Been traveling and such lately, am behind in my posting. Gad, time is an enemy … or at least a fickle aquaintance.

Ok, so this post is a bit of a side track conversation. Well, maybe they all are. This one, though, isn’t related to an image I painted or created. This is one of those that are generally about housekeeping, intent and direction of this site.

I’m thinking time has come for me to turn this blog off Radio-Silent and into the open air waves. I’ve maintained it for a long time now, basically for an audience of me. Thinking maybe it’s time to move it out … of course knowing that, moving it out might only culminate in a visit or two, and not be much of a change after-all … a bit of a non-event as they say. Or, I might find it adds pressure to post more often, and with better content. 

So, one wonders what End-Game is. Truth is, for me, it won’t be a success if I get a thousand followers … nor a ton of sales. Success would be, I believe, some happy visitors who get some enjoyment out of it, or see themselves as fellow-travelers or artistic meanderers and relate to it in some ways. Could be, with my using the verbiage I have (peripatetic, desultroy, etc), most might just see me as a nut dropping words I’ve looked up. (Steinbeck, writing Wayward Bus … looking for a word to match Spanish “vacilando” … couldn’t really find one, they ended up with “wayward” (see Life in Letters, the notation below letter dated July 12, 1945 )…. Didn’t think of it when I began this, but it occurs to me that my peripatetic/desultory kinda all add up to vacilador … traveling somewhere but not caring if you get there or not … I like that too).

Anyways, I simply do hope these posts make some connection with those who are learning, varied in their artistic interests, and pursuing fun. And so, guess I’ll move out on this … over-the-top, lads!

To do so, I think I’ll do a couple things, neither of which are dramatic, save-the-date type of actions. First, I think I’ll simply start letting people I know (and those I run into meandering thru life) that I have a site and invite them to visit. Secondly, and hand-in-hand with that, I think I’ll produce a little business card that shows the site address. Purpose of the card is to avoid someone from writing down the wrong info, avoiding the pencil-less situations that forces me/them to rely on memory (Heaven forbid), and to avoid those inevitable times when I’d give the wrong info).

Here’s a couple card mock-ups: I’ll use the spinning top illustration from my home page. I think I like the caution-yellow panel at the bottom, but the “- PATIENCE REQUIRED BEYOND THIS POINT – ” needs to be larger like the top card. I think this will be a useful tool for me (instead of my memory).

🙂 and onward …

So, not sure “Mission Style” is architecturally correct … but I’ll stay with it at present.

The block-style cross window in the brick wall, an arched main building … the silver domed top probably means much to an architecturally-savvy person … somehow, it feels to me “mission style” … but a wiser viewer will correct me, maybe it is “Moorish” … but I hesitate to drop names of styles I am vaguely acquainted with, as-if they are good friends of mine. Probably turn out to be an early-this, pre-that mid-concept mutt. Whatever it is, I’m liking it 🙂

This is something of a departure for me, the bold color (bricks), and I’ve rendered the adjacent building off the page in a full (not vignettes) manner … all a fun and diverting change. I think, a very strong and attractive image.

And little detail …

FYI … this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery … 🙂

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Ok, “Gotham”???

Ok, again, not sure how to architecturally title this … a very different church steeple from the ubiquitous white, lapstrake, conservative type that are most prevalent – and that I truly love. This one has an all-metal spire … green tarnished, not sure the metal type (copper/tin/??). But all metal, angular, very city-like (Gotham, but definitely not a NYC church) … and all topping a solid, no-nonsense tower of brick. So, I don’t know, but that’s where Gotham comes into mind.

The church has two beautiful stained-glass windows … both crosses … blue on top, red below (heaven/earth). A very powerful structure.

As for the painting, I like how the metal steeple turned out. I think I captured the multiple edges/perspectives to the structure (it’s not a simple 3 or 4 sided steeple: it angles in-and-out, probably 6 sided or so. I’m also happy with my sky/background.

All-in-all, a good effort for me, a very pretty and strong edifice!

… and a detail …

FYI … this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery … 🙂

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This piece is inspired, not by a specific church, but rather is something of a culmination of many windows seen throughout my life. It’s the message.

I’ve tried my hand at building stained-glass windows (of course, “… peripatetic, perambulatory, desultory .. ” what is that word … ?!?!). I really appreciate the physical side of it: heavy, mechanical, structural … and the artistic as well: simplified images and color, planned/conceptual, simple, to the point. It’s a great media. And, in the hands of a real artist, art with a huge presence.

Here’s the initial sketch:

… and the final.

… and a detail …

I’m happy with this. The mosaic of stained glass windows is a tough, for me, path to take – but I’m happy with it. Funny, but I’m also very happy with how the pews turned out … simple, but reads well I think. Don’t get me wrong, I have not arrived at a place I’m truly happy with watercolor-wise … but am happy with my effort and progress to-date.

FYI … this painting for sale in my Inside: Looking Out Gallery … 🙂

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Painting the steeples, I often have thought of the beautiful church windows below. Some are stained-glass, some clear, some with arched shapes … all with a spiritual and practical role. In contrast to steeples, they are usually best experienced from within the church. While all, as windows, provide some degree of light, they also tell a story: stained-glass a pictorial story, clear-pained offer the story of the outside view … from within, looking out.

