Author: wcart123

Some steeples are heroic in architectural gesture. The highest church building in the world (owing to its steeple, of course) is the Ulm Minster in Germany at 530’ (with the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona hot on it’s heels at 566’ – but is unfinished I read). In the U.S., it’s the Riverside Church in NYC at 392’.

Traveling on a major E/W highway, we often pass a welcoming, yet demure little chapel along the way. This roadside chapel offers the traveler a place to stop, reflect, pray, and/or rest. Not much room for anything else – but, with those offerings, who needs “else”.

From the look of the door size, this edifice, thrusting rocket-like from ground-level, soars a commanding 15, maybe 16,’ into the sky … thanks to a robust spire and cross. :). I assume the congregation of Ulm Minster fears not.

What a joy to see this little chapel: roadside, welcoming, clean, and optimistic. So, it joins the Steeple Project.

Below, the initial sketch:

Stay tuned …

Ok, completed, and I’m happy with it.

I finished it with a bit of a different look … most of the previous paintings have been very light in the text area – by design: I want the steeples to pull forward of the background. This one, I’ve painted more full-valued than some of the others.

A detail:

I’ve also done something differently on this one – I’ve inscribed the title on the mat.

sI like this, and intend to go back thru the completed paintings and inscribe them as well. Note: these titles are not the names of the churches that inspired the paintings … rather, they’re my titles of the paintings I’ve done. 🙂

Peaceful travels –

… this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery …

Remember: peripatetic, right? At present I’m working on a new painting for the Steeple project [Wayside Chapel] – I truly enjoy them, so that’ll be an ongoing project.

At the same time, I’m doing art for a bit of a new direction. The art I’m working on – basically drawings – are to convert to line art for press plates (with help from the great folks at Boxcar Press) for my letterpress. After printing this “base” art, I’ll go back in and work some watercolor into it. I plan to run these as a numbered, limited edition series.

For fun and preview, here’s the starting sketches:”Cross and Crow” and “Choices” … both to be a series of pieces.

And ganged-up for plate making (the black rectangle is the yellow printer for the sign background, the top silhouette restates my homepage “spinning like a …” )

…. stay tuned …. 🙂

All … well, most … of the steeples painted in this series are based on churches I’ve passed-by in my meanderings. This one, however, is a bit different. The basic shape/etc of the church is from one I saw in the opening credits on a 1940’s movie I recently enjoyed. Artist license allowed me to make some alterations … but, mainly, it’s the same church – solid and sturdy looking – the back pitch very steeple-like in it’s severe angle and subsequent upward thrust. One aspect that really captivated me are the white cross-boards (architecturally, there is probably a great name for these). If they were very heavier beams and inside the structure, running from roof rafter to rafter, they would be a structural cross-tie used to fortify. These, being much lighter and attached to the facia boards, are more decorative than anything. However, they are a very nice touch – whatever their use. Both of them, on both pitches, run directly up and becomes the upright of the crosses … and also re-state the cross members of the two lower windows as well as the round window on the steeper pitch. Nice touches that re-state and establish consistent visual, even spiritual, interests overall.

Here’s my initial sketch:

… and a detail … (apologies for image quality – all I had at the time was my phone camera …)

And, here’s the final painting …

… and, a detail …

… this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery …

Some churches/steeples are dramatic, graceful architectural up-thrusts … beautiful, regal and formal. Fancy filigree, crisp whitely-painted defined moldings, beautiful shingling. An architectural equivalent of putting on your Sunday best … pipe organ strains of Bach flowing thru the double-arched doors. Gloriously uplifting and beautiful.

Other churches/steeples can be prosaic and humble … dare I say, plain. Here, the architectural equivalent that hums “Just As I Am”. Simple, honest … yet powerful and beautiful.

I love them all. You see, it’s not necessarily a height thing … higher is not necessarily better. I think it’s more of intent.

The original intent is often multifaceted (as mentioned in the image’s letterpresses text). For me, the most important is the symbolic architectural gesture, that mortal hand lifted aloft to meet God’s outstretched hand down to us. And, since God has a long reach, the height difference between a cathedral’s soaring. spire and a bungalow’s modest, cross-topped pitch, isn’t decisive. If the intent is to look-up … to reach-up, then it’s sincerity to the Source that’s key.

As I said, I like the variety, probably because I like the intent – or at least, the implied intent. Know this, reader: not all churches that have inspired my little paintings are churches I would attend. Others: gladly. If I ever get into painting restaurant signs, the same will be true. I don’t particularly like bad food. 🙂

When I first began this piece, I was thinking of letting the text remain full-black – it looked good and contrasty. However, in reviewing my previous paintings, I decided to lighten the text. While the contrast is indeed attractive, lightening the text still pushes the image forward … and that seems particularly important with the subtle, delicate nature of watercolor.

