Reaching for a dream

14X20
Oil on board
My first of 2010.
To offest the downbeat tone of the news, I was looking for something uplifting to paint and came across this lovely little lady.

A la recherche du temps perdu

Oil on canvas
20X16

After an idealistic college student had read and was captivated by Profiles in Courage, he somehow finagled a freebee ticket to a event in NYC for the 1960 campaign and saw this fella in person.
I've never forgotten it.
He actually lit the room up when the came in.
For some reason, November 22 weighed more heavily than usual this year, so I decided to do this, and spending all that time remembering those short years did the trick, at least until next year.
I had a hard time finding ref fotos.
I liked this one, but it's monochrome, so I added the colors as I remember them.

Harmonic Trio

Oil on board 10X8

This year's Christmas Card.

These 3 Hummel figures have been in the family as long as I can remember.

The figures are wonderful painting subjects because of the simple emotions they express.

While the figures are widely recognized, little has been said about their marvellously talented creator, Sister M. I. Hummel.

Here are a few facts I found about her:

Born in Bavaria in 1909, Berta went to the Academy of Applied Arts in Munich.

After graduation in 1931 she entered the Convent of Sieseen -- an order that emphasized the arts and soon was producing religous art cards for several German publishers.

When Franz Goebel saw her published artwork, he realized these drawings could translate into the new figurines he wanted to produce.
Berta took the name Maria Innocentia Hummel in 1934.
The Figurines:
The agreement with Goebel was that Sister Hummel would have the final approval of every piece and it would be incised with her signature.

To this day, each M.I. Hummel piece must have the approval of the Convent of Siessen.

The first figurines were introduced in 1935 and were immediately successful.

Puppy Love has the distinction of being the first piece, Hum 1.
Hummel figurines were only allowed to be made for export during the war, but Goebel still continued with a few new models. The effects of the war reached the Convent as the fuel shortages caused Sister Hummel to work in a cold, unheated space and because of her fragile health she died in 1946.
After the war American soldiers discovered Hummels and sent the figurines home. They also started gaining popularity with the German people who wanted to start decorating their homes again.

Portait in 3 Colors

5X7 Oil on board

I haven't been painting much of late.
I've been busy with programming projects and as the winter approaches, I've been trying to squeeze in a few extra rounds of golf to carry me thru the snow days.
I saw this foto and that got the painting juices flowing again by shouting "Paint me!"
I read that Frank Reilly, a well-regarded illustrator and teacher from the early 20th century, wrote something to the effect that with painting value counts most, chroma to a lesser degree and, to a much smaller degree - hue. That made sense to me.
I tried to apply that notion here by severely restricting my hues and concentrating on value and chroma.
I worked on the expression here and wasn't after a likeness. Most people don't recognize the subject, who is rarely seen in profile.
So, I was surprised when our 10 year-old grandson, Tommy Fitzgerald, said:
"That's John Travolta!"

Just Clouds II

Oil on canvas
10X22
The second in the cloud series.
Several years ago, we drove I80 from Cheyenne, Wyoming to San Francisco. While painting this one, I was thinking of stretches like this in Wyoming and Utah where a cloud formation would suddenly appear, dump some rain on us, and disappear just as quickly.

Several people have seen a bodybuilder in this one, holding up a hand to stop traffic on the road.
After they mentioned it, I can see him, but I can't see the poodles that some others have seen.

Just Clouds I

Oil on canvas
8X8
I've decided to do a series of paintings where clouds are the featured attractions.
The first few efforts weren't very fruitful, so I spent some time in the library to learn more about these strange images in the sky.
This is the first one I've published.
More to come.

Building Dreams

Oil on board 10X6

I was trying to capture the bond between these two on an overcast day.