start your own work of art

Recently I found a very cool new tool on the internet.. it has been out for a little while, but it was new to me. Its a great tool to have for those afternoons that just drag on. Visit the site and crate your own sketch... Its pretty dang fun and addictive... find it here... and below is one I created with it. http://www.zefrank.com/scribbler/scribblertoo/

a mountain/tree image

2 New Paintings

So after supplying the gallery with a few new paintings, my mind needed to take a month off from painting. Before I left, I created 1 painting that has yet to be taken to the gallery.. its a little different. It is a mix of man made and nature. I used a photo my friend Charlie took while up northeast of Greeley in the grasslands. One of the many wind farms in this part of the country. I changed it up a bit and added some weather to it. I thought the mix of man made and nature would be a good change from what I had been doing.

"Harvesting the Wind"
24x36

Once I returned to painting last week, I decided I needed to take a break from the landscapes and try my hand at some new project. I am going to jump back in to a series of dog/pet images... This first one is of course a Golden Retriever... somewhat similar to the one I did of Kenai a year ago. I will probably end up doing 3-5 of these and if they turn out decent and the reception is good, replace some of my art at the galler ywith a few of them. They are smaller, and in turn might sell well. Who knows... I am loving the more abstract feel though,.. kinda fun. I will also be covering this painting with an epoxy resin coating, so I will take pictures of that
process and post them.

"Golden"
16"x20" mixed media

Creek Bed in November

I started working on a painting the other day to trade out one at the gallery which I felt was not as strong. Creek Bed In November turned out pretty good. I hope to take it over and trade out Pawnee Grasslands next week. I sold my first painting last week(Quandary Peak), and now have the bug to paint more often... I think I painted 4 evenings this week.

Creek Bed in November
24"x30" canvas panel
Acrylic with lots of texture

Quandary Peak - SOLD

Thought I would post a new painting I finished over the long weekend. This is of Quandary Peak... kind of a sleeping giant. One of Colorados 14ers(over 14,000 feet).. #12 in height of 53 I think. It was a fun painting to work on, and I plan on painting a whole series on mtns. Quandary is also one of the easier 14ers to climb.(though I never have).

Quandary Peak
Acrylic on canvas
40"x18"
(click on image for detail)

Steamboat Springs Farm

One thing that the gallery requested is that I continue to work on some smaller pieces to add in the showing eventually. They liked my north side of Pikes Peak(below) and wanted a few more to show of similar style.... So I have been working on some smaller pieces that can sell for less $$$ and take less time to produce. Below is my latest acrylic/pen on canvas board. There will eventually be 3 or 4 smaller pieces all framed(no glass) at the gallery.

"Steamboat Springs Farm"
10"x14"
Acrylic and pen on board

re-posting...."North Side of Pikes Peak
"10"x14"
Acrylic and pen on board
(this one was cropped a bit but is actually same size as the above one)

Now showing at a gallery near you.....(if you live in fort collins)

It is official, I have my first gallery interested in my work... its been a long time coming. The Fine art and Frame Company http://www.thefineartandframecompany.com in Old Town Fort Collins will have 3 of my pieces on display and for sale starting this weekend. Special thanks to Kim for letting me consume the walls and office with my work.. can be quite a mess, she has always been supportive of my goal. If you are around Fort Collins for June's First Friday Gallery Walk, stop by and check out the work of myself and other great artists.

The 3 paintings to begin with are....(click for larger view)
Please contact the gallery if you have purchasing questions.

1 more painting to add

Finished another painting this week and I hope it sends my portfolio on to the next step.. A Little more abstract. (click on image to make larger)

Forest Glen

So I finished the painting I had been working on. Sorry I didnt get any other in progress shots, it progressed uch quicker then I thought it would. I am beginning to look for places to show my art, so I may just be pasting pages from my portfolio on here sometimes, rather then doing the work twice. Please click on the picture foa larger view though.

And Now.. For Something Completely Different

For a while we had been looking for a shoe rack/table to put keys/wallets/purses near our front door. Something to clean up the area a little. We could never find exactly what we wanted and fit the small area. I decided to take matters into my own hands....... I am in no way a woodworker or a woods craftsman... just like to tinker with stuff, so the images make the project look better then it really is ;).. I used for the most part recycled wood left over from picture frames I make for my large canvases. I think there are 4 different types of wood in this table. It was a fun beginner project, and am already thinking my next garage project is going to be building floor to ceiling shelves along one side of the garage.