Here is the beginning sketch.

This very simple country church has that same stature as a man who, though his suit of clothes is warn and threadbare, still is. pressed and clean. “Humble”…”dignity”… “respect” … are words that come to mind. Also, “sturdy” and “strong”.

And final matted piece: very happy with the color and rendering 🙂

A detail of the stained glass window:

… and of the cross (and type treatment).

… this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery …

Sometime back, I did a painting of what I called a Mission-style church steeple (Mission Style … steeple project Sept. 11, 2022). I grew up in Southern California. In what might be determined by someone with a deeper understanding of architectural styles (which is to say, any architectural sense at all), that my inclination to define these styles as “Mission” or “Mexican” is a well-intentioned, fondly recalled … yet perhaps ill-informed bit of wisdom. Happy to stand-corrected if need be. Meantime, it works for me 🙂

That said: here, we found a less-formal, simply-architectured edifice that has (again, to me) a “Mexican/Mission” feel to it. Clues, for me, include a stepped-design pitch with flat horizontals (instead of roof lines running straight to a pointed pitch), white painted stucco (faux adobe, if I may mix language references) facade, brightly colored trim boards … a stout and substantial presence.

Above: the beginning sketch … poorly lit … but, a peek at the start. A very simple look. I guess one needs to stretch a bit to find the actual “steeple” of it. However, it does have much of a high-point, but it is a purposeful vertical reach – adorned with a cross … so, this artist declares a certain steepleness to it – and, as-such, worthy of a little painting.

You’ll note a tree branch included … it is a purposeful, if not fully accurate, inclusion … an homage to the church’s neighborhood which was named for its incredible oak trees …

The detail above: yes, I’m including the turnbuckle/guyline. 🙂

And, below, the final. I’m very happy with it. A simple facade, but the blue eaves define well against the hint of stucco texture. From a growing artist’s technical perspective, I’m Very happy with the windows – especially regarding the glass. I think I’ve finally found a great look for window glass. My original temptation was to leave they white – glass is clear, yes? However, if you look at houses/etc from the outside, the windows are usually very dark with the defining look being how much and how bright the reflections are. I like how I’ve defined these.

And, below, a detail:

… this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery …

Ok, yes … a month later … life happens, sometimes in capital letters … LIFE HAPPENS … so yeah, I’m late in returning to our little chat …

So, after another gap in time, here we are.

The hula dancer: we were on a walk and there it was: dancing in the wind above the weeds, amongst the firs … in the distance, beyond the soft sound of the wind in the grasses … I’m sure I could here a soft Don Ho song … na, just the wind.

But it struck me immediately: there’s God’s Own hula dancer! Sure enough, sitting atop a small tree (well, actually, it is the top of a small tree), there swayed a cute, swaying, God-created, dancer – grass skirt and all!

A perfect grass skirt … swaying about … no Elvis, but a scene from Blue Hawaii (or maybe Magnum … or maybe a visit to the Tiki House), beside the trail, in full array and choreography from on-High …

What a joy!

… this photograph for sale in my Photography Gallery …

Remember back when I first confessed to a peripatetic approach to art (watercolor/oil/letterpress/photography/on-and-on…)? I didn’t list welding/metal/sculpture on that initial list of semi-pro/wannaby art media dablements, my scattered interests. Who knew?

I did, in my defense, mention that my wife likes cattails, and yard art. A couple months back, while wandering thru a nursery on the other side of our state. we came upon a rusted, very cool metal yard art-thing that was cattails … but alas, not for sale, rather declared to be just a part of the nursery history. Of course, in my unbridled optimism, I declared that to be something I could build for her … no problem.

No problem. 🙂

However, Christmas sprung-forth, and I decided the cattail project to be the perfect gift.

So, off to the steelyard. found some really cool, octagonal rod (stems) and some 1 1/4″ flat iron for the leaves. I already had some beautifully rusted tubes (old brackets) and decided to use old car valves for the tops/top stems (I’m sure there’s an official name for those “top stems” … we continue to learn, right?). [Editors: after a question mark, and a closing parens, is that period correct?] [Editors: brackets vs parens… ?] [Editors: ….. thanks … but, never mind … ]

Anyways (focus), …. then came Production. I’ve done some welding on my little wire welder … works ok (though I’d never, never trust it (my skills) for something structural, like on a trailer or such) … but, I truly need to get some training: my welds are so messy, not the smooth/creamy looking bead created by someone who really knows how to weld. I spend more time cleaning it all up with a grinder afterwards

Ok, here they are. I made three …

And a detail …

A successful gift, she loves them!

I’m so excited to post these! It took several weeks longer to do-so because my first photos of the finished pieces were not-so-much, so I needed to re-shoot them. Problem was I’m was in the middle of a bathroom remodel. I, as I always have, did all the work myself (electrical/plumbing/tile/floor/painting/etc), so … priorities being what they are ….

