Tomato Blossoms

5

tomato blossoms.jpg

Last winter my wife dug the grass away from the fence.  This spring she had me buy some bricks for a border and two large bags of potting soil.  She lovingly planted tomato plants, peppers, zuchini and crookneck squash and some pole beans.  We’re experiencing the benefits each night with fresh salads with the fruits of her garden.

As a little kid I liked to stand on my head and see what things looked like upside-down.  I’m still that way.  I love to look at things from unusual angles. This view is from down below and sideways.  You see my wife’s tomato plant right next to the chain-link fence.  There is a rythm.  Each link is one rythm, then the blossoms in a row.  The lines on the side of the building do the same thing.  You could imagine a child laying on the grass looking at this scene.  In the case of this painting, it would begin raining on him in the next few minutes.

Filed under Oil Painting Technique by on . 5 Comments. #

Tags: ,

Share

Google+ Pinterest
Print

Long Jump

3

long-jump[1].jpg

This was a commission I did for the proud father of this athlete.  He was a record holder in the long jump at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

I had a hard time trying to get the look of action.  Finally I painted little gobs of paint in the background, then quickly and lightly brushed them sideways.  They blended slightly, but gave a blurred look as though he was moving.

Filed under Portrait Painting Technique by on . 3 Comments. #

Tags:

Share

Google+ Pinterest
Print

Eugene

8

Eugene.jpg

After much too long in our history, it it time for all humans to be equal.  The predjudices of the past need to be discarded.  We are all important.  Our mothers looked at us all as perfect beings when they first looked upon us, and we are the same now.  We must love our brothers and sisters, no matter what our background is, while at the same time, we should rejoice in the richness of the cultures of each individual group.

This is Eugene.  He is one of the most intelligent and talented men I have ever met.  He is very happy and comfortable with his own culture, but fits in well with the rest of the world.  I asked him if I could do his portrait because I wanted to portray an African American man who is happy and comfortable with who he is.

Filed under Portrait Painting Technique by on . 8 Comments. #

Tags:

Share

Google+ Pinterest
Print

Handbags

5

Handbags.jpg

If you want to see what a real “Tom Slack” painting is like, this is it.  I’m so very interested in figurative painting, as well as cityscapes.  I love the human form.  In college I spent many hours painting nude models, and frankly, I was bored to death with them.  I am much more interested in portraying clothes on a person  —  the folds of the fabric, the patterns, the shadows and light.

I had been in downtown Indianapolis and saw a group of girls standing together with big handbags hanging from behind them.  I was fascinated by the scene.  I thought it would be interesting to have different hairstyles, clothes, and styles of handbags.  The view from the back is interesting to me, because they all have a different gesture.  People are so interesting!

Filed under Oil Painting Technique by on . 5 Comments. #

Tags: ,

Share

Google+ Pinterest
Print

At the Beach

1

At the Beach.jpg

I’ve loved playing in the water my whole life.  Nothing is more fun than  going to the beach!  This is supposed to be my nieces Laci and Kayli and their brother, Jake while playing along the Northern California coast.

I’ve tried to create excitement with backlighting.  Note the small edge of light on the right side of them, while the rest of their figures are in shadow.  I’ve splashed a few waterdrops around along with crashing waves.  Kayli is running through the water.  The waves above their heads show sunlight shining through them.  Trees and shoreline are in the distance.  I haven’t put detail in their faces.  I wanted the viewer to create those things in their own minds.

Filed under Portrait Painting Technique by on . 1 Comment. #

Tags: , , ,

Share

Google+ Pinterest
Print

Snow on Meridian Street

1

Snow on Meridian Street.jpg

This is a scene on Meridian Street in Indianapolis just after a snowstorm.  The snow has melted on the street and part of the sidewalk.  The road is wet and reflects the sky, car headlights, and buildings.  Christmas lights are lit in some of the trees.  Buildings are across the street, but are painted with vague blocks of color, allowing the mind to fill them in.  The road is done in linear perspective, giving depth to the scene.

Filed under Oil Painting Technique by on . 1 Comment. #

Tags: , ,

Share

Google+ Pinterest
Print

Candy Counter

1

Candy Counter.jpg

I had been visiting my daughter and her husband in Knoxville, Tennessee.  We toured the University of Tennessee where my son-in-law was a student and an employee.  The grandchildren went along with us, but weren’t particularly interested until we visited this candy store.  All of a sudden, they were fascinated.  I was so intrigued by their reaction to the candy counter that I had to put it down on canvas.

This painting means so much more to me now.  I didn’t realize that my oldest grandchild would die suddenly.  That’s Ford at the top.  He always had such an enthusiasm for life and a wonderful innocence that most kids don’t have.  We all miss him so much, but luckily the painting hangs on his parents’ wall so they can remember those great times.

Filed under My Inspiration by on . 1 Comment. #

Tags:

Share

Google+ Pinterest
Print

Redfish Lake

3

Redfish Lake.jpg

This is a painting of Redfish Lake, one of the most beautiful locations in North America.  It is part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area near Stanley, Idaho.  It is called Redfish Lake because it is where the Kokanee Salmon spawn.   They have returned from the Pacific Ocean and have turned red.  It is also a great place to camp.  There is a lodge there, as well as several cabins.

Note the shadows in the peaks and in the land below.  This gives the impression of morning sunlight.  Also note the differences in the shades of green.  With atmospheric perspective. the closer to you, the warmer the color, and the further away the cooler they get, so the pine trees in the land on the left side of the painting are greener, but as they appear on the mountains further in the distance, they have a bluish tint and the color is not as intense.  The water reflects the sky, the mountains, and the trees.

Filed under Oil Painting Technique by on . 3 Comments. #

Tags: ,

Share

Google+ Pinterest
Print

« Previous ... 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 ... Next »