BRAD BISBEY

Path By The Lake 12x16 Acrylic

2011-05-27T16:19:00.002-05:00

This was painted as a class demonstration on landscape painting. Available at Zatista.com

Sketch of Lauren - Acrylic

2011-03-28T11:42:00.002-05:00

This was painted at Cornerstone Gallery. Lauren is a excellent artist!

Logan 8x10 Acrylic

2011-03-27T08:38:00.003-05:00

Logan was at a parade last 4th of July. He is 2 now and a force to be reckoned with. He is something!

White Window 24x30 Acrylic

2011-03-26T10:10:00.003-05:00

This one sat around the studio for a while before I got around to finishing it. I kept studying it, wondering where to go. Finally, I just jumped in and finished it. Available at Zatista.com.

Lauren (detail) Acrylic

2011-03-24T12:33:00.001-05:00

Painted from life at Cornerstone Gallery in Moline.

Graffitti 12x16 Acrylic

2011-03-23T08:22:00.003-05:00

I posted this painting earlier while it was in progress, then forgot to post the finished work. Jessie posed in front of the remains of an old factory on Slyvan Island. Available on Zatista.com

Untitled Landscape 16x20 Acrylic

2011-03-22T17:40:00.003-05:00

Painted this a few months ago. It has a very abstract quality. Available on Zatista.com

Avory 16x20 Acrylic

2011-03-21T11:20:00.003-05:00

This was painted from life at Cornerstone Gallery on a Tuesday evening painting session. Avory is a great model.

Looker 12x12 Acrylic

2011-03-21T11:12:00.003-05:00

Accidentally deleted this yesterday. Opps. I was trying to put up a better photo of the painting and the whole thing disappeared. So I am reposting it. Computers can be unforgiving at times.

This painting is available at Zatista.com.

'Imagine' study 16x20 Acrylic

2011-03-20T13:43:00.003-05:00

Study for an upcoming painting. Lots to work out here, but just doing some visual thinking. The model here is Celeste.

Early Frost 16x20 Acrylic

2011-03-19T22:13:00.002-05:00

Painted earlier this year while out in the country. Very impressionistic.

Available at Zatista.com

Winter Fields 16x20 Acrylic

2011-03-18T13:56:00.002-05:00

Getting more and more into landscape painting. This painting is available at Zatista.com

Far From Home 36x48 Acrylic

2010-08-24T13:39:00.004-05:00

$1800. Free Shipping

The finished painting. I love working on a larger scale.

Michelle In Red Dress 16x20 Acrylic

2010-08-19T12:06:00.003-05:00

Finally got my hands on the new Winsor/Newton Artists Acrylics. I like them. Will have to take some more time to get used to them. Wish they were a little more heavy bodied, but overall, they are all they are advertised to be.

Brushes & Bottles 11x14 Acrylic

2010-08-03T16:36:00.004-05:00

$95. (Free Shipping)

I have painted people most of my life, but I have always wanted to paint landsapes and still lifes as well. Since I am not getting any younger, now is a good time to explore other subjects more.

Comfortable 16x20 Acrylic

2010-06-23T10:38:00.004-05:00

$125. Free Shipping

Whoever heard of a cold lasting 6 weeks!! I have. I have talked to several other people in the same boat. I have gotten over it twice, but it keeps coming back! Summer colds are the worst! This was painted last night at Cornerstone Gallery. This is available for sale on ebay. Painted on masonite panel measuring 16x20. Sold unframed.

Untitled - More Progress 36x48 Acrylic

2010-06-08T13:39:00.005-05:00

Detail of untitled work.

I have always found it fascinating to watch a painting evolve. My method of working is from dark to middle tone to light, saving the highlights for the very end, constantly correcting and adjusting along the way. Mass in areas first, then come back and sculpt out form. On such a large canvas, I like to develop all areas at the same time. Get bored working on one area, I move to a different area of the painting. I love working large.