Then, I got the flu …..

Alas, back in the saddle again. As I said in my last post, I actually have two pieces: God’s Own: corn dogs on-a-stick I and God’s Own: corn dog on-a-stick 2. As I also mentioned in my last post, it was so great to get into the darkroom again (true, frustrations abound: tight space, no plumbing, questionable light-tightness, etc.. But … quit complaining: what a blessing I have, truly! It’s a bit rough, but I have a darkroom!) So, yeah, what fun!!

As I mentioned, I decided to print a couple negatives, liking them both … and glad I did. they both have something a bit different (primarily composition/perspective) which gives them very different attitudes … both of which I’m very happy with!! (As I’ve said in the past, I’m not all that happy with my photos of art … just don’t look like they do in person …)

Ok, here’s God’s Own: corn dogs on-a-stick 1:

And, below, God’s Own: corn dogs on-a-stick 2:

I sure love b&w, silver gelatin photography …

… these photographs for sale in my Photography Project Gallery …

Ok, later, I re-shot the cattails with 35mm (50mm/2.1cm) and have been heading for the darkroom week after week … yes, life if busy …

Finally made it.

These show, in part (I have many reasons), why I love film vs digital: just look at the fabulous grain. Photoshop can fake it, but I love the real thing. I once had a fake Rolex that a friend brought me from abroad. Personally, I couldn’t tell the difference between it and a real one, but wearing it fell very-short from what I can imagine wearing a real one might feel. Anyways, I won’t get started on my feelings about Photoshop here … they are mixed and complex. And, the fake Rolex stopped running after a month …

Historical sidebar: there is some disagreement as-to the initial origin of the dog-on-a-stick/corn dog. From what I read, the dog-on-a-stick is the first noted use given there is a patent dated 1927 that describes putting a sausage/etc onto a stick to cook. Not sure corn batter was in play, but the dog and stick definitely are. Perhaps the squabble should be re-stated: one as-to the origin of dog-on-a-stick, and another to use of a corn batter. Troubling issues, those.

Academic note: I did a search thru my Bible concordance … no mention of “dog-on-a-stick”, nor of “corn dog” … so, definitely the early Greeks and Aramaic speaking crowd didn’t come up with the thing. But I’m convinced God foresaw the humor of the cattail/corn dog on-a-stick visual long, long ago … and still smiles.

Anyways … I did get back into the darkroom today to finally print God’s Own: corn dogs on-a-stick. Actually, I was torn between two negatives: two different compositions/perspectives … so I printed them both, God’s Own: corn dogs on-a-stick 1 and 2. 🙂

I was going you show them here, but this post is getting a bit long, so I’ll follow-up with the next post and show them both. I’ll telegraph what I feel: I’m so happy to 1) get into the darkroom again (it’s a magical place … to see an image appear out of the developer is so much fun) and 2) I’m very happy with both of the images!!

Here’s a teaser ….

Stay tuned!!

A couple posts back … no, by now, it’s a couple of months back … I said I was heading for the darkroom. It took quite a while to get there, life being what it is (!!!). 

And, life being what it is, and though I did get into the darkroom momentarily, I still am without any prints. 

I got ready … I first had to redo some things to sure my darkroom is (kinda) light tight … sealed/flapped/etc and got it pretty dark, even during daylight hours. Then, once inside and “ready-to-go”, I found several “issues” … tried art first to work around them, but there were so many … and so many that could really effect quality, so I bagged it. So, I’ve put a few days into fixing things (note: “days” to me means an hours or so max each day only – I have other things, life things, that often need to trump art things.

Amounts those “issues” was the fact that I needed a new negative carrier for 35mm film. So, since there was only one on ebay, and it was pretty expensive, I set out to build one myself. Here it is:

I used steel flashing material, it’s in two parts: a base with slightly larger-than-35mm frame size with grooves/guides for the enlarger … and a second layer to actually frame the negative. I filed this piece slightly larger than 35mm image size to add a black frame around the image on the print. I wonder who started that idea (the black frame around an image … ). I wonder if it was a statement: “hey, this isn’t cropped, I am responsible for the whole frame”. Or, maybe it was a design thing. I recall seeing it first in my teens and thinking that looked and felt “Pro”. I like the idea that each and every print has the same “fingerprint” black frame – no two enlarged frames are alike: some are very rough, some a bit lopsided, etc..

Then, it was Thanksgiving (I love Thanksgiving!) – with it’s accompanying time dedications – and now, I think I’m getting close to taking another whack at it … day or so away!! (ha! it was weeks!)

(Photo trivia: negative marked #6 will be the first of series .. God’s Own: corn dogs on a stick 1).

Stay tuned …