"Ole Glory" here today, now a pleasant memory.

"Ole glory" 9x12 oil on panel plein air

   Another pleasurable Lavender Festival event brought the opportunity for me to capture this scene of a fresh brilliant flag among the lavender. As I was painting I thought how interesting that my subject was red (white) and blue hovering over the combination of the two- violet. All this color surrounded by the bland of white/grey home tones... is that a new paint color? It was always a intoxicating experience to be painting at Blue Willow Farms; special thanks to Bill and Tracy.

Trois Crayon draws again.

"Bud" 12x12 conte on colored paper

   I had the pleasure of doing a portrait in conte sticks in the trois crayon method. The minimal sucess lets me feel that the cobwebs have not buried the foundations of structure and anatomy I have invested in the past... yeay!

"Merry-time" holiday small artworks sale at the boatshop in Gig Harbor.

Deck the walls-unity display all work 8x10 framed

Room with a view
oil on linen

   There is a small artwork holiday sale that local artists made Maritime themed artwork  (40 pieces) to sell in the Eddon gift shop. This is the 2nd year for this event and it will be in the boutique all month through December.  All work is smaller than 9x12 and priced to sell for the holidays. There is also a framed display of one "unity piece" from each participating artist. The participants  were asked to choose a boat theme (for the boatshop) and challenged to do a black and white based work where the artist may use red, green, yellow/gold and/or a combo as these 3 colors.

"Merry-time" holiday small artwork sale

November 14th- December 31st

Artists include: Ceci Anderson,  Gertrudes  Granado,  Jean Grover,  Feather Hilger,  Cathie Johnson,  MaryLou Perry, Eileen Schurer and Greg Trathen.

Gig Harbor Boatshop at Eddon Boatyard

3805 Harborview Drive
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
(253) 857-9344
Store Hours:
Tuesday through Friday -10:00 to 4:00
Saturday - 10:00 to 5:00

New work exhibiting during the month of October

   As Autumn moves in, Peninsula Arts League's outdoor working artists come together to share a summer's worth of art made in the sunshine. There are a few new works I'll be unveiling in that show along with many other talented local artists... and yes, there will be an end of season sunflower painting. Join Us!

Fourth Annual "En Plein Air" Show

Art Exhibit • Wine Tasting • Appetizers

The Lodge

Opening is October 4th 2-4p.m. 

Featured Artists:

Anne Knapp • Robert Knapp • Feather Hilger • Myrna Binion

Carlene Salazar • Charli Meacham • Pat Lebbert • Mary McInnis

Mary Elizabeth Smith • Cathie Johnson • Greg Trathen

Patti Metzger • Cris Bronstad • Stephanie Cardinal • Dee Bartlett

Tanya McGraw • Lynda Lindner • Randy Robbins

The Lodge at Mallard's Landing

7083 Wagner Way, Gig Harbor, WA 98335

www.thelodge-gigharbor.com

Just off Wollochet Drive, behind Mallard’s Landing Business Park

For more information or to RSVP by

October 2nd call (253) 858-4990

or email info@thelodge-gigharbor.com

En Plein Air

Art Exhibition & Wine Tasting

Saturday, October 4th, 2–4 p.m.

Undercolor studies

green flower study on red- 12x12 oil on paper

    I recall when I was experimenting with watercolor paint how I would do apple after apple study in front of a north facing window. I must have done 25-30 different apples before being able to teach myself a way to make them work. Unsatisfied with the results, I moved on to oil studies again with the apples but this time paying specific attention to the color and shape that made a deep crimson short round "macintosh" differ from a cad red, taller "red delicious" type of apple. The most fun to all these silly studies was not only could I name that apple on site but the challenge to find an apple I never met before.
    Much like the apples, I did flower studies on opposite and textured colored backgrounds for practice on how undercolors work in oil painting. I did a dozen studies last spring in a "share project" and enjoyed the practice of this series so much that I thought to consider picking it up again next winter. Then I found some flowers I never met before!!!  They were the elusive green flowers so difficult to find when you are practicing all colors of flowers on all opposite colors of background. Hence I got inspired to return to the series despite plein air season where the the majority of my production is outdoor ...'scapes. At least I am using natural light source instead of the studio lighting from last spring. I doubt that I will be as productive as 2 a week (like last spring) but if the unusual flowers keep sneaking in town... who knows?

