Robert E. Lee Scratchboard

Here I tried my hand at a detailed engraving style scratchboard... just to see if I could do it. This is an example of thinking something is impossible for me, until I realize you just have to be slow and careful... and patient.

I found the photo reference on Wikipedia. It is copyright free. Color was added in Photoshop.

Red Grapes 2

This is a variation of a previously sold still life I did several years ago. I tried to highlight the juicy goodness of these berries as best I could.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/526081

Barn With Ivy

Usually I don't have to do this for barns, but for this one I used my artistic license to remove some of the siding boards to show the studs underneath...just to add interest. No, I did not actually remove the boards. I just did it in the painting.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/525245

Wolf River Banks

Original landscape starting bid $30.00.

I started this painting sitting on the banks of the Wolf River right off of the Wolf River Trail... a popular walking and biking trail. Plein-aire or on-site painting can give you a more keen sense of being there with the artist with all of the crackle of the undergrowth, the sound of the breeze and the fresh scent of fallen leaves. Can you feel it? No? Well...I tried anyway.

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Stir Fry

Original watercolor for sale, starting auction price $50.00.

My wife brought some groceries in and I asked her if she had any good looking vegetables in there. She set these out on the big cutting board and said she was about to make a stir fry. I added the shiny pan and the soy sauce and took some snapshots.​

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Here is a succession of images of the development of this painting:

In this first one I submerged the paper in the bathtub and let it sit for a while. Then I brought it to my drawing table and started dropping in the colors, letting them bleed and run around.

Next I started to shape things up by adding the first layer of the background black and starting on the rest. I noticed here that as the paper dried, it was producing these spots all over. I attribute this to some impurity in the bathtub. Next time I will make sure it is rinsed out thoroughly. However, I don't really mind the spots. They add interesting texture.

The process continues. Selectively adding detail. Going back and forth over the paper.

And that is it. To get the Kikkoman label right, I measured the height of my jar drawing. Then I found a Kikkoman jar on Google images, brought it into Photoshop and sized it to the same size. I also warped the label in Photoshop to give it a slight curve, then I printed out just the label and traced it onto my drawing using a transfer method. Then I painted it using a fine brush with gouache.

Oh, My Darlin'

Original painting for sale - starting bid $30.00.

I was going for the "glow" in this one. These are clementines. They are the sweetest we have had all year.​

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Overhanging

I went out this morning and sat on a log near a local pond and painted this scene. I was ​interested in the network of twigs and the reflections in the water.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/503809