Category Archives for Finished Artwork

Time to grab the pencils!

OK, so it’s been almost a year since I’ve held a pencil. I wasn’t sure if it was the same as riding a bike. But, it really is. And I gotta say, I see more pencils in my future!

I started this little Chickadee last year. I never really finished the fence rail or the foliage around the fence rail. I figured this would be a good subject to get the juices flowing again. I’m so glad I did this.

I’m planning on spending so much-needed quality time with the pencils and pens this weekend. I’m not sure what I’ll draw, I may go back to the days of art school and just randomly pick something in the room and say, “there it is, now draw it!”

I’ll post any creations I can come up with.

Thanks for stopping by…Erik

Free Art Tuesday is coming!

Free Art Tuesday is coming!

On random Tuesdays I’ll be giving away free art. It’s pretty easy to get in on the action. Just go to my facebook page {click here!} and “like” it! Then, all you have to do is be the first person to leave a comment when I post free art and the art is yours! Once the first comment has been left I’ll contact the lucky winner to get the snail mail address and free art will be on its way. Please don’t post your address in the comments though!If you like what you see and think your family or friends would enjoy some free art, please feel free to spread the word!

I won’t sell or publish any addresses that are given to me. It’s truly just to get  my art out to the public!

Good luck to all who participate!

Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio

It’s that time of year again for the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio to host their annual Wine Affair. The reason I like to donate art each year to this wonderful event is because the funds raised stay here in Northwest Ohio.

Wine Affair / November 19th, 2010 / 6:30pm / Parkway Place, Maumee

The Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio will be hosting a Wine Affair: A Vintage to Remember ~ celebrating 19 years. Tickets are $90/person until October 31st and $100/person beginning November 1st. A table of 10 can be purchased for $800. There will be wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent and live auction.

This year, the artwork I am donating is Tater’s Tree Farm. When the artwork is auctioned it will be framed with acid free matboards and protected under Conservation Glass. I hope this year’s donation finds its way into a home where it bring a smile to all who can enjoy it!

I wish the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio great success this year!

Maple leaf for mom

Here is my latest dip in the old creative pond. This little painting is for a birthday card I’m making for my Mom.

This is a break from my usual pen and ink method, but I really wanted to capture the organic look of the maple leaf. I was afraid if I used the pen I would get too caught-up in the line work and start to drift from the flowing colors I was going for.

I used a wet-in-wet technique for most of the painting. I painted a yellow wash on the entire leaf then started building colors on top of that. I had a few “blooms” where the paper started to dry out, so I just went back with a little more color and washed it out. While the paper was still damp I grabbed my drawing pencil and added the veins. I was able to get the nice delicate lines without really transferring any of the pencil lead to the paper. I then painted over those lines with a few more colors and the paint just flowed into the veins perfectly. Once everything was dry I added a little shadow to the background so the leaf didn’t look too flat. Looking at the painting now I know I could have worked a little longer on the shadows, but I was more concerned with the bright colors and the contrast of colors in the leaf itself. And of course I had to finish it off with a little splatter!

I’m pretty happy with the way the colors came out on this painting.

To finish the card I’ll glue this to ivory card-stock, then I’ll grab a pen and add a thin outline to the card around the watercolor.

I keep trying to work large and create bigger paintings, but I always seem to get lost in them when I do. I’m not sure if it’s a time issue, or lack of wall space. Either way I keep coming back to the pen and ink and these smaller watercolors. I keep thinking I should try Artist Trading Cards, but there are so many groups to choose from, how do you decide?

Any ways…I’m done rambling for now. Thanks for taking the time – Erik

If I had a shed…

 

For some reason I have an obsession with garden sheds.  I don’t know why, and I’m not real sure when it started.  I remember when I was a rather young tot I always wanted to explore the various sheds and buildings on my Grandparent’s farm.  I still remember the musty earthy/woody smell the sheds had.  They were always full of great things a ten-year old could hurt himself, or others with!  Anyways, when the old creative juices seem to be getting a little dry the old sheds always get things going again.

