tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41700235779785609662024-03-18T02:47:43.783-07:00Victoria Morris Ekelund Studiovictoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.comBlogger662125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-70084842694147748982023-08-06T08:12:00.000-07:002023-08-06T08:12:01.315-07:00Entre'<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGo_EtlwZP-tUiqFN2l7n2pKBswcec8DbKhyVqqIE1xz3o-I08R5qMv7FtB7ASbRFIW3qXzH5kmQ0LwOb5fSQ6JcVtYXCQsrkY_HvAARR48QZ4AQxySREJRaQMrT0TpE7vXhi1gSvcuHseSePSbPWLTFG6jR7URYfJ-5B8N905TQAwJ7c03X_dGd_m8T_X" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="1806" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGo_EtlwZP-tUiqFN2l7n2pKBswcec8DbKhyVqqIE1xz3o-I08R5qMv7FtB7ASbRFIW3qXzH5kmQ0LwOb5fSQ6JcVtYXCQsrkY_HvAARR48QZ4AQxySREJRaQMrT0TpE7vXhi1gSvcuHseSePSbPWLTFG6jR7URYfJ-5B8N905TQAwJ7c03X_dGd_m8T_X=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Entry, 30x40, oil available</td></tr></tbody></table>There are times when I just want to break the rules to see if I can make it work. Let's see what you all think. Did I succeed or not?</p><p>The 'rule' in particular is to not split a painting in two, down the middle. Which is exactly what I did on this one. The vantage point is from the floor looking from the living room into the entry hall and staircase. I had been playing with my dog and when I looked up, thought that this could make an interesting painting. There was a myriad of reasons I liked this scene. The repetition of vertical lines in the stairwell, the radiator, the legs of the table and the books in the bookcase. Then there was the oak of the stairs and banister and window, the floor, the bookcase and the oak chest. And finally, the plant, the pussy willows in the vase on the table on the landing and the daffodils. </p><p>My justification for doing this scene this way is my hope that the viewer would either want to go from the living room to explore what is up stairs or to go around the corner to the front door. </p><p>Multiple light sources can also be tricky. There is the window you can see on the stairs, the front door is all glass with a reed shade, behind the bookcase in the entry hall, and there is a window behind the couch off to the right of the edge of this painting. Oh, plus the two windows behind me on either side of the fireplace.</p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-75149713077949945652023-07-21T08:58:00.000-07:002023-07-21T08:58:12.218-07:00Road back in Time<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMMy_d0f1N35Vqh4kYE8JXilG4ev-2l0kEuPh1a367heQXhBYbcMax1BQ3G6mYhFT6-f5BXP4CPrkACJoR6nn4P8LDhKnxys9zrF12P3M_5Bmy8YUMV5TC1WcDQSqnO5xsrGO1C5Lyzhs71n6f6PfVDurWuIr-nryJJGAFzixhiiYcIEHoMnJqKd6SgYO/s3842/IMG_8436.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="3842" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMMy_d0f1N35Vqh4kYE8JXilG4ev-2l0kEuPh1a367heQXhBYbcMax1BQ3G6mYhFT6-f5BXP4CPrkACJoR6nn4P8LDhKnxys9zrF12P3M_5Bmy8YUMV5TC1WcDQSqnO5xsrGO1C5Lyzhs71n6f6PfVDurWuIr-nryJJGAFzixhiiYcIEHoMnJqKd6SgYO/w400-h260/IMG_8436.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Road to Mandrakia, 24x36, oil on linen SOLD</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I have been working on 5 larger paintings simultaneously these past several months, and possible as long as a year! Finally, one of them I am considering done. It has been a long haul. I am going to justify the length of time it has taken me because it isn't that I am a slow painter. The weather here has alternated between gray and rainy and very hot and sunny. Since I prefer to paint without artificial light in my studio, the gray days make it hard to do anything but start a new painting. The hot days drain me, as my studio is on the second floor and I do not have A/C. I do have a ceiling fan, and for the most part that does the job. Yet when it is close to 100 outside, that isn't enough. The difference is temperature when it goes from 60 and rainy to almost a 100 with no segue or steps in raise or lowering in temperature does something to the body, or at least it does to mine. Now that I have justified myself to myself, saying I am not lazy (well maybe just a bit) I will get on with this painting and why I wanted to paint it.<p></p><p>Five years ago I was invited to join my sister-in-law on the island of Milos in the Aegean Sea. This is the road to one of the many little spits of land that jut out around the island. Some have houses, some do not. This particular cove is famous for its <a href="http://victoriasart.blogspot.com/search?q=syrmata" target="_blank">Syrmata</a>, or boat garages, which I tried not to highlight, as this painting/ story is not about them. For me it was about the road to the sea. Mandrakia is a little village down on the spit of land, even having its own little church. There is also a Taverna...naturally! The water there is so amazing. Changing colors while you watch. Each little cove or inlet has a unique feel to the water and the beach. I had never experienced anything like it before. In the intervening five years it has experienced much growth as it has been 'discovered' - I have been told there are now more houses in this view than when I was there and took this photograph.</p><p>I really got into the rhythms and pattern of the surrounding landscape while doing this painting. The land goes up and down and winds around. I hope you can follow the road that winds to the right and then again to the right by the little memorial then finally to the left and Mandrakia. It is a place special to my heart. I was there in April, and hope to go back this October if all goes accordingly. </p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-79785018483716014202023-05-26T10:26:00.005-07:002023-05-26T10:26:50.606-07:00Painting in the Garden - Always an Adventure<p>Yesterday was a beautiful day. We have had smoke from the fires in Alberta Canada since last week creating a very gray environment. Finally, the air was clear and the temperature was perfect. The iris in my garden have not looked this good in years. In Denver, the weather conditions definitely determine what the garden is going to look like, or not, in any given year. I have not been outside painting, with the exceptions of my <a href="https://victoriasart.blogspot.com/2023/05/" target="_blank">field sketches</a>, yet this spring. And here it is almost June! </p><p>All is going well for awhile until about an hour into it. I am enjoying being outside and in the flow. The occasional distraction of my puppy charging the fence barking as people and dogs walk by. THEN, a house a block away and down the street, which has been under construction for the past two years, started using a high power washer to wash the new black brick that this compound was built with. You think, down the street a block, what is the problem? It is the short block, and it is a busy street that slopes up to my house. So this street acts like a megaphone into my property when there is noise going on there. Another monstrosity, being built two doors down, and called THE PRISON by neighbors on the block, has not been half as disruptive as the one further away. It is like a microclimate situation. Living in a neighborhood that has been under constant construction the past 6 years, you would think I would be immune to the noise by now. It is not so. I don't think myself a sensitive type, but I am becoming very reactive to it, which serves no purpose, yet drills into the brain and psyche nonetheless. I had to quit working on the painting, thinking I would set up again today and finish what I could before my afternoon appointment. </p><p>No. This painting was not destined to be completed outside. At 4 PM a wicked fast and furious hail storm blew through decimating my iris, among many other plants. Shockingly, the Particular stems I picked were the least damaged. I believe because the tree above provided some shelter. Iris in other parts of the garden were not so lucky. The good news is, that the buds withstood the assault, so not all is lost.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyiD8wyJgW_zdr8_UhT3CQUswmBV1LQC5IIEci4bIHUJKoPYyldVxcQEJbpGotEZo7MzGPEDCphqi-LdkT_unr_1lyd0OYEN0pO-0qzmpvbt1v9YkRcWd71bPhUCP_0cyEQlmlQXevEyMOfoL5g-gotGbMgPIwzE87xh1WpglZwy3UKe6Y__VAr4u8RQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3935" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgyiD8wyJgW_zdr8_UhT3CQUswmBV1LQC5IIEci4bIHUJKoPYyldVxcQEJbpGotEZo7MzGPEDCphqi-LdkT_unr_1lyd0OYEN0pO-0qzmpvbt1v9YkRcWd71bPhUCP_0cyEQlmlQXevEyMOfoL5g-gotGbMgPIwzE87xh1WpglZwy3UKe6Y__VAr4u8RQ=w161-h320" width="161" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As of yesterday, not finished</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvo24Rbd6reL25jOJSEC97NEy3Cb5GLlukaHZ0bM78ctg5ekxysPfJa73oRVK73ZmqV9aTK7r5Flp1L2JK5dr0I9U4lSofzBd9oMcTWg1R1DeTSe_2UfgrFD2L75lcy-zPui7BEsuGrNpP12IZaFMCp4PDxvTAmk30vz5_CvbvUuXUGBA6tol47Ps3Kw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvo24Rbd6reL25jOJSEC97NEy3Cb5GLlukaHZ0bM78ctg5ekxysPfJa73oRVK73ZmqV9aTK7r5Flp1L2JK5dr0I9U4lSofzBd9oMcTWg1R1DeTSe_2UfgrFD2L75lcy-zPui7BEsuGrNpP12IZaFMCp4PDxvTAmk30vz5_CvbvUuXUGBA6tol47Ps3Kw=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris before I started</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Noon light is bluer</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7RotL9HdRvm9i1U_SpjaKVsXc7-M7WqVHzYXb4MsiN6mHWgFxQTikjJ7cYT4s2m7HsxKoVyyQVCjBQVrAUTG-P7-x6fGq7b_jMTAGvGGnfc1WN6mI6r52jrJUZZlYybhQHV2P4YXn0OFc16Qc8s2P3Zy8OmlkDHfHTY1b3rEGl8GUY1AVFghe6vK_A/s4032/IMG_8309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7RotL9HdRvm9i1U_SpjaKVsXc7-M7WqVHzYXb4MsiN6mHWgFxQTikjJ7cYT4s2m7HsxKoVyyQVCjBQVrAUTG-P7-x6fGq7b_jMTAGvGGnfc1WN6mI6r52jrJUZZlYybhQHV2P4YXn0OFc16Qc8s2P3Zy8OmlkDHfHTY1b3rEGl8GUY1AVFghe6vK_A/s320/IMG_8309.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris after the hail-could be worse! Morning light is red!</td></tr></tbody></table>In the two photos of the iris, you can see part of THE PRISON. Thankfully, that piece of work is finished.victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-871248383195311852023-05-14T13:47:00.000-07:002023-05-14T13:47:59.367-07:00Lilacs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNhwPBqkXBiN4boNlpYFb-5lxByuuSoBKHEfRpQroGzCehp0AkEsEox7wM3MShw_3EXGlTltoH_TyC9U_jlHwPN3TtdW84fAkH74qPaJvFhi1kn23Qop8JrW9mZBe7bqdlYxz6bfXjLKhOhobLFvI0LZHgjNjYBigXTW1Yi4SmI-MCJFIfy2Z8nNkkQ/s4032/IMG_8255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNhwPBqkXBiN4boNlpYFb-5lxByuuSoBKHEfRpQroGzCehp0AkEsEox7wM3MShw_3EXGlTltoH_TyC9U_jlHwPN3TtdW84fAkH74qPaJvFhi1kn23Qop8JrW9mZBe7bqdlYxz6bfXjLKhOhobLFvI0LZHgjNjYBigXTW1Yi4SmI-MCJFIfy2Z8nNkkQ/s320/IMG_8255.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 3 -mostly done-thinking the 'vase' is too prominent</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Wednesday of last week (May 10, 2023) everyone on our morning walk was talking 'hail!' So, I came home, covered my vegetable garden plants (we here in Denver know not to plant before Mother's Day-but who listens?), cut some lilacs, iris and hellebores, 'just in case' to bring inside. If nothing else I could enjoy the heavenly scent of the lilacs, or possibly even do some sketching of the flowers on the grey day that ensued. It did rain for 24 hours straight, but thankfully, no hail here. The area where I live has been called "hail alley."