Jesse is the model for this painting. She may be on her way to the Gulf of Mexico to find a job cleaning up the oil mess. I asked her if she was coming back. She said, 'Who knows!' That's Jesse!

Untitled Work In Progress 36x48 Acrylic

2010-06-06T17:45:00.002-05:00

The beginning block-in stage of the painting. A very large painting which doesn't have a title yet.

Nancy's Rose Revisited 36x48 Acrylic

2010-04-29T15:42:00.002-05:00

I was never completely happy with the first version of this painting. It was too drab. It needed color and life,

Meena 16x20 Acrylic

2010-04-14T10:21:00.002-05:00

A vignette from painting class last night. Unfortunately, not a great likeness. However, it does resemble someone who resembles the model. Win some, lose some, stay positive!!

View From Tonya's 8x10 Acrylic

2010-04-02T11:20:00.001-05:00

Landon 8x10 Acrylic

2010-04-01T16:43:00.003-05:00

This is my newphew Landon! He will melt your heart! He and his cousin Logan were born 9 days apart! Landon is older! Simply the best!!

Celeste 16x20 Acrylic

2010-03-21T13:41:00.004-05:00

This is from a long pose yesterday at Cornerstone Gallery.

Graffitti 12x16 (in progress)

2010-03-14T18:26:00.002-05:00

The model for this painting is Jesse. She is from Venezula. Maybe the time change and my work schedule has slowed me down a bit, but I don't want to hurriedly finish work any more just to get on to the next painting. Time to take the time to get it right, regardless of how much time it takes.

Mirror 12x16 Acrylic

2010-03-12T16:31:00.003-06:00

SOLD

Black Gloves 16x20 Acrylic

2010-02-16T23:17:00.003-06:00

At life drawing tonight, Celeste wore these black gloves.

Andrea 16x20 Acrylic

2010-02-10T11:53:00.003-06:00

This is a quick sketch from a Tuesday evening class. Andrea is a ballet dancer.

Gray Day 9x12 Acrylic

2010-02-05T14:17:00.006-06:00

Sold

I am primarily a people painter, but I really want to paint more landscapes. But I don't need to tell anyone north of the equator that it's cold out there!

Logan 8x10 Acrylic

2010-02-04T09:09:00.003-06:00

Sold

This is my grand-newphew Logan. One of the two most handsome babies ever! (So I am a little biased!) His cousin Landon was born just a few days before.

Becca 12x16 Acrylic

2010-02-02T23:12:00.003-06:00

Becca posed this evening at painting class. This was a 3 hour pose.

Black Dress 11x14 Acrylic

2010-01-26T15:15:00.005-06:00

SOLD

Dreamer 16x20 Acrylic

2010-01-22T16:02:00.003-06:00

This is Celeste again. This pose and her face have a very Pre-Raphealite quality. That's what I like about this painting. This was painted from life. I am not sure it is done yet. I may work on it more.

October Evening (detail) 16x20 Acrylic

2010-01-21T13:15:00.003-06:00

When I paint, I love to capture the moment. And what is life after all, but a series of moments. When I paint, I am most focused on the moments. Life is fragile, isn't it.

Untitled-In Progress 24x30 Acrylic

2010-01-20T11:53:00.003-06:00

This painting is in progress. It is a large painting, 24x30, so there are a lot of details yet to be worked out! But it is fun working this large! I will post the painting again when it is finished. I think it is going to end up with many more changes!

Celeste 11x14 Acrylic

2010-01-18T08:53:00.003-06:00

When I look at Celeste, she very much reminds me of the "Girl With A Pearl Earring', the girl in the famous painting by Vermeer. Maybe I will paint Celeste in a similar manner.

Russian Lady 16x20 Acrylic

2010-01-17T16:26:00.002-06:00

$195. (includes shipping)

She posed for a painting session one Tuesday evening. I asked her what nationality she is? She simply said, 'I am Russian. I am Jewish.'

