"Escape To Molokini"

You might remember that I was showing the development of this painting a couple of months ago as a painting in progress.  I decided not to show the finished work until after the opening of my Solo Exhibit at the Lawrence Street Gallery in Ferndale, Michigan which will end on the 27th of this month.  (See gallery web site for hours)

I'm very pleased with the outcome of this piece because its final presentation is just as I envisioned it long before the first sketches were drawn.  This painting has a less vibrant color palette than most of my other work as it reflects the calm serene nature of this creature which to me is like a friendly peaceful ambassador of the Sea.

Today is the Day!

 "Ghost Plant", above, is my newest painting.

Today is the day, or maybe I should say night of the opening of my Solo Exhibit at the Lawrence Street Gallery in Ferndale, Michigan.  I have 21 Oils on display through the 27th of this month.  Many of my Limited Edition Reproductions are also available at the Gallery. 

Please join me in celebrating the opening of my exhibit which is from 6-9pm at 22620 Woodward Ave. 

Gallery hours are Wed., Thurs., Sat.: 12-5pm & Fri,: 12-9pm

"High Society" wins Peoples Choice Award

And this years winner of the Gene Hammonds People's Choice Award is.... Tim Marsh for his Oil Painting titled, "High Society".  The crowd jumped to their feet with thunderous applause.  

Well actually the announcement was much more low key with only a few people in the room and there probably wasn't any applause either ~ but it looked great in my head!

This is my seventh People's Choice Award and my fourth time for this exhibit which was the 18th Annual Canton Fine Arts Exhibition held at the Cherry Hill Theater Gallery.  

It's great placing in an exhibit and having words like "First Place" or "Best of Show" next to your name.  There is usually money that follows closely behind these words which makes , "First" and "Best" even better!

However there is one exception.  A Peoples Choice Award.  Normally there is one Judge handing out his or her choices for the awards but a Peoples Choice Award is a vote from the viewing public.  They represent a collective voice that says we like what you do and for an artist that's a pretty awesome feeling.

So from one voice to the many that voted for my work, 
Thank you all.  

Featured in Detroit Free Press "Play" section today!

I've been lucky enough to have some really nice press coverage this year and my latest appeared today in the Detroit Free Press.  In the "Play" section of today's news is information on my up-coming solo exhibit at the Lawrence Street Gallery.  A large color photo too.  Very nice!

Hope to see you at the opening.

Painting in Progress #2

At this point I've put down just a couple of thin layers of paint to carve out or define the individual leaves and start to build dimension.  This stage of a painting does feel like carving to me as each element appears out of a white background. Check back to see the finished painting!

Painting in Progress #1 "Succulents"

In a post from August 31st I introduced the photograph of succulents that I'd been wanting to do for a while.  I thought it would be a good example of how I build a painting.  In this first photo you can see how I sketched out the image first.  I then selected three colors of oil paint and began to lightly lay in some color. This stage is really like a color sketch.  Doing it this way gives me a feel for the end result.  The original image from my mind is just starting to emerge.

Remember to check back to see the next stage!

And The Winner is.........

Thank you to my loyal Followers who have entered my Limited Edition Print Giveaway for October. Please remember that I will give away another print after January 1st of 2011. You can't be the lucky winner if you don't enter! So having said that, The October winner is..............*Kim Ensch* Yay! Hurrah! (Cheers from the crowd). Congratulations Kim! You're the Big winner. Someday you may be able to pay off your house with this. Wishful thinking!
Just go my websites Portfolio page to choose your print.

Time to give away a print!

It is once again time to give away one of my Limited Edition Reproduction Prints. All you have to do to be eligible is ~a.) be a "follower" of my blog and ~b.) leave a comment on this post. Your comment can be about which print you like best or anything at all. It's that easy! I will draw from the "followers" that left a comment on this post only. You will have until October 3, 2010 until midnight. I will post the winner on October 4th or soon after. Good Luck!

All of my available Limited Edition Reproduction Prints can be found on my web site by going to the "portfolio" tab on the navigation bar at the top of the page.