</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi018l-FZl2TCSmLL6Z8JgCut8uYoPbpSxAHZm1mUTScu87vfKm9hMLz729jU8VMD3jv7WT0CHVq_um_2Xhj1VmkU9tLOwhG8rZsYD-OCixFVzKTGLbC65vfdcW9nso49Fhm1EaDZodJWrRsCvlM9-qIEyaQvq5UevDQOjuVSI0xBbgIKKJ8NGEKEg-OA/s1722/23Lilacs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1722" data-original-width="1139" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi018l-FZl2TCSmLL6Z8JgCut8uYoPbpSxAHZm1mUTScu87vfKm9hMLz729jU8VMD3jv7WT0CHVq_um_2Xhj1VmkU9tLOwhG8rZsYD-OCixFVzKTGLbC65vfdcW9nso49Fhm1EaDZodJWrRsCvlM9-qIEyaQvq5UevDQOjuVSI0xBbgIKKJ8NGEKEg-OA/s320/23Lilacs.jpeg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sketch of Lilacs</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Friday, so two days into the cut flowers shortened life, I decided to paint one of the vases full of lilacs. Being still overcast outside the arrangement was under artificial overhead light. I went and found an unclean previously painted panel, 24"x12" and proceeded. Sometimes, the first run on a used panel is the toughest, especially if the painting was varnished, as this one had been. I could not find a photograph of the painting so I am surprised it was varnished. Despite the effort put in by me, who knows how long ago, to remove the varnish and then sand it, it still lingers. The first flush of new paint means it is absorbed by the old varnish so I must remember to go darker and lighter in value to combat this phenomenon. It doesn't seem to matter - it all ends up monotone.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXxuGNwtxE5EIkXTeJQvEvse87csq31tTrExZm2s3MXH7fGy0TlSgd5GHeRbp8Lse484-XJhxu6Xd6OR9oOxdXFl-_muNN3dYpZFPn7zDORjFkiZjmvDAn7AKCIMODYLxthJtfSxQa0m3qn2ftU4skGdtuC0MLNY7RwQyps7NfJF3nfV28Ck1OSF49Q/s4032/IMG_8249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXxuGNwtxE5EIkXTeJQvEvse87csq31tTrExZm2s3MXH7fGy0TlSgd5GHeRbp8Lse484-XJhxu6Xd6OR9oOxdXFl-_muNN3dYpZFPn7zDORjFkiZjmvDAn7AKCIMODYLxthJtfSxQa0m3qn2ftU4skGdtuC0MLNY7RwQyps7NfJF3nfV28Ck1OSF49Q/s320/IMG_8249.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Nicotiana to Lilacs- starting the block in- carving out shapes</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtLEyfW038lgdmC4WiqRBUZRHBwXg3QNLDfarOTD8YOW3d3qKWOUDErmFwaMMWERc6b_QT7_8nlkfiqYffwGQIkT2dydOE0Yrf6MqZsHZy08G13dUZm2ZSCoC62kiRrPe0GhSogIR2rIFeP5Vn2GCBEiJaTVbKrPUrJOTr0BCGSbKYSSa4O0NfdY8Cg/s4032/IMG_8250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtLEyfW038lgdmC4WiqRBUZRHBwXg3QNLDfarOTD8YOW3d3qKWOUDErmFwaMMWERc6b_QT7_8nlkfiqYffwGQIkT2dydOE0Yrf6MqZsHZy08G13dUZm2ZSCoC62kiRrPe0GhSogIR2rIFeP5Vn2GCBEiJaTVbKrPUrJOTr0BCGSbKYSSa4O0NfdY8Cg/s320/IMG_8250.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Day 1-Black almost covered - allowing this layer to dry a bit</div>Saturday is not so gray and the sun actually shines forth from time to time. But in keeping with what I had started, I turned on the overhead lights. My thought was even if I don't finish the study, it has been fun painting from life and fighting the substrate at the same time. Today's effort felt less like a wrestling match and more fluid and easy. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTiB-HUpRjYhzSQ-wd39cXOv8lHdSJ0zVS-IUVJwnVzU-QlodsldfjuV2-HQhGunOtXpdP_MfPHck21-SOwkeeacgvpAe_tZm5RPdk3t876eqzGnQrh1EE5yX_hJEME1ktuywBLMZcRmK-CGAaloE7nMzxk0OwXDCEsy5e59J89Dso4NHNOoUaY5Jaw/s4032/IMG_8253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTiB-HUpRjYhzSQ-wd39cXOv8lHdSJ0zVS-IUVJwnVzU-QlodsldfjuV2-HQhGunOtXpdP_MfPHck21-SOwkeeacgvpAe_tZm5RPdk3t876eqzGnQrh1EE5yX_hJEME1ktuywBLMZcRmK-CGAaloE7nMzxk0OwXDCEsy5e59J89Dso4NHNOoUaY5Jaw/s320/IMG_8253.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2- Big shapes defined</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHll8WRcQ2VFuNOoCFLOFZS4YW53c38EcBhe5pI_NZfJaBli4zmSyKZv7H0T8jcJoANH2AaK0hUv7NopNE3OlD3e0kZdcpjZ-FBbAU5F9JYWvJW8ujeiADeYoD6i466gnXquL-XaymCxCgqFemPQxrf4xfroPG_w0ah6kKSLKhRhY-BXc_UXZqdG4kA/s4032/IMG_8254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHll8WRcQ2VFuNOoCFLOFZS4YW53c38EcBhe5pI_NZfJaBli4zmSyKZv7H0T8jcJoANH2AaK0hUv7NopNE3OlD3e0kZdcpjZ-FBbAU5F9JYWvJW8ujeiADeYoD6i466gnXquL-XaymCxCgqFemPQxrf4xfroPG_w0ah6kKSLKhRhY-BXc_UXZqdG4kA/s320/IMG_8254.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2 before quitting for the day- Lilacs holding up so far </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Day 3 Sunday is just to finish the vase. Which is really for drinking wine, I believe. I inherited it from my parents and is from the 60's when we first moved to Germany. I am not sure what it says on it but I believe it has to do with cultivation of wine. It does have a handle but I have ever only used it for a vase.</p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-35153789531699473092023-04-30T07:44:00.001-07:002023-04-30T07:44:31.343-07:00Grey Heron - Adapting to One's Environment<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rAfE_VLwyEZIFblZPcCf5RT_druSVGL1ZqLx3m8oVY3Eunf1r1sF0RpU2ty2Q8mi_OYMzbMbabIi-fLaGpMx3PL6vuWxljHMdfsRGw16WFOUppsoYQB2lWjupLbffb92BtkOmDm7GrRwr8DjasmTf9DCWCfbyB1AiQYGLCVQTtnvY4mnXipwd6XbMQ/s720/Ekelund_AdaptingtoOne'sEnvironment_12x16-72-P1011750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rAfE_VLwyEZIFblZPcCf5RT_druSVGL1ZqLx3m8oVY3Eunf1r1sF0RpU2ty2Q8mi_OYMzbMbabIi-fLaGpMx3PL6vuWxljHMdfsRGw16WFOUppsoYQB2lWjupLbffb92BtkOmDm7GrRwr8DjasmTf9DCWCfbyB1AiQYGLCVQTtnvY4mnXipwd6XbMQ/s320/Ekelund_AdaptingtoOne'sEnvironment_12x16-72-P1011750.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adapting to One's Environment, 12x16, <a href="https://www.victoriaekelund.com/portfolio-viewer?collection=159591#lg=1&artworkId=5142626" target="_blank">available</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The photo I took for this painting was taken while visiting my son in Kanazawa Japan. He had moved there to teach English a few years after graduating college. This would be around 2006. The city sits between two rivers, so I am not sure which river this is along, but as you can see, it is concrete and granite banking the river. Kanazawa sits along the Sea of Japan on the western coast of Japan. I took the photo from across the river, so the actual image is quite grainy. I had to fill in some areas that did not read well, especially around the eyes.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV-9oel1lAFk34SD3ePAj6tuz_XNTkx_ghCfNCplXMaZXTjudZX6Ijd7J9XX5rcXMHP59Y8ZE79N5EsmpQ9Q5fDgmJ9RqR7xkRPTGlOGC2ArLB7IsZJSu0k9kBMdX94_R3SguldUdQftDCiqra5mXJQ0PDUioerTpy4r0sRhBmepIT149yPyvIaOUjuw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2573" data-original-width="3431" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV-9oel1lAFk34SD3ePAj6tuz_XNTkx_ghCfNCplXMaZXTjudZX6Ijd7J9XX5rcXMHP59Y8ZE79N5EsmpQ9Q5fDgmJ9RqR7xkRPTGlOGC2ArLB7IsZJSu0k9kBMdX94_R3SguldUdQftDCiqra5mXJQ0PDUioerTpy4r0sRhBmepIT149yPyvIaOUjuw" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1. Getting the Shapes in</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I sketched the bird in with a crimson colored pencil, which you can see still in this block in as I figure out relationships in shapes and values. My thought was to have the Heron blend into his 'environment,' so I used the same color palette for the granite wall and the bird.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLTrwQZ_uXH39ve3lT4Jgvxr-jsBo4_fYEYqiM5ucgaAkOfFmFPGfFqP2UTtw3TI_S8pLo57ToWhTa5_EQe-YF-Ze6XyedMm0iHRQqnblWbvpk7U1LzmZ3BEi5N9_t0TUx3tkqTlX-ROfEG5-YJDmNYvhuMrHwJ7k02diYa6LYll9ZLUpexQMXFg6Ssg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2792" data-original-width="3689" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLTrwQZ_uXH39ve3lT4Jgvxr-jsBo4_fYEYqiM5ucgaAkOfFmFPGfFqP2UTtw3TI_S8pLo57ToWhTa5_EQe-YF-Ze6XyedMm0iHRQqnblWbvpk7U1LzmZ3BEi5N9_t0TUx3tkqTlX-ROfEG5-YJDmNYvhuMrHwJ7k02diYa6LYll9ZLUpexQMXFg6Ssg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2. Darkening down the wall</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Even thought I liked the colors in the granite wall, I decided it needed to be more neutral so I added a darker value of a greyed blue overall. Dry-brushing it on to allow texture. I added a pinkish color to the concrete surface which as up to this point, I had left blank canvas. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifje8aiBXwV1lbK5g1WjpN6N4u5zGB3_ZPZCxsEeWHSZUd_-GhmEdjGEZjXGvoasxj7wVfP2vviv5MQX-vIMEV7ZjDk4L5E0x4K4QT5B_l7lRUWqF6qxdSjNkvmnuhUV-XrK_MVPIiYcOdFxzMBNcKvuhPV9iJJo2loh8L4Eow7R2m3_rQllLtUyKOKQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="2890" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifje8aiBXwV1lbK5g1WjpN6N4u5zGB3_ZPZCxsEeWHSZUd_-GhmEdjGEZjXGvoasxj7wVfP2vviv5MQX-vIMEV7ZjDk4L5E0x4K4QT5B_l7lRUWqF6qxdSjNkvmnuhUV-XrK_MVPIiYcOdFxzMBNcKvuhPV9iJJo2loh8L4Eow7R2m3_rQllLtUyKOKQ" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3. Finishing the bird</td></tr></tbody></table>Now that the surrounding area is where I want it, I start work on finishing the bird. I softened the hard dark blacks and darkened the greys of his feathers. Also added some soft yellows and purples to his neck and head.</p><p>All these images were taken in my studio with my iPhone. I find it interesting that the earlier photos look darker than the last. </p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-14315456267653428222023-04-22T11:15:00.005-07:002023-04-22T11:15:53.974-07:00Kevin Weckbach at Gallery 1261<p>I apologize in advance for not getting this out while the show was up. However, it appears to still be up on <a href="https://gallery1261.com" target="_blank">Gallery 1261's website</a>. I went to the opening two weeks ago and was there early enough to get a chance to talk to Kevin, although not for long. He posed for his girlfriend to take this photo, so I did likewise. For those who don't know, I consider Kevin my mentor. I took his year long master painting class more than once, and though it has been many years since then, his teachings stay with me - at least most of the time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfhiQeex5Pe0VCuEm00oW94jfe0rOGbH6sxAJB4Oyv6D_487AjcY2rEFPRvXRw_Fbnhmk1m7PZUsp3GGp6csPgT4EMGx4cBjBMPN4DzR8dDB8kZiAL3q-WkpOxFXbOgjZDzBzAoZr_OV6pnhKWTZQKaGWat3m0ms6K7mwkQiEVgV2YAogVtl55_LHiQ/s4032/IMG_8103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfhiQeex5Pe0VCuEm00oW94jfe0rOGbH6sxAJB4Oyv6D_487AjcY2rEFPRvXRw_Fbnhmk1m7PZUsp3GGp6csPgT4EMGx4cBjBMPN4DzR8dDB8kZiAL3q-WkpOxFXbOgjZDzBzAoZr_OV6pnhKWTZQKaGWat3m0ms6K7mwkQiEVgV2YAogVtl55_LHiQ/s320/IMG_8103.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>There are so many good paintings in this show, I am surprised it did not sell out. In my opinion, he is one of the best painters of our time -based on my limited knowledge of all artists of our time. His use of color and his strong values that show up in his paintings are rarely rivaled. He paints so abstractly yet the abstract shapes pull a scene together so succinctly.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMnCOTpogrh_7CvNxYKUvY5WbQm9gf4k9dQSv_5QLer-SWbUitsC8cG4LksD-Ek7QUyEs36KfuciorL2ZRcc3Wb_CTaFmDJpFPBrQ7tU31jWHa5nVAqpUawL77SU30EvA9mB_ndg3aJHU30WV4KieL8821WR2GWelbVEph_sHSUgehPI83aX5OVwzew/s4032/IMG_8186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMnCOTpogrh_7CvNxYKUvY5WbQm9gf4k9dQSv_5QLer-SWbUitsC8cG4LksD-Ek7QUyEs36KfuciorL2ZRcc3Wb_CTaFmDJpFPBrQ7tU31jWHa5nVAqpUawL77SU30EvA9mB_ndg3aJHU30WV4KieL8821WR2GWelbVEph_sHSUgehPI83aX5OVwzew/s320/IMG_8186.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The depth!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vRwPxhicFA4eWZ7KUsWXVv0n90MhfvlxiYSpYhuA5BewASHgF2UepqaTpvS9RYD_pWFQZC_0atIJYgBH80gRoNobm5r0f0uiDqipoJ6sy5L6EQkdc92iDEkd5s9BdbeY_kSf1w3QfdsWumrXJKsSw8jW96aZbSS8BfhajYjze0nt6Z7Fq4J2_SaS1A/s4032/IMG_8185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vRwPxhicFA4eWZ7KUsWXVv0n90MhfvlxiYSpYhuA5BewASHgF2UepqaTpvS9RYD_pWFQZC_0atIJYgBH80gRoNobm5r0f0uiDqipoJ6sy5L6EQkdc92iDEkd5s9BdbeY_kSf1w3QfdsWumrXJKsSw8jW96aZbSS8BfhajYjze0nt6Z7Fq4J2_SaS1A/s320/IMG_8185.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail-so abstract</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7g55vqww_ODms-tw64BFlYqMupjIPjIkIDw17R6DZrLtc6rTzEvlxM7TVKRo392cnXVEvrCeCbgG83ltqma0UgR7G9jlNXy4galk9ySW6PD-cnpUjX78Y0VkkzJsA4c4u4C_OtG00N35mL3gcPOu7jxpJPznSzkWe1P3ho_hhgcPdWGQQ8rIO_USgw/s4032/IMG_8184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7g55vqww_ODms-tw64BFlYqMupjIPjIkIDw17R6DZrLtc6rTzEvlxM7TVKRo392cnXVEvrCeCbgG83ltqma0UgR7G9jlNXy4galk9ySW6PD-cnpUjX78Y0VkkzJsA4c4u4C_OtG00N35mL3gcPOu7jxpJPznSzkWe1P3ho_hhgcPdWGQQ8rIO_USgw/s320/IMG_8184.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail-the blue of the river! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8a-l1i8EfO6HVY_wANbOQCLtwjtbPBY9lo5S2m_TxW7s7YyA3vzCzbmpqa7BwACPWSgUuiH8C3SYvH1qNCOHjiBoTD_v6TVYJnKLb2fZTHYum-gaNGCrr-f8mYQbajwqaTS0xqLo9ezc4eofFO-7rWKl-DJO7ybwpDjTRp4cffA0MkX5eDwdTyEt93A/s4032/IMG_8183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8a-l1i8EfO6HVY_wANbOQCLtwjtbPBY9lo5S2m_TxW7s7YyA3vzCzbmpqa7BwACPWSgUuiH8C3SYvH1qNCOHjiBoTD_v6TVYJnKLb2fZTHYum-gaNGCrr-f8mYQbajwqaTS0xqLo9ezc4eofFO-7rWKl-DJO7ybwpDjTRp4cffA0MkX5eDwdTyEt93A/s320/IMG_8183.