Far Away 16x20 Acrylic

2010-01-15T12:45:00.005-06:00

Available on ebay

Well, 2009 is behind us! And it kicked my southernmost regions! 2010 offers better prospects. I am not complaining, I am working in healthcare which has many rewards of it's own! Unfortunately, one of the rewards isn't offering time to paint and to be consistent about it. Life being what it is, and responsibilities being what they are, time has to be taken to do what you love. And what can I say, I love painting. The model for this painting is Celeste, an excellent artist in her own right! And an excellent model as well!!

Tammy 16 x 20 Acrylic

2009-11-12T17:24:00.003-06:00

Yes, I am still alive. This year has been an uphill climb. Enough said. This is a painting of Tammy from the other night. I am posting it today in honor of her birthday!!

Empty Frame 9x12 Acrylic

2009-08-16T18:51:00.003-05:00

SOLD

I wanted to take an object and see if I could make a visually exciting composition.

Celeste 16x20 Acrylic

2009-07-30T19:59:00.001-05:00

Beth Painting 11x14 Acrylic

2009-07-29T14:58:00.006-05:00

SOLD

On my last post, I mentioned I had a lousy cold, and I did! It went away, but what replaced it was a sense of exhaustion that lasted a month. The only time I wasn't tired was when I was sleeping! So I just dragged myself around to work and then back home. I figured I caught something working in healthcare. Funny, you run into a lot of sick people working in healthcare. Go figure. Anyway, here is a painting from an outing with students. I liked the way Beth was sitting on her foot, painting, oblivious to everything but her work.

Available on DailyPainters.com.

Kelly 11x14 Acrylic

2009-06-24T15:30:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted much in June due to my ever changing work schedule (which is finally settling down) and catching a lousy cold (as opposed to a nice cold), such is life. This was painted last night at acrylic class. It was a 3 hour pose, but I reached this point in 2 hours and a fellow artist said it was pure poetry, so I left the building for a while so I wouldn't go back into it and paint the poetry out of it.

Peaceful Afternoon 16x20 Acrylic

2009-06-04T17:15:00.003-05:00

$225.

Working outside all afternoon, the conditions changed constantly from sunny to cloudy and back to sunny again. It made for interesting light dancing on the water.

Arleen 16x20 Acrylic

2009-06-03T19:19:00.002-05:00

From life drawing class last night in Davenport, Iowa.

Trish 16x20 Acrylic

2009-05-28T16:14:00.003-05:00

Every once in a while, a painting comes along that, when upon completion, makes one stop and wonder how each step came in line to bring about the finished work. This is such a painting for me. It was painted in a 3 hour life drawing session. It approaches what I want to accomplish in my art.

Mary 16x20 Acrylic

2009-05-06T20:19:00.002-05:00

I hate to leave my blog for long periods of time, but life keeps coming at you. It is what it is. There has to come a time when you must dig in your heels and simply say 'ENOUGH OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD' and paint. The past year and a half has been very turbulant. This is not an excuse, or a pity party, but it is a reason for a lack of consistency. There are many artists who are no longer artists because life and responsibilities chew up all available time. Artists simply find a way to go on or they don't. I have no intention of entering into the 'they don't' category.

Mary sat before a group of students during a painting demostration.

Nancy's Rose 36x48 Acrylic

2009-03-28T18:06:00.002-05:00

This month, I have been working really big. This painting was a battle in the making, but it was still fun. Not for Sale

Hallie's Rose 36x48 Acrylic

2009-03-12T20:42:00.003-05:00

This painting is a far cry from my usual paintings in both subject and size. But it was a lot of fun to paint. I loved working so big after working relatively small for a long time. Not for sale.

Natalie 16x20 Acrylic

2009-03-04T08:17:00.003-06:00

This is from life drawing last night at Bucktown.