New work exhibiting at the History Harbor Museum

The 15th Annual Juried Maritime Art Exhibition is held at the beautiful Harbor History Museum located on the historical Gig Harbor waterfront. The Harbor History Museum is honored to host an exciting venue for artists to showcase their maritime-themed works of art. This will be the fourth year the exhibition will be held at this location. The 15th annual Maritime show has accepted  a one of my paintings for the exhibition that displays from July 27 - September 14, 2014.

North Head Lighthouse

North Head lighthouse 9x12 oil on gessoboard

   It was a strong winded morning at the North Head lighthouse as I put on 4 layers of clothing and hunkered down to paint. I was able to wedge myself into a land crevice about 18 inches deep beside a fence which grew another 25-30 inches of tall grasses which helped to break the wind slightly. Still the easel and box stood vulnerable to the winds to where I had to hold the set up with half the hand often gripping the fence with a few fingers when the winds really kicked up. Not as bad as the admiralty lighthouse painting adventure but perhaps nearly as cold and exhausting.

Plein air in Purdy

Purdy bridge- 8x10 oil on linen

   Another cold windy summer day on the puget sound as I painted the historic Purdy bridge for my plein air outing. When built in 1937, the Purdy Bridge was the 1st bridge in the U.S. to utilize a reinforced concrete box girder design... ya learn something new every day.

Chambers Bay plein air

Chambers Bay golf course 8x10 oil on canvas

   This summer I have switched up my plein air formula. After the initial shock of going from maybe 15 colors to only the 3 primaries and a brown and a white, I then switched from gessoboard to cloth switching between linen and canvas. Then I tried a few stretched canvases that are gallery wrapped so I tried the "paint the sides" trick which is a little odd and hard to transport. Still I was able to get this fairly decent study overlooking the Chambers Bay golf course.

Working on site at the festival Saturday July 19th

 For those art enthusiasts, I invite you to come join us on  Judson Street
in Gig Harbor's Historic Waterfront District for the Summer Art Festival. Support your local artists, musicals and community events in an all day event that runs both days.  I have the pleasure of working Saturday in the Peninsula Arts League demo tent along side other talented artists to paint, chat about art and answer any questions you may have about all the wonderful things PAL offers the community. See you there!

Art in the Garden show... artwork of garden tours past

Gardeners of Gig Harbor are putting in the finishing touches to ready for the Gig Harbor Garden Tour (June 28th & 29th) where they share their estates of beauty with 100s of garden enthusiasts while raising money for the local literacy program. Community artists have been invited to come honor these incredible creations with their creative talents to work on site for the 2 day event. I will be looking forward to my 4th consecutive year as "artist in the garden" in one of 7 locations. Until then, check out the Art in the Garden show at the Kimball running through  June 30th- work from tours past.

So many lighthouses... so little time!

Admirality Head Lighthouse- 18x24 oil

   Last year I visited Admiralty Head Lighthouse, hoping for a sunny day. Got the sun but 40-60 mph winds made the painting a challenge. The worst was "lawn mower guy" who 1/2 through the battle (against the wind), launched a sneak attack from behind/above covering  my fresh painted surface with grass cuttings. Back in Studio-G , I worked an 18x24 grisaille on mid gray canvas through the summer with white and left over Gamblin's torrit grey paint. This spring I added color in washes which gave the piece a very glowing look. The collection builds...

Look what just came ashore...