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the brushwork! The colors!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOCaMbYrzTDdAt0JG-EitlW-FIPsiourzzLZsVB5GJMVuMTGqNHvMwA9pt0F7doUMgpOC-L2fm2jWCDrxiBnO_2dt9kNZuhG382Tp7kU3-ibHpjyP1z-Ng2UVkjrgAJ7mZL9bFcwz59g5IXcyYmonHenOOHiCJmIXCL0NV_HIyvMhPLacIinHcd0o0w/s4032/IMG_8111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOCaMbYrzTDdAt0JG-EitlW-FIPsiourzzLZsVB5GJMVuMTGqNHvMwA9pt0F7doUMgpOC-L2fm2jWCDrxiBnO_2dt9kNZuhG382Tp7kU3-ibHpjyP1z-Ng2UVkjrgAJ7mZL9bFcwz59g5IXcyYmonHenOOHiCJmIXCL0NV_HIyvMhPLacIinHcd0o0w/s320/IMG_8111.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of water in the light from painting below</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8umVftVCH7lr0VMQu20uGk2atPGtggAFts3TSMSzi99z06MxYzqRQSmjoisv6SIbUJSirnr8mWPNewJJNOoQ0t0t1g1akQXyHdutj8g0RJ22ZdXrgX9gDF841R_y7DPmXSklwPfUe1nkxm2DUtI-A1RDGMqDQ64kyem-f9Amgnp78Qxo_Mv-s8IGHiw/s4032/IMG_8112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8umVftVCH7lr0VMQu20uGk2atPGtggAFts3TSMSzi99z06MxYzqRQSmjoisv6SIbUJSirnr8mWPNewJJNOoQ0t0t1g1akQXyHdutj8g0RJ22ZdXrgX9gDF841R_y7DPmXSklwPfUe1nkxm2DUtI-A1RDGMqDQ64kyem-f9Amgnp78Qxo_Mv-s8IGHiw/s320/IMG_8112.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">look at the color in the shadow side of the snow!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxRD8CdTV-354wjcMQTVBCDg-8S2WjTaOVCLvIbpn0LzVqNDC3Bm7jWsaSHH-OcNkCrq--zvIJgmjO4CoeC1MaMlsi7ndSJucuoax6wZvF3Ns_xhz882PuQ6toA9R-F-yIRm-cbdTruMqjPKPBsX9cacT9t2_qu789CCi8veyUFR0KXgD9h8_4pJpzA/s4032/IMG_8177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxRD8CdTV-354wjcMQTVBCDg-8S2WjTaOVCLvIbpn0LzVqNDC3Bm7jWsaSHH-OcNkCrq--zvIJgmjO4CoeC1MaMlsi7ndSJucuoax6wZvF3Ns_xhz882PuQ6toA9R-F-yIRm-cbdTruMqjPKPBsX9cacT9t2_qu789CCi8veyUFR0KXgD9h8_4pJpzA/s320/IMG_8177.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow! pure blue. The warm and the cool- no one does it better</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Photos don't do justice to the vibrance of Kevin's work. He continues to inspire me.</p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-11571208344581424432023-04-10T05:22:00.002-07:002023-04-10T05:22:59.408-07:00Sargent at the Legion of Honor<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvRxo779Fz7kYx7o3bB__2ni98NGhYeA8I7hJ3OW12ZECd0G01cGwqy8Dy1CpJjz0eZEx6eQE1odU9bN0vi4HdtzI3BfuQq4Wo3_DjM5JIdmNtBWUXunDvRDhhVkmoIR9ZMm83qvrpI7iZ6Y4Pavry9Mz_FRdQK7evxxFITwyC93g0rk3K5IQ5y-FTw/s4032/IMG_8080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvRxo779Fz7kYx7o3bB__2ni98NGhYeA8I7hJ3OW12ZECd0G01cGwqy8Dy1CpJjz0eZEx6eQE1odU9bN0vi4HdtzI3BfuQq4Wo3_DjM5JIdmNtBWUXunDvRDhhVkmoIR9ZMm83qvrpI7iZ6Y4Pavry9Mz_FRdQK7evxxFITwyC93g0rk3K5IQ5y-FTw/s320/IMG_8080.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOGxzpprjPwTKPucsBY6eD6FmdNEXAJuVMm1e1STKNIM3IRGJ7iUYaRUqi8uYez4LjDzc4eoOnZSnT_4QwlMV3szWa3JavHqT9rNJy0S97xVyiPy5nvex8CYtENz3Y3Tdpeqpn9ltwZluq7svWdiwRoMZ51_5L8R_ed-Bl0jdUNxiOuwmqRQaU-l_dA/s4032/IMG_8078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOGxzpprjPwTKPucsBY6eD6FmdNEXAJuVMm1e1STKNIM3IRGJ7iUYaRUqi8uYez4LjDzc4eoOnZSnT_4QwlMV3szWa3JavHqT9rNJy0S97xVyiPy5nvex8CYtENz3Y3Tdpeqpn9ltwZluq7svWdiwRoMZ51_5L8R_ed-Bl0jdUNxiOuwmqRQaU-l_dA/s320/IMG_8078.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail from Landscape below</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzjvxvzY3dEOm-ygVFKQkICZ8SaW2OY3Rafd_ZIqtXWTO6oYbvca7aC55Uzg8hMOEEumOkk0njdLV-VozGD8cebSsIvx9WQw4d8fXK_7_ifmaLetrobCJAnrZ1JZsocInIP_DED3BXcFy7L8vuHopzYZECgKcBfi_kQF52iAjw3xutzFCkOEnhFE1YA/s4032/IMG_8077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzjvxvzY3dEOm-ygVFKQkICZ8SaW2OY3Rafd_ZIqtXWTO6oYbvca7aC55Uzg8hMOEEumOkk0njdLV-VozGD8cebSsIvx9WQw4d8fXK_7_ifmaLetrobCJAnrZ1JZsocInIP_DED3BXcFy7L8vuHopzYZECgKcBfi_kQF52iAjw3xutzFCkOEnhFE1YA/s320/IMG_8077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail from Landscape below</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8U5HdeLJgXU_yAG2jZlaJ0UWlYH9X-tKhLHbg2mWQ3jI5Kydvmj7Kh9NYQSqe1kh_zxIQSmLc5zsBOMXDClxPTJjs0ENFSseh4vaviBuGL30fOic1drfDzPGBzwpbSiBAuAcpBtlagpiV-ieG8uMW7Zk8p-LYL0M4AJfOxMOmyQLxMXBLtPScg0Pk2w/s4032/IMG_8076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8U5HdeLJgXU_yAG2jZlaJ0UWlYH9X-tKhLHbg2mWQ3jI5Kydvmj7Kh9NYQSqe1kh_zxIQSmLc5zsBOMXDClxPTJjs0ENFSseh4vaviBuGL30fOic1drfDzPGBzwpbSiBAuAcpBtlagpiV-ieG8uMW7Zk8p-LYL0M4AJfOxMOmyQLxMXBLtPScg0Pk2w/s320/IMG_8076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish Hills-details above</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gIVPgqQyKPqLx1tyt9M6g-SKiYUi2sfwO5wu5Qr7Bjw-IiV8k-W35sHPl7KzTB5G2B0vFN76TEgWyxXhzN6oynVjAMOUEN5_4YoSaIyI9owaO7OWYFqB69ZAO6Se39WXUU1-1A0n2qq09eH-vn-jFWieGCYCfRyeRaCN6KUZ57kOy-YmJ_zqQzytpg/s4032/IMG_8066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gIVPgqQyKPqLx1tyt9M6g-SKiYUi2sfwO5wu5Qr7Bjw-IiV8k-W35sHPl7KzTB5G2B0vFN76TEgWyxXhzN6oynVjAMOUEN5_4YoSaIyI9owaO7OWYFqB69ZAO6Se39WXUU1-1A0n2qq09eH-vn-jFWieGCYCfRyeRaCN6KUZ57kOy-YmJ_zqQzytpg/s320/IMG_8066.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning light!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-ZO4pmxtn_C4hQgwOJyPk2fcjdd4qYJc7VnlEJUrHOySiO1cuqGB0LCN55Y9yiBdfXWHI4SLkVxwgCx_0SXqXFLMVjyxwCpRm6aa_HK075CH8qNM-7zLCcf1tPLMbjXlLUX5XQskMfhiVwfOaKzkxebuj2xIVmmCOkUfVQg2z5cxS8AVb_7OzM8-DA/s4032/IMG_8064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-ZO4pmxtn_C4hQgwOJyPk2fcjdd4qYJc7VnlEJUrHOySiO1cuqGB0LCN55Y9yiBdfXWHI4SLkVxwgCx_0SXqXFLMVjyxwCpRm6aa_HK075CH8qNM-7zLCcf1tPLMbjXlLUX5XQskMfhiVwfOaKzkxebuj2xIVmmCOkUfVQg2z5cxS8AVb_7OzM8-DA/s320/IMG_8064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyohw5i55nM6AfP5eGyCASwsSqGkg0qtHECQcEflo73UWsVFho0neV2mnFwGB1rVvhP228wuOoHyK6vQwQQzdU4dkUWF5GB0_SWfBsdozpMLVcmqrnuUrh2J8Vk5cxXkheg7LU-I-ZX6MXrp0ZOJea8NYe3TgSOPbutbmAKQiH_BpLVpUU_mAi9M3f4g/s4032/IMG_8055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyohw5i55nM6AfP5eGyCASwsSqGkg0qtHECQcEflo73UWsVFho0neV2mnFwGB1rVvhP228wuOoHyK6vQwQQzdU4dkUWF5GB0_SWfBsdozpMLVcmqrnuUrh2J8Vk5cxXkheg7LU-I-ZX6MXrp0ZOJea8NYe3TgSOPbutbmAKQiH_BpLVpUU_mAi9M3f4g/s320/IMG_8055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A familiar one</td></tr></tbody></table>I am a late in posting about this exhibit, but there is still a month or so left if you happen to be in or near San Fransisco before May 14th, 2023. I was there last month, working a visit to the Legion of Honor into visiting family. It is funny how I manage to do that! (It was a rainy day or else we would have also taken the trail along the cliffs from the Legion of Honor) This is my third out of state trip to see a John Singer Sargent Exhibit (two were in NYC and Brooklyn). This one focused only on his time in Spain. <a href="https://www.famsf.org/exhibitions/sargent-and-spain">https://www.famsf.org/exhibitions/sargent-and-spain</a> He was so prolific there has been very little overlap in going to see his works. Thankfully, he had the ways and means to paint as much as he wanted, and we are all the richer for it. <p></p><p>Sargent sure had a way with color and light. Some of these paintings positively glowed from across the room. Thankfully the day we went it was busy but not crowded so one could see both close up and from across the room. And take ones time. These are just a few examples of what caught my eye. The landscape was atypical for Sargent in my experience, but so rich in color and nuance. The last three above from the fountain to the girl walking down the street, show the continuity of his palette and how he can make the light around the fountain dance as well as light up the street from a distance or bring to life the Alhambra using very similar color mixes yet achieving very different effects.</p><p>The only disappointing aspect of this exhibition was the 'swag' being sold. The postcards chosen for reproduction did nothing for the paintings they represented and usually postcards are the better than what is printed in the books. I tend to buy coffee mugs as I travel, and the only mug was of one of my least favorite paintings in the show, a pomegranate tree. Even my old iPhone captured the light dancing around the fountain with the beautiful reflected light! This is the third exhibit (Alice Neel at the deYoung Museum in SF and recently here at the Denver Art Museum) I have gone to in the last few years where the quality has decidedly gone down in the Museum gift shops...I can't figure that one out. Cost more, quality sadly lacking. What could possibly be the excuse? I noticed I wasn't the only one walking out without buying anything, not that I believe that to be unusual...</p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-28786606395468065482023-03-30T16:02:00.005-07:002023-03-30T16:02:42.693-07:00Struttin' his Stuff - Giant Blue Heron<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja91ngRCOxzSAZooY9Ie75gHHkq0RC-_gzAbFxvFRWtuWpxL0ja-pHeVjNdFqV3FKa0_G_IxoHkCSpDiN9f-M-VRdosUcr9tAlPaPRPilm2ZHPLs9SuGlLhbhReGc3vTo8yWFbftOFeTOQOpxIpMAdCmi43fl5ZJ3075ZEHgdbO2b6nOJgSpXTSQv0ug/s432/Ekelund_BlueHeron_6x6_72-P1011659.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja91ngRCOxzSAZooY9Ie75gHHkq0RC-_gzAbFxvFRWtuWpxL0ja-pHeVjNdFqV3FKa0_G_IxoHkCSpDiN9f-M-VRdosUcr9tAlPaPRPilm2ZHPLs9SuGlLhbhReGc3vTo8yWFbftOFeTOQOpxIpMAdCmi43fl5ZJ3075ZEHgdbO2b6nOJgSpXTSQv0ug/s320/Ekelund_BlueHeron_6x6_72-P1011659.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Heron - Strutting, 6x6, oil, available</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> I did 3 sketches from life of this Blue Heron, as he hung around the beach in Pensacola FL a few years ago. He just kept walking back and forth and up and down! One sketch I cannot find, it was pen and ink- very different from this pencil sketch and the other is much like this one below, except the legs are too short in it. :-0 Finally did this small oil painting. It was intended to be submitted to the Randy Higbee 6x6 show in December, but it wasn't where I wanted it to be by the deadline. I have had this post sitting here as I tried to find the pen and ink drawing, but alas, I have given up. <div><br /></div><div>The colors of this bird, though 'blue,' are really quite varied. Such an elegant creature!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrDjPxINcznh7ggUoakklXuDxZ60iNa79ZeC-DrMnijnR0CFK8Q4WbzfI4s5cOPZ8xgQysucF3c5ra0t9UUexEIl0_gPWuDGc9LQJDtQ-FkzFWFv6wNP_qDMn-6uKMGL2KDFg1hgbIQzlyo8FyqOTn2F6URQbjkW0icgIg_Pch_TMQyxOhZv6P6LsBQ/s1724/19-BlueHeron-PensacolaFL-6x4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1724" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrDjPxINcznh7ggUoakklXuDxZ60iNa79ZeC-DrMnijnR0CFK8Q4WbzfI4s5cOPZ8xgQysucF3c5ra0t9UUexEIl0_gPWuDGc9LQJDtQ-FkzFWFv6wNP_qDMn-6uKMGL2KDFg1hgbIQzlyo8FyqOTn2F6URQbjkW0icgIg_Pch_TMQyxOhZv6P6LsBQ/s320/19-BlueHeron-PensacolaFL-6x4.jpeg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pencil sketch</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p></div>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-72158760662136309912023-03-22T05:00:00.001-07:002023-03-22T05:00:00.199-07:00<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz3Mu65qH7nhgHIh5_aNVUXUt68G-pE6CZXdfR4PaYItXkIYQk7sIo5AgGMnGgsobeM8t9yAwWGK-HW5nDxsP94QokXIvlfX0X86mFpIAGXzJj9nDCOu2BrLsEYidaL_ftYhZOd6DEP83hfGFLTnBSIf9bb83l02d-lNTKCsnA2zyy9RYAUFkplyIdA/s720/Ekelund_CabinKitchen_40x30_72P1011741.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz3Mu65qH7nhgHIh5_aNVUXUt68G-pE6CZXdfR4PaYItXkIYQk7sIo5AgGMnGgsobeM8t9yAwWGK-HW5nDxsP94QokXIvlfX0X86mFpIAGXzJj9nDCOu2BrLsEYidaL_ftYhZOd6DEP83hfGFLTnBSIf9bb83l02d-lNTKCsnA2zyy9RYAUFkplyIdA/w300-h400/Ekelund_CabinKitchen_40x30_72P1011741.