Brown Dress 16x20 Acrylic

2009-02-04T20:55:00.002-06:00

I love working before the live model. You have to stay focused. Color and brushes moving rapidly to cover the canvas because time is running, and soon the moment will be ending.

The Poet 8x10 Acrylic

2009-01-31T21:23:00.002-06:00

The model for this painting is a literature professor at a local college. She is also a poet. It suits her. The poetry is evident in her expressions.

Road North 11x14 Acrylic

2009-01-30T17:06:00.003-06:00

SOLD

The fields in Iowa in winter are both bleak and beautiful.

View From My Studio 6x8 Acrylic

2009-01-19T21:05:00.002-06:00

Black Dress 6x8 Acrylic

2009-01-18T12:46:00.002-06:00

What I love most about painting the figure are the beautiful lines and subtle detail. There are minor changes in the contour of the figure that add nobility to the form. When missed, the figure really has an incomplete quality.

Thoughtful Moment 16x20 Acrylic

2009-01-13T15:39:00.002-06:00

This young lady posed during the Tuesday evening class I teach at Bucktown Galleries.

Country Lane 8x10 Acrylic

2009-01-12T22:04:00.002-06:00

Boy, the time does go by. I haven't realized how long it has been since I posted. The holidays were a whirlwind, and I spent time on commissions and teaching and here we are, into another year already.

In The Studio 16x20 Acrylic

2008-12-21T15:50:00.002-06:00

I have had a hankering to work on a larger scale. So I am feeding my hankering.

Max 18x24 Acrylic

2008-12-15T18:25:00.003-06:00

Sold

Due to colds and commissions, I haven't posted the past week. This is the finished version of the preliminary study posted earlier.

Out Of The Darkness 11x14 Acrylic

2008-12-07T20:35:00.006-06:00

For almost a week, I've had one of those sore throat, head cold, chest cold thingamabobs. Good to get it out of the way early, but it puts a damper on the painting time. I hardly ever paint on a dark background like this for fear it come across like a velvet Elvis, but somehow today I just wanted a dark background.

I have been tagged and am supposed to come up with 7 unusual things about me (what about me ain't unusual), so stayed tuned.

When I was seventeen 22x28 Oil

2008-12-01T20:55:00.004-06:00

As I was going through my mother's belongings, I found this painting tucked away. I painted it when I was seventeen, in the infancy stages of my painting. I think all artists evolve pretty much the same. We begin as cameras, reproducing every leaf, every rock, every tiny detail. As we progress, we realize we are not cameras, but poets. Then the artistic journey really begins.

Funny, I remember exactly where I painted this and the silly high school tramas that were going on at the time. I was painting with oils here. The allergies didn't hit me until years later.

Peace 8x10 Acrylic

2008-11-29T20:43:00.004-06:00

Sold

I was driving through the small town of Port Byron, when, there they were, in public, on top of a fountain a few steps from the Mississippi River, kissing each other right on the lips. Shocking! Seriously, it was a gray day, so I added some notes of pure color here and there.

Afternoon Nap 11x14 Acrylic

2008-11-26T16:30:00.002-06:00

This is a quick study from life.

Where The River Turns West 9x12 Acrylic

2008-11-15T21:40:00.004-06:00

SOLD

I stood beside a plaque which read, 'This is where the Mississippi River turns west and runs 40 miles before turning south again at Muscatine, Iowa.' The temperature was in the forties, but it felt much colder. The little town across the river is LeClaire, Iowa, birthplace of Buffalo Bill.

Sand Bar 8x10 Acrylic

2008-11-14T16:29:00.003-06:00

I finally forced myself to go through all of my mother's belongings the past few weeks. I now have a larger studio in which to work. All things considered, I wish I didn't. Hopefully, I will be more organized now, but, knowing me, I won't hold my breath.

I traveled upriver yesterday (by car) and stood on the banks of the Mississippi River. There was this strange looking sand bar just off the pier. I don't know what caused this design, but I was taken by the abstract quality. Nature is a great teacher.

