8 years later ....

Conch Shell, 8x8" oil on canvas
2007

SOLD 

The studio is packed up - and waiting for its new location, which will begin next week.  So, I'm posting some of my history for the next few weeks until I'm back at work on new works!  

I started my blog, Brushstrokes, etc, 8 years ago this month!  That seems hard to believe!  

I had come across the painters who were making a painting a day and was intrigued.  My life was too busy (still is) to do a whole painting a day, but I knew I could paint every day and that's what I set out to do.  I also knew I would likely fail at my attempt to be disciplined if I wasn't in some way accountable - so my blog was born!  

This painting was one of the first I posted on my blog.  Its amazing to consider what all has happened in life and artistically during these last 8 years - children have flown the nest, married, a grandchild is on the way, I'm leaving the home where I've lived for 15 years and will be setting up home and studio in a new place.  I'm still teaching art at the public high school in my city - but the students have changed in many ways in the past 8 years!  And, I think, my work has continued to grow - which was the reason for becoming a daily artist! One of the other great benefits has been the opportunity to meet many fellow artists and art lovers all over the world through this blog!  So here's to 8 years... and many more to come! 

Summer Focus ~ working on painting water!

If you've been looking at my blog this summer, you've noticed that I've been taking a course in painting! Its been fun to be a student this summer...as I'm usually in the teacher role.  One of the things we did a lot of in this class was drawing on site - and yes, even some painting on site too! 
When it comes down to it, value (range of darks and lights) is essential to any kind of drawing and painting and that is not different in landscape painting.  So, here are some of my drawings from the beginning of class.  Here we were looking at drawing the values of moving water and still water, while rendering reflections accurately.  Learning to "see" what is really there is one of the things I talk to my classes about continually as they learn to draw.  That's no different in this scenario... learning to see!  Even if its moving!  (It takes a lot of practice!)

 

 

After working with drawings, we did value sketches in oil.  In a value sketch, we didn't use color - we worked on just finding the correct lights and darks for the what the scene required.  This was done on site - with an audience at times - as I painted what I saw. 

Finally, after the values are added in correctly, then color can be applied. 

Klein Creek, 8x10 Oil on Canvas

This is my small finished painting, Klein Creek.  You can probably see that we have had a lot of rain and this little creek, which is usually rather slow and lazy was running very fast!  

We also needed to do a painting of still water.  There's a small local lake nearby and it was here by Lake Ellyn, that I found that quiet space to create another painting.  The reflections in this painting were quite different from the reflections in moving water (above).

Quiet Water, 12x9" oil on linen panel

That's how this painting, Quiet Water, came to be. 

 

 The final assignment of this course was to do a more detailed value study of a water scene and then render it in full color.  Again, looking for accuracy in drawing in the values is very important.

Herrick Lake, 8x10" oil on gessoed panel

 

 

 

 SOLD

 

And finally, Herrick Lake, was my last painting for this 4 week course.   You can see that the mirror-like surface is what this painting portrays, and that was different than either of the other 2 paintings you see above.  You can also see that green was a predominant color this summer.  With all the rain we've had, our local landscape is quite lush and very green! Green has many iterations, however, which became a challenge to use that color in a variety of ways.  Herrick Lake has found its home! 

It's not too late, but time is running out!

I still need HELP!  

As I wrote last week, I am moving my home and studio in a couple weeks.  So, I'm offering some of my small paintings for just a few short weeks at a fraction of what they usually sell for.  This offer is given so that I have less to pack and move and so that my friends can enjoy some original art! Perhaps this will start or add to your own collection!

Now through July Friday, July 24th. The following are $19.95 each and that includes shipping!! (These paintings usually sell for $90 - $120).  That's right! $19.95 - and that's the full amount*!  See below the images for how to do this!  Each are ready to frame, but some are painted around the edges and framing is optional. The one's that have sold in the last week are now marked sold, but there are still more at this once-ever opportunity! 
* (Please note: Free shipping only within the US - for IL residents, I do need to add 8.25% sales tax, which adds $1.65. Your new total is only - $21.60)

Kitchen art - still life

Top left - Red Velvet, 5x5" oil on canvas

Top Rt - Pepper Plate, 6x6" oil on canvas

Lower Lft - 3 Lemons, 6x6" oil on canvas  SOLD

lower Rt - 4 Amigos, 5x5" oil on canvas

Top Lft - Green Grapes, 5x7" oil on canvas

Top Rt - Red Head, 5x7" oil on canvas

Lower Lft - Red Peppers, 6x6" oil on canvas

Lower Rt- Odd Fellows, 7x5" oil on canvas

Left- Purple Kohlrabi, 8x8" oil on canvas

Right- November Gathering, 8x8" oil on canvas

Botanical and Landscape

Left - Green on Blue, 7x5" oil on canvas   SOLD

Center- Snowy Woods, 8x7" oil on canvas  SOLD

Right- Winter Steeple, 7x5" oil on canvas  SOLD

Left - Hollyhocks, 8x8" oil on canvas   SOLD

Center- Yellow Iris, 6x6" acrylic on panel  SOLD

Right - West Wind, 7x5" oil on canvas

Left - Pink Hollyhock, 6x6" oil on canvas

Right - Iridescence (butterfly) diptych

6 x 13" overall

 Left - Waterlily, 5x7" oil on canvas 

Right - Pineapple Top, 5x5" oil on canvas

Left - Asleep, 5 x7" acric on canvas  SOLD

Right- Frosted, 5x 7" oil on canvas

Left- Undulation 3, 10x8" o on canvas

Center- Agave, 6x6" acrylic on panel   SOLD

Right- Pink Hydrangea, 8x8" oil on canvas

     Here's how to have your favorite(s) sent your way! Email me:   studio_upstairs@hotmail.com.  Include the title of the painting or paintings you'd like and I'll send you an invoice through PayPal. You can use your PayPal account or a credit card, and you don't even HAVE to have a PayPal account to participate! Then, after receiving payment, it will be packaged and sent!  It's that simple! 

