Daibutsu

One of my favorite old world sculptures is the Great Buddha in Kamakura, Japan. This massive statue is enormous at nearly 45 feet tall, hollow inside, and dates to the mid-13th century. Although I haven't seen the work in person, I've studied it for decades and have a desk top reproduction near this computer. The feeling from it is serenity, peace, quietude, wisdom, and love. 

"The Great Buddha," digital

This image is a digital drawing of the head of the Great Buddha.

Downtown Garden

"Toward Downtown," wc/ink

One of my special places in Des Moines is the Better Homes and Gardens Demonstration Garden downtown, It's only open to the public a couple of hours per week because it's used by the magazine for all sorts of purposes and space is limited. But on Friday it's fun to take a lunch and visit the gardens for their constant beauty and surprises.

Bristlecone

Digital drawing has been one of my side interests. You can see those digitalia on my other blog Daily Digitalia, where I post a digital drawing every other day. Most of those digital postings emulate the type of drawings done by past masters. But I also make full color digital paintings once in a while, to practice the computer programs I have. 

"Bristlecone," digital painting

This is a digital painting of a gnarled, ancient pine tree, executed with Sketchbook, a computer drawing and painting program.

Snack

"Bedtime Snack," oil on panel, 6x8

For a few days I've been reviewing old still life paintings and studies while considering new work. This one came up, but I can't remember where it is--sold, lost, or otherwise.

Like many painters, I sometimes lose track of works from the past. Here's another still life from a long while back, when the genre occupied much of my time. My file says this was one of a series of small studies I did to work on color. Although many think milk is white, it's actually a high-value dull yellow. This sketch probably took no more than ninety minutes, painted alla prima. Alas, current location is unknown.  

Olives and Squeeze

Although still life is still an interest of mine, I haven't done much in the genre for a couple of years. Plein air work has taken most of my time, providing great satisfaction, a deeper connection to the world outside, and a wider range of friends, patrons and artists. But still life continues to beckon. 

"Olives and Squeeze (study)," oil on panel, 8x10

This is a study I did before the outdoors began to occupy so much of my time. This is only a study, done to observe the ways that clear glass, semi-opaque plastic, and light interact. The two dissimilar subjects weren't chosen for any reason besides being handy and filling the bill of my intended study. The blue drop cloth was another handy item.

Saturday Roses

"Rose Garden Turtle," wc/ink on paper, 8x10

Last Saturday a number of the sketch group spent some time in Greenwood Park, the big park that is home to the Des Moines Art Center and also an extensive rose garden, currently in full bloom. The roses are riotous, mostly reds and pinks. The reds range from bright, clear reds to darker, more sanguine blooms. It was fun to sketch the masses of color.

Salt and Pepper Sauce

"Salt and Pepper Sauce," oil on panel, 8x10

A couple of decades ago still life painting was still an exploration for me. For this painting I used a commercial napkin holder, a restaurant grade salt shake and a small bottle of famous hot sauce. The interest for me was to study the shapes, reflections, and shadows. This disappeared into a private collection about twenty years ago. I still like it.

Rooflines

One of the historical areas of Des Moines is Sherman Hill, a rising area of terrain northwest of downtown that was settled in the late 19th century by the well-to-do after Hoyt Sherman (a brother of the famous Civil War general) built his mansion there in 1877. Later on, as Hoyt Sherman Place it became the home of the Des Moines Women's Club, a theatre and an annual art exhibition. 

"Sherman Hill Rooflines," wc/ink on paper

These rooflines are on houses directly behind the theater that occupies the eastern end of the building. It was a lovely, sunny day and I spent considerable time drawing these complicated shapes. Although probably built over a century ago, these houses aren't so ramshackle as they look in this sketch.