Heather 2 Acrylic 11x14

2008-10-29T19:47:00.003-05:00

Heather posed last night at Life Drawing class at Bucktown in Davenport, IA. She was kind enough to allow me to take some reference photos that I will be using later for further paintings. This painting is not available for sale.

Fields Of Gold 9x12 Acrylic

2008-10-28T15:00:00.004-05:00

Sold

I want to continue to explore landscape painting. Many, many paintings are required in any particular genre to discover your likes and dislikes. All painting is an exploration, a search to find what is meaningful on the painting surface.

Michelle Reading 9x12 Acrylic

2008-10-24T21:32:00.006-05:00

Maybe it's the change in the weather, but it's been a series of headaches this week. I know so many people who rarely get headaches. I tell them 'it's OK, I get enough for all of you. Got you all covered. No need to thank me.' This painting is from the study done from life below. I photographed her from a different angle.

The Racers Edge 11x14 Acrylic

2008-10-10T16:24:00.003-05:00

A bike race is a very colorful event. It is all a blur of movement and color. Painted on stretched canvas, this painting is currently available on ebay.

Andy 11x14 Acrylic

2008-10-03T19:40:00.004-05:00

$225. + shipping

This is the final painting. After blocking in the color, I work throughout the painting refining drawing, values, color and edges. There is a lot going on in the background here, so the challenge was to make sure the figure was not overpowered. I think it works because of a few strong horizontals and the kind of an X composition.

Available on ebay.

Andy - In Progress

2008-10-01T20:43:00.009-05:00

I know, I just posted one in progress and then promptly took it down. On that one, I was working from my imagination and I could not bring it to a satisfactory conclusion. This one is a real person at a real place. (Yes, her name is Andy.) Perhaps seeing a painting in progress is a little messy, but I think it is interesting to view the stages a painting goes through to completion. I used to go through elaborate preliminary work before painting. Now I just jump into the blank canvas and draw and block in shapes, then block in using color, always erroring on the side of the dark, then progress to lighter values. This painting is based on Manet's 'The Bar at the Folies-Bergeres', but set in modern day.

Charity's Place 16x20 Acrylic

2008-09-25T16:18:00.003-05:00

Charity loved to sit on this table and watch the wonders of the world. She would always strike this regal pose. Simply the best! I painted this a few years ago and just realized I haven't posted it. Not for sale.

Sunset Marina 8x10 Acrylic

2008-09-24T20:17:00.002-05:00

$95. + shipping

I was drawn to this scene because of the overall abstract design. When painting plein-aire, there is so much to take in. It can be dizzying. But that is the challenge of painting. To make comprehensible all that we see before us. Actually, this is the purpose of painting for me.

Available for sale in my gallery at Daily Painters.com. Paypal is available.

Sleeping 5x7 Acrylic

2008-09-17T20:01:00.002-05:00

This is a detail from a long pose during a life drawing session and the model fell asleep.

Approaching Storm 11x14 Acrylic

2008-09-15T19:27:00.006-05:00

$130. + shipping

This is my second excursion into plein-air painting. As I was painting this view, the Mississippi River was just a few feet behind me. I was so intent on working, I was startled three times by people looking over my shoulder. Maybe people should wear bells so they can't sneak up on you.

Painted in Acrylic on stretched canvas. Available through Paypal in my gallery on Daily Painters.com.

Dusk 8x10 Acrylic

2008-09-14T20:16:00.008-05:00

SOLD

So much has changed since this year began. My outlook on life has changed with it. I believe I have a softer, more open view of the world around me. A deeper knowledge into the love God has for all the universe. This evening just before dark, I ventured outdoors and painted the first plein-air painting I have done in quite a while. I really enjoyed working quickly in the challenge of the changing light as the sun was going down. The necessity of simplicity and sponaneity. The energy is embedded into the canvas. This is the first of many more plein-air paintings to come.