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabin Kitchen, oil and linen, 40x30</td></tr></tbody></table>Here is a painting I started about two years ago now. I had driven to Arizona to visit an artist friend of mine. She had recently moved and was wanting some company to go plein air painting with. I was happy to oblige. It was mid-April, and much warmer than snowy Colorado. She had made a new friend recently who invited her to come to her cabin. I was included in that invitation, so off we went. This new friend was also a creative type and the yard of this cabin was full of these lanterns she had made. See example below. She made them out of vases, and bowls and ashtrays (from thrift stores) - whatever glassware she thought would work and then she adds a string of lights to the interior base which, though I didn't get a chance to see them lit up at night, I am sure is stunning. What a fun way to recycle and repurpose. There were LOTS of them, in all colors. They look like fun mushrooms sprouting all over the landscape. The 'mushroom' is glued to a stone base to prevent them from toppling over and breaking. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8B5NyvIAu_bQ7hHrDfW-2hAClk4YVcESQm87yymR8j3O1s-lkQF19GWLzX_ilOwmiOxyuauh5vLQ__3x-jTCR85LmjzUtg11jwnS6gHwT8e8aWvxqR_RdQHbZp1m4MgtGXgLQG8oY07zMAXI_I6HG48l4LxU_gW-r-OuH_ffUzDQ2quksIbzky4k6wA/s4032/IMG_6328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8B5NyvIAu_bQ7hHrDfW-2hAClk4YVcESQm87yymR8j3O1s-lkQF19GWLzX_ilOwmiOxyuauh5vLQ__3x-jTCR85LmjzUtg11jwnS6gHwT8e8aWvxqR_RdQHbZp1m4MgtGXgLQG8oY07zMAXI_I6HG48l4LxU_gW-r-OuH_ffUzDQ2quksIbzky4k6wA/s320/IMG_6328.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>So back to the painting. She gave us a tour of the interior of the cabin as well. They do not live in the cabin full time but it was as funky inside as it was outside. This kitchen painting is only the first I hope to do of the interior of the cabin. (I did ask permission to take photos inside.) It is a large, for me, painting, with so much going on in it, I had to let it sit, sometimes for months, to be sure the perspective was right and I wasn't getting to nit picky about details, which I am prone to do. This sat for months again once I felt it was done, and when I didn't feel inclined to go back to it, have deemed it 'finished' - at least enough to post it. I found this kitchen to be inviting; where you just want to walk in and explore. Hope you do too! </div>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-43180611075841387062023-03-14T04:00:00.001-07:002023-03-14T04:00:00.190-07:00Before and After, Debbie's Place<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWNqZNn747TR9PzABVIkVdkwwuKEan9DBJvR62wkizZEL_kH_bU4tEtKoBT828dU7TMqpS0P6pSk2_5LWHtT_1wA05YuX_GyDBd3TdY4oVKmsfzFPKOxbNgdQv2y90TU4vALQ1xhdFwgIFWfwVigCUtgTZpP9HxcBMcNV2VDLtw3sKafrqeqM6evfgA/s576/Ekelund_DebbiesPlace_11x14_72-P1011726.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="576" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWNqZNn747TR9PzABVIkVdkwwuKEan9DBJvR62wkizZEL_kH_bU4tEtKoBT828dU7TMqpS0P6pSk2_5LWHtT_1wA05YuX_GyDBd3TdY4oVKmsfzFPKOxbNgdQv2y90TU4vALQ1xhdFwgIFWfwVigCUtgTZpP9HxcBMcNV2VDLtw3sKafrqeqM6evfgA/s320/Ekelund_DebbiesPlace_11x14_72-P1011726.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debbie's Place, Hopland CA, oil, 11x14</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>This painting was started as a plein air painting in 2007. Debbie was a neighbor of my in-laws up the road in rural Hopland CA. I regularly brought my plein air gear when visiting and did many paintings over the years of this area. Debbie raised these sheep for their wool which she sold to weavers all over the country. I have sold many paintings of her sheep! This was one of my more adventurous paintings from that time period. My vantage point is looking down the hill from behind the fence, standing on the side of the dirt road that is basically one lane. Traffic was not usually a problem.</p><p>I recently reworked it yet again as I can't seem to get it where I want it. I think it is as good as it is going to get. When I can't get motivated to paint on the current round of canvas's I have going, revisiting an unsold painting is an easy way to get me interested. Nothing is ever finished around here until it goes out the door! There is a wedding in the family coming up and I was wondering if I should do a new painting for the happy couple or one that the bride would relate to from her childhood. That was the motivation on picking this particular piece to revisit. Some of the photos below are darker than the painting would have been due to the changing digital photo technology but they are not tampered with.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ylkQ_YWjnzYCjbJ5HFWZfGyiGJKFWeaGUCf93qlWHcqjE0eF4TgNfBsE0S8nnv2-O5FfVdln9ifRajkS6tU1nh_CNGbLV5QajBoPPLpe7N94WscYDw7xMpp6Af5i0fMm2d1uMmLEXmFvA_8UVDzAxdTwnAe90-nLh-x6YOSbq0OWeWXCB8EL1Dupew/s720/DebbiesPlace06_newsetup2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="720" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ylkQ_YWjnzYCjbJ5HFWZfGyiGJKFWeaGUCf93qlWHcqjE0eF4TgNfBsE0S8nnv2-O5FfVdln9ifRajkS6tU1nh_CNGbLV5QajBoPPLpe7N94WscYDw7xMpp6Af5i0fMm2d1uMmLEXmFvA_8UVDzAxdTwnAe90-nLh-x6YOSbq0OWeWXCB8EL1Dupew/s320/DebbiesPlace06_newsetup2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original, plein air, 2007</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkvRoecYfH4kofAjZcbQpS7W9mtVjYWsQdu0QjhXl7nQLfIe7Rl4qg-QSYOZBGvw9FVU1XRGz5YMjkES6A6BxR9N_6VWgLrkkBryTihNi0po-p6ZovkJazyLr2JvRGabCn0ow7WbDk1hwFRhIQ7t-o6INJXYH4xzdBHWlkjSEqJOEAjcD8MWo_4WRDw/s720/DebbiesPlacesm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="720" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkvRoecYfH4kofAjZcbQpS7W9mtVjYWsQdu0QjhXl7nQLfIe7Rl4qg-QSYOZBGvw9FVU1XRGz5YMjkES6A6BxR9N_6VWgLrkkBryTihNi0po-p6ZovkJazyLr2JvRGabCn0ow7WbDk1hwFRhIQ7t-o6INJXYH4xzdBHWlkjSEqJOEAjcD8MWo_4WRDw/s320/DebbiesPlacesm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Revision, 2008, looks like a yellow filter! but not<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>It looks like I corrected some of the drawing on the sheep's shed and took out the blues and dark greens from the grassy hill. I wonder if that was shadows from the trees originally as the roadway was bordered by trees? It is too long ago now for me to know what is was that I was doing as the photo I took has the hillside in sun.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDMlayyzJ_9KanBaCQEeUhjWUplVZg37qJZlqpADOMrE2shDrHOZ5P2DgK07StBskhzVYzrYTCRYmgwPQrorDdebEbh3YPFngOlY9UjLf17k1Ep2jfPlaVlyTzEYRB6JOuWExjxurCyv2IUIP2xvhz75M87qMytlR01ix8qj71pKf_aTXWOoQn-OlQg/s575/VMEkelund_DebbiesPlace_11x14.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="575" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDMlayyzJ_9KanBaCQEeUhjWUplVZg37qJZlqpADOMrE2shDrHOZ5P2DgK07StBskhzVYzrYTCRYmgwPQrorDdebEbh3YPFngOlY9UjLf17k1Ep2jfPlaVlyTzEYRB6JOuWExjxurCyv2IUIP2xvhz75M87qMytlR01ix8qj71pKf_aTXWOoQn-OlQg/s320/VMEkelund_DebbiesPlace_11x14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Revision, 2011</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have not included the 3rd or was it the 4th revision as it is very similar to the second except I added the dark sheep in the middle ground in the middle. The original plein air is not as bad as I expected it to be, but then, I have a history of not liking what I do on site and can't keep my hands off of it. Either I wipe it off then and there or I keep finding fault in it. I have gotten better about these high expectations over the years, but I don't paint outdoors as much and I have learned the hard way that they are not normally as bad as I think they are if I let them sit for awhile. Those painting that do end up being as bad as I thought, I have been painting over, which I enjoy doing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-34379881009981987302023-03-09T09:41:00.001-08:002023-05-14T13:44:40.909-07:00White Phalaenopsis<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizvQTXGEPmYIsju3gHLy8V9WXeKp2B0FIZNvtYOrOk0sNB0OWS3ZoBwRPaHAmTWqlcEU-SboZi_jP17cXHISBDQaU5Y41cnKD2jfb4JGpDxqw9t48Jm163qpTTlBNV_6heUD3dfRtxdNj0IUimo08dJ_wc_LlKToQKLSZAX4seRShlEO45DmuB3Fc0w/s4032/IMG_7929.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizvQTXGEPmYIsju3gHLy8V9WXeKp2B0FIZNvtYOrOk0sNB0OWS3ZoBwRPaHAmTWqlcEU-SboZi_jP17cXHISBDQaU5Y41cnKD2jfb4JGpDxqw9t48Jm163qpTTlBNV_6heUD3dfRtxdNj0IUimo08dJ_wc_LlKToQKLSZAX4seRShlEO45DmuB3Fc0w/s320/IMG_7929.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">block in</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJjwKTQjarEv0K8jrZyYkSquNd_SdhY9_3jWaxpnw1h_ly855MFk_5PUUjROYNB-09moWncS8xL358-3hblKADwta1w5Bk8Dxn5j5nVEIfT5cgHMn7c6mCjsa98JVdBewrEsrn_BzeNgUw9tERJibpBRfMElguWWvXyux4n8aaz0VKquLs3ntGgx-Jqg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3956" data-original-width="1895" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJjwKTQjarEv0K8jrZyYkSquNd_SdhY9_3jWaxpnw1h_ly855MFk_5PUUjROYNB-09moWncS8xL358-3hblKADwta1w5Bk8Dxn5j5nVEIfT5cgHMn7c6mCjsa98JVdBewrEsrn_BzeNgUw9tERJibpBRfMElguWWvXyux4n8aaz0VKquLs3ntGgx-Jqg=w191-h400" width="191" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Phil, 24x12, oil, available</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Here is a painting I did recently. I am not convinced it is finished, but I was done. It has been awhile since I painted an orchid from life and with 4 orchids in bloom right now I went with the one that was most advanced in its bloom. It took me longer than I care to admit, working on it over days, trying for the same time of day, which isn't always that easy.<br /><p></p><p>In the block in I was thinking I would add an abstracted version of the desk that is the background of this none set up. I literally just brought the orchid and set it on the computer table I have next to my easel. I then decided I didn't like the idea of the desk but I kept the dark band across the white orchids for contrast. as well as the color of the wall behind the desk. The only color I made up is the golden color in the middle. That would be very dark as well otherwise. I have a gold screen I often use as a simple backdrop for these impromptu still life set ups so that is, I am sure, why I picked that color.</p><p>An artist friend of mine was over the other day and I asked her opinion on whether this needed any more work and she said 'no.' I signed it and am posting it 'as is'. I am trying hard to not keep 'fine tuning' it as is my won't.</p><p>A better photo added later: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp6XMaQKEzS5GeL1tEq2IZm1DgaAlUZ8nAtDU-mHaag8pj9cDlB1zXFQaWJ5AmkLoKAK4ZIR9D67PhXbX46aOP2JU_VNdrOwqQJtWrO1fGZqKtIqwYO5_sjkqvkKYo_1XdC1Qi0dzqR8sbtlJgI0jSkbmvqFrNMCUAOhBPs1KO0SHgiVJGyrrz_VR9A/s720/72-23Ekelund_WhitePhatl_24x12_P1011771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="345" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp6XMaQKEzS5GeL1tEq2IZm1DgaAlUZ8nAtDU-mHaag8pj9cDlB1zXFQaWJ5AmkLoKAK4ZIR9D67PhXbX46aOP2JU_VNdrOwqQJtWrO1fGZqKtIqwYO5_sjkqvkKYo_1XdC1Qi0dzqR8sbtlJgI0jSkbmvqFrNMCUAOhBPs1KO0SHgiVJGyrrz_VR9A/w191-h400/72-23Ekelund_WhitePhatl_24x12_P1011771.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-18233196042297410392023-01-04T13:08:00.000-08:002023-01-04T13:08:31.825-08:00Bosc Pears Turned Around<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpRfy5rgT0mlBAg2tyDV12pP2q3F3DvMQYvsv90QZ5-aheOGNWJppbPtt3_TB1R4ZiYH71l08o4N878FeBKkG2QGeI92DrgzXBKT_2KPkpAjDK8m_zhxDsf68DZXVV0C3QI8aTr5pWkUgBwp5LhVYWs95rJQ-ndcvDS6vWjxZkniq2TogtcYunW4bYQ/s4032/IMG_7888.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpRfy5rgT0mlBAg2tyDV12pP2q3F3DvMQYvsv90QZ5-aheOGNWJppbPtt3_TB1R4ZiYH71l08o4N878FeBKkG2QGeI92DrgzXBKT_2KPkpAjDK8m_zhxDsf68DZXVV0C3QI8aTr5pWkUgBwp5LhVYWs95rJQ-ndcvDS6vWjxZkniq2TogtcYunW4bYQ/s320/IMG_7888.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Conversation, oil, 6x8, available</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wOOyPgiCZki_397W0u6Q9P6cqH_qHeDNJ7V_677tDSwuSjZwS0V_fU--vwNdv_UyBR6x16siwRcUv86ioDV2iUGzFzfDTQtsMCOjwB2VDTfZo2_Wz-xYCNU3kQtdfsBR6rUON_FmY1PCCf3jcv3FyDp0begSO8AzUQG8Im03_4rsD7B704XyOuyNNg/s4032/IMG_7873.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wOOyPgiCZki_397W0u6Q9P6cqH_qHeDNJ7V_677tDSwuSjZwS0V_fU--vwNdv_UyBR6x16siwRcUv86ioDV2iUGzFzfDTQtsMCOjwB2VDTfZo2_Wz-xYCNU3kQtdfsBR6rUON_FmY1PCCf3jcv3FyDp0begSO8AzUQG8Im03_4rsD7B704XyOuyNNg/s320/IMG_7873.