More Gouache

This is titled "Hall of the Mountain King", and it is an imaginary scene done in more of the that glurpy gouache. I'm starting to like painting with it more and more. This was an exercise in composition for a class I'm taking, I was supposed to get the viewers eye to move around the picture. Maybe I did and maybe I didn't, but I'll tell you a secret, I'm really really happy with the way this turned out. I hope it shows well on other monitors, the colors are rich but not garish.

River-drawing

This is a drawing of the Root River in my beloved dog park. It was done for a class I'm taking to work on my painting technique. For everyone wondering about the procedure, first you find a subject( in this case, the river), then you draw thumbnail pictures, which are little pictures about 2 inches(50mm.)or so, square. When you have one you like, you make a comprehensive drawing, which is what this is. It's a little more finished than it has to be, but it is basically a blueprint for the painting. Next comes the painting itself, and in this case it will be a class assignment. I liked the drawing so much I thought I'd put it up and I may make another on better paper, but extend the lighter reflective part of the river more to the left.

Geese

This is painted with gouache, a kind of opaque watercolor. The word gouache comes from the Italian word "guazzo", which means either splash, puddle or muddy pool, depending on your source. I'm voting for something connected with the concept of mud. Its really hard to use. This is a picture of three geese waiting for their dinner.

Squash

I've been practicing my drawing more. Drawing is supposed to be the basis of all painting, and so I thought I would see if I could improve my paintings by making portraits of fruits and vegetables. I met this very personable squash last month at a farmers market and I think I've captured his stoic, yet charming, nature. I've been using graphite and white chalk on Canson Mi Teinte paper. I think I need to coat it with something, the graphite gets slippery and smeary really fast and that makes it hard to work with.

Russet Apple

One of my favorite orchards, Weston's Antique Apples had some russet apples and I got a couple of bags. Mmmm, so good. They taste much different from store apples with a stronger and more distinct flavor, like honey. And they are brown with a sort of rough skin, almost like shark skin, so they look (and feel) unusual too. If you go to the Weston site, look for the variety " Golden Russet" and "Zaubergau Reinette" for more info.
I needed to draw one before they all got eaten. I was going to make them into a pie, but they are tasty little nuggets and I have no will power when it comes to apples.
This drawing is graphite and white chalk on tan paper. I am going to be drawing more I think. I really enjoy it, I don't have to wait for paint to dry, and we all know the saying about how interesting THAT is.

Mom

My mom passed away Sunday morning, November 11, at about 8:45. She had hospice here at home, where she wanted to be. It was extremely peaceful and if there is such a thing as a beautiful death, it was that. I miss her terribly, but I am so glad she didn't suffer. The day before, I told her that everyone from long ago was around her, that they were so glad to see her and that heaven was so beautiful. And, oh look, there are the dogs waiting to play. She turned to me and said, "Its very pretty". She slept most of the night, and then towards morning her breathing changed. I got up and told her I loved her and said I thought Grampa waiting for her. She smiled and reached up for him. Then she went back to sleep. I woke up in the morning with the thought "get up, she's waiting for you". I got up and told her I loved her and her breathing quieted, I waited for a while and then went and got a cup of coffee. I had been thinking during the night about when my grampa died. He had built the church and altar in her little village in central Wisconsin and when he died, and again when he was buried, they tolled the bell 87 times, once for each year of his life. I remember it was one of those clear crisp winter days and you must have been able to hear the bell toll out for miles over the countryside. When I got back to mom her breathing was still calmed and I stood and held her hand and told her how much I loved her, and the bells of the Methodist church down the block started to ring. I wondered if she could hear, I hoped she could, and so I took her hand and prayed the Lord's Prayer. When I said "Amen", she passed to God. She was never in any pain and never seemed to be afraid. I am so glad I was able to be with her.

Mackford Prairie Barn

This is a wonderful old barn on the Mackford Prairie,which is a sand prairie in central WIsconsin. Although you can't see it here, it has wonderful carving around its roof, and until a couple of months ago it had an ox yoke high on its wall. When you stand next to it, it is absolutely huge. There were Swiss farmers and also farmers from England living in the Mackford township. My mom remembers the Swiss had brought their Alpen horns and in the evenings they would play them. The sound would echo for miles across the prairie and she said it was wonderful to hear.

Mom

This is my mom who is 96 and has Alzheimer's. Her name is Ruth and I'm her caregiver. I have become an expert on the making of her favorite foods, especially puddings! If you take 2 cups of milk, heat it on the stove, then add 1/3 cup semolina flour, 1/2 cup sugar and cook until thickened, take it off the stove, add grated lemon peel and 1tsp.vanilla, you will have a pudding that is really nummy.

White Roses

This is oil on canvas on board and is about 5"x5"(12.7x 12.7 cm.) These only bloom in spring and are really pretty when the do bloom. They smell good, too.

Small skull

A small skull of a squirrel I found in the rubble of my Grandpa's burned-down wood shop. Grandpa was a wonderful carpenter, and hand built wooden hunting skiffs. I can still remember him steaming and bending the wood to fit the sides of a boat.
This painting is oil on canvas on board and measures 3x5 inches(7.6x12.7 cm.)

OH no! Another Orange!Bid here

O.K. After an unplanned absence that started to take on a life of its own, I decided to get back to blogging. I am thinking I'd like to expand the blog subjects a little, but I don't know exactly which direction to go... maybe backing off of art a little to include a bit more of life. Anyway, I painted an orange while thinking about it. Here it is, its 4x5 inches (10x12.7 cm) and its oil on paper on board.