Different

Well, I had a little time to sketch during a meeting today and a little more time later to take it into photoshop and paint it. This is actually the first time I have finished anything in this fashion.
It was very hard for me to turn the trunk blue...just way out there for me lol!
A lot of fun....and different for sure!

After Dan and Vince (buddies here at MediaSauce) checked out this piece
They suggested taking some focus off the tree leafs, maybe a darker silhouette.
So this last pic is just the revision using their suggestions.

What do you think?? Orange or Purple leafs?

Painting Updates

Well it's been a couple weeks since my last post. The past week or two has been pretty tough.
My Grandmother of 75 passed away last Thursday. The first family member my brother and I have lost in our life time, and we were "very" close to her. I love my family :)

Anyways, last night I had an urge to get busy again and try finishing up a couple paintings in progress. I have been posting updates of these two paintings and they should be finished this week.....finally! The creek painting below is pretty much finished...just need to let it dry and painting the sides of the canvas. The "Blazing Hills" is moving along well..I added some foreground elements and am continuing adding highlights to the tree on the left. If you have any feedback please give it to me!

Creek almost finished!



Before update

Update Below

More studies...

Trees while driving.

I took these pictures on the way to work today and yesterday. Everyday I pass these trees, and I love the look of them. The sunrise wasn't so bad either.

Color, composition studies

Last night I decided to do some color/composition studies on horizons.
Used Prisma color pencils. (love'm)

My little barn

Sketch I did today while working.
Kinda like it.

As far as the eye can see

Indiana

Well, as many folks know I love Indiana, and it's beautiful scenery. I love taking drives through the country, getting lost, seeing new "old" sites, and running into familiar roads from childhood memories. I spent most of my childhood growing up in or around rural Indiana. My grandfather and father raised cattle up until a few years back. Working with my father bailing hay, raising cattle, etc, I grew a fond respect and adoration for the old America and farmers. Indiana is a land of cornfields, soybean fields, and pastures as far as the eye can see. Small old towns with a town square (of old), and patriotism abound. If there is one thing I absolutely love, one site or smell that brings me back, it has to be the unbelievable smell of fresh cut hay. Whenever I see a hay field just cut while driving I always roll down the windows and breath it in. It's amazing... This is where my inspiration springs from. There are beautiful places all over the world, but to me...there is nothing like a late evening skyline over looking rolling pastures in Indiana. This is home.

Willow Tree

It's always fun to create a simple, vibrant painting, or drawing. This one is hanging up in my wife's classroom right now. Created it with Chalk Pastel a while back. Not too much to it.

Ooples and Bononoos Update

After speaking with someone I just met over these blogs, and them giving me some advice, I took the advise and added some white highlights. Simple fix, but I think it helps a lot. Thanks, Rita.

A good day

This drawing was finished a while back and is one of my favorite pen and ink drawings.
As I have said before my faith is very important to me and this piece reflects this.

An old painting

Forget to post this a while back so I figured....hey might as well! Haven't added an Acrylic yet.
This painting is actually pretty darn small.