A beautiful tribute to Steve Jones

Steve Jones and I have been officially retired for a few months now and it is still a bit difficult to believe that the ride is over.  I'd like to share this wonderful reflection on Steve's career... kudos to Michael Kreuser, Steve's son-in-law, who put it all together!
Click here to see the video tribute to Steve. 

Hanging It Up exhibition catalog

CLICK HERE

Steven Jones and Jane Ellefson: Hanging It Up

College of Lake County gallerists, Steven Jones and Jane Ellefson are retiring in June.  This farewell exhibit features still-life paintings by both artists.

Click here: CLC News Release: Hanging It Up

Grape Hyacinths with White Tea Jar, 2014, oil on panel

Blue Bag with Oranges, 2014, oil on panel

Persimmons on Pewter Plate, 2014, oil on panel

Pomegranates on a Dovetailed Box, 2014, oil on panel

Two Pomegranates in a Shadow, 2014, oil on panel

Click here to view the exhibition catalog

Portrait of Tom Rowe

In Autumn of 2012 I was commissioned to do a painting for Tom Rowe's 60th birthday.  It was, in a word, ambitious.  I was asked to capture the many facets of Tom - family man, Christian, structural engineer - on one canvas.  Here is the progress of that painting which was presented to Tom during his 60th celebration on December 29, 2013.  Happy Birthday, Tom!!

Still life set-up

Initial drawing

Studio with assembled still life  and drawing

Underdrawing on prepared linen panel

Greenish-umber imprimatura

Beginning glazes

More glazing

Recent Works 2012

Two of my paintings were selected for Recent Works, a competition for Lake County artists.  "Reflection" received the Award of Excellence.

Recent Works Juried Exhibit at CLC gallery Sept. 28 - Lake County News-Sun 

Reflection, 2012, oil on panel, 20" x 25"

Time for a change

I'm experimenting with a new look for my blog.  Thinking of going to a more dynamic view someday.  In the meantime, this is nice and simple.  Here is the most recent progress on my still life painting...

Sydney

My neighbor Sydney is a 7th grader and her art is featured in an exhibition at Lakes Community High School.  Congratulations Sydney!

Sydney and her Pop Art cupcake!

A new painting in progress

I started a painting on panel in January.  Here are various stages of the underdrawing, and below, the imprimatura with the addition of some whites.  The imprimatura is the initial color put over the underdrawing (in this case, red ochre with transparent red oxide).  It serves to unify the painting and will express itself even in the final painting.  The whites are applied by mixing dry white pigment in an emulsion.  After the whites are fully painted, I will work on the darks.  After this underpainting stage is complete, I will begin the process of adding color.

February 10

February 12

February 19

March 1

The whites are built up using dry pigment - a mix of zinc and titanium white - in an emulsion medium. Once the whites are built up, the darks are worked in.

Working in the darks: This is a transition from the drawing to the painting stage.  I continue to use emulsion as the medium with dry pigment.  This keeps the underpainting very "lean" and is in keeping with the "fat over lean" addage.  The underpainting is considered lean because there is very little oil in the emulsion and none at all in the dry pigments. 

March 22

March 27

March 28

April 5

April 6

detail from April 13

April 15

April 20

April 22

April 29

June 2

September