I was trying to capture the bright colors of the season with this painting, I think it worked, I’m happy with it.  There is something special about fall.  The colors are more vibrant, the breeze is crisp, you can smell a change in the air.  Soon we’ll have the smell of apples filling our kitchen while we listen to dried leaves blow around the yard.  I’ll keep looking at this shed and filling it with all kinds of great things, maybe even a table to paint on!

Happy fall everyone – Erik

Flower boxes and artist block!

Hello all!

I’ve found another use for old license plates – flower boxes!

Each box is made from 4 plates, one for the front, the back, and each side uses a different half a plate.  The bottom is made from treated lumber pre-drilled for drainage, soggy plants are sad plants!  I’m selling these through my Etsy site – click here!

I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything out here – I am sorry, again!  I seem to be having the biggest artist block I’ve ever had!  It seems much of my free time has been spent working on the house and keeping the garden in check, and when I do have time to draw or paint I just sit and stare at my paper…waiting for something to spring from my pencil.  Unfortunately that has yet to happen!

I’ve stated flipping through my various art books looking for inspiration and I think I’ve come-up a solution.  I’m going to start with a simple sketch of a garden building, then I’ll keep adding elements until I’ve filled the page.  I’ll hold myself to a few simple rules – it must be done in ink, and NO erasing!  I’ll post images of my little assignment as it goes along, and who knows…this may be just what I need to get the juices flowing again!

If anybody reading this has a better suggestion for beating art-block, please tell me!

Thanks to everyone for their support and interest – Erik R Davis!

My Etsy store is now open!

 

While I’ve been giving my pens and paint brushes a rest, I’ve started to explore recycled art.

I’m working on a series of bird houses made from scrap lumber, old license plates, and used store gift cards and credit cards.  The collection of finished bird houses is a little thin, but I’ll continue to grow the number and styles as time allows.

Here is the link to my Etsy store – http://www.etsy.com/shop/erikrdavis

I will be updating the Etsy store with additional artwork - original and printed greeting cards.

Thanks – Erik R Davis

Our Vacation Home…

Our Vacation Home

Wow – It’s March already!  What happened to winter?

Now that spring is here and there are signs of life outside, my creative juices are wakening and starting to flow!  This isn’t really a new piece, but it just seems very fitting for this time of year.  Spring is around the corner, summer is close behind, and that can only mean one thing.  It’s time for vacations!  It’s just too bad we don’t have a place like this for our vacation home!

I do plan on posting my creative outlets here more regularly, so do check-in from time to time.  You just might  see something new!

Thanks…Erik

Not all art needs to be framed…

As an artist, I like to make art I feel is worthy of framing.  But let’s be honest…that doesn’t always happen!  Sometimes the colors don’t mix right, I miss a shadow, the proportions aren’t what I was going for.  There could be a whole list of reasons why, but it just doesn’t work.

I had a whole stash of these forgotten paintings and drawings tucked away.  Then I saw an article about turning these cast-aways into little treasures.  The idea is so simple I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it myself.  Trim the art down to fit blank greeting cards, and you’ve created one-of-kinda little treasures.  Since I have a collection of blank greeting cards in various colors and sizes, I made a template for each card.  I like to have the artwork be an inch smaller than the greeting card, so I cut the templates accordingly.  I just hold the templates over the artwork to find my crop, mark the size and cut.  Glue or double-sided tape can be used to mount the art to the cards.  I prefer to use double-sided tape as it holds the art securely and flat.  Sometimes a second piece of colored paper under the art adds a nice touch, but I always draw an outline around the art with an art pen in black, silver, or gold ink.

Enjoy…Erik

The Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio

Drive Thru on 568 AThe Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio will be presenting it’s 18th Annual Wine Affair Friday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m at the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, Ohio.  For this year’s auction I’ll be donating The Drive Thru on 568.  This is a pen & ink with watercolor painting of a local barn here in Findlay.  All proceeds from the event stay in Northwest Ohio!  If you can’t attend this year’s event be sure to check their web site for other ways you can help.