Inspiration and a Photo

Did you ever see those puzzles where you are shown two pictures that look kind of similar but aren’t really and you have to point out what the differences are? Well in this post I give you an opportunity to do just that.

When I’m not locked away in painterly bliss in my studio, I can be found next to a Mac Pro computer in an ad agency in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, doing graphic design work.

Ad agencies can be among the more “fun” places to be for many reasons, one of which is the office parties that sometimes take place. In the agency world, office parties equal good food and alcoholic beverages-O-plenty. I was fortunate enough to be at the start of one recently. As the goods were being carted out, I couldn’t help but grab my camera and start shooting painting reference, especially since I almost never get to set up a still life with such perishable delights! My oil painting “Red Wine and Bleu Cheese” (seen below) was the fruit this particular party.

                       “Red Wine and Bleu Cheese”, 8x10 inches, oil on canvas

I always shoot my own photo reference exclusively - when I use photos at all, that is. (The joys of digital metadata and the use of photography will be the subject a future post, I promise).

I believe that every “traditional” oil painter should be able to imbue their subjects with emotion whether they use photos a lot, or not at all. Of the many photos I shot the day of this particular party, seen below is the one I used as reference for the painting above.

I’ll leave it up to you to notice all the little differences, but the point is, in my oil painting I wanted to impart a feeling of...  lets say, “calm culinary elegance” that is lacking in the snapshot. To achieve this I, among other things, tweaked the lighting and selectively softened some edges.

One thing that’s always challenging when working from quick photo snapshots like this is to bring unified values and colors to the painted version of the scene. On the way to doing that, I created a warm, almost smokey, background.

One final note as well, when working from a cluttered snapshot, is of course to simplify the subject, and get rid of useless and distracting bits of the scene. Remember that old Volkswagen print campaign from the 60s? Photo of the Beetle, coupled with the headline “Simplify”. The message still resonates today folks.

JoeWinklerArt.com

Wine & Cheese Still Life Complete

Before I show the finished still life, here are the step-by-step oil painting images I shot as I went along:

And here is the finished oil painting:

                     “Red Wine and Bleu Cheese”, 8x10 inches, oil on canvas

Pardon the color shift in the final image, but the previous step-by-step images are only snapshots done on the fly in a mix of natural and lamp light. The final piece matches the real thing.

To see for yourself, come and look at the real thing in­ my solo exhibit May 11th and 12th at the Shaw Galleries­! I've got this painting housed in a nice, slightly baroque-style, antique gold frame that dovetails with the feel of the painting beautifully!

Next post I'll share the photos I shot as reference for this painting, and the decisions I had to make early (and late) in the process of working her up really right!

JoeWinklerArt.com

The Award-winning Cat

The Juried fine art exhibit of the Upper St. Clair Art League is in full swing this week.  I submitted two new pieces, (see bottom image in previous post) and one piece I did last year. Friday was the reception and awards handout, and my painting of our cat, “Lilly Mesmerized”, won third place. That’s the one I did last year.

                              "Lilly Mesmerized", 12x24 inches, oil on canvas.

In this same exhibit in 2011, I won first place. I can’t complain however, since this is the second time I’ve entered that cat painting in a juried exhibit and the second time it won a cash award. Guess folks love their cats.

The juror for this years show was watercolor artist, and all round good gal, Kit Paulsen. Visit Kit’s site by clicking here.

JoeWinklerArt.com

You Are SO Invited!

Well, as usual, I had so much fun creating my newest still life that I neglected to take many step-by-step shots while the fun was being had. In fact, as it sits on my easel today, the piece is just about finished, and here all I have to share with you are these images:

I’m extremely happy with the final piece, but I refuse to release it for public viewing until my next solo exhibit. That exhibit will take place the Friday and Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend (May 11th and 12th) at the Shaw Galleries in downtown Pittsburgh. Yes that’s right, I’ll have a few walls (or sections of a few walls) all to myself in a nice gallery right here in the Burg.

Here is an invite to the reception I created just for you!

 Stay tuned for more details on that exhibit. Meantime, the second in a series of classic hood ornaments I am painting, makes it’s public debut this weekend, in a group exhibit of fine art, at the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon, (a fine southern hills suburb of the city!).

                                     "Flying" 18x24, oil on canvas

JoeWinklerArt.com

Cougar Art - Part 2

As promised in the last post, here are the three additional, digital art designs I created, and submitted, to the Houlihan’s restaurant chain. Possibly this wall art will be seen at some of their new locations. And possibly NOT.

                    Cougar Number 4

                     Cougar Number 5

                             Cougar Number 6

To see a bonus Cougar design that was not included in these last two posts, visit my newly updated Flickr galleries!

JoeWinklerArt.com

Cougar Art - Part 1

Early last month the Houlihan’s restaurant chain sent out an e-mail solicitation for art submissions to review, in their process of decorating some of their new locations. Among other things, the art was to be inspired by graffiti, and is, as they put it, “buzzworthy”.

Since my oil painting style doesn’t fit the graffiti mold, and since they were accepting photographic art, I decided to revisit and augment some designs that I began years ago using photos I shot of a friends classic car as a motif.

Here are the first three of six designs I submitted:

                  "Cougar Number 1"

                                "Cougar Number 2"

                     "Cougar Number 3"

Whether they pick these designs to use or not, I really don’t care because I had fun creating them in Photoshop. I’ve decided to create a few more and upload all of them to my Flickr galleries.  I’ll post the rest of the designs next time.


JoeWinklerArt.com