Detail of different types/sizes of wood trim I used for the top.

Before Stain

Finished

New Painting, New In Progress Updates

Thought I would do another round of in progress shots.

I found a new image that I wanted to paint from(below)..

(photo by Larry Brunt)

Last night i laid down the base layer of color. My technique of painting is really to lay down colors, then rub or scrape off dried colors revealing some of the paint underneath. I always do this in my sky sections... and usually on the ground too. It is an easier way to add interest and changes of hue to the work. I wanted to start with a grey sky, yellow ground, and some brown highlights. I also added some texture compound where the trees will be(you can see the middle of the painting on left and on the right, and very bottom). This by no means will be the final colors, I just dont like white as a background(some people use colored gesso instead of white).

The painting wont be an exact replica of the photo, because I use other people images, I dont want to copy their composition per say... just use it as a reference. Plus, mine always end up a bit more abstract and interesting.

Teal Storms

Finished up a new painting last week. I have jumped around enough over the past 2 years and have now focused on what I love to paint. Aside from painting, and art, I am a closet weather geek. I like watching storms roll in, and cloud formations. Weather usually seems to show up in my art, if I meant it to or not. This new painting is of a small set of clouds rolling in just before a set of storms pass by.

I tried a new way of varnishing my art this time also. I used an Epoxy Resin to coat the canvas once I was finished. It wasnt the easiest or quickest, but I like the results. Though there is a very strong glare off the art, it really makes the color pop(as you will see below). the resin creates almost a plastic coating on the art. I will not bore you with how the epoxy resin works, but linked here is a site that I followed for the most part...
http://johnnybotts.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-apply-epoxy-resin-to-artwork.html

Teal Storms

36x32 mixed media on canvas covered in epoxy resin


Think the contrast on a brick all works well

Detail before epoxy resin

Detail after epoxy resin


Kona wanted to get in on the action. You can also see the glare off the resin.


Detail with resin

Organization for the Studio

I finished some organization pieces for the painting room. Created a rack to hold my paint tubes(doesnt fit half of them, but at least it fits each color).. i have back-ups to replace those when they run out. Also made a metal bulletin board to hang images/phots to view while painting. Glued magnets to the back of beer bottle caps.

Poppy Painting.. done

I finished the Poppy Painting over the weekend. Next step is to coat it with a clear varnish to protect it and to make the colors pop a bit more. I will post another picture once I hang it up. Also started another painting this weekend, that I hope to be finished with in the next week. with spring time approaching, I will probably be in the "studio" a little less, and in the yard a bit more, but I will post some thoughts and images of that also.

Poppies
Mixed Media on canvas

Refinishing a piece of family history

This old hall tree had a prominent place in the basement of my grandmas house since before I can remember. Besides the horrendous color, it was a piece of beautiful craftsmanship. Grandma went into assisted living about 4 years ago, with her belongings spread out across the family. I was lucky enough to get this piece of furniture. The work to refinish it began a couple of years ago, but recently has picked back up. All family members on the Bell side will remember this for its unique(naw, thats not it), memorable(well yeah, I guess), ugly(thats more like it) green color. I am about 6 hours into the process and expect that it might take till I am sent to assisted living myself. I will continue to post process shots till we have a beautiful piece with the natural wood showing.

Detail of the top mirror part with original color

Standing up

Some deep sanding on the legs, about to tackle the main body.

Trying to expose the beautiful wood underneath.

New Progress Shot of Poppy Painting

Its been a little while since I posted, but here is another 2 progress shots of the painting. Not quite finished yet, but getting closer.

Added in some line art

Went back in to make the line art pop a bit.

next step will be to add some depth around the line art.

Updated Progress Shot of Poppy Painting

worked for about another 3 hours on the poppy painting and decided to update the progress. I have gone back in and freshened up the background, and am now working on the flowers. Once again, the phone camera is picking up much more red then the orange, but once its done, I will take a picture with the real camera and you will see the difference. Still has a long way to go to bring it to what I am looking for, but I like the mix of painting and line art.

New Painting.. Progress Shots

I thought I would show some progress shots from a new painting I started this weekend. It is about 3 hours in. It will eventually be an abstract version of a poppy field. Sorry if the red is a bit vibrant.. it really isnt that strong, just came out a bit funny in the picture. The flowers are actually just a paste that I put on with a knife. They will be painted over and more textures/colors added. I will update this as I progress with the painting.

Detail of flower texture

New stick couple image... now I just need names for them..