I'm hoping each and every one of these will find a great home! (Don't forget, they can also make a great gift!)   I'm not painting these smaller sizes much anymore, so this is a great opportunity for my friends and a big help to me!    

Lakeside - Herrick Lake

Herrick Lake, 8x10" oil on gessoed panel

©2015 Helen Read 

SOLD

Herrick Lake is a lovely little lake and surrounding park near my home.  As I wandered around it, looking for a place to paint, I ran across an interesting sign post stating that this is one of the very few natural lakes in our area created by a receding glacier.  I think that made it just a little more interesting, though I wouldn't have known it by just looking at it.  

As you can see, the water was absolutely still; like a mirror reflecting the underside of branches, the surrounding trees and, of course, the sky. And, the dead tree seemed to set all of the green off in just the right way.   This little painting is now looking for its new home! 
 

More Work and More Water

My class on painting water has this one more painting to finish... And amidst packing up my house and studio, I'm working along on it.  I am trying to have it in its final form in the next few days - before I completely tear the studio apart like the rest of the house!  Moving is chaos!! 

I'm feeling pleased with the woods on the far shore - but the most difficult parts remain - water and all its colorful reflections.

Moving! Studio bargains!!

I need HELP!  

I am moving my home and studio in a few weeks.  So, I'm offering some of my small paintings for just a few short weeks at a fraction of what they usually sell for.  This offer is so that I have less to pack and move and so that my friends can enjoy some original art! Perhaps this will start or add to your own collection!

Now through July Friday, July 24th. The following are $19.95 each and that includes shipping!! (These paintings usually sell for $90 - $120).  That's right! $19.95 - and that's the full amount*!  See below the images for how to do this!  Each are ready to frame, but some are painted around the edges and framing is optional. 
* (Please note: Free shipping only within the US - for IL residents, I do need to add 8.25% sales tax, which adds $1.65. Your new total is only - $21.60)

Kitchen art - still life

Top left - Red Velvet, 5x5" oil on canvas

Top Rt - Pepper Plate, 6x6" oil on canvas

Lower Lft - 3 Lemons, 6x6" oil on canvas  SOLD

lower Rt - 4 Amigos, 5x5" oil on canvas

Top Lft - Green Grapes, 5x7" oil on canvas

Top Rt - Red Head, 5x7" oil on canvas

Lower Lft - Red Peppers, 6x6" oil on canvas

Lower Rt- Odd Fellows, 7x5" oil on canvas

Left- Purple Kohlrabi, 8x8" oil on canvas

Right- November Gathering, 8x8" oil on canvas

Botanical and Landscape

Left - Green on Blue, 7x5" oil on canvas   SOLD

Center- Snowy Woods, 8x7" oil on canvas  SOLD

Right- Winter Steeple, 7x5" oil on canvas  SOLD

Left - Hollyhocks, 8x8" oil on canvas   SOLD

Center- Yellow Iris, 6x6" acrylic on panel  SOLD

Right - West Wind, 7x5" oil on canvas

Left - Pink Hollyhock, 6x6" oil on canvas

Right - Iridescence (butterfly) diptych

6 x 13" overall

Left - Asleep, 5 x7" acric on canvas  SOLD

Right- Frosted, 5x 7" oil on canvas

Left- Undulation 3, 10x8" o on canvas

Center- Agave, 6x6" acrylic on panel

Right- Pink Hydrangea, 8x8" oil on canvas

     Here's how to have your favorite(s) sent your way! Email me:   studio_upstairs@hotmail.com.  Include the title of the painting or paintings you'd like and I'll send you an invoice through PayPal. You can use your PayPal account or a credit card, and you don't even HAVE to have a PayPal account to participate! Then, after receiving payment, it will be packaged and sent!  It's that simple! 

I'm hoping each and every one of these will find a great home! (Don't forget, they can also make a great gift!)   I'm not painting these smaller sizes much anymore, so this is a great opportunity for my friends and a big help to me!     First come, first served! But the offer expires on July 24th! 
Thanks!! 

Quiet Water

Quiet Water - Lake Ellyn, 12x9" oil on linen panel 

© Helen Read

 

 

Water! --- We've had much of it this spring and summer!   The lakes are full, the plant life is thriving, and perhaps, if you listen for a moment, you may hear the sound of bullfrogs, fish jumping, and crickets singing.    I have been working on painting water in its many personalities this summer.  The reflections of the surrounding environment make it an ever-changing and very interesting subject matter.  The water in this setting was mostly smooth and quiet, with just a hint of ripples which can be seen in the reflected surface.  

 

Still Water

I think I'm mostly done with this one now.  I've had many interruptions and lots of rainy weather.  Also, I've needed to make a few adjustments to color and value. It's still drying - I'll make the scan soon and post it with all necessary information!