Friday, December 26, 2008

A snowy Christmastime...


Here are some images of the pre-Christmas snowfall.....when it was still technically fall! We were so excited to get this snow. We knew it would hang around for Christmas day, guaranteeing a white christmas. We actually love lake effect snowstorms. Often an inch or more falls every hour. As long as you don't have to travel in it, it's very beautiful. It gets very quiet, as the heavy snowfall acts to muffle all the outdoor sounds.
I don't know that I could ever capture in a painting a lake effect snowstorm. Maybe these storms are best captured on film!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

A gift for the holidays....

Now that my father-in-law has his Christmas gift, I can safely post my latest painting! This is his fishing boat that he co-owns with 2 other fishing buddies....hence the name "Tres Amigos." We had SO much fun going fishing in this boat! On our last trip to Florida we went just about every other day, and absolutely had a ball. Nothing like sitting on a fishing boat, watching the sun come up, gazing at the lake and just enjoying the feeling of getting away from it all.
I had fun doing the painting, and it did resemble my motorcycle paintings in a way I hadn't thought of before. I had to paint things I saw in the photo....while having absolutely no idea what they were! I was glad how it turned out, and twice as glad that everyone seems to love it.
Can't wait to get out on it again!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

It's all in the details....

The saga of the custom chopper painting continues!! I've had some time this week to spend in the studio. I really love when there's an end in sight! I still have some large areas to block in, and I'm hoping to get those in this week. Detail work is what it is. It is, by nature, time consuming work....yet it is so worth the effort. The lighting effects on this bike will make the painting so unusual. And if something is worth doing, it is worth doing well and taking all the time it needs to be the best it can be.
I've been so thankful that I bought new brushes with their fine points. Detail work practically requires new brushes- I suppose like a new sewing project requires a fresh needle. I'm also loving the Maimerblu color "Dragon's Blood" (cool name) that features prominently in the painting. Not only a great color for florals, but I never would have thought it would be put to great use in a motorcycle painting!