTER"

I've done this before - I'm revisiting some old subjects to see
where it all leads if anywhere.
6" X 6"
Thanks for looking you know I appreciate all the e-mails and 
comments. You guys are the best - you help me out everyday.


Monday, October 27, 2014

"TRICK OR TREAT"

These bears are going out for trick or treats. 
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Have a fun time this weekend!

"ANOTHER BRIGHT IDEA"

     
I'm doing some still life stuff this week. It's been awhile and
I figure it's time to do something a bit different.
Although I've done this subject before this one is 
quite different. 
6" X 6"
Oil on panel
Thanks!

"MY BACK YARD"

Moose resting in my backyard.
Just about everyday I go out for a hike I see 2 or 3 moose.
It's always such a treat. 
This is another small panel 
4" X 6"(I tink)
Thanks for looking.


Sunday, October 26, 2014

"REVIEW"

I forgot to post this review. Things are getting better since this photo.
It feels like it took forever to get here.
Thanks

Thursday, October 23, 2014

"CATCH ME IF YOU CAN"

ARROYO BURRO BEACH, CA
It's been an entire week of paintings and this is about all I got. 
I love this little slice of dog heaven.
4.5" X 10"
oil on panel
This beach is north of Santa Barbara and they allow dogs to run on this beach.
My little LULU is always good at this beach. She loves to swim and play chase.
This dog had such a good time with my short legged corgi's he was literally
laughing at them because they had no chance of catching him. He would wait for
them and then take off again. We love this beach but only go there if you're a 
dog lover because there are dogs everywhere.
Sorry for no posts but it was like treading water all week. Hoping for
something better next week. 
Have a fun weekend!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

"MB'S VERMEER"

Need I say anything?????
I go this idea while riding my bike.
Thanks for waiting.
Have a great weekend where ever you are. 



"SIDNEY CROSSING"

This is tiny 4" X 6" 
Not sure if I'll pursue this size on purpose. 
Thanks

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

"SPACE STATION - AGAIN"

I tried really hard to get you something different for today
but I've been wiping quite a few paintings 
because it's just not happening. Can't explain it
I will keep trying. 
Thanks for hanging in there.


Monday, October 13, 2014

"RABBIT EARS - AGAIN"

I'm getting ready for the holidays. You must forgive me. 
The Creekside show has been extended thru November.
I'm producing some more signs 
There appears to be a slight demand for these paintings.
We'll see.
6" X 6"
Oil on panel






Sunday, October 12, 2014

"CHERRY PAIR"

Boy this was hard. 
6" X 6"
Oil on panel
It snowed today, it was a winter wonderland. 
Took the dogs for a hike in the snow.
Finished MB'S VERMEER 
I think. I'll look at it tomorrow and it will either
be a thumbs up or not - stay tuned.
All of the paintings are now on my new website.
if you're interested
Thanks

Friday, October 10, 2014

"SINGAPORE 2000"

I forgot to measure this painting. It's on
a scrap piece of panel. If anyone is interested 
I can measure and get back to you. 
It's small and sweet. 
Things are going better and I'm thankful for that.
Have a wonderful weekend!


Thursday, October 9, 2014

"SPACE STATION III"

SPACE STATION AGAIN AND AGAIN
6" X 6"
Ok well here it is. This is what happens when I'm stuck so
you'll just have to endure it. Getting stuck is not any fun
and when it happens I have to paint something I've already painted. 
It's a mind game for sure I can't explain how this helps but it does. 
You'll see more of the same in the coming days.
Besides these are fun images for me and they will get me
out of this hole. Thanks for waiting.