As I paint, I find myself returning to many of my favorite things . I have used red as my sky in quite a few of my works. I think that the hue is a warm and exciting addition to the painting. In this work my thought process is as always- move my hues throughout the painting. If I use the hue in one area I repeat it in yet another area. This helps hold the work together. This work also includes curves that are repeated. In order to create the illusion of a large space, I take my elements off all four edges of the painting. Rhythms are created through the repetition of hues, lines, shapes. I attempt to create a landscape that is both familiar and still new. I have attempted to let my viewer see the landscape through my eyes. I encourage them to enjoy the elements(color, shapes, textures, lines, values). The landscape has merely been a vehicle used to enable me to work with these elements.
Due to the nature of doing outdoor shows, I find that many times I do not get the opportunity to "live with" the painting. Given the opportunity to have the work long enough to put it away and return to it days later, I will find areas in the composition that I can improve upon. Returning to the piece a few days later often permits me to "see" my work in a different way. This particular piece sold one day after I created it. I hope that it will bring pleasure to its new owner with each look.

This is a cropped area of one of my paintings that my Father gave me. It was created by his mother, Tella Kitchen. Her story telling was always one of her assets. Being able to tell stories with images was even better. What a wonderful way to communicate your life stories to others through paintings. I find myself always thinking of my life and the images associated with it. I tell Mary Anne( my lovely wife) that I, too, am going to paint many of the events of my life growing up in Lancaster, Ohio. Did you ever stop to think about all of the changes that you have seen in your lifetime? Do you think about those friends and family members who have shared these same changes? Maybe you could create a keepsake for someone you love to cherish. It doesn't have to be painting. It might be a scrapbook with all of your family identified. I created a calendar book with all the important days and people in our life for my dear sister. It also gave me the opportunity to continue that sibling rivalry. It might be a written story about your life. I wrote books to my children as they grew. They received them at a wedding rehearsal dinner. I gave my son a blank book hoping that he will take the time to write "love" notes to his children. My wife and I created books for her brothers and sister using Snapfish. It made a one of a kind Christmas present. Maybe you can pass on a keepsake to someone while your both here to enjoy the exchange. I know that we are all busy but....these gifts are gifts that only you can give someone. It doesn't have to be big or elaborate, it has to be personal. Have a great day.

Well, our season officially begins tomorrow morning. We have spent many hours preparing for our first show. People visiting the art festivals fail to realize the preparation and work that it takes for the artist to be "sitting" at the festival. I scrubbed weights, packed paintings, packed the tent, and barely managed to get everything in the van. Throughout the summer and fall we will be in hot weather, stormy weather and pleasant weather. We will meet wonderful people and be exposed to many creative artists. We will visit cities that we would normally not visit. We will start at 6:30a.m and work until about 9:00 at night. We will then work through the week to prepare for another show in another city on the following weekend. We share these experiences with hundreds of artists. They have become good friends and have taught us much.

People have come into our lives that we would probably never meet. Thirty years of hard work have been good to our family. I take this opportunity to thank each person who has supported our efforts throughout the years. Thanks!

This is a painting of the Prentiss School located in Canal Winchester, Ohio. As a former teacher I found this subject matter pertinent. As an artist I took a few liberties. I moved it from the historical area back to a more rural setting. I guess if the historical society can move it, Ed can move it. As in most of my paintings, it is the background that I like the most. I have tro go...we just had our second grandchild.... a little girl. byeeeee :-)

Good morning! This is another Polaroid manipulation. I did enough of these to let me know that this is not what I wanted to be doing. It was an adventure. The subject is our city hall in Lancaster,Ohio. Three sides of this structure are sandstone with the backside being brick. For those "older" residents of Lancaster, this is the building that also housed our county library. It's an interesting building. So here is to trying new things even if they aren't exactly what we thought they would be......... Have a great day.

Here we are about to start summer and I am giving you winter. So if you need to stay cool one of the winter scenes might be good for you. We are doing a number of outdoor art festivals this summer. We start with a new show being held in Granville, Ohio at the Bryn Du Mansion.They have a nice website www.granvilleartaffair. My work was used prominently on the advertising cards. Following this show you will find us spending father's day in Worthington, Ohio on the square there are artists on all four corners. If you miss us there you still have a few more chances. Next up, The Lilyfest! They also have a website www.lilyfest.com This show is in the Hocking Hills. If you love beautiful surroundings come to this one. You say you don't like driving in the hills(shame on you), then catch me at the show that I have almost called my second home.. The Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival in Cambriidge, Ohio www.saltforkfestival.org . Whew, are you tired yet? During the Lancaster Music Festival www.lanfest.org .

Standing Stone National Bank is where you will find my lovely wife and me during the annual Friday night Art Walk. The bank has live entertainment and of course the prerequisite- free food and drinks. Too busy during that week? If you are up in Northern Ohio.... you can find us in our trusty spot on the green in Chardon. We will return to the comfort of our own hometown for Art on Fair www.artonfair.com This is a Saturday only show. I'm exhausted..... but..... it is now on to the Hyde Park on the Square Art Show in Cincinnati, Ohio. So I really should not be sitting here typing away...........sooooo... I'm off to my studio to paint, paint, paint!

I hope to see you at one or all of these shows.

Good Morning everyone! It looks as if it could be a rainy day in Ohio. I guess I will come in from outside and settle back into the routine of painting. I really enjoy it once I get started. As I grow older it is the self-discipline that I find harder. Working in the yard, listening to the birds and my fountains, feeling the warm breezes on my face all are pleasant distractions. The painting above is a scene from the Hocking Hills. My wife and I backpacked to Old Man's Cave and spent the day exploring. It is so close that we often forget to take time to enjoy the beauty of the area. For an artist each piece of work is a challenge. For me, using green is a big challenge. I hope that you enjoy this trip to Old Man's Cave. I encourage you to visit it and get that sense of scale- man to nature. Enjoy your day.

It's another Moooooooon picture! This is a Polaroid transfer of a slide of one of my original paintings. Then trying to be creative , I embellished it with some painting. I guess we won't be doing any of this again- now that Polaroid film is not available. This will impact some really big name artists. For "capricious ed" it just means that I will have this experience to recall. There are a great many experiences that we have all had that are now mere memories. Treasure them!

Right now you are probably saying, "This guy doesn't know what he wants to do!" My answer is "I don't want to do the same thing each time I sit down to paint." Creating new problems to solve has kept me going for the last 30 years. Writing this blog has forced me to take a closer look at my work. I have discovered that I am, indeed, fascinated with the moon, the stars, and water. Many of my works include these elements- some realistic, others symbolic. Here I have limited my palette and repeated the circular shape throughout the work. The desire to create with just simple shapes dictates the direction of this particular work. It is my hope that I bring to each of you a new way of looking at what surrounds us. Today, let's keep it simple.

Special note to Mary Wegman: Wassily Kandinsky- 1913-"Squares with Concentric Circles"=
inspiration.

In this painting I have tried to take a cold subject matter and warm it by using a golden hue for the sky. There is something very pristine and calming about a winter evening immediately after a snow. When I paint I often transport myself to a place that evokes a feeling within me and try to capture that feeling in the work for everyone to enjoy with me. I have used the stream again as a device to lead your eye through my composition. I have three horizontal line movements that also serve to lift the viewer's eye upward. Enough..... the idea is to have a piece that is calming to you. I hope my painting brings a restful moment to your day.