Number 28 - Cardinal

Cardinal, 10x8, Oil on Hardboard

I've always been fascinated by birds. I think it's something my mother gifted me with as she's always enjoyed watching birds and building bird feeders so that she can watch them all the time. One of her favorite birds is the cardinal. She also likes bluejays, robins, wrens, finches, and hummingbirds. But I decided this painting was going to be a cardinal.

I experimented with the background and environment surrounding the main subject in this one. I wanted to give a sense of 'planes' and distance. You'll notice that the closer twigs and branches are more clearly defined than the background branches, which are softer and bring out the cardinal more, making it pop. It turned out to be an effect that I like and will probably continue using in future paintings.

Thank you for stopping by and looking at the Cardinal. I hope you've enjoyed looking at it as much as I enjoyed painting it!

Number 29 - Well, Hello There!

Well Hello There, 10x8, Oil on Hardboard

I've really enjoyed painting the kittens and dogs, so I decided to broaden my horizons and try something new. Here is a beautiful Mute Swan taking a drink and seemingly reflecting on its reflection. I've been exploring water and water effects for a little while and really enjoyed painting this one with all the colors that popped out at me.

One thing that this painting reminded me of was that throughout the process of painting my first 100 paintings, I've been seeing something new each time I look at anything. It seems that in the process of painting I've unlocked the gift of observation. I don't just see what my mind is telling me is there, but a whole world more! I see colors in things that I've never noticed, the way light plays with EVERYTHING, and how something can look totally different depending on your perspective at any specific moment.

I wonder if this swan has seen its reflection before but just hasn't noticed it for what it is...

Thank you for stopping by and looking at 'Well, Hello There'.

Enjoy!!!

Number 30 - Kitten

Kitten, 8x6, Oil on Hardboard

I enjoyed painting the last kitten so much that I thought I'd take a shot at another! I really liked the coolish colors of this one - the blue and the whites and light colors work very well with each other and make everything come together.

I appreciate you stopping by and taking a look at the Kitten! Enjoy!

Number 31 - Paradise

Paradise, 8x10, Oil on Hardboard

Painted this one from a reference photo of our trip to the beautiful country of Jamaica. As I'm posting this, it's 23 degrees, windy, and there's a thin but dangerous layer of ice covering everything! Winter's back and I sure wish I was back in Jamaica!

Thanks for stopping by to look at Paradise!

Number 32 - My Pumpkin

My Pumpkin, 8x8, Oil on Hardboard

Well, I couldn't really do a dog and not a cat, now could I? When Jen challenged me to paint animals, I just had to paint a cat, too!

And what a coincidence, the Daily Paintworks weekly challenge was Paint Your Pumpkin! So, I got to put a kitten with a pumpkin, prove to Jen that I can really paint animals, AND I got another Halloween painting in! What a weekend!

Thanks for stopping by and looking at My Pumpkin!

Enjoy!!!

Number 33 - Bailey

Bailey, 8x8, Oil on Hardboard

This is a 'critter portrait' of one of our dogs, Bailey. She's only ten months old and gets in her fair share of predicaments, mostly of the trouble variety, but she's just so loveable and curious! This is her 'whatcha doin'?' look.

Jen challenged me to do an animal painting, so here it is!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at Bailey. Enjoy!!

Number 34 - Puppy Power

Puppy Power, 6x6, Graphite on Hardboard

Sometimes the power of a dog's love can move mountains - not to mention me. I did this little piece to try something new. Well, it started out with the intention of actually putting paint to the surface, but I didn't really get that far. It just looked right the way it is...

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!

Enjoy Puppy Power!

Number 35 - Pink Tail

Pink Tail, 8x8, Oil on Hardboard

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and I work for one of the world's largest airlines that supports this great cause, I decided to paint this one.

By the way, I can't really say which airline I work for. But I'm sure you can figure it out...  ;-)

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at the Pink Tail. Enjoy!

Number 36 - Jamaican Clouds

Jamaican Clouds, 6x8, Oil on Hardboard

I did this little painting from some pictures that Jen and I took while on vacation in Jamaica. I really like how the clouds in that part of the world just pop up in little 'towers' and keep going straight up.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out the Jamaican Clouds!

Enjoy!

Number 39 - A Wedding Toast

A Wedding Toast, 10x8, Oil on Gessoboard

OK, it's now ready for prime time! I kept this one hush-hush because I painted it as a gift for a very dear friend that got married yesterday, October 8th, and didn't want her to see it beforehand.

If you think it looks familiar, well, Cuvee Rouge and a Rose was painted as a reference for this one!

Congratulations, Helen and Kirk! I wish you the best in your life together and many happy memories to you both!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! I hope you enjoy my Wedding Toast.