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side by side with initial blocking in</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The same basic set up as with the <a href="https://victoriasart.blogspot.com/2022/12/" target="_blank">blue background</a> except I turned the pears to another angle where they would still stand up on their own and used some of my scrap paper to change the background color. It sets up a more intimate pose for these two pears to continue their conversation. I had found a clean 6x8 panel which I didn't realize I had as I rarely paint this size anymore. This was the next day and already the pears are ripening quickly. This one I think I can call "the Conversation." </p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-8254939583425563632022-12-28T09:22:00.004-08:002022-12-28T09:30:46.016-08:00What is it with painting Pears?<p>A question that was asked of me by a student I have been working with. I have done MORE continuous line drawings with more pears, being as they are currently in season. And those drawings turn me to my easel to paint them. I suggested to him that he try drawing pears to see why so many artists like to paint pears to see where it leads him. I have my own theories about why I am drawn to pears.</p><p>I am not going to include the line drawings in this post, just a progression as I painted over an old plein air landscape. You can see I set the pears up right at eye level on my easel. Nothing fancy at all. In fact, using the 2x4 is rather tippy and I had to be careful the painting and 2x4 didn't end up on my palette! But then, why not add a little adventure to the whole thing? Since I used a red background before I decided to use a piece of blue mat board this time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaB0c_4BthSdg2hyfWI3jPoIEVA69GfHd1tQvwL3pjl5HbtijO2JTtFaLS6p3diMkvSFC4L9BdM6XMuyy0xVFwOZKYoWnVUZ4XSA5z3rAZDCBe52qzAqqxlJWMKk4qFWjTUsn_JZsiXBnTAGJr5ezDHjDciI1K1RcYn10X4hwE_4RmMOvYUO2kI2VSg/s4032/IMG_7866.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaB0c_4BthSdg2hyfWI3jPoIEVA69GfHd1tQvwL3pjl5HbtijO2JTtFaLS6p3diMkvSFC4L9BdM6XMuyy0xVFwOZKYoWnVUZ4XSA5z3rAZDCBe52qzAqqxlJWMKk4qFWjTUsn_JZsiXBnTAGJr5ezDHjDciI1K1RcYn10X4hwE_4RmMOvYUO2kI2VSg/s320/IMG_7866.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set up with 6x8 old painting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXTnJb6be3ZC-Tv3KpiicSm8OqUCTloVihdSMS_FUtX9UtFfb6BymXUyLyv6kbOXtLJKMjPqk6UHme3Qgc0JHlgs6IgqMWMwmuQI0LjVEKfQbKDTxrRpGhxxLm36TUiczaM0eYB-Vc7eMVXdt2IA4-SycaEpn7XB_PW5oMOHgqecXxD6808He9t9mPQ/s4032/IMG_7867.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXTnJb6be3ZC-Tv3KpiicSm8OqUCTloVihdSMS_FUtX9UtFfb6BymXUyLyv6kbOXtLJKMjPqk6UHme3Qgc0JHlgs6IgqMWMwmuQI0LjVEKfQbKDTxrRpGhxxLm36TUiczaM0eYB-Vc7eMVXdt2IA4-SycaEpn7XB_PW5oMOHgqecXxD6808He9t9mPQ/s320/IMG_7867.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blocking in the pears with a lime green</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNMa6q7EdQAWQLiqziXxRwfSv7fs7KhJt1Xt_-YDpywkXlOcoaUuSaa4uo4NIcrJYa9KR31ZfXeT0wBFPHUyqhb7OMJcgGfvIW5qbO4xGN-TwSwfvwJK54XEJR4JIPLJ0kf0jupVcBmJDLmtF6Q4ckjxElF9OleNViH9qwXWYzIU63kOTHitBRyckFA/s4032/IMG_7869.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNMa6q7EdQAWQLiqziXxRwfSv7fs7KhJt1Xt_-YDpywkXlOcoaUuSaa4uo4NIcrJYa9KR31ZfXeT0wBFPHUyqhb7OMJcgGfvIW5qbO4xGN-TwSwfvwJK54XEJR4JIPLJ0kf0jupVcBmJDLmtF6Q4ckjxElF9OleNViH9qwXWYzIU63kOTHitBRyckFA/s320/IMG_7869.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blocking in with blue background and brick</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzNjlV7lOuU25mqH0zeHiOpR33Bay6-QpBjUGDHyUtZiOV42CDnYAkPhGH7IC_G6TkMJYhRi8bnrq5IIzILR-DUT-4LbfjDVlcWO3SKrpOT8lVpUubqkfj5Hq2QMYn0XJKWoWZxGS7FDm45Sg-7g1hrhBBCvFr5Wo7nPG6j6xWLOksBbf3CHLIxNugA/s4032/IMG_7870.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzNjlV7lOuU25mqH0zeHiOpR33Bay6-QpBjUGDHyUtZiOV42CDnYAkPhGH7IC_G6TkMJYhRi8bnrq5IIzILR-DUT-4LbfjDVlcWO3SKrpOT8lVpUubqkfj5Hq2QMYn0XJKWoWZxGS7FDm45Sg-7g1hrhBBCvFr5Wo7nPG6j6xWLOksBbf3CHLIxNugA/s320/IMG_7870.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bosc Pears- further blocking in</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1SKqUpnD1mBIq8ZwpBECg0MX6C8PaDDyzl7C2WJVh1gX3fve7j1gVZerhVRuyrGWfHIaZzUQ_oDTbOLc3tcGygugX2ys628YOwgL3fwKTFHncDkXx9-WW5oporxS2GWDMm-r8EaPpH1yGLpRoXCqwnLNZ_6HH2WJcHJEUfNiyZqk2XhcyssxegEiBQ/s4032/IMG_7871.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1SKqUpnD1mBIq8ZwpBECg0MX6C8PaDDyzl7C2WJVh1gX3fve7j1gVZerhVRuyrGWfHIaZzUQ_oDTbOLc3tcGygugX2ys628YOwgL3fwKTFHncDkXx9-WW5oporxS2GWDMm-r8EaPpH1yGLpRoXCqwnLNZ_6HH2WJcHJEUfNiyZqk2XhcyssxegEiBQ/s320/IMG_7871.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bosc Pears, next to set up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8RAufT3fbkZhH4YFhl4JGKddL54poywJAMo4ATv3gZyOhyyoLNuk5MQNjiXlZ1pS6zuUh8zip18EkOMugjgqsB_ntqJvY5TJGDpM0oA9zb5v072-fbiIauMeL4ia5l8A5tKPCUxYrr-AqdqfBdnx1cicT9j_9mlcJCV6dduJ_Pk7ojfOPn2Ph09XtQ/s4032/IMG_7872.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8RAufT3fbkZhH4YFhl4JGKddL54poywJAMo4ATv3gZyOhyyoLNuk5MQNjiXlZ1pS6zuUh8zip18EkOMugjgqsB_ntqJvY5TJGDpM0oA9zb5v072-fbiIauMeL4ia5l8A5tKPCUxYrr-AqdqfBdnx1cicT9j_9mlcJCV6dduJ_Pk7ojfOPn2Ph09XtQ/s320/IMG_7872.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bosc Pears, Still looking for a Title, 6x8, oil</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I had thought to name this little study "the Conversation." Yet it almost looks like the Pear on the left is listening closely while the pear on the right is maybe a bit forward in what it has to say. The stems are intimating a heart shape now that I look at it differently. A title is not coming to me. Any help with a title would be greatly appreciated. I have used "Tete a Tete" before.</p><p>These fun studio studies keep me from getting too serious in my studio works since I don't get outside and paint as much as I used to. I do think it is important to paint from life whatever that looks like. These don't take much of a time commitment as I do try to keep moving and not think too hard about it. Just observe.</p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-29541273140059022582022-12-05T15:44:00.000-08:002022-12-05T15:44:13.688-08:00Randy Higbee Gallery online 6x6 show<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4kDZ3J-kHpavP10Gith6lnVx4eZ39aAbQrjEc7sIASo6T1qJvjTqqAXNZ-kHckBBFIbTWzWhmc3JzmLOLbXaniE0PsfdNSuuf6RNTUSPiqT_nTyLEATE33QvdMwFJs6IYVAU6v2WtUb2jiEeYd3JjIy4R7yvEWzshRolRLILr0i8xYkKq4gZDQ081A/s432/Ekelund_TheLongView_6x6-72-P1011648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4kDZ3J-kHpavP10Gith6lnVx4eZ39aAbQrjEc7sIASo6T1qJvjTqqAXNZ-kHckBBFIbTWzWhmc3JzmLOLbXaniE0PsfdNSuuf6RNTUSPiqT_nTyLEATE33QvdMwFJs6IYVAU6v2WtUb2jiEeYd3JjIy4R7yvEWzshRolRLILr0i8xYkKq4gZDQ081A/s320/Ekelund_TheLongView_6x6-72-P1011648.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Longview, 6x6, oil</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took the reference photo for this on the Gulf side of Florida. That is where my favorite beaches are. I was captured by this boy in his lime green garb watching the paddle boarder. It felt like he was thinking "I could do that!" That can do attitude, along with the colors is what motivated this little gem. To access this and to see the show, <a href="https://onlinegalleryshows.com/collections/2nd-annual-6-squared-online-exhibition-and-sale/artist-victoria-ekelund" target="_blank">https://onlinegalleryshows.com/collections/2nd-annual-6-squared-online-exhibition-and-sale/artist-victoria-ekelund</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftzUUE9va-KtM2VUv-ak5V0_RVaU4H6I1UdhyneWERLY2bDW9csDduWBiETEoP5OKFR5_JUYxjXTjeQG3Hsx9wMJQCXb5vzZum1JRMGJomiDveMzsgnFaf5Br8H4uyhuy4gODjGxbuBFhLdizJIF_-UBBH14JiRqr_3ig9JQxLD2gvkBpBuEh-CQeGQ/s432/Ekelund_SoCalSunset_6x6_72-P1011657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftzUUE9va-KtM2VUv-ak5V0_RVaU4H6I1UdhyneWERLY2bDW9csDduWBiETEoP5OKFR5_JUYxjXTjeQG3Hsx9wMJQCXb5vzZum1JRMGJomiDveMzsgnFaf5Br8H4uyhuy4gODjGxbuBFhLdizJIF_-UBBH14JiRqr_3ig9JQxLD2gvkBpBuEh-CQeGQ/s320/Ekelund_SoCalSunset_6x6_72-P1011657.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SoCal Sunset, 6x6, oil</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This scene was from a restaurant we went to for my sister's birthday. Where it is specifically, I can't remember. It was up the coast from Ventura is the best I can come up with. I liked this silhouette against the sun setting as we ate.</div><br /> <p></p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-45744801053777424812022-11-23T11:54:00.000-08:002022-11-23T11:54:20.615-08:00Eggplants as inspiration<p> These eggplants were the last I harvested from my garden before the temperatures dropped. I decided to memorialize them as I wasn't sure I would be able to eat them all. I set them on my dining room table being to lazy to go up to my studio as well as wanting a different venue.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorsa7inFxsg6H29C1jzd1AWlyFHzC58obYUfA-SAKBQ--u1hvGV1Y4CysrdFBCNIVjK-Qsdcjfq1p1LMhNnN29OGHzq82v-O4M5_n-INvvqG5bi3mGnNJraEotvms6m_6BvgBPp-s7L1v8nHFkapJVu8aeF_KdkZviqHkKhyzfM1mCeUTq8eaCa8BEA/s1390/22Eggplants.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1390" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorsa7inFxsg6H29C1jzd1AWlyFHzC58obYUfA-SAKBQ--u1hvGV1Y4CysrdFBCNIVjK-Qsdcjfq1p1LMhNnN29OGHzq82v-O4M5_n-INvvqG5bi3mGnNJraEotvms6m_6BvgBPp-s7L1v8nHFkapJVu8aeF_KdkZviqHkKhyzfM1mCeUTq8eaCa8BEA/s320/22Eggplants.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1</td></tr></tbody></table>Here they are in front of my seat at the dining room table<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bYF6XaNgUYFJCZz37g2TnpNmGlcezUwgtrJR_ErrR8ji9-brVLL8GjYTF896gUlPaT0b7mdLBBEddO2znJX4fh-0zvExHQd6a9eDhRTcN8LthjHfjkgkpOkr6Cz3wW0eNJPzy22rRQdM5TgSk7-C1fsesPuSoBHLR9j9mwV10r9BgMhyc6NTmNeg5g/s1375/22EggplantsReversed.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1375" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bYF6XaNgUYFJCZz37g2TnpNmGlcezUwgtrJR_ErrR8ji9-brVLL8GjYTF896gUlPaT0b7mdLBBEddO2znJX4fh-0zvExHQd6a9eDhRTcN8LthjHfjkgkpOkr6Cz3wW0eNJPzy22rRQdM5TgSk7-C1fsesPuSoBHLR9j9mwV10r9BgMhyc6NTmNeg5g/s320/22EggplantsReversed.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Then I went to the chair across the table and did the reverse view. I must be easy to please as I had so much fun doing these.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfupV964ae07cIKEMSF_fM_sKI6kbjNcgePfd2pmPzUi7NKK8QCr34Nr9SdLK3Ph3LDCSFnVncnvzunklv69wgPqDKgvRkx3Y4kUxQsIdFLi1_eDJFBLkCj6EU1xT0gdL89zgTZnV2NdjErbT6ZofYi4cYB3fS_wS1uvJ3f_yEh3Aiz1WY6m-__Ua_nw/s720/Ekelund_4UprightEggplant_9x12-72-P1011639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfupV964ae07cIKEMSF_fM_sKI6kbjNcgePfd2pmPzUi7NKK8QCr34Nr9SdLK3Ph3LDCSFnVncnvzunklv69wgPqDKgvRkx3Y4kUxQsIdFLi1_eDJFBLkCj6EU1xT0gdL89zgTZnV2NdjErbT6ZofYi4cYB3fS_wS1uvJ3f_yEh3Aiz1WY6m-__Ua_nw/s320/Ekelund_4UprightEggplant_9x12-72-P1011639.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3</td></tr></tbody></table>Deciding I did not want to move the set up, I left it up and did this painting at the table. I did not have any clean 9x12 panels so I grabbed a panel with an old painting on it that was not worth saving. I like painting over old paintings anyway. This was painted in less than an hour. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSjP9pPoslMB41dBuqxsEnfCuCjDvHBT_YhsN8NCiTy3CvvNMzBh4UvfZFUHpApeC5MwMjgVD-j4Mzmz4QdaPZbYPCmET8Ki-t9qFHHl3_bd7giu_aGZyfuAc4xyFTEC8oM9khnn9bz85epmHe82gs0CQIR4kPKuF5_DfAVh-rde_Ahey1RYExSFWrA/s720/Ekelund_4UprightReversed_12x9-72-P1011633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSjP9pPoslMB41dBuqxsEnfCuCjDvHBT_YhsN8NCiTy3CvvNMzBh4UvfZFUHpApeC5MwMjgVD-j4Mzmz4QdaPZbYPCmET8Ki-t9qFHHl3_bd7giu_aGZyfuAc4xyFTEC8oM9khnn9bz85epmHe82gs0CQIR4kPKuF5_DfAVh-rde_Ahey1RYExSFWrA/s320/Ekelund_4UprightReversed_12x9-72-P1011633.