Thank you CPSA Local Chapter 104

Thank you to Local Chapter 104 of the Colored Pencil Society Of America for inviting me as their guest speaker last Thursday September 16th at the BBAC in Bloomfield, Michigan. I had a great time and was truly inspired by their members and their high caliber of work. I was able to present awards to the chosen winners from the Colored Pencil Plus exhibit that I Judged the previous month. (Thanks for waiting!)

I was invited to lead a critique of several members work and thoroughly enjoyed our open discussion and exchange of comments and helpful hints.

Thank you all for your kind words and hospitality. It was an honor to meet and talk with all of you and be received so warmly.

Presentation at CPSA Local Chapter 104

I am pleased to have been asked to be the guest speaker for local chapter 104 of the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA) on Thursday September 16th at 7pm. My discussion will include my selections for the Colored Pencil Plus Exhibit which took place in August of this year at the Livonia City Hall Gallery. The image above, "I Set The World On Fire" by Dean Rogers was awarded First place. We will critique members work and have open discussion. Finally I will hold a drawing for one of my Limited Edition Reproduction Prints. The winner must be present so I hope to meet you there.

Please follow the link to the CPSAs Local 104 web site for location and more information about the Colored Pencil Society.

Orchid Painting up for Auction

I don't often put original paintings up for auction on eBay but I thought "what the heck" I'll try it. This painting which is simply titled "Pink Cattleya Orchids" was one of my very first paintings from 2001. It is on a 12 x 24 inch canvas and will need a frame. I don't always display it with my current work as it is painted in a more traditional style with a dark background.

If you look on my website you will see that it is priced at $400.00. I have decided to move it out of my studio and into someones home. I have put it on the eBay auction block with a starting price of $99.00 with a reserve of $150.00. If interested just follow this link to my eBay auction page to see the details and place your bid. Don't wait too long!

From start to finish

Many have asked me how I begin a painting. What do I look at or what inspires a piece? I thought I would share with you a small painting from start to finish. I've been wanting to experiment with southwest succulents on a small canvas and then eventually a larger one. The first thing I did was to go to a greenhouse that specialized in unusual plants, found the ones I liked and bought them. I then grouped and photographed them. I narrowed my selection down to about 10 photos. The photo above is the one that I've chosen and will use to create my 12 x 12 painting. This painting is not one that will have a story or more than one element reacting to one another but will simply focus on the shape, color and texture of these plants which I find interesting. Here we go!

Fan Dance

"Fan Dance" is all about the color and texture of this unique creature. As you can see there is no story going on here. I just think these Lizards are fascinating and wanted to come up with a playful way of addressing their color and texture. The reason I chose the title "Fan Dance" was not only because he is on a Fan Palm branch but because of the way a Chameleon slowly sways as it walks while being provocative to another chameleon I'm sure. This reminds me of the Burlesque Fan Dancers and thus the connection was made.

Next Workshop

Thank you to all who attended my last workshop at the Visual Arts Association of Livonia (VAAL). This was a Colored Pencil nature still life two day workshop where we put our focus on the textures of natural objects. I hope you all had as much fun as I did. I can talk nature and art all day.

My next workshop is scheduled for September 14th and 15th which is a Tuesday and Wednesday from 5pm to 9pm with VAAL at their new location at 37653 5 mile road in Livonia, Michigan. This workshop will focus on the techniques of drawing Roses with Colored Pencil. For more information please visit the VAAL website for complete class and workshop descriptions as well as registration.

My new workshops for Canton, Michigan begin in October.

To reach a personal goal.

It was eight years ago at an art meeting I hosted at my studio that I muttered the words for the first time, "I'm going to change my medium to oil". Now that doesn't seem too big a deal, right? I mean after all artists do this all the time. After spending 17 years working with Colored Pencil, a medium that I had become very familiar with, deciding to paint was a huge deal for me. Did I mention that I've never had a painting class? By the way that's not something I'm proud of. It's just the way it was. Though I had not entered a large amount of competitions I had won some first place awards as well as a few others with Colored Pencil. After making the decision to switch to Oils I decided to set a few goals for myself and use these goals as a gauge to determine my accomplishments. First to grow as a painter, which I have and continue to do so. Then to enter my new work in exhibitions and competitions and win, which I have as well. I began to plan for the near future to be accepted to the Ann Arbor Art Fair in Ann Arbor Michigan which has always been haled as one of the best shows in the country. This year I have been very honored to be invited into the art fair as their featured artist. I'm writing this post not to brag or boast but to thank the many people in my life that support and encourage me. Their positive energy inspires me and feeds my creativity. Thank you all. I have so much more to do and to learn and more goals to set. I've always taught my students to compete with themselves and not with others because there's nothing more gratifying than to reach a personal goal. The taste of success is so much sweeter.

