This red sky painting was completed before yesterday's post. While I started yesterday's painting first, I felt that it was not working so I began to paint this image. I completed it and then returned to the red sky painting that I posted yesterday. This painting is a little more straight forward in its subject and does not invite as much participation on the part of the viewer. As always, when painting things that are similar in subject matter, I find myself comparing the works. One Christmas I decided to give my daughter and daughter-in-law a painting similar to one that hangs in my kitchen. My daughter had stated that she really liked it. I decided that I could not paint two because when the first picked her painting the other would feel that they got the lesser of the two. My solution- I painted three. They each, therefore, had a choice. The remaining painting was sold to someone outside of the family.

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.