Taking Flight

Bird painting is quite a challenge as well, considering that I have planned to have 17 total in the finished work. The colors in this particular bird are fun however and the look of flying will make this area fun to complete....Christmas is coming.

Progressing to the birds

The barn painting has surrounded the main emphasis swallow so the time has come to tackle the bird. I tried to position the flight of the bird to point towards the "M" in the clouds ( I wonder if anyone will notice) and the direction to keep the interest in the rest of the birds in the composition ( 8 so far, probably more in the distance later).

The next post will hopefully show the completed bird and most of the side of the barn complete. Maybe, I will get some sleep over the Christmas break, .....not likely.

Barn Progress

I have always heard that "barn paintings" are such a non-artistic theme that I have never actually attempted to paint one. I am here to tell you that painting all of the colors and values that are included in the exterior of a weathered barn is a challenge.

Currently, I am about halfway done with the piece with the remaining sides of the barn to complete ( the doors are weathered red ) and the birds that will present even a bigger challenge. I am confident that it will come out well but my deadline is Christmas. Yikes!

Christmas Artwork

This work was a request from my daughter to create a program cover design that related her Christmas Dance theme " Polar Express" and the company she works with " Gazella".

The use of the repeated "gazelle" to pull the sleigh was her idea to add in some way, I think that the simple silhouette above the design worked out quite well. The bow at the bottom seems to frame out the actual design well also.

This is the project that I am currently working on for a Christmas present for my daughter who recently moved to the country. The barn is located in her back yard and the image was taken during the summer on a cloudy day. The reason I chose this image for this oil painting is that the cloud formation right of the peak of the barn randomly created the image of the letter "M"in my photo study which happens to be the first letter of her daughters (my grand daughter's) name "Madeline".

The composition is filled with barn swallows which are a curiosity to my daughter to create interest and movement in the overall composition. I will post updates as the work progresses.