Monica y Coco

Well it's been awhile since I posted an update.  In the past 3 months I have started 3 different paintings, and for different reasons, I halted the painting I was doing, and finally have completed the most urgent one. 
I have been working with a Spanish tutor for 3 years now, in preparation hopefully for having a part time life down in Ecuador someday.   Monica has been wonderful, demonstrating an amount of patience with me that would impress Job...and in the mean time I am learning some Spanish.  Monica will be leaving the area next year with her husband, thus ending our teacher - student relationship.  As a small token of my huge appreciation I asked Monica if I could paint something for her....she was pleased to have me do a portrait with her beloved Coco.  Portraiture is my weakest skill set with paint and brush, but dogs on the other hand are a bit easier...so I was happy to give it a go...here you are...

I am already weeks into my next painting which is also the largest painting I have ever done.  After searching for awhile I finally found a source for large high quality watercolor board that I use.  My normal painting is roughly 18x28 at the largest, but I found a board that is 30x40.  So you will soon see my progress of Vernazza, Italy.  One of the Cinque Terre, mediterrenean towns.  Thanks for stopping by.

Vintage Foosball

Here is something very different from my painting table...antique foosball guys.  There's a hotel down in Cuenca, Ecuador that we stay at, and in their game room is a vintage foosball table.  I get a kick out of these guys.  I'm guessing they are made of cast iron (metal), and they are perfectly chipped and used.  Probably they all suffer some form of concussion - head injuries.  Anyhow, I squatted down to look them in their eyes and snapped some photos.  This is my rendition of these strange little men...who just keep on kicking!

A well deserved rest

Sometimes you run across a "thing", an "object", that has the appearance that it has served its purpose well.  So it is with my latest painting.  A sturdy, weathered little row boat that waits for its next adventure, and in the mean time takes a well deserved rest...

Schnitzel

A friend's little dachshund is named Schnitzel...what a great name.  She took a photo of Schnitzel helping with the tree trimming.  When I saw the photo last month I contacted her to ask if I could do a painting of it.  Not knowing little Schnitzel had recently passed away from cancer Monica was very pleased to have this happen.  I was drawn to this work because of the challenges that the face, and lights, and composition presented.  Here's the result...

What is it about boats?

So I just put the finishing brush strokes on my row boat painting...I'm pleased with the results.  What is it about row boats, sail boats, canoes, kayaks that is so esthetically pleasing?  It must be the lines and curves - some of the similar graceful shapes of the human body.  I really enjoyed creating this watercolor.  The scene is peaceful, the colors perfect - even the aqua-bluish color of the ropes tying the boats to the trees.  Perfect!  My job was to not screw it up, and bring a little more contrast and vibrancy than the original photo.  Since you are not seeing the photo - you'll have to trust me - I think I did.  Not sure what is next, but I'm searching...thanks for coming by....Mark  (I'll have a better photo in about a week after my photographer does his thing.)

Irish row boats

Some friends took a fabulous trip to Ireland this summer.  While there they took a photo of a couple of row boats tide up on a pond among the high grasses.  They thought their photo was reminiscent of the kind of paintings I create...so they sent it to me.  They were 100% correct.  I love their photo, and here is my rendition after about 40 hours so far.  I'm about half way to completion.

Check back in a couple of weeks...hopefully I'll have it signed, and off to the framer.  Thanks for coming by...mg

Tuscany By Red Sportscar

Once again I am painting an iconic scene, this time Tuscany.  For this painting I chose to paint on watercolor panel.  Watercolor panel is a masonite type of board (very rigid) that is covered with a material that accepts watercolor paint.  I chose to be slightly looser with my technique since this scene is not that complex.  I enjoyed the simplicity of the scene, the late afternoon sunlight.  And of course the little red sportscar, which would have to be the best way to tour Tuscany.