This painting is available in my gallery on the Daily Painters website. Acrylic on stretched canvas. $5. shipping. Paypal is accepted.

Michelle 2 (Sketch) Acrylic 16 x 20

2008-09-11T21:51:00.001-05:00

Another quick study of Michelle.

Charity

2008-09-10T18:25:00.003-05:00

Charity has been my beloved companion for the last 15 years. Last night, she passed away in my arms after a short illness. My brother always said she acts more like a dog than a cat. Always running to greet me when I came in the door. Never far when working in the studio. I don't believe we know one half of one per cent about anything, but I know God is love and He loves His creation. In the end, I think that is really all we need to know.

Michelle (Sketch) Acrylic 16 x 20

2008-09-09T15:27:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted anything during the month of August. If this year hasn't been something, it will do until the something shows up. To everything there is a season under heaven. This year has not been a productive season as far as creative output, I know that it serves a purpose for bringing out deeper creativity and perhaps even greater output in the future.

I did this sketch of Michelle during an hour pose at an acrylic class I teach at Bucktown in Davenport, Iowa. I like the spontanaity of having to complete a painting so rapidly, especially when working on a larger canvas. Just let go and paint.

Jennifer 9x12 Acrylic

2008-07-28T18:05:00.005-05:00

This is from a portrait workshop I recently began teaching at Bucktown, an old turn of the century saloon that is now home to many artist galleries in Davenport, Iowa. Jennifer is a wonderful model who wears colorful Indian type clothing. Sorry, this painting not available for sale.

Roberta 16x20 Acrylic

2008-07-27T17:35:00.004-05:00

Life is a series of expectations. Many are fulfilled. Many are not. I recently read where we have very selective memories of past events. And we have very inadequate visions of our future circumstances. When the future circumstances showed up for me, it was entirely different than I expected it to be. Of course, some circumstances you can see coming, others you just don't see coming at all.

I owe many Thank You's to so many of you who wrote and offered you heartfelt condolences and support earlier this year. I cannot say in words how much each note means to me. Thank you all so much. I am honored to be in the company of the Daily Painters. Simply the best! I haven't posted since last March because of the circumstances I didn't see coming. My apologies for dropping out of sight for so long. Please note: My address has never changed, but my email address has. Please contact me at bradbisbey@yahoo.com.

This is Roberta, a very beautiful lady who also happens to be a 5 degree blackbelt. I asked to paint her portrait to get myself back to the painting process. She graciously agreed. This painting also brought several commissions from others who saw it. 'Roberta' is painted on 16x20 stretched canvas. Not For Sale.

Peace 12x16 Acrylic

2008-03-07T20:04:00.003-06:00

For all the outpouring of care and support from so many during this time, words cannot express how deeply grateful I am to each and every one of you. I will reach you all individually, but until then, please accept my heartfelt Thank You at this time. A finer group of people I have never met. Daily Painters are simply the best.

I was just beginning to adjust to living in this big house by myself. Then. My brother called at 10pm 2 evenings ago to say his house was flooded. He lives along the banks of the Rock River in Illinois and found himself in the middle of a record flood. He waded out with a few clothes and the rest is a total loss. What a terrible winter! Now I am adjusting to living in this big house with my new roommate. My brother calls us a couple of old maids. I am at long last taking refuge in my art!

I did a smaller painting last year using this same photo as a reference. I wanted to paint it larger with a more finished quality. It is painted on Windberg Art Panel. Available on ebay.

My Mother

2008-02-14T21:04:00.003-06:00

February 01 1918 - February 12 2008

What a remarkable lady. Love of God, gentleness, unselfishness, strength of character are not just words that described her traits. They are words which descibed her. Through times of great joy and times of great sorrow, she didn't tell you how to live, she showed you how to live. I am so blessed that she was and will always be my mother.