Number 37 - Ocean Waves

Ocean Waves, 6x8, Oil on Gessoboard

So, like I said in my last post, Jen's been wanting me to do more water. Apparently she didn't think I could do it, but I think this one is a winning water painting!

The inspiration was a winner, too! This reference shot was taken from a beach in Jamaica during our last little weekend getaway in Montego Bay.

I can still hear the waves crashing on the shore and the birds as they hunt for little sand crabs...

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at the Ocean Waves!

Enjoy!!!

Number 38 - Cloudy Ocean Sunset

Cloudy Ocean Sunset, 5x7, Oil on Canvas Panel

I wanted to do something colorful in honor of autumn without doing leaves or pumpkins, at least not yet. Jen's been wanting me to do something with water, too, so I took to the photo references and found this little prize.

It IS colorful, hehe!

Enjoy the cloudy ocean sunset and thanks for stopping by and taking a look!

Number 39 - TBA

Not yet ready for prime time...

Stay tuned...   ;-)

SMKelley.com

My apologies for not posting anything for a while. I've been working on a couple of paintings, but have spent the last few days focusing on the marketing and sales side. And with that...

I have a new web site - http://www.smkelley.com!

SMKelley.com is going to be my online gallery where anybody can go to get a detailed look at any one of my paintings, make a purchase, or check out my sketchbook to see a couple of paintings as they were works in progress (not quite done yet).

I'll also be posting upcoming events there, as I find upcoming events to post.  ;-)

So, stop in and check it out!

I'll be posting another couple of paintings here (and there!) shortly.

Thanks for stopping by!

Number 40 - Guiding Light

Guiding Light, 5x7, Oil on Gessoboard

Painting the fog effect is fun! Here's another foggy scene with the steeple of a church at daybreak. Take a close look at the top of the steeple and you'll know how I came up with the name for this little painting - a glint of sunlight at the very top of the point.

Many thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the Guiding Light.

Number 41 - Cuvee Rouge and a Rose

Cuvee Rouge and a Rose, 10x8, Oil on Gessoboard

So, it's been a while (yet again!) since I've posted anything, let alone painted anything. I couldn't decide whether to do a flower, a boat, bottles, or glasses. I compromised and did glasses and a flower.

For those of you that aren't familiar with a cuvee rouge, the one I'm referring to is darker than a rose and almost the color of a Pinot Noir with the aroma of strawberries and raspberries. It has a decadent flavor that reminds me of chocolate covered cherries. And whenever I would go to Thornton Winery in Temecula, California, the cuvee rouge is all I would drink. It was an addictive little bubbly especially enjoyed during a summer night at one of the many jazz concerts the winery hosts.

 

Sadly, I don't think they produce my favorite anymore... Oh, the memories!

Anyway, I thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy Cuvee Rouge and a Rose!

Number 42 - Foggy Farm Sunrise

Foggy Farm Sunrise, 5x7, Oil on Canvas Panel

Today I decided to try my hand at fog. It's really quite an elusive effect, but given the fact that there were a couple of days this past week that had very foggy mornings, I had some first-hand experience with this wonderful effect!

I just thought of it simply as atmospheric perspective scrunched down quite a bit. All you landscape painters out there know what I'm talking about, right? This piece was a little tricky in that there's a lot of warm light in the foreground and a little cooler, but still warm light on the barn with cool silhouettes of the trees just a little farther back in the distance. Just soft, subtle hints in the background...

Then there was the tall, uncut grass in the foreground. I just couldn't make it look right until I thought of my new friend, the palette knife. What a difference it made!

This one was a lot of fun to do and I look forward to tackling fog again soon - perhaps a sailing theme...  ;-)

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! Enjoy the foggy farm sunrise!

Number 43 - Olive Oil

Olive Oil, 10x8, Oil on Gessoboard

After painting the galvanized steel water can and the sunflowers, I decided to tackle glass. I really liked this little exercise for all the colors and lines and reflections. I tried to put everything in this one - hard edges, soft edges, a little warm, a little cool, and even an attempt at marble (or at least a representation of marble, LOL!!!). I went quickly and lost a little (OK, a lot) of the realism, but I think it turned out pretty well.

I really like the look and feel of this one and I hope you do, too!

Thanks for stopping by and looking. Enjoy!

