Two small redo's from the State Series

Here are two small one's that I needed to paint again to make the State Series complete. The Series sold to a great client and his wife. I had just sold the original two from Minnesota and New Hampshire the day before the client contacted me about purchasing the entire series. Isn't that how it goes? These will dry and then be off to their new home.

Both were painted with a small painting knife in oils.

Colebrook, New Hampshire (2)

5" x 7", oil, palette knife

 

Two Harbors, Minnesota (2)

5" x 7", oil, palette knife

Hawaii - Last of the State Series (Finally)

Google released their Street Views of Hawaii a couple of weeks ago, which means I finally get to finish the Street View State Series (on the blog) (on the website). I had substituted Washington DC for Hawaii back in April of this year. So it's nice to officially end that one.

I'd like to have a small show somewhere displaying all the paintings together if that's possible. If not, I'll probably start piecing the paintings out. Sure would like to sell the group as a whole though. ;-)

"Hawaii"
5" x 7", oil on canvas panel, palette knife

The final state in the series...Kentucky

Oh, what a long strange trip it's been. Actually, not that long. I started this series on February 7, 2009. Just over 2 months to do fifty small paintings. Mostly knife work. All are 5" x 7" in oils, on canvas panel. All but two are landscape format. Don't know why I did two vertical, I guess just to mess the display up.

I did this series to show what might be accomplished by using the technology that is available to us today. By using Google's Streetview technology I have traveled to 49 states and Washington, DC. Hawaii hasn't been posted yet. When it is I'll do it and update the series by that one, taking DC out.

I'm hoping some good may come out of this series, that Google will allow, i.e. give permission, to artists working in traditional methods (no digitally altered art) to use Streetview as source for reference material. This would open up an entire world for artists that are disabled and confined to their homes or facilities, or with restricted mobility.

At this point I have contacted Google concerning the use of Streetview. When a decision has been reached, and they let me know, I'll then let everyone else know.

Please feel free to join in on the Virtual Paintout, April is Amsterdam. Paint away, but until Google has decided whether to allow artists to use Streetview as a reference, I'd hold off on selling any of the works. Of course, that is only my humble opinion.

As for now this is the last (until Hawaii) of the series. 5" x 7", oil, canvas panel, palette knife. I left my home state until the end. Sort of anticlimactic don't you think?

As a side note...Google did give permission for artists to use Street View as a reference, and artists can sell their work without fear of copyright infringement. See sidebar here, and on the Virtual Paintout blog for more info.

Black Hawk, Colorado (State #49)

Here's #49 in my series.

Washington, D.C.

Okay, here's the deal.

I can't paint Hawaii in the Streetview State Series because they haven't made that state available yet. Don't even know if they've had their cars and cameras there yet. So, I've had to substitute...

Hawaii for DC

Doesn't seem fair now, does it?

Anyway. I've got two more states to go (not counting Hawaii, which I will do after it's available).

Whittington, Arkansas

Lyndhurst, New Jersey

Another in the State Series. 5" x 7" oil, palette knife

Baker, Kansas

Mark it off the list! This is state #45 in my quest to capture a scene from all 50 using Street View. This is a departure of sorts for this series, as I used brushes and a slightly different palette.

Lewes, Delaware

Breakin' the rules!

That big old tree is dead center. I actually knew that when laying this painting out today. Most artists will say that is one of the cardinal sins of composition. But I think done correctly, you can break all the so called rules. Maybe not all at once.

So, what do you think? Does it work centered? Or do I need to fire up the table saw?

5" x 7", State Series, oil on canvas panel, palette knife

Colebrook, New Hampshire

Two Harbors, Minnesota

Warwick, Rhode Island

District 4, Mississippi

Back to the State Series. This is #40. Again, all palette knife in Classic Artist Oils.

Rock Springs, Wyoming

Another in the Google Streetview State Series. This is number 39.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Sheldon, Vermont - Demonstration

Here's one I started at lunch today, and finished up this afternoon. I was asked if I'd show how I go about doing one of these small knife paintings, so I made a few pictures during the painting process. Please pardon the glare on the right side of most.

Below you'll see my 5" x 7" canvas board toned a nice bright red.


Next, you'll see my initial sketch done with raw umber and a palette knife.


Here I've painted in the sky.


In the next one, below, you'll see not much has changed other than adding a few hints of background foliage.


The silo has made it's appearance.



The buildings have now been painted.


Next is adding some color to the tree and ground. Pretty simple really.

Anchorage, Alaska

Fire! No, not really. But it does appear the changing trees behind the house in this painting might be construed as flames leaping from the roof. But, I'm not going to change it.

I don't know if many people are enjoying my little virtual adventure across the United States with this series, but I know I am. And one of the things that I think adds to the general likeability of these paintings is the spontaneity. I may be wrong, but I don't think I've gone back and worked on any of these after the initial painting session. So I don't think I'll start now. It's all about having fun, right?

Detroit, Michigan

Huntsville, Alabama

Charlotte, North Carolina