Lost In Thought 6x8 Acrylic

2008-01-19T19:02:00.000-06:00

$95.

Acrylic on canvas panel. Available 01/20/08 at Daily Painters.com. Sold unframed. Price includes shipping.

Questioning 6x8 Acrylic

2008-01-18T15:02:00.000-06:00

$95.

Acrylic on canvas panel. Available 01/19 at Daily Painters.com. Sold unframed. Price includes shipping.

A Walk In The Clouds 9x12 Acrylic

2008-01-17T16:29:00.000-06:00

$100.

Acrylic on canvas panel. Available at Daily Painters.com 01/18. Sold unframed. Price includes shipping.

The Room 6x8 Acrylic

2008-01-16T20:20:00.000-06:00

$95.

This painting has kind of a comic book flavor to it. It tells its own story, like one frame from a movie. Acrylic on canvas panel. Available in my gallery at Daily Painters.com

Jenny 8x10 Acrylic

2008-01-13T21:50:00.000-06:00

SOLD

Jenny is a great model. Almost every time I see her, her hair is a different color. Blonde, brunette, redhead, she wears them all well.

White Dress 8x10 Acrylic

2008-01-12T18:33:00.000-06:00

SOLD

I posted this subject about 2 months ago. The first version was painted on matte board. This one is painted on canvas. The painting sold yesterday. When I was packing it, I noticed the matte board had a spot on it. The more I tried to fix it, the worse it got, so I repainted it on canvas. I may not paint on matte board anymore.

Triathlon 18x24 Acrylic

2008-01-10T22:15:00.000-06:00

Sold

This was a commissioned portrait. I worked from a photo taken at the Chicago triathlon, so I haven't met this gentleman yet, but look forward to meeting him soon.

Sideward Glance 6x8 Acrylic

2008-01-09T15:54:00.000-06:00

SOLD

Acrylic painting measuring 6x8 inches on canvas panel. Available 01/10 at my gallery at Daily Painters.com using Paypal. Sold unframed. Price includes shipping.

Young Girl 6x8 Acrylic

2008-01-08T21:34:00.000-06:00

$95.00

Acrylic on canvas panel measuring 6x8 inches. Available at my gallery at Daily painters.com. Sold unframed. Price includes shipping.

Charcoal Drawing

2008-01-03T22:35:00.000-06:00

SOLD

This was a 30 minute pose done with Wolffe Pencil and charcoal. I have been experimenting with water-soluable oils the past week or so. They have a strong odor which gave me a headache. So I am an acrylic painter. And that's the way it is. This is drawing day here today.

Drawing By Kate Skaloud

2008-01-03T22:27:00.000-06:00

It's good to start the new year with good art. This is the latest drawing by Galva, Illinois artist Kate Skaloud. This is a commissioned portrait and her best work to date, in my opinion.

I Been Tagged

2007-12-29T13:29:00.000-06:00

I have been tagged by the very talented artist Laurie Justus Pace

Here are the rules: 1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog. 2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. 3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. 4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

5 facts about me. As Harley Brown said, 'You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wonder why.' OK. Hang on!

1. I am terribly allergic to turpentine and most chemicals. One whiff and I am out 12 hours with a migraine.

2. This may sound weird. When I was 9 years old, I had asthma and double pnumonnia. I actually died. I remember being above my body looking down on myself. My mother was beside the bed, crying. But I came back, and no, I'm not crazy! I now also work as a CNA and take care of my mother, who will be 90 in a month.

3. When I was 7, I remember my father lifting me up on his shoulders to see John F. Kennedy, who came through Moline campaigning for President. I just remember lots of flashbulbs going off as John F. Kennedy went by sitting in the back of a convertible.

4. I have done editorial and magazine cartooning. One of my cartoons was published in the Saturday Evening Post. The same month the cartoon was published, my brother died suddenly at age 37. Three months later, my father died. I didn't feel like drawing funny cartoons for a long time after that.