And The Winner Is............

The Winner of my Limited Edition Reproduction Print Giveaway is..................Don Hunter (APPLAUSE)
Congratulations Don! Only six of you entered my giveaway which made it really easy for Don to win. Remember that I will do this every three months and the next Giveaway is scheduled for October 1st. Don't forget to enter and please leave your comment on the October 1st blog post to be eligible.

Sea Turtle in progress #2

The image above shows this painting about half way finished. After this stage I have added more sponges and other sea floor life to fill in the turtles surroundings. More layers are being added and the colors represented here are still evolving. I wanted this painting to represent the serene slow rolling movement of this environment to showcase this peaceful magical creature.
This will be the last "in progress" post for this painting. It will make its debut at the Ann Arbor Art Fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan on the 21st through 24th of this month.
I predict this will be one of my more popular paintings.

Feature Article - July 15, 2010

Below is a link to my most recent Feature Article by staff writer of The Belleville Lake Current, William Zilke. Thank you William.

Feature Article Link

Look for the up-coming July issue of "Art Showcase Magazine" where I will be featured, along with the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair Poster.

Colored Pencil Tip #3

Keeping your pencils sharp will help you get even coverage. Even while using a hard leaded pencil like Verithin. After you make a few strokes, roll or rotate your pencil in your fingers. When that side begins to dull do it again. Keep doing this until you need to re-sharpen. You will have better blending results and your pencils will even last longer!

Adding a week to my first giveaway. July 15th

I am adding one week to the response time for my Limited Edition Art Print giveaway. So you have until July 15th at midnight. I forgot about the holiday week and some folks were away. Don't forget to leave a comment on the Print giveaway post from July 1st. That's all you need to do to be eligible to win one of my reproductions. Good Luck!

Limited Edition Print Giveaway

The above image is one example of many to choose from.

I thought it would be fun to reward my loyal blog followers with a chance to win one of my Limited Edition Reproduction Prints once every 3 months! Today is the first opportunity to enter!
The winner chosen by random drawing will be able to select the print of their choice.

To enter my Limited Edition print drawing you must:

• Be a follower of my blog to enter the contest
  
• Reply with a comment to this specific blog post to be eligible for the drawing
• You have 7 days to leave your comment which could be about which print you like and why or any comment you like. ( Hopefully a positive one!)
  

I will select the winner from the entries received on that post only!
So if you haven't already become a"follower" please get to follow'n. I've got things to say!
All of my limited edition reproduction prints can be viewed on my website by selecting the "Portfolio" tab and choosing Limited Edition Reproductions.

Good Luck!

Sea Turtle in Progress #1

I've been wanting to do a Sea Turtle for a long time. One of my most memorable moments in Hawaii was seeing a sea turtle in the lagoon of the hotel I stayed at and being so excited I jumped in (with clothes on) to see it up close. I held it in the water for about 5 seconds ( I've since learned you shouldn't touch them) and then it swam off. Magical! This painting will be finished and make its debut to the public at the Ann Arbor Art Fair and I think this is the only show it will see.

Sea Turtles are very popular among nature lovers and maybe that's because of its gentle nature and mystique. This one already has so much character and the paint has barely touched the canvas.

Check back to see her progress.

Colored Pencil Tip #2

Here is a tip that most of us learned back in the early days of school. It's usually easy to remember to put a piece of paper under our hand to resist smudging while drawing with graphite. For some reason it seems to slip our minds with other drawing mediums. Colored pencil can also smudge and your hand can dull your finished drawing or painting as some like to call them. You can use any paper however, unlike the above photo, I like to use tracing paper because it allows me to see through to the rest of my work.

Remember, Keep it Clean!

