Bike Race Watercolors

Started a series of watercolors that I hope to build on that are based on a local cyclocross race, the Rockport Rampage, held in Rockport, IN.

I went to the inaugural event a couple of weekends ago and set next to the course to try and do a quick sketch. It was a little cold and windy, but I pulled one off...not a great one, but I did it.

I love bicycles...anything to do with two wheels, really, and cyclocross seems to be a great combo of off road, off beat, and right up my alley. So, putting my artistic talents to it just seemed natural. It's the first time I've tackled a subject like this and sure won't be the last...

Here is the sketch I did the day of the race in my Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Then, this evening I've worked on two small watercolors that I used my photos that I shot that day for reference.
We'll see as time goes on what else I come up with for this series. I'm kinda stoked on the whole idea.

          "Rampage #1"
        5"x7" watercolor
                 $75

 

         "Rampage #2"
       5"x7" watercolor
                 $75

Painting Above the Dam

We had a welcome break from the extra cold weather we've been having, so I grabbed my gear and went in search of my painting for today.

I decided to run up to Hawesville, KY. to the overlook on the Ohio River that looks down on the Cannelton Lock and Dam. It was a beautiful view today, but the wind was relentless. One time even blowing my tripod over while nothing was even attached to it. Luckily it never dumped over with my painting on it...I was wary and had a hand on it most times, like when I was painting I had to hold it as steady as I could.

I initially put in a down river bound towboat, but once I got home I switched it around and made one approaching the lock. That set me to remembering my short stint onboard a towboat many years ago as a deckhand and locking through this very place...funny the differing perspective.

Be sure and check out my video below.

"Above the Dam"
12"x12" oil on linen panel
NFS




Here are some photos from the spot.

And here is my short little video...the first ever that I have shot while painting.

The Tetons

With it being just too insanely cold out to go paint, I have been hanging the studio reading and going through photos. I guess no time is better than the present to start making more work from my 2012 trip to Wyoming. I have been hesitant because I've not been too happy with the photos I had. But, thanks to all of the plein air work I have been doing, it's given me the confidence to work from the photo, but to only use it for composition and ideas.

Like the photo I used here, it's pretty boring, but I liked the composition.

The worst thing to make is a boring painting, and I've made several. So, on this one, I made up a sky I thought would make a much more interesting painting.
If you are interested in purchasing this painting or any others, please contact me.
e-mail: derrt33@yahoo.com
phone: 812-306-1699

"The Grandest of the West"
 12"x12" oil on linen panel
                $300

Overcoming The No

What is overcoming the no? Today it was my internal battle whether to stay in and enjoy the warmth of the studio or go out and paint in the cold and wind. I finally willed myself out the door by late afternoon and went in search of something to paint.

I was pretty sure I wanted to head across the river and try to get a scene of the bridge or something with the river in it. But, as I was looking, I saw this lone tree out in a huge field and the ruts filled with snow and ice. That was going to be it. So, I set up and went to painting as quickly as I could.

Winter ruts, don't we all suffer those at this time of year?

           "Winter Ruts"
   9"x12" oil on linen panel
                $245

SOMA Figural Arts Collaborative

A few of my fellow artist friends are holding a showing of their work at the Anna Eaton Stout Gallery on the campus of Brescia University.

Here are a few shots I took while attending the opening tonight. The show will hang until Feb. 7th and includes the work of Diane Albin, John Atkinson, Charles Shoemaker, and Larry Simpson.

Check it out while you can.

Self Portrait

What got into me to do a self portrait, I'm not sure, since I have never done one before. I think it was stumbling across a YouTube video series by Duffy Sheridan that did the trick. I was inspired.

Now, I didn't have all the colors that he had on his pallet, or the soft bristle brushes...but, I do have oil primed linen panels that I make myself, so I'm good in that department.

I also had to mount a mirror next to my easel so I could look at myself...the hardest part of the whole deal, looking at myself, that is.

I started out with a charcoal sketch...I need to work on loosening that up in the future. But, I got a some what resemblance of myself.

From that I washed in a background color with some white, raw umber, and viridian.
Then started building up skin tone in three values that I mixed from cad. red medium, yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, white and maybe a dab of this and that...

Then it was just a matter of placing darks and lights to try and build form.

I decided to stop here for the night after working on the eyes a little. I don't feel like I have them quite right yet...they are the most important think. If I get those right, then everything else keys off of them.

For those interested, here is my work space. I have the smallest room in the house, 10'x11', with an eastern exposure window...not ideal. But, it works for now.

TO BE CONTINUED...



And, here it is, night #2 on my self portrait.

I immediately noticed my eyebrows were too high, so corrected that. Also, the width of my cheekbones was making my face look too narrow.
Along with those changes, it was just a matter of looking at myself closely in the mirror and mixing colors and placing them where they needed to be to help develop the painting farther along.

Here is how it looks right now. I think I need to reduce the size of the irises of my eyes. They look a little too big and cartoon-ish.

This may be where I call it done. I have to stop somewhere or I could go on forever.

"Self Portrait #01"
16"x12" oil on linen panel

Painting During Our Heat Wave

As the whole world knows, we have been experiencing temperatures much lower than normal this week here in the midwest thanks to the Polar Vortex that swept down out of Canada....Brrr, it was cold for few days. But, today we've seen temps roar back above freezing and nearing 50.

So, what better time to get out of the house and paint. I grabbed my gear and headed out. I only had about two hours, as I needed to be home to get the kids off the bus.

I went to a spot that has been on my radar for a while on the backside of Ben Hawes Park. I drove up the road and found a safe spot to pull over, got out, set up, and started a timer on my phone.

It wasn't long before I heard a car slowly approaching and it stopped right beside me. The gentleman's curiosity piqued, he asked a few questions. I thought his voice sounded kind of familiar, but it wasn't registering just yet. I got around to telling him I was originally from Boonville, IN.

Now, this is where you just never know what you will see, hear, or experience when out painting in the outdoors. He said, "Do you remember the song, "One Night in Boonville?". Well, of course I remember the song, I was in high school in the '80's when that song was on local radio making fun of my hometown. I was never really offended by the song. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves...besides, it was mostly true. Ha, Ha!!
Now he tells me that he wrote that...and of course, it all makes sense then. He's a local DJ, very well known, Brian Jackson.

We chatted a bit more, but my timer was running and I needed to concentrate.

So, you just never know....

Oh, and here's the painting.

"Barn On Willett Road"
8"x10" oil on linen panel