Buying Apples With an Audience - WIP

Buying Apples With an Audience
12 x 16   Oils on canvas panel

This is my version of two photos from Nathalies post "New Season Apples" in her blog Avignon In Photos.


I need to work on this some more so I'm calling this a "work in process" (WIP).  :-(

The Antique Dealer - Menton France

$175.00 plus shipping

The Antique Dealer - Menton France  18x24  Oils on canvas panel

Another painting inspired by Jilly's Menton Daily Photos. This fellow is an antique dealer sitting on one of his pieces looking a "bit" displeased with something. Maybe it was the last meal he ate, maybe there are no customers. Maybe, perhaps, who knows?

I think that his eyes are kind but his mouth reflects some disappointment(s)?

At The Flea Market

At The Flea Market  18x24  Oil on Masonite

I did a smaller version a few months ago but I wasn't very happy with it.  The jury is still out whether I entirely like this version.  

The "backpack" lady's hand needs some work, I see and those guys on the right aren't quite right.

Gripe gripe gripe!

House of China - Eureka Springs, AR

House of China 16.5x24  Oil on panel

From several photos taken last summer in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  Beautiful little town with many, many turn of the century homes and buildings.  A real fun tourist stop!

The House of China sells asian things. I'm not a shopper, so I don't know what to call the things in the store. But my daughter and my wife sure did enjoy buying a few things!

Weekend Shoppers

Weekend Shoppers 11x14 Oil on Canvas panel

This appears to be a family (tourists?) out shopping on Main Street in Eureka Springs AR. This was in the summer on one of the hotter days we had a few months ago. I'm guess that this is Mom and Dad out with their daughter. I go to look at and photograph the people - Melissa likes to go into the shops. This works out really well for us both.

I had problems with lighting this painting for the photo. I keep getting glare this is the best of many. I'll try again today to see if I can make a digital photo with a smart camera. The camera is smarter than the operator, that's for sure! :-)

Eureka Springs has many natural mineral springs. Two web sites where you can read more about it are: http://www.eurekasprings.com/ and http://www.eurekasprings.org/

We always stop at Bubba's BBQ - really! :-) Good BBQ and real people work there.

This is pointed on one of my home made Masonite panels covered with canvas. These panels have the look of canvas without the "bounce" of stretched canvas. The Masonite is reinforced with 3/4 inch square pieces of pine glued in place. I use better quality carpenter's glue clamped to the frame while the canvas is glued (and back stapled) to the Masonite with rabbit skin glue then I apply 3 or 4 coats of tinted Gesso. Presently my panels are "only" 3/4 inch thick. I'll make some thicker "gallery" panels later. I'll explain it mo bettah if anybody who is interested reads this far and lets me know with a comment.

Susie-Q Malt Shop

Susie-Q Malt Shop 16x24 Oil on Masonite

This drive-in (malt shop) has been in the same spot (and run by the same family) in Rogers, Arkansas since the 1960s. They have a sign near the order window that reads something similar to "this isn't a fast food restaurant, the food is cooked when it's ordered". I'll vouch that they make the BEST hamburger, fries and shakes in the area. Rumor has it that they make a "killer" dessert but I've never been hungry enough to try anything else.

They close up for the winter and a sure sign that it's spring or almost spring and life is renewed is when they open for business in the spring. You have to get here early at the lunch hour or you'll need a lunch two hours! :-)

Their address is:

Susie-Q Malt Shop

612 N 2nd St

Rogers, Arkansas 72756-6636

(479) 636-1326

Staying In Touch

Staying In Touch 12x16 Oil on masonite

I had originally titled this work "Farm Woman" but I felt that it has little or nothing to do with anything related to farming.

I (tried to) improve the young lady's hair and have her looking up and maybe daydreaming. I'm also painting the cabinetry and maybe I'll do something with the yellow sheet (or whatever it's called) pulled aside to expose the pantry.

I feel that I still have some work to do, but I'm beginning to like this one! It came real close to being wiped clean and starting over.












Farm Woman - first version. BLAH!

Thee Shoppers At A Flea-Market

Thee Shoppers At A Flea-Market. 12"x16" Oils on masonite.

This is a work in progress. For some reason it isn't happening - I'm struggling with it for some reason. Some paintings just seem to flow out of my brush while others resist me. Go figger. Maybe it isn't a good idea.

I especially struggled with the shopper on the left - in the blue top. See below. I'm struggling with her face profile. So I grabbed up some really small scraps (5"x5") and practiced.





Shopper #1 - Lady in the blue top. 5"x5" Oils on masonite.

This is one of five 5x5x that I did quickly to try to get the lady's face in profile worked out. Of course they all seemed to flow. Maybe I just need to lighten / loosen up, do the big painting quickly & move on.