Tree Top Cafe`

I first posted an "in progress" photo of this painting on April 1st showing only the Giraffe. I explained that the Acacia Tree supplied food for one and shelter for the other. While that is true I began to realize that the tree supplied food and shelter for both creatures. In this painting the "Odd couple" as I referred to them earlier seem to be greeting each other as they might do every day from their favorite eatery. They look so pleased with their choice of food that they look as if they might willingly offer each other a sample. "Tree Top Cafe`" seemed to be a fitting title.

Steve Worthington Gives away Bronze Mouse!

Sculpture artist Steve Worthington gives away Bronze Mouse. Just name three of his Turtle sculptures and win! His work is full of character.

See the details on his blog at http://steveworthingtonart.blogspot.com

Colored Pencil Tip #1

The Kneaded Eraser is a wonderful tool however if not stored properly can become your #1 enemy. If you drop it or throw it into your pencil box it can pick up and hold all kinds of debris which can scratch or tear your paper. The best way to avoid this is to place your eraser into a clean resealable plastic bag or small container. It will always be clean and ready to assist you in creating your masterpiece!

I'll be posting a new "Tip" each week so be sure to check back.

U of M Exhibit

I currently have a painting in the U of M Open Competition Exhibit at the Alfred Berkowitz Gallery. Though I did not win I am very pleased to be part of this competition due to the diversity and expertise of the work. I was very impressed. It's a very nice gallery space as well. I encourage you to go and enjoy this visual feast. The exhibition runs through July 15. The above image is a detail of the painting on exhibit titled "High Society".
Gallery is located on the third floor of the Mardigian Library at The University of Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Road.

Video Interview with Heritage Newspapers

Heritage Newspapers which covers Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Saline, The Downriver area, Dearborn/Dearborn Heights, Milan, Ypsilanti, Monroe, Belleville and Van Buren Township has done a feature story on me and my upcoming participation in the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair as their featured artist. Below is a link to the video interview that was taken at my studio in Van Buren Township. Look for the full story in your Heritage hometown newspapers that is expected to be published on June 10 (Thursday) or June 17th.

Read online interview here.

Watch video interview here

"First Date"

(Click to enlarge)
Do you remember being with someone whose every word seemed to be just the right one? Their laugh was infectious and their eyes had an extra twinkle that you don't seem to remember on anyone else? When the chemistry is right, it's right! In this painting these male (green) & female (red) Eclectus Parrots couldn't be more enamored with each other on their "First Date".

God of the Upper World

In a post from 3-29-10 I showed just a peek of my painting in progress titled, "God of the Upper World". Well here is the completed painting. I know what most of you are thinking. What's up with the title? The Aztec and Maya people revered the Jaguar for its energy and agile abilities. So much so that they were looked upon as physical forms of great gods. The black or dark furred Jaguar, better known as a Panther, was called the god of the under world. The normal and lighter colored fur, as the one I have painted, was called the god of the upper world. The Jaguar became a symbol of royalty and bravery and Maya kings wore its pelt.

The idea and imagery for this painting developed from the following thought.

While the ancient Maya civilization was drawn to the spiritually charged relationship with the natural world they saw gods all around them in the earth, clouds, wind, crops and animals. They still cleared and took from the land and the gods as human kind always has. In this painting the majestic Jaguar lay on his high throne overlooking the ruins and land of the once great civilization that has been re-claimed by nature and the
"God of the upper World".

Nature Colored Pencil Class at VAAL Lesson #4 Coral Reef Textures

(click on image to enlarge)
In our fourth and final class our attention was guided towards the techniques and textures of the coral reef and its inhabitants. This subject allows for an abundance of variety in animal, plant, color, shape and texture.
Too little time for so much variety. I can only hope that my students enjoyed themselves at least half as much as I did. Thank you to all who participated and I am looking forward to my next workshop this coming August. Have a great summer!

Nature Colored Pencil Class at VAAL Lesson #3 Flowere/Plants

(Click on image to enlarge)
At times filling in the background color is really helpful for allowing parts of the flower to emerge such as the white petals of this Trillium or the pincushion-like area of the Coneflower. The blue violet color at the bottom of the Aster/Daisey flower was filled in last to simulate underneath petals.

