Ocean’s Introspective Hues

 

During a recent vacation in Florida's Panhandle, I found myself deeply inspired by the natural beauty that surrounded me. This inspiration led to the creation of two distinct oil paintings, each capturing the essence of a unique moment I experienced by the ocean.

Early one morning, I awoke to find the coastline enveloped in a dense fog. The ocean waves crashed with a muffled roar, barely visible through the thick mist. The atmosphere was misty, blustery, and almost gloomy, yet there was a serene simplicity to it that I felt compelled to capture on canvas. The fog seemed to cloak everything in a soft, muted blanket, reducing the landscape to its most essential elements. Despite the drabness of the weather, there was a calming feeling that reverberated through the scene, offering a sense of peace and introspection. I aimed to capture tranquility and minimalism in my first painting by highlighting the delicate interplay of muted blue and shadowy gray hues, with a touch of burnt sienna, as the fog gently rolled over the water.

As the day progressed, a dramatic transformation took place. The sun emerged, burning off the fog and revealing a clear, brilliant sky. The day unfolded in vibrant hues, culminating in a sunset so spectacular it seemed as if the sky were set ablaze. The fiery oranges, reds, and purples of the sunset reflected off the ocean, creating a dazzling display of color and light. This breathtaking scene inspired my second painting. To convey the intensity and texture of the moment, I used a palette knife, adding bold strokes and layers to give the painting a dynamic and tactile quality.

These two paintings, born from the same stretch of beach on the same day, encapsulate the ever-changing beauty of nature. From the quiet, foggy morning to the radiant, fiery sunset, each piece tells a story of transformation and the simple yet profound beauty found in everyday moments. Through my art, I aim to share these experiences, inviting viewers to witness the world through my eyes and perhaps find their own inspiration in the ordinary and extraordinary alike.

Smoking Dragon

When I began this painting, I intended to use minimal detail. However, once I started, my OCD set in, and I found myself adding more and more intricacies. Like many of my previous works, this painting became a journey of discovery. I had painted a dragon scene 15 years ago, hoping my experience would make this piece go smoother. That was wishful thinking. Despite my initial plans, I couldn't resist adding details, making the process both challenging and enjoyable.

A few years ago, I wrote a short novella about a dragon and wanted to illustrate it, but my drawing skills were worse than those of a pre-K child. Only recently have I begun incorporating a more illustrative style into my projects. This painting was made for my eldest grandson, who loves reading about the many adventures of dragons. 

 

Smoking Dragon

Experimenting With AI

Lately, I've been experimenting with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to see how it can assist when I'm stuck or struggling to find inspiration for my artwork. In the past, when I needed ideas for a painting, I would google descriptions and sift through the images that appeared, using them as a tool to spark my creativity. However, I've discovered that AI is much faster and more precise. Here is the beginning stage of my latest painting on a 24 x 36 canvas. Will post more later when complete.

Apps like Playground can do the heavy lifting for you. All you need to do is write a descriptive narrative of what you’re looking for, and within seconds, an image is generated. While it may not be exactly what you envisioned, it often comes very close. This new approach to generating imagery is incredibly efficient.

Update: I recently added my star of this painting; Dragon and Knight. Eventually, I will add more detail and characters later to share with you as I progress. 

One of my favorite parts of a painting is the planning stage. Generally, I stockpile several photos found online and use as inspiration. Now using AI; gathering photos couldn’t be easier. 

 Many artist use a thumbnail pre-sketch before placing on canvas. Personally, I like to wing it or in other words not plan it out on paper first but see what transforms in real-time on canvas. 

Stay tune, more to come…

 

Alchemy of Mediums

This piece was an exploration into the dynamic interplay of natural latex liquid, tube watercolor paint, and copper leaf sheets. With minimal prior experience in these mediums, I embarked on this experimental journey to observe their synergies and how they would manifest on the canvas.

Beginning with a delicate application of liquid latex, I allowed it to organically spread across the pristine white canvas, manipulating its flow through subtle tilts and controlled movements. Employing a straw, I introduced air currents to further animate the liquid, imbuing it with a sense of motion and vitality.

Once the latex had set, I applied tube watercolor paint, allowing its pigments to interact with the textured surface created by the latex. As the paint dried, I carefully peeled away sections of the latex, revealing intricate shapes and patterns beneath the rich hues of dark blue and purple. To enhance the visual complexity, I introduced vibrant tones of red, orange, and yellow, layering them to create depth and contrast.

Finally, to add a touch of opulence and intrigue, I adorned the center of the composition with delicate copper leaf, elevating the overall aesthetic and inviting further exploration of the piece's nuanced details.

 

Tranquil Reflections

I recently began this painting, set in the charming tourist town of Fontana, WI, located north of Illinois. It's progressing well but isn't finished yet; I'm still working on the tones. When I paint, I get into a zone where inspiration flows effortlessly. However, if I take a break from art and then return to it, I notice some rustiness, and it takes longer to get back into that creative zone.

The inspiration photo, with its bright tones of lemon green grass and an emerald-colored pond, presented a harmonious contrast against the dark brick-brown bark of the trees and the azure-lavender blue backdrop. I wanted to capture this stunning combination in my painting. The challenge is creating depth which I am still trying to figure out. 

 

Eye Of The Dragon

I began painting rocks in 2021 during the pandemic. When the world went on lock-down and people were going stir crazy sitting at home; I was painting rocks. These small paintings actually were fast and fun. My young grandson’s thought they were cool too. So I was doing something right to keep their attention while having fun. After finishing our painting project; we took those rocks and placed them in playgrounds around the area.

Rock art is a fun craft to do outdoors or indoors. It also is a fantastic medium tool for those looking to practice painting in a crafty way. Great for gift giving, hiding in parks or along a hiking path to a passersby. 

Sometimes hiding rocks can be rough.
“Do I have to give up this rock, grams?”

 

Rock Out

What do rocks and art have in common? They can be hard, thrown, rough, smooth, deep, shallow, slick, and vary in shape, color, texture, style, dimension, and weight.

This painting came together as a study for a larger piece I had been working on at the time. Creating realistic-looking water is a challenge, but painting rocks in a stream of moving water is mind-bending for a novice.

The takeaway from this experiment in rock painting was that it was an interesting attempt that I actually liked, even though it did not turn out as intended. What I liked about this monochromatic project before adding color was how the rocks looked in depth. When adding color, the rocks gained a shiny texture by applying white to the edges. That small gesture made a big difference in the dimensional perspective.