Created a new piece of digital art focusing once again on the stick couple. Still possibly thinking of creating a childrens book with the stick couple if anyone is interesting in joining up with this venture.. I need the creative literary presence that I cannot provide... aka someone who knows how to spell and write at a higher level then me(no), i(no), myself(thats it). Also.. did a little renovation of the blog... hope it comes though clean.. although I have a feeling devices such as my Iphone without flash, maybe have some troubles, and it may not look correct.

link to previous stick people art
http://brianscanvas.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-can-draw-stick-people-too.html

Stick Couple takes a rest during their hike and finds leftovers from a picnic... a green bean

Thanks for visiting and making this blog a success...

Just wanted to take a second and thank you all for visiting my blog over the past 2+ years. It started as a way to express my creativity, and in a way that lets family and friends see what ive been up to. Its grown into a way to keep my focused and motivated.

Not that I have a ton of visitors by any means.., but I have a way to keep tract of where people have visited from and its pretty cool to see the locations that have visited my the blog.

here is to a great 2011 to all of you.

Sao Paulo Brazil.. (no doubt my buddy Ricky)

Anchorage Ak

Redmond Wa

Bellingham Wa

Seattle Wa

Portland Ore

Roseburg Ore

Boise Id

San Francisco CA

Los Angeles CA

Victorville CA

Mountain View CA (Jeremy working at Google, hook me up with some advertising, buddy ;))

Lake Forest CA

Green Valley AZ

Idaho Falls ID

Greeley Co

Denver Co

Littleton CO

C Springs CO

Fort Collins CO

Windsor Co

Vail Co

Fargo ND

Moorhead Mn

Prairie Villiage KS

Cleburne Tx

San Antonio Tx

Houston Tx

Fort Worth Tx

Danville IL

Ocean Springs MS

Greer SC

Mount Airy NC

Greenville NC

Arlington VA

Schenectady NY

It is a Tetraptych?...Quadtych?....Polytych?

I finished a new 4 piece painting this week... I guess the correct term is Polytych, though my spell check doesn't know that word.. In fact I feel a little like Sister Wives guy even talking about a Polytych... so I am changing it... its a 4 piece painting.

The painting has a bunch of texture(modeling paste and paint)... I like this and I think I will do a few more. Each small canvas is 5"x5", so with a 2" space in between, it would be a final size of 12"x12"

I am placing it up on Etsy for sale if you are interested @ http://www.etsy.com/shop/brianabell1980

"Skinny Stems"
12"x12" final size

Detail

Detail

side view

2 New Paintings, and also now on Etsy!

Exciting news around the studio this evening. I have been working with a printer buddy of mine to make prints of some of my art work. I am beginning with 3 smaller pieces. I have set up an Etsy account..http://www.etsy.com/shop/brianabell1980 and am very excited about the future. I am try to get in a few coffee shops also.

Anyway, without further blabbering... here are the 2 I am beginning with.. and they are all the prints version(just so you can see they do look good framed!)

They are all 3 matted and framed to show @ 16x20. The printed image on each is 9x12 and would not come matted or framed.

I am also offering FREE 2 Day Shipping through next week... finish your Christmas shopping with these great additions to your home.

Christmas Cards

Working on the Christmas Cards for this year. Kim and I decided to do a block cut/printmaking approach to the cards, finished with a watercolor wash. Still tweaking the finished products, but so far so good.

Framed 1, working 1, 1 on the horizon

Decided to make a wood frame for the last landscape I made, so I replace one of my old painting with this one. I apologize for the image quality, I took them quickly with my phone camera. I am in the middle of another commission for a friend, then I have a new idea I have begun to work on. I am going to try my hand in a portrait. I have selected a cool old photo that I hope to create an interesting piece from. It will be my first experiance with a portrait since school, so it will either rock my face off, or go down as a big disaster. But you never know till you try it.

Fall Creeping In

Decided to get back into the larger paintings of landscapes.. I think I have decided that is my strength. This one is an acrylic on canvas. 40x30". I wanted to bring in some fall colors that are beginning to creep into the fields near our house. The mornings and evenings are cool, and days arent as warm as they were even last week. I feel pretty good about this painting. Sometimes Im not quite sure if im finished, and they just feel that something else is needed to finish it off strongly, but thats not the case with this one. I also will be framing this one with a wood boarder. I will take a picture once I do that. The colors on the actual painting are hard to get exact with a photo, but its somewhat close.

"Fall Creeping In"
30x40" acrylic on canvas

"Fall Creeping In" Detail