Nature Colored Pencil Class at VAAL Lesson #2-Fur

(click on image to enlarge)
In our second week of class we focused on mammals and fur. Just as with birds, it is important to give your sketch guidelines for the direction and length of the fur. This step really pays off in the end. This example demonstrates the first layers of color usually put down with the touch and pull line technique. Adding more layers will give the fur depth and a more realistic appearance. Remember to work light to dark!

Nature Colored Pencil Class at VAAL Lesson #1-Birds

(click on image to enlarge)
I thought I would show my example of our first lesson of my 4 week Nature Calls Colored Pencil Class at (VAAL) Visual Arts Association of Livonia which took place on May 3. It is very rewarding to be able to share my abilities with this enthusiastic group of talented people.
My first lesson focused on birds and feather techniques. The preliminary sketch on the left helps define the overlapping wing and tail feathers which usually prove to be the most difficult.
Understanding the anatomy of the wing is extremely helpful to achieving a believable end result.

Rainbow Feathers Bird Expo

Parrot Portrait series #3
Well the event has once again come to a close. Rainbow Feathers put on a nice fair as usual. I enjoyed seeing past acquaintances and rubbing elbows/flight feathers with my feathered friends. I met many new friends as well and I appreciate your kind words and purchases. Thanks to those of you who came out to see me and I look forward to seeing you at the Ann Arbor Art Fair.

Galah

This Galah or Rose Breasted Cockatoo is #4 in this series of 5 parrot portrait 8 x 10 oils on canvas board. This one along with the other four will be exhibited at the Rainbow Feathers Bird Fair in Romulus, Michigan on May 1, 2010. Also, 5 of my Limited Edition Reproductions will be raffled off during the event for animal rescue. Good Luck!

Featured Artist at the Rainbow Feathers Bird Club Expo

It's time once again for the Rainbow Feathers Bird Club show in Romulus, Michigan and I'll be there as their Featured Avian Artist. While I enjoy all animals I have special interest in exotic birds, specifically parrots. Yes, it's true. I'm a bird person without a bird. I guess that's one reason why I enjoy painting them. The piece above is a Cherry Headed Conure on an 8 x 10 canvas board and is one of a series of five of the same size. Two others are shown in a previous post from February. All five are framed and retail at $200.00 each. The show is a fun place to be if you enjoy birds and you might even win one of five (5) of my Limited Edition Reproductions that will be raffled for animal rescue. Hope to see you there!

Beauty & The Beast

This exotic yellow Cattleya Orchid is the subject of this 12 x 12 inch canvas. Orchids are among the most beautiful of all flowers with their variety of color, shapes and alluring aroma. One cannot help but to lean into the heart of the flower and take in the hypnotic perfume to complete the experience. But we are not the only ones to find the blossom irresistible. Lurking within the beauty is a beast so horrific that most humans would scream in terror scampering to escape its jaws of doom. You wouldn't want to cross paths with this guy. He is as dangerous as the flower itself! In this case the "beast" or monster is the harmless Papua, New Guinea Jumping Spider the size of your pinky finger nail waiting to pounce on its prey. I thought it would be fun to pair one of the most beautiful elements of nature with one of the most feared. I, myself, don't like the thought of being surprised by a spider and the thought of one crawling on me simply just creeps me out which is why I chose my little friend to share in the spot light of "Beauty & The Beast"

'Coral-ation'

10 x 30 canvas
(click image to enlarge)

In a jagged coral forest lies a menacing creature waiting for the opportunity of lunch. He is dressed in camo, blending in with an environment that he cannot easily maneuver through. Entering upper right is the Anthias fish. So boldly colored he seems to be saying, "just try to get me" as he effortlessly passes between the coral branches. The coral supplies a safe haven for prey as well as a means of ambush for the predator. What the coral gets out of this deal is unclear. Together, the correlation among these three animals reveal the setting to a possible skirmish. The outcome is unknown.

Thank you!

