Friday, July 26, 2024

Hope you like horses

As I mentioned in my previous post, I can't reveal the painting I am working on right now. So, I thought you might like to see some of the wonderful Icelandic horses on my most recent trip to Iceland.

One aspect which added a bit of romance to them is that they were in remote areas with few, if any, buildings in sight.
 

 








Love the mane on the left horse!


Monday, July 22, 2024

It's a Secret

 I'd love to share the painting I just finished and the next piece I am working on. But, the show they are going to be submitted to requires they remain a secret until the opening day of the show. Unusual, but I will honor their rules.

I will tell you that the one I just completed is my first painting of walrus (inspired by the ones I saw on the small boat trip out of Svalbard, Norway) and the one I am designing right now is a colony of one of my favorite sea birds.

In the meantime, I will share a few photos from my recent trip to Iceland and Norway.

Today I'd like to show you a few photos from an added stop on our self-drive on what is referred to as Diamond Circle in northern Iceland. No wildlife at this spot except for a small bird which was using a chimney shaft as a nest, but the place holds a nostalgic fascination for me.

Preserved Turf homes
   The turf home settlement we visited was Laufas which belongs to the National Museum of Iceland. Laufas is mentioned in the some of the earliest Icelandic records and has been the home of priests since 1047. Complete with a church, this place was a revelation. The four main structures are connected below grade. One would think a "cellar" area would be dank and dark. On the contrary, the lower area was dry and light came in from carefully designed above ground angled shafts. The current buildings date from the mid-19th century and have furnishings from that period.
   There was also a section dedicated to livestock so they could get out of the cold in the Icelandic winter.
 

  

 
 The Laufas area has had a church since early Christianity in Iceland (early 1000s.) The current church was built in 1865 but its ornate pulpit was made in 1698.
   The last residents of Laufas were the vicar and his wife. They left in 1936 when a newer vicarage was available. 






 
 
Next up "in the meantime" before I start a painting I can show you in progress, Icelandic horses.


Monday, July 15, 2024

Finished

 Lobster Presentation
Original Oil
16" X 20"

 
This painting was certainly a departure from my usual wildlife paintings. 
 
Will elements from it be incorporated in future paintings? I think so. Figuring out different types of reflections, using bold colors, and creating unique compositions can carry in to any painting.



Tuesday, July 9, 2024

The Claw

The deep rich color of the claw helps the lobster hold his own against the tablecloth color and the lemon. This triad of primary colors is a bold choice and with the fun theme of the painting, I think the correct one.
 
 


 
 

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Butter, Lemon, & Lobster

 I guess I never envisioned I would paint clarified butter!
 
For the lemon I used cadmium yellow deep, yellow ochre, and in some spots lemon yellow.
 I can already see that my "reds" will run the gambit from orangey red to a deep cool red.
 
 


 
 
 

Monday, July 1, 2024

The Cracker

 


The cracker, which is close to the lobster, has the lobster's red reflected on it.
 
You can also see a small splash of red on the nearest fork to the plate.