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#4</td></tr></tbody></table><div>Of course, I then had to do the other side too! The painting below is the one underneath #4. It had been varnished, which tends to absorb the paint on top of it which you can see in the top of the new painting. The whitish effect from the varnish. I liked the red 'swirls' coming through from below. These paintings are done just for the pure joy I get from doing them to see the effects. I could have spent more time totally obliterating the painting beneath. This was done in less than an hour too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvVePdxlmO1a2sWzajP5Dv1x3RcicAV1g3EjJhThlz3npPiGz_5ZDBdySlEdbef3SVTZJrZniaWOre833Ep9A7ittlKHIjOo3t3gL0nsL3TpaXPuhAin4319QwILT8smf97p0JtFapM7FO0Dd_6aXqa9kKbMnP8oY3xwYg3LVtdq_9MdyW80n9lNJEw/s576/Ekelund_GardenProduce_oil_9x12_319-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvVePdxlmO1a2sWzajP5Dv1x3RcicAV1g3EjJhThlz3npPiGz_5ZDBdySlEdbef3SVTZJrZniaWOre833Ep9A7ittlKHIjOo3t3gL0nsL3TpaXPuhAin4319QwILT8smf97p0JtFapM7FO0Dd_6aXqa9kKbMnP8oY3xwYg3LVtdq_9MdyW80n9lNJEw/s320/Ekelund_GardenProduce_oil_9x12_319-72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>These acorn squash and peppers were also the last harvest from the garden but way back in the day. I want to say 20 years ago.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-21246669442697402702022-11-20T15:05:00.005-08:002022-11-20T15:05:54.829-08:00The Pears have it<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last week a bag of little red pears were on a manager's special of $.97 for 3 pounds! How could I pass that up? The first thing I did with them was to do some continuous line drawings. I started doing continuous line drawings because it is a good reminder to look at what you are drawing not at what you are doing so much on the paper. I had done some eggplants and clementines the week or so before and had so much fun doing them, so I am trying to do some every day or so. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are the pear sketches. As with the eggplant, I ended up doing a painting. Each of these sketches takes about 5 minutes or so. No more than 10. So really no excuse not to do something every day.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpYovK40aaykuxBDCka21y6iKTdBT4hojF9C66L03Q5ySsRPoyErOTlANTwIZCs2fwgHN2LloxXP_StQHA2skigYGdsKMwpXibm3Oy0lewcik-KnfYvSp2kY9F1zu7RqWx3mfvOaXRFNtE3TN96TQqzQ0XSHKedgDZrQm9NZXwX1YpzOw_A3EmLHuSA/s4032/IMG_7834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpYovK40aaykuxBDCka21y6iKTdBT4hojF9C66L03Q5ySsRPoyErOTlANTwIZCs2fwgHN2LloxXP_StQHA2skigYGdsKMwpXibm3Oy0lewcik-KnfYvSp2kY9F1zu7RqWx3mfvOaXRFNtE3TN96TQqzQ0XSHKedgDZrQm9NZXwX1YpzOw_A3EmLHuSA/s320/IMG_7834.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't always add the shading but it helped to keep my pencil on the paper to do so with this set up.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCsJXz0gBtnkLb6FK6PGU695l1ss59WYFZq5Hovgf5b5Qfe31GZ5dp4nZJnfvDWBCxLTWyoWtoV_3D-PTatx47DWjuv9ltyeGN7SUBuOBYWGz_X44UaNfMjYKm4fhX-SH4thY_56ZSprKah26pn4wgeGB6qyXsIWsbyOAKgHTjGXYxopu2pdOknLHhQ/s4032/IMG_7835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCsJXz0gBtnkLb6FK6PGU695l1ss59WYFZq5Hovgf5b5Qfe31GZ5dp4nZJnfvDWBCxLTWyoWtoV_3D-PTatx47DWjuv9ltyeGN7SUBuOBYWGz_X44UaNfMjYKm4fhX-SH4thY_56ZSprKah26pn4wgeGB6qyXsIWsbyOAKgHTjGXYxopu2pdOknLHhQ/s320/IMG_7835.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thought I had done more than one from this perspective, but I only have one. I know I thought about it. It gets the creative juices flowing to play around with the set up.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeVsipG1ZxzG4UIC8mXaVrQM0aU4ciRIx9cu-vlUvuOug8dVZ5yODYLAMUnySP95CgSbzMv5-4WuWDGFkjPYibvG0wr5Z9U0_6ctRgGNfiYhKfkOjS_N5ZzjRVRUyEpgOafPgjl-OezERhveXU0_7eTBiHxKY_YB0pZ1U_Qo2SuwWGu6MZOd1ldn3XQ/s4032/IMG_7836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeVsipG1ZxzG4UIC8mXaVrQM0aU4ciRIx9cu-vlUvuOug8dVZ5yODYLAMUnySP95CgSbzMv5-4WuWDGFkjPYibvG0wr5Z9U0_6ctRgGNfiYhKfkOjS_N5ZzjRVRUyEpgOafPgjl-OezERhveXU0_7eTBiHxKY_YB0pZ1U_Qo2SuwWGu6MZOd1ldn3XQ/s320/IMG_7836.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did lift my pencil to do the solo pear but otherwise each section was done without. I dumped these out on the table to see what it would look like.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNyKSGpRRASA8_JgrZeN1-WA2p8gtvqfVNPYNg7gTnmnLUEK2DjZjKOa6mpCE7_DNS5yIVWhk96mnJ6um52sp_x6CE_9bCuO0WX832sFfGdJaaaBfa_caElSe7_nujKPDu8Kaj7gB7P2MO7boUbBkoLPzVmb4aXnshfezwnhm9l4FGKcaEtZ2zlageg/s2778/IMG_7826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2755" data-original-width="2778" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNyKSGpRRASA8_JgrZeN1-WA2p8gtvqfVNPYNg7gTnmnLUEK2DjZjKOa6mpCE7_DNS5yIVWhk96mnJ6um52sp_x6CE_9bCuO0WX832sFfGdJaaaBfa_caElSe7_nujKPDu8Kaj7gB7P2MO7boUbBkoLPzVmb4aXnshfezwnhm9l4FGKcaEtZ2zlageg/s320/IMG_7826.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#4</td></tr></tbody></table>The drawings lead to this little 6x6 painting. Which was great fun to paint.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6Nqx2_OLqhB46rt3y9lWUU6kz1PfRU0kRCyATBORpRi75OFIicWNWMZn3A6yE_oS4uEMOheTkJs3fswJLrJx60Bj6qkFqg8DehVX20M70jg7ULh-D521uH1xQpJWkPwBMqkrjskLVpHf97rNIPcHI_hWTf-0fX5FiACYQbLFEgek0fNR-d4Iy6hDMA/s4032/IMG_7830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6Nqx2_OLqhB46rt3y9lWUU6kz1PfRU0kRCyATBORpRi75OFIicWNWMZn3A6yE_oS4uEMOheTkJs3fswJLrJx60Bj6qkFqg8DehVX20M70jg7ULh-D521uH1xQpJWkPwBMqkrjskLVpHf97rNIPcHI_hWTf-0fX5FiACYQbLFEgek0fNR-d4Iy6hDMA/s320/IMG_7830.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#6</td></tr></tbody></table>Then I sliced them all up and dried them~ dried pears are the best and still so beautiful.<br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-80234595598733921552022-11-18T15:57:00.000-08:002022-11-18T15:57:10.370-08:00True Confessions<p>I started this post two months ago-then promptly forgot about it.<br /></p><p>Many of you may not remember the publication from back in the day and truthfully, I don't know much about it. The title sure stuck in my brain, however. It is a humbling experience to review ones work and find some of it, surprising in its lack of what one knows as a foundational principle.<br /></p><p>This is one that first struck me as decidedly 'off' and yet at the time of its execution I thought I had done such a good representation. Which I had done. The thing was, I ignored what I knew and copied the image with its distortions as if it were true to life. One thing I had forgotten, or neglected to observe, and it is a big thing, is how the phone camera distorts perspective. What's wrong with this picture?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcKc0cld4AwHDy9OcxZpOpQmz37ZMZlJA8eGt1bKqaQpGkUZK1hyQzga0rmCyolwSVuc1MLYfbLlifO8-RvforoRvmkGAT6YcIzUjyU4Gh6aQqU04iu33NZKSa-qqbZj2p2z2VRhJ4vX2l3myBbhIr3uusvqTc_lGQ9SCw5cjk2fSjoehMgLKIxUgog/s864/Ekelund_TuscanMemories_9x12_72-601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcKc0cld4AwHDy9OcxZpOpQmz37ZMZlJA8eGt1bKqaQpGkUZK1hyQzga0rmCyolwSVuc1MLYfbLlifO8-RvforoRvmkGAT6YcIzUjyU4Gh6aQqU04iu33NZKSa-qqbZj2p2z2VRhJ4vX2l3myBbhIr3uusvqTc_lGQ9SCw5cjk2fSjoehMgLKIxUgog/s320/Ekelund_TuscanMemories_9x12_72-601.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It is that all of the vertical lines should be parallel and straight up and down. The difference in color is from the devices used. The remake is with my iPhone. I think the image above was with my digital camera. A stark contrast...surprising or not, the iPhone image is more true to the painting. It did not take much to straighten the window edges out.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZ6goff9AvWI1b26vP3pSPSzbknHd-p2iLpBOWDIkcR8m2dhb1oJs5-HiZA-GzDsdqN4RQHSV_wM7uAun8_9pXipjkOhkxUZwUpOVWT8DPypFklMk-MWYFss0rppOxZCNElCs4DjWYiM2oSgvczrDTW46FwQFjw2Vdmsv7DIjbr3iH2iVAl_dMNk-6g/s576/Ekelund-TuscanMemories_9x12-72-8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZ6goff9AvWI1b26vP3pSPSzbknHd-p2iLpBOWDIkcR8m2dhb1oJs5-HiZA-GzDsdqN4RQHSV_wM7uAun8_9pXipjkOhkxUZwUpOVWT8DPypFklMk-MWYFss0rppOxZCNElCs4DjWYiM2oSgvczrDTW46FwQFjw2Vdmsv7DIjbr3iH2iVAl_dMNk-6g/s320/Ekelund-TuscanMemories_9x12-72-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Above, 9x12, oil<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div>There will be more revised paintings coming as I pulled a number of them out to revisit. I am so out of the habit of writing and posting that I am way behind. Thankfully, there weren't very many with the perspective lines out of whack. </div><div><br /></div><div>This painting is from my last trip to Italy. It reminded me of myself as a child living in France. Our house had three stories and I often sat in the window overlooking a street through our city that was a thoroughfare. I ticked off on the windowsill how many cars with British plates on their way to or from Paris.<br /></div></div><br />victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-75765988814737104222022-08-31T12:25:00.001-07:002022-08-31T12:25:38.011-07:002022 Art on the Green - mark your calendars!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrLvb0ID55e5ZONIRsEezUZ4A6Wbw9OwAGSF79brk9u8lqDz6gFxUkO7bY9DFqNnwDVavtu5iGrVotMIjIW-uiixNixFUAo5e--eqEO9Skn5RfJhagONHHo_MIEq77VyDfM2j79H5hOxibYGzqqW5lCtZGSNiAoooPzj7W9_7lyvHiCoyWFSxCuc4rQ/s2000/Ekelund_LifeImitatingArt_36x18-72-0263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrLvb0ID55e5ZONIRsEezUZ4A6Wbw9OwAGSF79brk9u8lqDz6gFxUkO7bY9DFqNnwDVavtu5iGrVotMIjIW-uiixNixFUAo5e--eqEO9Skn5RfJhagONHHo_MIEq77VyDfM2j79H5hOxibYGzqqW5lCtZGSNiAoooPzj7W9_7lyvHiCoyWFSxCuc4rQ/s320/Ekelund_LifeImitatingArt_36x18-72-0263.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Come on down! I will be participating in this years Art on the Green, which is in its 3rd year. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.artonthegreencolorado.com/" target="_blank">A Weekend of Art in Greenwood Village</a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> Saturday and Sunday, September 17-18</p><p style="text-align: center;">10 AM-5 PM </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Curtis+Center+for+the+Arts/@39.6100493,-104.9616828,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x876c813d457f4413:0x2e89d750e4c88056!8m2!3d39.6100497!4d-104.9616138" target="_blank">Curtis Center for the Arts</a></p><p><br /></p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-980904878934484842022-08-23T09:57:00.001-07:002022-08-23T09:57:24.051-07:00Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATDA85fangdrV3VX9uhQOS_XnXJ2A75om5khXx55_PcapVOdcbqjmp5J4oW1cRh0pRMQnAtbX5vtBSaXGjHkPHzYRBqDMjVmhENwRbDT9hRuNqIqC92HJifnk6odDXSXJmOtHbrPucFLkQUibTQVX7LYLm0cax1Pdk98_Y2UjxRqOs2TdOlR9yAEvlQ/s577/Ekelund_Fritillary_10x10_11433-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="577" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATDA85fangdrV3VX9uhQOS_XnXJ2A75om5khXx55_PcapVOdcbqjmp5J4oW1cRh0pRMQnAtbX5vtBSaXGjHkPHzYRBqDMjVmhENwRbDT9hRuNqIqC92HJifnk6odDXSXJmOtHbrPucFLkQUibTQVX7LYLm0cax1Pdk98_Y2UjxRqOs2TdOlR9yAEvlQ/s320/Ekelund_Fritillary_10x10_11433-72.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Spangled Fritillary, 10x10, oil on panel available<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>My apologies to anyone who has clicked on this post to find it empty! It appears I did something to delete the original post of which I still have no clue as to what that might have been. </p><p>This image came from a hike I did last summer up near Vail, CO. I did not know the name of this butterfly so had to do some research. It was taken with my phone camera and I used 'portrait' to get the image up close and the background blurred. </p><p>In drafting this painting I did a thorough drawing of the butterfly so as to get a feel for the pattern on the wings before diving in to paint. The flower petals were drawn in as well as I felt I could get the flow of the petals better if I drew them in first. I used a red colored pencil which is still in evidence. I am not known for soft edges so the background blur was fun to play around with.