I just wanted to take a moment to tell my blog followers how much I appreciate you joining me. It gives me more incentive to forge ahead and stay on track with my plans. It helps me to be accountable for and achieve the goals that I write about.
So Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Coming soon: My newest panting, 'Coral-ation'

Featured Artist for The 2010 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair

The 'Good news' that I spoke about , or couldn't speak about, in a previous blog post is....speakable now.
I'm very happy and honored to have been asked by The Guild to be their featured artist for this years Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair is a show that I've wanted to do for a long time. Having changed my medium to oil in 2002 I have needed more time to develop my painting style to properly represent what I see in my head. Given that it can be a scary place at times I feel that things are going in the right direction. I'm increasingly pleased with the results and public interest and sales are growing nicely.
The visibility from this event will, I'm sure, be awesome. My painting titled 'Monkey Business' has been used to design their 2010 limited edition poster. T-shirts will also be available.

Hope to see you there!

Here's another Peek

(In Progress)
This painting allows the viewer to witness a chance meeting high in the thorny branches of the Acacia tree. A grazing Giraffe comes face to face with a Lilac Breasted Roller (not yet shown). The tree provides shelter for one and food for the other. This odd couple seems to show interest in each other or perhaps just an unspoken greeting. Check back to see the finished painting which is not yet titled. Suggestions anyone?

Just a Peek!

(In Progress)
While I'm working on several canvases at the same time I thought I would give you a peek at a few of them and their development in progress. This one is titled 'God of the Upper World' and this detail shows less than half of the painting. Why that title? The finished painting will reveal the answer!

Eco-Expressionism?

(click image to enlarge)

If you Google the term "Eco- Expressionism" you won't fine a suitable explanation for it. It is however a term that seems to be a good fit for the description of my style of work.
The definition of ecosystem is as follows: Living things — and the physical environment in which they live — that form a complex, interconnected web of interactions and relationships.
Each of my paintings represent a window into a specific world. My intentions are to create my visions of a recognizable environment using a vivid palette along with bold shapes, patterns and expressive life forms that nature provides. They are my expressions of reality. You won't find Photo-realism here.
It is the typical trait of Expressionism to present the world under an utterly subjective perspective, distorting it to obtain an emotional effect and vividly transmit personal moods and ideas.

While my intent is not to distort, Eco-Expressionism is my interpretation of the reality of nature as I choose to express it.
What do you think?

Finished Parrots

Above are the finished paintings from my last post. These are just two examples of what is to follow in the next week or so. Birds have always been a favorite subject for me both on canvas and in person. These two are of a series of at least five portrait style 8 x 10 paintings that I will display at the up-coming Rainbow Feathers Bird Club Expo in May in Romulus, Michigan where I will be their featured avian artist.

On Track

(In progress)

Though it's been over a month since my last post I can say with all certainty that I am on track.
My Colored Pencil workshop that I gave for VAAL, The Visual Arts Association of Livonia, was a hit with my students as well as the organization. My plans to spend more time in my studio has become a reality and I now have several canvases going at the same time. I plan to first complete five 8 x 10 canvas boards which depict a portrait style painting of a brightly colored Parrot on each. These are to be exhibited during a one day event in Romulus, Michigan at the Rainbow Feathers Bird Club Expo where I have been once again invited to be their featured avian artist.
There is more exciting news but that is another post!

Colored Pencil Nature workshop

Time is quickly approaching for my workshop at Vaal (Visual Arts
Association of Livonia) which is scheduled for February 4th & 5th
from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm each day. The magic will happen in room
14 at the Dickinson Center at 18000 Newburgh Rd. in Livonia across
from Laurel Park Mall . I will demonstrate my techniques of creating
fur, feathers and various other textures of nature.
Here are a few examples of my Colored Pencil work.

There are still a few spots available so don't wait!

Plans for 2010

My New Years resolution for this year is to paint more, eat less, exercise more, catch up on my house chores, organize the garage, spend more quality time with all the people that I care about and oh ya, more me time!
Couldn't the Myans have figured out how to stretch a day instead of when time is to end? That would have been more helpful.
But now that I'm watching The Secret as much as I can I'm only thinking of what I can do and not what I can't.
So this is what I can do. I can plan on two new paintings per month. I can have a successful Solo Show at LSG in Ferndale in November. I will finish writing and illustrating my childrens book this year and I will fit in some of that other stuff I mentioned earlier.

Don't say "if". Say "I can". Say "I will".