Point Wilson Lighthouse 18 x 18 oil

   After spending last weekend in Port Townsend where I was finally able to tour the lighthouse interior, I did again another paint study ( #6) of a lighthouse I visit annually. As I was zipping though the smaller 6x8 quick study it occurred to me that I had an 18x18 painting perhaps 80% completed that I began last summer. With the recent visit fresh in my mind, I decided to finish the painting .. oh wait, does it have to have the date on it? Nauh!!!
   Check back to see where it will be exhibiting this year... the image doesn't do it justice.

Fresh as an... Iris.

"Iris study" 12x12 oil on paper

   The newest thing to come off the easel is this flower study completed ala prima 5 days ago. It is the final work of a 3 month experiment I refer to as the 12"x12" project. The challenge was to format a collection of absolute guidelines in which to build a collection of works themed in one subject.
    I chose flowers to paint on complementary color backgrounds. Sometimes in portraits and other times in bouquets, I have created a dozen studies of flowers ranging from red roses on green backgrounds to violet irises against yellow doing a different pair of complementary colors each week. While I would like to continue this series (perhaps under different criteria) the practice will take sabbatical as the plein air season has begun and studio work will wane away again until winter. Stay informed as the news for upcoming art to be exhibited will be posted here.

New work exhibits at the Civic Center May 1st - June 15th.

Netshed show postcard

In all the silence, Studio-G has been pretty busy producing  new works for the Netshed Show. There are 2 large works that are companion pieces dealing in the theme of opposites. Using opposing colors (blue and brown) I pushed the graphic nature of relief printing with the yielding soft nature of painting. While both of the works focus on the strengths of architecture and texture so prevalent to such historical structures, they contrast the feasibility of their nature with the modern still life found in the contents of such interiors. One view is perceived from the outside looking in while the other piece is viewed from the inside looking out. Although they are very different  for all you fans who prefer my usual plein air work, there is a 3rd piece in the other style, oil paint on gessoboard.  It was a fantastic thought provoking project I had the pleasure joining for the first show of the year. Come enjoy the artwork my fellow talented community artists as we come together to commemorate these historical Netsheds.  Enjoy. 

Neshed#14 (Babach)
"Reflections, from the outside looking in"
24x32 -mixed media relief print

Netshed Challenge Show

 May 1st-June 15th

Civic Center 

3510  Grandview

Gig Harbor, WA

M-F 8am-5pm

Irish Spring?

Gr Pom study- 12x12 oil on paper

The last few months has been "flowers on stage" in the studio with a color rotation every 2 weeks. Since spring is officially in bloom everything seems to be getting a little greener- including the model rotation. I thought to find green cut flowers may be a bit of a challenge as I don't recall ever seeing any. I thought for sure I would be painting a carnation but alas I found 2 varieties: the palm green Pompon and a yellow green rose. Perhaps they were left over from St. Patrick's day but found these Irish eyes laughing...

Improovements over time

"John" 12x12 charcoal

After half a dozen portrait studies the last few weeks, I finally got a sketch I was pleased with in my 80 minute's worth of "face time". Nearing the end of a 45 page portrait book, I think about how limited I used to feel with such a short time to work. Now, a year or more later, I am beginning to believe that I can make something worthy in my minimal allowance.

Jim using the trois crayon method

Jim- 12x12 bk,wht & red conte on cardstock

   Jim is my 3rd victim to the procedure of "trois crayon" during my 90 minute modeling sessions. Although it is still a method that I am baffled by, this is actually the first time I have felt that there may be hope for success some day... and somewhere in all this, I believe I will enjoy the product.

Prespring Voodoo

red rose study 12x12 study in oil

With an abundance of warm weather and sunshine comes inspiration of plein air painting yet the great outdoor is not quite ready for painting. So Studio-G has had an invasion of flowers. This month has seen yellow rose, daffodils and now red roses... THEN it snowed. I'm wondering if the groundhog saw his shadow or all these flowers jinxed the weather to remind us winter is still in full swing.

Feb 8th snow on Bhouse



Superbowl Sunday Spirit

Harley Davidson "Hawk Hog" -watercolor study 6"x6"

GO HAWKS!!!