<br /></p><p><br /></p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-13034880235642277842022-08-11T11:45:00.001-07:002022-08-11T11:45:38.800-07:00The Good, the Bad and the Ugly<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxYAhaaz_kgkyDPsYJdxVqqj5R0u3vZyNr2a0gqOW4gfOz_O11K6S4eCwX796o45Jgiv9obVkbGTkN2ibOntou-bbjgtdwU1YJbUhDySGtyUepX1Jz4wb0HNi-0Sj-fIfsJJ_Gr1h648wTMv0zOK6KQ2c2nYReBjW0v8HahVPhVpmZB3YPZ7CsZJuXg/s4032/IMG_7538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxYAhaaz_kgkyDPsYJdxVqqj5R0u3vZyNr2a0gqOW4gfOz_O11K6S4eCwX796o45Jgiv9obVkbGTkN2ibOntou-bbjgtdwU1YJbUhDySGtyUepX1Jz4wb0HNi-0Sj-fIfsJJ_Gr1h648wTMv0zOK6KQ2c2nYReBjW0v8HahVPhVpmZB3YPZ7CsZJuXg/s320/IMG_7538.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: Waiting on new window-back to original size. plastic for now<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>This week's painting is interior. I had my main floor bathroom remodeled during the month of July -I live in a house built in 1890 or thereabouts, so no ensuite bathrooms in this ole gal-and to save $1000 I took on the painting of said bathroom with assistance from my daughter and son-in-law. Then, since the basement is not finished according to modern standards, there was quite a bit of dirt, dust and other detritus that fell through the old floorboards during the tear down and rebuild onto the basement floor. Since the floor and surrounding area had to be cleaned anyway, it seemed a good time to paint the old wall and floor, at least in that section. I am not a glutton for punishment, after all! Between that, having a friend come for a long weekend along with the two of us driving back and forth to a Kaiserslautern High School reunion, it has been a busy time. Then the bathtub refinish was the last item and happened Monday. That was less than stellar so now the same kid is coming back today to try and buff out the many imperfections in the new finish. When he masked off the bathroom - all sparkling new - his tape ripped off the paint in several areas so I need to go back and touch that up once he is gone today. Not sure if he will tape it off again, so I am not willing to do it any more than necessary. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ShNRWBPIhq6Hf0JyGQLdrIgCduMN6u2J4t-9SogJugtPVuGU-YIiSf4tgN-DKXz5gLh9OZCVPNX4pqe7lwQAb7yiraPplUzTFDcoMC-I_UzTwrGfC8yYRnNite3UMwagFGR4dyYff3JGZuqs7Mq17Eg8yJOv2D7PhflBOh9-R9HxhT1fiXuCqLCNfw/s4032/67923713223__1EEF1042-1441-4D22-9725-19569393DA41.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ShNRWBPIhq6Hf0JyGQLdrIgCduMN6u2J4t-9SogJugtPVuGU-YIiSf4tgN-DKXz5gLh9OZCVPNX4pqe7lwQAb7yiraPplUzTFDcoMC-I_UzTwrGfC8yYRnNite3UMwagFGR4dyYff3JGZuqs7Mq17Eg8yJOv2D7PhflBOh9-R9HxhT1fiXuCqLCNfw/s320/67923713223__1EEF1042-1441-4D22-9725-19569393DA41.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: ceiling above shower raised back to be level with the rest of the room; toilet, medicine cabinet, light and sink replaced. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHxc9TunYwWmpAIpDqU1NtPeKttu6uicc1QpxOGRhtt4bNmYDZhUIvlnpdsvazsU5x9i-3T6VeSO8heYdNUWhJpQPGG3XKQfzL42LBmsnf9CoNO8QIsujhfl5hYc2Rug8-b4eNOaIyKrVh9_Go17lTx55C1lmb5y7TTRyz22KZ0UIWx1tYvGPy7uTrQ/s4032/67950301169__5F7BEA1C-41B4-4365-A4FE-9A1B992B77EA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHxc9TunYwWmpAIpDqU1NtPeKttu6uicc1QpxOGRhtt4bNmYDZhUIvlnpdsvazsU5x9i-3T6VeSO8heYdNUWhJpQPGG3XKQfzL42LBmsnf9CoNO8QIsujhfl5hYc2Rug8-b4eNOaIyKrVh9_Go17lTx55C1lmb5y7TTRyz22KZ0UIWx1tYvGPy7uTrQ/s320/67950301169__5F7BEA1C-41B4-4365-A4FE-9A1B992B77EA.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>Here is the painted floor in the basement-nothing glamorous but looks fresh :</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0-LDs_rnEUQb53UR4kwUlmv7tMxFaWGVer8rVGKDszWL9dwPsLafnwRC2AAg_bzqC-K4uIpej1PJtENVtHLr8GsdnitIj8c4kZA4KIflzFCpTdnJDfoF-a8rqAAePAsWp6h7QK-Ea_ETPlnkR9Q1HYwvFbcg9m23qZbotejuSnnNreoB4s1WiSP1dA/s4032/IMG_7556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0-LDs_rnEUQb53UR4kwUlmv7tMxFaWGVer8rVGKDszWL9dwPsLafnwRC2AAg_bzqC-K4uIpej1PJtENVtHLr8GsdnitIj8c4kZA4KIflzFCpTdnJDfoF-a8rqAAePAsWp6h7QK-Ea_ETPlnkR9Q1HYwvFbcg9m23qZbotejuSnnNreoB4s1WiSP1dA/s320/IMG_7556.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-44681899531476519212022-08-02T04:30:00.010-07:002022-08-02T04:30:00.190-07:00Remake - Sausalito Houseboat
<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzl68NQNS4jUH4MlsIklYtptvdP9xKazOQziEiXcCNW_QYV8nDNaLeXOXACRUv2fBwjGJJEk-XjR0hqobUkE_nCpVsRrNtfocjbgv-MHMnDhWILh_Zm0cuFQk_SZVf1xeShHtorscsqmxCUP_6n4eDIAzuuPI39JWWF-7aVr-fj4b-8n8rzVDb7S32g/s4032/IMG_7434.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzl68NQNS4jUH4MlsIklYtptvdP9xKazOQziEiXcCNW_QYV8nDNaLeXOXACRUv2fBwjGJJEk-XjR0hqobUkE_nCpVsRrNtfocjbgv-MHMnDhWILh_Zm0cuFQk_SZVf1xeShHtorscsqmxCUP_6n4eDIAzuuPI39JWWF-7aVr-fj4b-8n8rzVDb7S32g/s320/IMG_7434.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original with a few adjustments already begun</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLxFo4myYcLnq36uFz0EBFog9b6n15cC56AuQDdj9Dh504NllJND45JEDPIf5OS1nV0bB98TAKqWYfMqdcnn_P47qCPQdeiPUOxAANzXHzahR6vYzOBG9EJSfPwm5h3PC7cpUy5kiaiyPnsjZN48H2BYB0oMPJVZpu8nPwyOFZxSqskdSwdCF9VDgrQ/s4032/IMG_7481.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLxFo4myYcLnq36uFz0EBFog9b6n15cC56AuQDdj9Dh504NllJND45JEDPIf5OS1nV0bB98TAKqWYfMqdcnn_P47qCPQdeiPUOxAANzXHzahR6vYzOBG9EJSfPwm5h3PC7cpUy5kiaiyPnsjZN48H2BYB0oMPJVZpu8nPwyOFZxSqskdSwdCF9VDgrQ/s320/IMG_7481.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost finished, but not quite, 20x16</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">This is a remake of an old one I did when in class over 10 years ago. It is quite ugly and every time I came across it I wondered why I didn’t just throw it away. It is of a houseboat in Sausalito CA. Richard and I had stopped there on our way back from San Fransisco to his parents house. It isn’t a pretty boat to begin with, but I sure didn’t improve it any! I could not find where I had ever taken a photo of it that is how much I disliked this painting.</span></span><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So as you can see, the top one is the ‘original’ from class, when we were studying textures. Which I did very well as far as that goes. But it was so dark. I had already decided to take out the wooden structure on the left and you can see my corrected drawing, in pink, as to the top of the boat so there would be more sky and better proportions. The siding should be white but it looked so gray and dingy. So will it ever be a great painting? No. But it gives me a feeling of satisfaction to fix something like this. I still have to finish the big window and put the bike back in a few more finishing touches, but you can see the difference, which is all I wanted for today. Side note: I wrote this almost two weeks ago and then was distracted by a bathroom remodel so never posted. Here is the painting today as I did get some work done on it between painting walls and trim.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;">I used the side of an old credit card to get the illusion of rough wood with peeling paint. It is fun to do, although would not work for most of what I paint, it works well for this. </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Il552mpLkh2ocSi1zFU9iXfWUom_4s_3ieCtdz1MfUR4NywHhrGHl0R0-rPc6x5Ko3U71iZiQYf26Bx26Jflp3ZSd4Dk5jHEmiZeVqsXpSPCRy__ZCwoeTKh5fSJEW9XXLA9pWdu7zDFHrjq1xCaI6JvkgL3s2DPB0sh1NxfR9NNlQdYJA3mx7JTAg/s720/Ekelund_SausalitioHouseboat_sm16x20-7522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Il552mpLkh2ocSi1zFU9iXfWUom_4s_3ieCtdz1MfUR4NywHhrGHl0R0-rPc6x5Ko3U71iZiQYf26Bx26Jflp3ZSd4Dk5jHEmiZeVqsXpSPCRy__ZCwoeTKh5fSJEW9XXLA9pWdu7zDFHrjq1xCaI6JvkgL3s2DPB0sh1NxfR9NNlQdYJA3mx7JTAg/s320/Ekelund_SausalitioHouseboat_sm16x20-7522.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sausalito Houseboat, 16x20, oil on panel, available<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;">Here is the 'finished' painting, at least for now. From the last photo, I dulled down the wooden screen in the window, finished the plant, redid the reflection and finished the bike. </span></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><br /></span></span><p></p><div><br /></div>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-931327145494289922022-07-14T05:00:00.001-07:002022-07-14T05:00:00.192-07:00Door series<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9xCi_AHYS9ZIfSxWwzGH8H9_Gc-Fk3w-ZBF0bJBQuKHetFyfMXLbDj0EjGj7los7nowEFNlKpEdNcN9lDb8T9OvoU5nVpQxc-xMH4E-TrgNVJ5TIfqpPzYsf0D-uLNkpDg3XCBNokuLcwbQBLUH4m_AKUfcN-9MoGzdXbwKaDKrXHUb82Fpz2gZhfg/s4032/IMG_7380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9xCi_AHYS9ZIfSxWwzGH8H9_Gc-Fk3w-ZBF0bJBQuKHetFyfMXLbDj0EjGj7los7nowEFNlKpEdNcN9lDb8T9OvoU5nVpQxc-xMH4E-TrgNVJ5TIfqpPzYsf0D-uLNkpDg3XCBNokuLcwbQBLUH4m_AKUfcN-9MoGzdXbwKaDKrXHUb82Fpz2gZhfg/s320/IMG_7380.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two weeks ago</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbRPv5fRPp6-TYn3BBJ60B8nnIK3KZKzmRykopKTGWX0mxPheyVq6fLyiqR_jEjCc3-H5T1m6mFW3ZWlySQviu5gqqceRzGC1ojXzv6r1z6a4XoruMNyqSK35c_VtTB3IRbrOj7Y45ViFq8EIXgXFnIwZ4XBQolFKqCJe6onW2iDZ2clKNe6Lk0RCYRw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbRPv5fRPp6-TYn3BBJ60B8nnIK3KZKzmRykopKTGWX0mxPheyVq6fLyiqR_jEjCc3-H5T1m6mFW3ZWlySQviu5gqqceRzGC1ojXzv6r1z6a4XoruMNyqSK35c_VtTB3IRbrOj7Y45ViFq8EIXgXFnIwZ4XBQolFKqCJe6onW2iDZ2clKNe6Lk0RCYRw=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A month ago</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Since this is how I sent what I was working on to my aunt in a letter, (yes, I still write letters, and she is 96) this is how I am presenting them here as there is no other means now to show the progression. In the bottom image is the first image I sent her on where I was at that time, about a month or so ago. Mostly blocked in and taking shape if not yet pushed to finished. The first painting in the bottom image going from left to right, Georgetown CO, Morrison CO, the green door is from Bavaria, the blue door is Orleans FR from a photo I took in B&W back in the early 70's, and the old metal chair is in front of my garage, and the only one painted plein air.</p><p>The top image has most of them nearing completion although since I took this photo a few weeks ago, Georgetown hadn't made much progress, but now is almost done. I have also worked more on the Bavarian Green door. I will post the updated grouping once I finish Georgetown. </p><p>I have been working on some larger paintings and I started to do these 9x12's as a way to break up the monotony I sometimes get into while working on large (30x40) for me paintings. I hardly paint this small anymore unless doing studies from life. It has been fun, and I have a few more in mind to continue and riff on this theme. I showed them to some friends of mine recently and I was surprised that they both liked the same painting the most, the one I expected the least attention from. Can you guess which one it is?</p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-27075956152044140152022-07-07T05:00:00.001-07:002022-07-07T05:00:00.200-07:00<p>Wow! How time flies...I had not realized I had been gone so long. It has been a struggle for me to write as I feel that with so much information pouring in from everywhere, who needs one small artist's thoughts on any given topic, even on art. However, I made a decision to attempt a come back for my sake and hopefully yours as well. </p><p>Here is a painting I finished up this spring. It was started a year ago but I could not seem to work on it much until finally it called me back to the easel to getter done. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8Z9VqYHOQ2YsKTogvjlEAXGscx49x3f8WVf4nq0lRSFFQW_dulpcOJFgrNks5sm_4pBwm8jsUB4QUMqulzt1z84ncB0YuBnbSECXTUYtWw5PYpWcWw06saEfTPaeCHvB_jiCUAoJ2eXPsU2vhfngLg7_pBfLh-W22PGNjVSXOiLsqbLYuhozJKLKTQ/s720/Ekelund_JustAnIllusion_oil_30x24_72-11292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="565" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8Z9VqYHOQ2YsKTogvjlEAXGscx49x3f8WVf4nq0lRSFFQW_dulpcOJFgrNks5sm_4pBwm8jsUB4QUMqulzt1z84ncB0YuBnbSECXTUYtWw5PYpWcWw06saEfTPaeCHvB_jiCUAoJ2eXPsU2vhfngLg7_pBfLh-W22PGNjVSXOiLsqbLYuhozJKLKTQ/w314-h400/Ekelund_JustAnIllusion_oil_30x24_72-11292.