First of the New Year

Monastery– Mt. Adams
8" x 10", Oil on Canvas
01/2015

A snowy scene from last year, depicting the view across the Ida Street viaduct to the Monastery on Mt. Adams. The viaduct is currently under repair and this view is obstructed with equipment and storage units.

Year End

Reserves Park– Winter's Grip
6" x 8", Oil on Paper
12/2014

Further experimentation with Arches Oil Paper. The ponds, where the lotus I paint frequently reside, look somewhat different in the winter. We think our landscape in SW Ohio looks very gray at this season, but there is a surprising amount of color, even with a snow cover.

Commission

Sitwell's Coffee House
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
12/2014

The last commission of the 2014 year is this painting of Sitwell's Coffee House in Clifton, Cincinnati, Ohio. One of a pair of paintings sold to a UC professor for Christmas gifts to his daughters. The other painting is of the opposite side of the street,  "329 1/2 Ludlow Avenue", a plein air piece I painted of Head First's signage (the shop is around back). Head First is the hair salon I've been going to since I was in college.

Old Mauds-Hughes Bridge

Old Mauds-Hughes Bridge
6" x 8", Oil on Canvas Panel
12/2014

Continuing to paint some small winter paintings to get in the mood for the season, this is a portrait of the just replaced single lane bridge near Hughes Station, Liberty Township. Its location between two right angle turns, with no Stop posted on either side, had become a test of nerves and civility. Would the other driver note the One Lane Bridge sign? If they did, would they yield to the car already stopped on the other side? Would they come barreling through? If they did, would there be enough room for you to squeak through?

Small Winter Paintings

Winter's Trailing Edge 2
6" x 8", Oil on Canvas Panel
11/2014

I'm working on some small winter scenes to have inventory for the Cincinnati Art Club's Holiday Sale and for the CAC Holiday Dinner painting exchange. These are the first two of 2014.

Winter– Honerlaw Farm
9" x 12", Oil on Canvas Panel
11/2014

Oil Paper Trials

CAC– Figure Sketch 2
12" x 9", Graphite & Oil on Paper
11/2014

These are two trials of a new material to me, Arches Oil Paper. Similar to 300# Watercolor Paper, this product is specially formulated not to "bloom" from absorbed oils and solvents around the brush strokes. It is still a very porous material and you need to get some solvent or oil into the paper to keep it from grabbing. I laid down a wash of let down oils and painted overtop with full bodied paint. As soon as I get the hang of it, I hope to do more to combine pencil drawing with oil painting.

CAC– Portrait Sketch 1
16" x 12", Graphite & Oil on Paper
11/2014

Plein Air– Sharon Woods

Sharon Woods Bridge– Fall
12" x 16", Oil on Canvas
10/2014

The last outing of the season for the South West Ohio Plein Air group was to Sharon Woods Park in Sharonville, Ohio. Fall colors were in abundance and this is a view of a clump of trees near the bridge over the lake's dam, perfectly reflected in the water, due to the calm winds.