Tag Archives for landscape

Winter Wonderland Contest – Koh-I-Noor

OK….Thanks to the fine folks at Koh-I-Noor - a great family of art supplies – I have thrown my hat into another Facebook art contest.

This contest had three categories – fireplace, snow, and pine. And of course I choose snow, because drawing snow in pen and ink should be easy……

I had to use the old garden shed as the subject for my snow drawing, I just can’t get away from the sheds! I’m pretty happy with the way this came out. I like the colors, the pen work isn’t too heavy, and I’m pleased with my snow-covered ground. My only complaint is with the illustration board. It is the hot press board from Crescent. The surface of the board is great for the line work. It held-up without getting fuzzy or scratched, I was able to go over some areas with the pen while the watercolors were still a bit wet. The watercolors sat on the surface and kept their intensity. But….the board is SO not white! I know most watercolor paper is off-white, but this is really bad. I guess I must continue my search for a hot press/smooth drawing surface that can stand up to pen work, and take some watercolor washes…looks like I need to do some shopping!

That’s all for now, I gotta go watch the snow fall…Erik

Friday’s treehouse…

Well, the treehouse project was on hold last week and this week. The real house need some attention. This weekend I hope to get caught-up on the treehouse project and maybe, just maybe, some other random art stuff I’ve committed myself to. More on that if I actually get them going.

I’m not feeling real chatty today, so here it is, my treehouse. I know I should elaborate about this more than I am, but I truly can’t come up with anything else to add to this! HAHAHA! Sorry folks…the tall silent has struck again! HA!

Happy dreams of treehouses…Erik

2 more treehouse drawings complete!

 

Alrighty now…two more treehouse drawings are complete!

I need to give credit and thanks to fellow artist – blogger JSD undercoversurfer for the idea for the treehouse on the side of the hill. She was kind enough to leave me comment about my last treehouse drawing describing what her childhood treehouse looked like. I’m sure this isn’t an exact match, but it was a great idea and inspiration just the same. Thanks JSD.

The second treehouse was my little nod to Halloween. I know it’s not real spooky, or even haunted looking, but I wanted the gnarled root walls to give it a spooky/creepy feel. I think that worked. I just couldn’t bring myself to draw a giant skull with a tree growing on top of it. Sorry folks…

Well, as I’ve said before, I’m not a talker, so this is all I’ve got for now. Feel free to leave me comments or questions. Both are always welcome!

Thanks…Erik

Treehouse number 4….

The treehouse project continues.

I keep telling myself I should try a different approach, something a little more abstract, less literal. But I’m real happy with the way these are coming out.

I wanted to capture the look and feel of a long abandoned treehouse with this sketch. I think this drawing captures that feel. My wife asked me how someone would climb into the treehouse since there wasn’t a ladder, a good question, but I intentionally left that detail out. I was afraid if I added a ladder, or rope, it would make the treehouse active. This way, the viewer can imagine how they would access the treehouse and make it their own.

I still have twelve more of these drawings to complete for the Sketchbook Project, that doesn’t sound like a lot, but I still wonder if I can keep coming up with ideas. But, each time I finish one sketch, I start getting ideas for the next one. I was hoping this project would get me back on track, and I really think it has. As I work through these sketches, and a few other little drawings I’ve been working on, I can see my technique starting to loosen-up. The pencil lines move a bit more freely, and I’m not as concerned about making a mistake. I think it’s safe to say I’ve found my rhythm again…

Thanks for stopping by…Erik

The art continues….

I was able to get some quality time with the pencils this weekend. It’s reassuring that the ideas are starting to flow a little more freely now. I really feel like I’m getting the feel of the paper and pencils again, and that’s good!

I’m still waiting for my official sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012. My theme is Treehouse…big shock, I know! I have a few ideas in mind, I just need to get them on paper.

I thought it might be time to try some new tools of the trade, and revisit some old favorites. I keep coming across pastel pencils in my art catalogs, I think it’s time to order a set and see what I can do with them. I also need to replenish my sad collection of broken-stubby colored pencils. While I enjoy the pencils and pen & ink drawing, I think it’s time to add a little zip of color to things. I keep trying watercolors, but I just can’t seem to get the look I’m going for. I think it’s time to mix things up a bit!

Thanks for stopping by…Erik

 

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!

Time for some high contrast photography.

It’s time for a change of pace here. I’ve been taking my camera with me everywhere for the last week, looking for that perfect fall tree or landscape shot. Unfortunately it’s either been too windy or too sunny for photos. But when I saw this I knew this is what I needed to break the photo-monotony I’ve been feeling.

This is the inside of an old rotted Chevy truck. It’s missing the seat, which left plenty of room for the spiders to move in. I shot this around lunchtime and the sun was coming in the back window of the truck. I didn’t use a fill flash or reflector, and the shot was focused and metered on the pedal. I was using my telephoto lens, without my tripod, big mistake. I need to get this shot again using the tripod to avoid the slight lens shake I had. I also didn’t make any digital adjustments other than a slight cropping. Now, I’m sure there are photographers looking at this thinking I should have used some fill light. But I love the strong contrast of the deep shadows and bright highlights.

When I took this picture I realized that artists and photographers are supposed to follow a different set of rules when it comes to highlights and shadows. Photographers work hard to avoid a lot of bright highlights and deep shadows, while artists who draw or paint work hard to keep a lot of contrast between the highlights and shadows. A still life of a single flower comes to mind as an example. To photograph the bloom you would want to get as much even flat lighting as possible. Yet to paint that same bloom the painter would keep some of the white paper and pour deep color into the shadows.

So with this in mind I’ve given myself a challenge. Instead of looking for evenly lit subjects and overcast days for taking pictures, I’m going to look for subjects with strong contrast. Now I know this won’t be an easy task to pull off. Some subject matter just won’t work, but I think this will force me to look at everything differently. Maybe even force me to be more creative!

I’ll post more images of my little challenge as I take them!

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

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

A tree house…

Tree House Sketch 062809I’ve always wanted a tree house.  I’m mean seriously, who hasn’t wanted one?  Big, small, hidden or right out in the open.  It’s a place where you can go and see the world around you from a new perspective.  Get a fresh view, forget about everything else…just for a little bit.   A place where you decide who can and can’t climb your ladder.  A place where you can go with friends and concur pirates, fight off attacking foes and be what ever hero you want.  A place where you can sit and just enjoy the sound of the leaves, the smell of the old bark.  Somewhere you can call home, yet still be close to home.  If only I had a tree big enough to hold a treehouse…