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just an Illusion, 30x24, oil on panel SOLD<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Here is the block in almost finished. I wanted to see if I could get the warm yellow transitioning to cool shadows in the white house. I think that is what initially stumped me for this was about where this painting sat for so long. I would venture into the tree on the side and the foreground and even into the reflections in the windows, but not that daunting white clapboard. Once I got started on it though, I ran with it and gotter done. This painting was submitted to the Framed Image show, on blues and greens, and it sold in the first week the show was up. That is very gratifying.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2K7wJh_mVkYAY87xfI9wrGUIPQQXPWxLel35_jMmKl08s0mwIxlPHJbQfkQJe9MO-_JxliUZwHpGELwEEtabG8e5eSpDNHps2bboE-i0ik0fhZuqb-55McRJc9nCWSyBB3qXECGDTZsdOJKbIeH93hClCBGDjn5UmO7pqGIenvUxdEbez9sdJ9ZJ15g/s4032/IMG_5954%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2K7wJh_mVkYAY87xfI9wrGUIPQQXPWxLel35_jMmKl08s0mwIxlPHJbQfkQJe9MO-_JxliUZwHpGELwEEtabG8e5eSpDNHps2bboE-i0ik0fhZuqb-55McRJc9nCWSyBB3qXECGDTZsdOJKbIeH93hClCBGDjn5UmO7pqGIenvUxdEbez9sdJ9ZJ15g/s320/IMG_5954%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>I had done a poor sketch of the doorway to capture the warmth of the light even in shadow at the time I took the photo reference for this painting. I had also done another study on the back of the property to get a grasp of the feeling I wanted to remember of the whole. My on-site sketches are just that - to instill a memory of what caught my attention. I don't usually show these sketches but here we go...I did this first as this is what I came upon as I was walking around during the Georgetown Plein Air event. (of which I did not participate) I try to do these very quickly and think about the shapes. Essentially, a block in. But as you can see, the shadow side had a warmth to it that I did not want to forget.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA7fzcNTCE9SaCM4MZTQ29-abMnWV-sdS1aHTVSBd4SFty9DTNBCgVI9bNLKFdTTQLiStDPqi4umyoOoCRXJOop0Dtjs9Zme4XSfnZBHn3DM5kLLY1hU-mWOinpkRz-3xLPjHEix1dKpWTbPB6u7cjWDgGbhr5X-cjz_V5miv9WfRVZ16DIMg2rWkvg/s4032/IMG_7432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA7fzcNTCE9SaCM4MZTQ29-abMnWV-sdS1aHTVSBd4SFty9DTNBCgVI9bNLKFdTTQLiStDPqi4umyoOoCRXJOop0Dtjs9Zme4XSfnZBHn3DM5kLLY1hU-mWOinpkRz-3xLPjHEix1dKpWTbPB6u7cjWDgGbhr5X-cjz_V5miv9WfRVZ16DIMg2rWkvg/s320/IMG_7432.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Then the quick grab some basic info before meeting friends for lunch:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJaGZOnLIbARolPXZfW71ixNxLyjqHxQQywqnJvVguasVM6wdCaCj1TahXW070rbtnYeaKlWFI8o1jbIjxE8gP2kJ3718qa5Qr_dfjM56TQnuaVPMxPPlagecnNxOyIihOmHauUUQpo100tYs4eNW10Mc4e2Q2o-qQiC0FZ4Ff_yLU6FBFgeJ_WEe_Q/s4032/IMG_7433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJaGZOnLIbARolPXZfW71ixNxLyjqHxQQywqnJvVguasVM6wdCaCj1TahXW070rbtnYeaKlWFI8o1jbIjxE8gP2kJ3718qa5Qr_dfjM56TQnuaVPMxPPlagecnNxOyIihOmHauUUQpo100tYs4eNW10Mc4e2Q2o-qQiC0FZ4Ff_yLU6FBFgeJ_WEe_Q/s320/IMG_7433.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>I bought this linen oil pad for just his purpose and I find it is working out well for me since I really don't plan on doing a completed painting most of the time. It does get awkward so I added a binder clip after this trying day to hold the pad pages from flapping in the breeze as I try to paint.</p><p>This years Georgetown Plein Air is the end of this month, so I am going to plan on going up to paint again with a few friends. Seeing what catches other artists eyes if always fun to observe and inspire.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-60600724729467987742022-01-21T14:00:00.003-08:002022-01-29T12:26:46.850-08:00Plumeria<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg35Rim4pMx55gub3BsxwWscc1x-3l0nlyJH9cIR5xqolDus9ktXknDWqUJQ2Nc9S0XrsVe5XPg1QAiH25hskEAX9AWZgD3TbhHaCs4Hm3yW1UzJ1bZRp3LF0UwhoA4SHnsm39wxbC73a7bfGQpVfCia1W3qT5viqWMlhTk6DrPoOW6GzP54e0_fufk8w=s576" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="576" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg35Rim4pMx55gub3BsxwWscc1x-3l0nlyJH9cIR5xqolDus9ktXknDWqUJQ2Nc9S0XrsVe5XPg1QAiH25hskEAX9AWZgD3TbhHaCs4Hm3yW1UzJ1bZRp3LF0UwhoA4SHnsm39wxbC73a7bfGQpVfCia1W3qT5viqWMlhTk6DrPoOW6GzP54e0_fufk8w=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plumeria, 12x24, oil on linen, <a href="https://www.victoriaekelund.com/portfolio-viewer?collection=159591#lg=1&artworkId=4506757" target="_blank">available</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>While staying at an AirBnB on one of the keys off of Sarasota, Florida, this lovely Plumeria greeted us at the bottom of the stairs from our apartment. I am intrigued by how organic life is and the patterns created. The greenery felt like it was in motion to a tune I couldn't quite hear. I so enjoyed painting this for that reason. It made my heart sing as I worked. The flowers were like a second, softer melody. More support than out front. As I write this, someone playing the piano came to mind and how one hand can play one part while the other hand doesn't something different yet supports the other. I always look for patterns while composing a painting, but never before had one produce music!</p>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170023577978560966.post-39451334872190322652022-01-21T13:43:00.000-08:002022-01-21T13:43:13.058-08:00New Little Studies - winter fruit<p>It has been too long since I have paid much attention to writing a blog post. I am not one for making excuses so I won't start now. I do have a possible explanation, however I don't think anyone is really interested in that!</p><p>Suffice it to say, I am here, it is a new year, and I hope to be back at my easel more than I have been this past year plus. Everything seems to be taking longer as I have worked on a number of paintings all year and can't seem to make much progress as in getting them done. I was able to get some small studies done over the holidays and it really was a struggle at the start to compose from life. It started with fruit my sister had thoughtfully brought with her from her yard in southern California. Who knew that is all it took to get me motivated? I am going to try and remember the order I painted these, but don't hold me to it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipa-MRpdXq6Wp1pSfazBlA57Xt9jR55FDestNLbYXkVFwCLczA_vEVqJqnxDb4ZyMg5GDL1UBzy6y_Y3JlhXb6IPK6g8yxYKZ0JB1y_z_nZaYkzNzk0KMLuiV39MSH4xU9_fOfwnYctG-jQlbqsD8DlQLgArfYvdXSzFMNqy4S07lFGSLRfA9XaExu0Q=s660" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="660" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipa-MRpdXq6Wp1pSfazBlA57Xt9jR55FDestNLbYXkVFwCLczA_vEVqJqnxDb4ZyMg5GDL1UBzy6y_Y3JlhXb6IPK6g8yxYKZ0JB1y_z_nZaYkzNzk0KMLuiV39MSH4xU9_fOfwnYctG-jQlbqsD8DlQLgArfYvdXSzFMNqy4S07lFGSLRfA9XaExu0Q=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lime Persimmons, 6x9, oil on canvas, available</td></tr></tbody></table><p>My sister had brought with her limes, lemons, and persimmons. I picked this lime as it still had a leaf attached. I believe I painted this first as the limes were going to someone else. As I painted the leaves visibly dried before my eyes. I tried to do them in a limited time frame although I did not set a timer as I would normally do when going for a quick sketch. There is an under painting showing through as I paint over old paintings. I don't paint this small normally anymore, but the size is perfect for doing these exercises.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZBT7p2nUemlnVx4I8MlK981JDSsJyI1z9O2tOg6I_j76Eldi67M-OPnsrTlHmWaLrZCaVhaeGhc8uM-oWnj5LiPXApsTMcDgGTBIdsbxyTl1vAXt3R8a3sS3I2jEr1KpPIU4bMK86bu-6cW_W3zlP54OFPZdnUyQrYUt--5tFm6bitu1AWnbpPrOhjw=s432" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="432" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZBT7p2nUemlnVx4I8MlK981JDSsJyI1z9O2tOg6I_j76Eldi67M-OPnsrTlHmWaLrZCaVhaeGhc8uM-oWnj5LiPXApsTMcDgGTBIdsbxyTl1vAXt3R8a3sS3I2jEr1KpPIU4bMK86bu-6cW_W3zlP54OFPZdnUyQrYUt--5tFm6bitu1AWnbpPrOhjw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Persimmon Pair, 6x6, oil on panel, available</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Still trying to get that leaf in before it broke off, I did another little painting of a couple of persimmons. Two is what worked for the square format. I still used the same blue mat board and red rice paper to offset the orange. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIlAN10GwL70-BJn_iqFYxczZ7M9WrZocpuI1EdsqccveELnM161bRaBA8CCAtYOJ-bxkY-rMJiF-aXiIrx4ygMg6XNql_5zY3S6C-iqc0NZGJqzUjGl8HQZOJdXYW0p084j9JMPfM6riHASB8eIWbddXyLkgsk57wbHLGHtGItyP1jyABMsXLJ5Dosw=s576" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="438" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIlAN10GwL70-BJn_iqFYxczZ7M9WrZocpuI1EdsqccveELnM161bRaBA8CCAtYOJ-bxkY-rMJiF-aXiIrx4ygMg6XNql_5zY3S6C-iqc0NZGJqzUjGl8HQZOJdXYW0p084j9JMPfM6riHASB8eIWbddXyLkgsk57wbHLGHtGItyP1jyABMsXLJ5Dosw=s320" width="243" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacked, 9x6, oil on panel, available</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I wanted to see if I could stack the persimmons as there enough to pick from to find what might work. Who would have thought a smaller one would be on the bottom with the largest in the middle, but that is what worked. No toothpicks or other assistance needed. Just wanting to have fun as I got to know persimmons as a subject. </p><p>These were all painted over old paintings. I don't usually do well with allowing the layers to come through but this time I did as I worked quickly trying not to think about anything much. </p><p>Next my sister had brought home some pears to put in the pear walnut salad we do for Christmas Eve dinner so I had a new subject to paint, and I have always enjoyed painting pears.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMqgNwDirT8qa-_68o8p8IBxSIB4KNWfnis-C0IedF-T0oTn5UmBs8u1I2o6ooOX8hr_PrsDeTfdjcpZJIrjNi-C3flQo2Vp8T7vzWbYvSBAklSaWTlX5qNBq_FUrI7HYzySXPmqls8cTxOXGijzlCgDJTy4kc9p5ltMEX2NRlx_pJUSMqS0VPziA4_A=s648" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="648" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMqgNwDirT8qa-_68o8p8IBxSIB4KNWfnis-C0IedF-T0oTn5UmBs8u1I2o6ooOX8hr_PrsDeTfdjcpZJIrjNi-C3flQo2Vp8T7vzWbYvSBAklSaWTlX5qNBq_FUrI7HYzySXPmqls8cTxOXGijzlCgDJTy4kc9p5ltMEX2NRlx_pJUSMqS0VPziA4_A=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pearishable, 6x9, oil on linen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The Bartlett's refused to stand on their own, so reclining it was to be. I propped the one on top of the other for visual interest and to get a circular composition going. I changed to a purple paper and the wood from the table for this one. This was my sister's favorite of those I did while she was here, so it went home with her. It was a gray day out and so the light is more subdued in this one.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq_cXNbJVkg8pn_OhIJfYD0YcdRQMoO5RV8G6wjcWEQiAezMxSq1e2N_qLlaN3uI2YQoslFRcAqALExTFF5QpncFpVqHCuoyKqSxqhHIwRoUnrwU02YU2czLflSi-8VegScpsMPRSyrCb2L2S5ju1jyGJ8r0bj8KnLPWM2KpmgTddc6uEzeM3Bff9m7A=s557" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="557" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq_cXNbJVkg8pn_OhIJfYD0YcdRQMoO5RV8G6wjcWEQiAezMxSq1e2N_qLlaN3uI2YQoslFRcAqALExTFF5QpncFpVqHCuoyKqSxqhHIwRoUnrwU02YU2czLflSi-8VegScpsMPRSyrCb2L2S5ju1jyGJ8r0bj8KnLPWM2KpmgTddc6uEzeM3Bff9m7A=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pear Trio, 6x8, oil, available</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>One more before the pears became salad for our consumption. The Bartlett's still refused to stand up. A stubborn pair. Different lighting on this one which brightens up the study and adds reflected light onto the paper. This is the only one of this group that was done a clean canvas. Very different feel.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are two more but I forgot that I hadn't taken their photo yet. So, another post to come to follow up to this sojourn at my easel to have a bit of fun.<br /><p><br /></p></div></div>victoriasarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14618527822108038150noreply@blogger.com0