Number 44 - Sunflowers in a Water Can

Sunflowers in a Water Can, 8x6, Oil on Gessoboard

It's been a while again since I've painted. I've been traveling, but I had the opportunity to visit not one but two art museums! I stopped at the San Diego Museum of Art to see the exhibition of Spanish art. Wow! Folks aren't kidding when they say they are mesmerized by the works of Sorolla. Absolutely amazing and most beautiful! They also had a couple of works by Monet on display in their permanent collection. Then, I flew down to Atlanta and visited the High Museum of Art and finally got to see my first Sargent! I do have to say that the painters in the late 19th century and earlier had VERY dark palettes. It seems as if everything was dark...

Anyway, this past weekend I decided to paint something a little more colorful. When I got home I found that the sunflowers are blooming, so they became my subject. I've also been looking at a lot of works with metal and glass in them. So, here it is - Sunflowers in a Water Can.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! Enjoy!

Number 45 - Morning

Morning, 7x5, Oil on Canvas Board

This little gem is a 'happy little accident' that resulted from a lot of overnight frustrations. It started out as something else, scraped away, then something else again, scraped away. I began to notice that when I scraped away the paint from the canvas there were a lot of different hints of color that seemed to be playing with each other and calling me to join them. Perhaps that was just a lack of sleep getting in my head, but it caused me to deviate from my norm and go WAY outside my comfort zone.

I scraped in the land mass with the palette knife I use to mix with. Then, as I was playing around I decided to add some foreground water by mirroring the land mass and making the darks lighter and putting in the water's edges. I didn't know what to do with the sky until I stepped outside and saw the predawn light. I knew I had to add it!

I'll be doing a lot more with my palette knives as they create a very free feeling, impressionistic effect that I've been looking for. And they're easier to clean!!!

Thanks for taking the time to look!

Enjoy the Morning!

Number 46 - Mug Shot

Mug Shot, 7x5, Oil on Canvas Panel

This is my mug. There is no other mug like it. Others may drink their concoctions from their mugs, but this mug is mine. It is special.

OK, this is my entry for the Daily Paintworks challenge for this week, the Paint Your Mug Challenge. If you haven't checked out the site, you should. A good number of very talented painters hang out and post their works. The weekly challenges are open to all, but the other areas are for members to post - and DPW has some wicked good daily painting members!! Perhaps one day soon I'll be one of them...

Thanks for stopping by and looking at Mug Shot!

Enjoy!

Number 47: Thistle Study

Thistle, 8x6, Oil on Gessoed Hardboard

The weed that is everywhere you don't want it to be is my subject for the day.

I usually look at these things with disgust before I cut them down and dig up their tap root, but today I looked at this one with the eyes of an 'artist'. All of the different greens, the way the light plays with the tiny petals of the bloom, the multitudes of little spikes covering the seed pod, and the pointy thorns all the way up the stem.

I hope I captured it all with this little study.

Enjoy!

Number 48: Cherry Exercise

Lone Cherry, 5x7, Oil on Canvas Board

I learned from this one not to take the picture when it is wet. Well, this one is fresh, right off the easel! I'll take another pic for comparison after it dries.

I like these little cherries. They make great little models and they each have their own individual personalities. I'm hooked, so watch out for more of these little guys!

Enjoy!

Number 49: Challenge Inspiration - Daisies

Daisies, 8x6, Oil on Gessoed Hardboard

Here's one that was inspired by this week's challenge at dailypaintworks.com. 

 

The challenge:Choose some flowers on the ground and stand from one to six feet away from them. Use only these colors: Ultra Blue, Cad Yellow Med (or Lt), Cad Rd Lt and white. Limit your painting time to one hour (don't cheat!). Using only three brush sizes (large, med and small) start with a large brush and cover the canvas with thin paint (not runny), getting most of the large, dark areas blocked in. Then work dark to light, thin to thick. Have a focal point with darker darks, lighter lights, more intense color, thicker paint and fewer sharper edges. The rest of the painting should support that area with less visual energy (softer edges, less intense colors, less contrast). Use the smallest brush only at the end and in the focal area only (last 15 minutes). Use a value scale of at least 8 to 2 (dark to light). And try not to use white to lighten unless it is a cool color (blue or purple). 

 

Since I only use the primaries anyway, this one was REALLY easy! I even finished in about 45 minutes. Unfortunately, I'm not a member of the site yet, so this was just a good practice. I'll be joining soon, though!

Enjoy!

Number 50: Little Project (Completed)

Well, here it is! I'm halfway through my first 100 and beginning to get the knack of things and how everything works and comes together. I may even be developing my own style, but the evolution continues. I keep thinking of a caterpiller in a cocoon developing into a beautiful butterfly. And, even though I took a year off, I feel as if the development continued in my mind as I never had a moment when I wasn't thinking about color, composition, mixing, lines, edges, etc...

For this big milestone I thought it appropriate to do a little something special. I took on a little project, a request from my best half for her sister and brother-in-law for their first anniversary. I already posted the study I did for this project here.

