Back with some new paintings Cocktails and Mustard and Pyrex!

New work to share!

Cocktails and Mustard, 13 x 10 acrylic on paper framed 

History of Pyrex 13 x 10 acrylic on paper framed.

I am back!  I know it has been sometime now.  I have said before that I want to awaken my blog again and make it a place for sharing my art, life and useful information.  I think I have figured out how I can make that happen.  I hope to update at least once a month.  This should be doable with my busy schedule.

These are two of my newest pieces.  I am really enjoying still life work.  Anything is fodder for the artistic mill.  I already have other set-ups in mind using some of my fun personal things.  I love retro and reflections - the two r's!  I will still do other subjects for my collectors and so I keep myself challenged and excited about the subjects I paint, but I will throw in still life work as well.

For History of Pyrex I set up some of my personal pieces that I use all the time.   The orange bowl and brown casserole were wedding shower gifts many moons ago!  Cocktails and Mustard was born when I noticed the sun shining on some liquor bottles on my china cabinet.  I quickly added  the cordial glass and antique mustard tin for color and interest and grabbed my camera!

How about a tip!

  I think it is really important to under paint your image to eliminate the stark white underneath.   This helps if you miss a spot which is easy to do on textured support like canvas.  You won't have the bright white showing through.  There are different approaches to this.  I was taught to tone for light and shadow underneath - ultramarine blue watered down for shadow and raw sienna watered down for light.  Another approach is to under paint with a compliment.  For example, if you are doing a landscape that is mostly green - under paint with red to make the greens sing!   Give it a try and see what works for you.  I know one artist that always under paints with magenta so it all depends on your style and preference.

Thanks for reading and see you soon!

Bicycles with Banana seats - Do you remember?

I was sitting here watching the Olympics wondering what to blog this week and it hit me.   I have been having fun with Throwback Thursday on Facebook so why not a throwback post.

My first bicycle (without training wheels) was one of those bikes with chopper handlebars and a banana seat.  These were pretty comfy seats though I expect they weren't very aerodynamic since they were long.  Mine was a really pretty shiny purple.  I had this bike for a long time and was really proud of it.  As you can see below, I got it for Christmas of 1965. 

A wheelie bike, also called a muscle bike, high-riser, or banana bike, is a type of stylized children's bicycle designed in the 1960s to resemble a chopper motorcycle and characterized by ape hanger handlebars, a banana seat with sissy bar, and small (16-to-20-inch (410 to 510 mm)) wheels.  In 1963, Schwinn introduced the Sting-Ray, the first bike with a 'banana' seat and high-rise handlebars.

 

  I also see my Easy Bake Oven under the tree as well as a Feeley Meeley game too!   I still have the Easy Bake Oven and it is ready to go out on Ebay one of these days.  I remember 'baking' all those yummy cakes and brownies with just a light bulb.  I also remember making a pizza that my poor grandfather was kind enough to eat.  That mix was not one of Kenner's best efforts.  Well, maybe I will do some more throwback posts in the future.  I absconded with a few fun photos like the one above that I have to share.

 

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment on a childhood memory that your treasure.