5. This was a defining moment in my life. I became a CNA because my best friend of 30 years became ill with a rare form of Parkinson's disease. No one was helping his wife with him, so I did. I helped care for him for 6 years. The disease had ravished his body. His family was gathered around him when he died. For a brief moment, he looked as healthy as he ever did in his life. His daughter, Tonya, grabbed my arm and asked me what was happening. I told her, 'He isn't sick anymore.' You could almost visibly see his spirit leave his body. It was remarkable. Sad and joyful at the same time.

I noticed that the facts about me seem to have a theme. One thing I have learned is to take life a day at a time. Each day is a gift. No one is guaranteed a certain amount of time here, so enjoy each and every day! Live well, because when it's over, it ain't over!

I am going off to tag 5 artists, I'll get them linked up here when I choose who gets it. I'll be back.

OK. I have chosen the taggees. They are:

Liza Hirst
Brenda York
Mike Beeman
Irene Corey
Michele Beaulieu dba Naquaiya

Beaux Arts 8x10 Acrylic

2007-12-23T01:32:00.000-06:00

$100.00 (includes shipping)

A close friend recently told me that she thinks several of my paintings look 'unfinished.' It's good to have someone around you who tells you the truth and not just what they think we want to hear. It causes one to dig deeper, to evaluate more, to look at work more objectively and not just settle. This painting was first posted on May 10th of this year. I always thought I let it go to soon. It needed punching up, so I punched it. I may be doing this with a few other paintings as well.

Swan 9x12 Acrylic

2007-12-19T22:27:00.000-06:00

$95.00

Swans are fascinating creatures. They line up to eat and do really weird stuff with their necks. This one might be finished. I'm not sure yet.

Daily Painters Studio Tour

2007-12-18T16:00:00.000-06:00

The view from my studio window of the house across the street.

This is where I do much of my work. Sometimes an easel is set up for larger work, but for smaller paintings I set the canvas board right on my lap. I need a paint box with a lid so I can close it quickly when Charity or Hope the cats walk in. Rockwell and Remington are great inspirations as I work. Today, many of the Daily Painters are posting pictures of their studios. Please visit the Daily Painters site to see where and how artists set up a working space.

Stretch Revisited 9x12 Acrylic

2007-12-17T21:09:00.000-06:00

$100.

This is my first post for December because I have been studying. I looked over my paintings and was not happy. They seemed to be more concerned with technique and getting it right than with what art really is all about, which is feelings and emotions and speaking from the heart. It is not easy to dig deeper and place on canvas or paper what one really wants to say. This is why painting is a lifelong pursuit and no one ever reaches the place where our art is complete. It's the journey that matters. The first version of this painting was posted on April 12th. It was really lifeless and without emotion. The balance between warm and cool colors really brings life to a painting.

Tianna 5x7 Acrylic

2007-11-29T22:24:00.000-06:00

This was a quick study painted from life. Acrylic on matte board.

Sketchbook Page 4x7 Oil Pastel

2007-11-24T21:55:00.000-06:00

This past week I have been under the weather, so I haven't got to the paints. But when I'm not working on the canvas, I'm working on my head, always soul searching, driving myself nuts about the painting process and subject matter. I am learning that painting isn't really about subject matter as much as it is about speaking with our own individual voice. What touches us emotionally is highly subjective on one level. As individuals, no one will ever see the world the way we do at this point in time. On another level it is completely universal because we are all human beings. Each of us has a voice. The most important part of the artistic process is to find that voice, and then speak with it to the best of our ability. Teachers can teach us how to paint, but they cannot teach us how the world is going to affect us and how we are going to translate that to the painting surface. This cannot be taught. It must be discovered over and over again by the artist.

This is a page from one of my sketchbooks. I thought I would post something so no one would think I tripped and fell off the planet again. I was experimenting with oil pastel here.