I started out by penciling in a drawing to get an idea of where things should go.

While I tried to figure out where to start, I painted in the sky.

I was really interested in seeing how the values of the 'crow's nest' would work with the sky color, so I started with the roof area.

I got into a groove and just kept moving down the canvas. I like how it's all coming together at this point, but there's still a lot that can go wrong, er, still a lot to do.

I changed colors for a while, the whites and blues were getting a bit monotonous, and I need to see what the other main areas of color would do to the composition. I'm really liking how this is looking at this point.

Got the stairs, walkway, and driveway in and looking good. I spent quite a bit of time on the curb, but it turned out looking really nice.

This is the part that really had me worried. All the work done so far and something so small as stair railings could ruin the whole thing. Well, I didn't have to worry very long. I did a little swipe with a couple of Qtips and laid down the paint. Nice little trick I learned from Richard Schmid! Finished up with the railing shadows and some water run off stains on the steps and voila!

Pilot House, 16x12, Oil on Canvas on Hardboard

Here it is! This photo was taken in warm light from an incandescent light and still looks pretty good to me. This is the largest project I've done to date and I learned quite a bit about mixing colors and using medium, values and edges, and most importantly patience. There were so many times I thought things didn't look right, the colors were off, the values were off, and the whole thing wouldn't really fit on the canvas. But in the end, it's all good. I'm happy to have done this project and look forward to doing more 'big' paintings in the near future.

I hope Kelly and Anthony love their first anniversary present as much as I loved painting it!

Number 51: Parrot (Macaw)

Parrot, 7x5, Oil on Canvas Panel

I decided to spread my wings a little for this one. Forgive the pun!

Enjoy!

Number 52: Old Oaks

Old Oaks, 6x8, Oil on Gessoed Hardboard

This one is just a quickie of a couple of oak trees that I spotted on my daily drive to and from work. They've stuck out to me because they look so old and they're the only trees on their respective hills. A lot like the old farms around here...

Enjoy!

Number 53: The Homestead

The Homestead, 6x8, Oil on Gessoed Hardboard

I got the hankerin', that's Midwest lingo for 'I really wanted', to go out and paint something en plein air. OK. Bugs, not a problem. Wind, not a problem. But the HEAT!!! And the SUN!!! I don't think that the 'Red Badge of Courage' is about blood. It's about the lobster red color of my pasty, white Irish skin when it's exposed to the sun. Cover up, you say? In THIS heat?

Anyway, here's a farm that I've been admiring and have thought about painting for a while. There's just something about white farm buildings from across a corn field that is just inspiring and attention-getting.

I really like how the corn turned out in this one. The farm didn't turn out so bad either!

Enjoy!

Number 54: Another Portrait

Portrait, 10x8, Oil on Gessoed Hardboard

OK, so I've been reading all the books and watching all the painting demos that I've accumulated in my self study of oil painting and I ran across Jeff Watts' Gesture Portraits - again! And, again, I said to myself that he REALLY makes it look easy. I can do that!

Well, here's another portrait. I don't think I did TOO badly, but, no! It's really NOT that easy...

Enjoy!

Number 55: Jen's Sunset

Jen's Sunset, 8x10, Oil on Gessoed Hardboard

You may remember a post where I mentioned my first date with the love of my life, Jen. Go here to refresh your memory if it's as bad as mine, LOL!

Well, I promised a painting way back then and I finally got to it! Enjoy!!!

Oh! And Jen, I still love the shoes!  ;-)

Number 56: The Pilot House Restaurant

Pilot House, 8x6, Gessoed Hardboard

Early last year Jen and I flew to Philadelphia and drove to New Jersey to attend the engagement party of her sister, Kelly, to a super great guy, Anthony. The dinner party was at a restaurant called the Pilot House located in Brick Township. Besides loving art, I am also a foodie, and the Pilot House did it up right!

Anyway, this is a little color study from that day done in preparation for a 'little' project I've started which you will see here within the next week or so.

Enjoy!

Number 57: Rise & Shine

Rise & Shine, 8x6, Oil on Gessoed Hardboard

As my last post indicated, I'm back!

I couldn't think of a better way to get rid of the spider webs from the studio in my mind than to do a quick little nautical.

Since I enjoy sunrises, and this little piece represents my comeback, enjoy 'Rise & Shine'!

Back in the Saddle!!!

Life and work have gotten in the way long enough!
I'm back and will be painting a lot more! As a matter of fact, I'll be posting six little studies that I've done over the past week - some plein air, some portraiture, some from reference photos.

So stay tuned and I'll have them posted shortly!