This first piece was inspired by an old chapel located in a peach grove. Beautiful, tall, arched windows framing an inspiring view of surrounding hills and trees. An arched piece of landscape art by the Creator.

… and, a detail …

FYI … this painting for sale in my Inside: Looking Out Gallery … 🙂

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Ok, a bit of a curve here, and, having fun with it!

While traveling, I was thinking of building a birdhouse, and the steeple project also came into the mix. What of a bird house, three (triune) stories with arched doors above the perches, all forming a steeple of sorts … and, of course, topped with a simple cross. I sketched some ideas, and it quickly focused into this:

(few days later) Ok, I think I’m done now. I love this little bird chapel!

I think I need to make a plan to build it! A pretty simple painting, but the drawing is a bit more involved. A few things I specially like: the three-story, Triune architecture, it’s simple steeple-like vertical, and the arched doors for the birds … fun!

If, I do ever build it, I’ll be sure to post a photo – til then, enjoy the painting!

Here’s a detail:

FYI … this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery … 🙂

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(I know, don’t ask … first post of the year (!!) Actually, the second … I just discovered one I had meant to post in January … but still … Life … )

Ok, beginning a new steeple project piece. It’s inspiration is a church on an island nearby that has a wonderful, open bell area (I wonder, architecturally, what that area/room is called … ). The bell is visible from ground level, as-is the wheel/pulley (wonder what that is called …) – very pretty and stately.

Here’s my beginning sketch:

Now, on to background and softening the text …

So good to be back!

The photo above: thought it might be fun to show my travel paintbox. It holds 12 basic colors, plus I carry other tubes to mix and use. Looks pretty messy 🙂 the painting is much calmer than the box … what fun!

Moving along to painting. Got the background begun and some of the steeple/roof. I really like the detail in the bell tower area … the joists and posts … and I really like the openness of the bell area (… wonder what/if there is a name of the area that actually houses the bell … ). Anyways, I’m liking the sky/background: keeping it soft and vignetted (to keep it truly in the background, let the steeple move forward).

And, the final … I really like the detail allowed the bell, given the openness of the bell area (whatever, architecturally it’s called … ). I also really like the details of the joists and arches … I’d like to stand up there and ring that bell!

… and a detail …

FYI … this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery … 🙂

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(this was written back in January, but I somehow failed to post it … so, here is it ...)

So, about 41 years ago, my sweetheart and I were married in a little country chapel in California’s great valley. For her Christmas present, I decided to paint it for her.

This had several different aspects to it. Firstly, from a steeple aspect, it’s not really a steeple-proper … rather, a steep pitched roof. But it has a cross atop, so close enough. :). Secondly, it’s not white. Not that a church has to be, many are not: consider the brick versions I’ve painted.

Thirdly, it’ll not be offered for sale :).

She loved it!

(Oops, forgot to grab sketch/in-progress shots … so, on to the final image).

Calling this one “Red Dome”. Not sure if it is copper or clay or painted, but the dome shape grabbed my attention. In color, kind of an off-rust, reddish, etc.. Very peaceful in some way: not so much a major vertical thrust, but still a reach upward to Heaven with graceful lines and curves – the dome wedges matching the octangular (or ten-tangular?) tower. Beautiful steeple.

Painting-wise, thus far, many of these share a common look: churches are, for the most part, white. So, I am thankful for shadows of siding and vents 🙂 . On this one, given the dome and steeple roof material, I really tried to push for accurate, but heightened color. The result is that I really like this steeple and its bright color!

Here’s the detail shot. Very happy with the drawing too.

A side note on the background text. I made a bit of a change. Previous paintings use a letterpress version that I printed using very light grey ink. You’ll recall from earlier posts on the printing aspect, my first letterpress run, using a dark grey ink which turned out printing well, but much too dark for my liking. My intent was to have the text very background so-as not to upstage (visually) the delicate watercolor to come. So, I did a second run on the little press with a very light ink – much better (though the legibility on the second run suffered a bit).

On this painting, I used one of the original, dark text prints – and did a series of loose washes of white watercolor over the text, creating a painterly, loose background that is both legible and yet subdued. Perfect!

This, I think, will be the new direction for a while … 🙂

FYI … this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery … 🙂

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Been working this one for a few days. Its inspiration is a church out in the country, very pretty setting surrounded by flower fields and farms. Aside from the beauty and stature of this church, what caught my eye was something on the on the little cross atop the steeple. Upon closer scrutiny, I found that it is a crown – how cool! Not sure I’ve seen that before, though I feel I may have seen a cross with a crown hung over the top vertical, sitting on the horizontal cross bar … vague memory though …. I wonder if the crown began up on the crosspiece, and has somehow slid or was blown down (we get some stiff winds here), past its intended spot, onto the lower vertical. ?? The mystery is well with my soul: either way, I appreciate the symbolism and message of the cross on the crown.

The beginning sketch:

And, here’s the final …

Some detail …

… and with a mat …

Hope you enjoy!

FYI … this painting for sale in my Steeple Project Gallery … 🙂

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