Another Angle

 Just finished some adjustments to the last three in my La Crosse Streets series.

Lots more detail and trying to do cars. Things get a lot looser as the detail level goes up. Hope the new editions are enjoyed.

 

Corner on Main 8x10

 

Pearl Street 8x10

Alley Reflections 8x10

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.

Unique Perspectives

Hanging out on the street and ambling down alleyways may be seemly to some. I found it to be the subject matter of my next paintings. Downtown La Crosse is my old stomping grounds. As a student of art at the University, years ago it was a ritual to head downtown with friends for some fun.

So many of these alleys and buildings still exist from my early days of learning to love the Coulee Region. They offer a challenge of creating perspective, working on vanishing points and lots of strong shadows and textures.

Brick Alley 8x10

Following are some of the photos of the process with guidance from my mentor. Starting with just values in shades of gray then working into color and correcting as I continue.

Starting tp add some color

Just the lights and darks

Original photo

Here's a few more. Thanks again for fresh eyes from my mentor, learning I don't have to include everything my camera picks up. It seems obvious but its some times hard to edit ourselves.

Backyard Parking 8x10

Alley Secrets 8x10

Street Cafe 8x10

Last one a homage to Grounded Coffee Cafe where they have once a month artist exhibits on the patio.

I'll have a few more street scenes next week.

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.

Hard to Sit Still

Tiring of waiting for my face to heal, I popped out for a road trip to meet up with the drawing group for the Wed. morning outing. I couldn't stay long, I was curious to see the place of a former fellow art student Nick who opened up his bluff top residence for the morning.

At least I could cover myself up and take some inspirational photos. With no time to visit, relax and draw, I would at least draw some inspiration. Coming home to knock out a couple of small paintings in between my current project.

The Weight of Limbs 5x7

Artifacts and curiosities were propped up in the most unusual places.

If the Shoe Doesn't Fit 5x7

I just had to post this one as well. I don't have a back story but suppose we all like to hang onto memento's to remind us past efforts.

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.

A few more Plein Air Attempts

Kinstone Cabin  8x10

May started off with a weekend to Kinstone to do some Plein Air painting. It was a nice sunny day with no distractions. I attended their fall open house and decided to come back for the spring season opening. It's a lovely place to paint, especially if you want to work on your rocks.

Kinstone Chapel 8x10

Another popular subject matter is the chapel made of cord wood with a thatched roof. I brought these two paintings home to be able to dry and treat, while I left 10 framed paintings for sale on display in their education center. If you stop in be sure to see them. Or check out the April 25, 2021 blog "Kinstone Open House..."

Spring Returns 8x10

The daffodils in my yard were spectacular this year. A favorite spring bloom.

So now it's June and as my luck would have it I have to put off plein air painting for another month, due to a chemical face peel recommended by my dermatologist. Those sun worshiping days are long behind me but the damage is still there. Hope to get back out doors soon.

My goals are now for some studio work emphasizing street scenes, in particular those interesting alleys and roads in downtown La Crosse. My mentor has suggested another approach for me to work on my values and I'll be practicing some knife skills, the palette kind. 

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.

Art Market on the Patio

 

I participated in the June 7th event. A bit hot but still enjoyed hanging with other creatives. Had moments in between customers to do a little drawing. Sold a couple of paintings and met some new art enthusiasts. Thanks Mikaela for the opportunity.

Grounded Patio Cafe, downtown La Crosse 308 Main Street

Celebrating Sunfish

A perfect place to throw in a line. The Onalaska spillway. The water levels were low so I ventured out to see for my self the fishing opportunities before meeting up with the drawing group.

 

I met Randy and his dad fishing for sunnies, pulling them out left and right. They needed a counter just so they knew when they met their limit. I'm working on more figures as they seem to tell a story all on their own.

Sunny Days 8x10

Other sights in the area are the railroad track, a new subject matter to paint.

Down by the Rail Yard 8x10

Crossing Guard 8x10

  Other Onalaska Paintings

Bountiful 5x7

Downtown Landing 8x10

Onalaska Overlook 8x10

Pining for a Picnic 8x10

Spillway 8x10

Sunny the Sunfish 8x10

 

Dash-Park Gathering 11x14

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.

Going to the Loouve

We're traveling again! The first camping trip to Day Lake, in the Chequamegon National Forest, and some time to draw and paint. The fresh foliage was the brightest green against the dark recently burned forest floor. While it really isn't going to be displayed in Paris, it really was the path to the outhouse or Loo as some may say.

Going to the Loouve 8x10

Painting plein air

It was nice that the bathrooms were so well kept by the hosts. We really appreciated the efforts and decided contribute some wall decoration. I'm sure it won't last through Memorial Weekend.

Art in the Loouve

Lichen It

Jack not John

After returning home I was thrilled to post my painting on "En Plein Air" Painting and Painters site I follow. Many kind words which I appreciate but I really was seeking the constructive criticism needed to learn from my attempts at Plein Air painting. I discovered they have a mentorship  section where by other artists will assist with those in need. Thanks to Julia Lesnichy for her assistance.

 Here's a link http://instagram.com/julia_leshnichy

On the Way to the Loouve 8x10

Comments sited were to cool the greens in the distance, more contrast between lights and darks and the birch tree was too far left for the composition. It's nice to have fresh eyes. Instead of fixing the existing painting I tried painting another in the studio. It lost some freshness but it was also less cluttered since I felt I over worked the first one. Here they are side by side. Notice the differences?

Plein Air or Studio

We also had a chance to visit Copper Falls State Park. the water was running high and so were my hopes to photograph and paint a water fall in the studio. I took Julia's advice to tone down the white to help indicate that the day was overcast.

Gathering of the Falls 8x10

before toning down

It's great there are so many resources to help advance my efforts.

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.