Daily Painting Practice

Daily Painting Practice - Poached Egg and Porcelain

2008-08-07T17:05:00.012-06:00

More experimenting. Blick Art has new panels to play with and I am continuing to try out my new medium. Make sure you click on the images to get a closer look at the stages of development.
I really wanted to concentrate on the background this time and not do my typical...go back into it after the painting is complete.
Eggs may be my new fun thing to paint. They are the best thing for practicing values.
Before I started this painting I remembered seeing a website for the National Gallery of Art in Washington that talked about Vermeer's proportions and compositions. Here is the (link). It is incredible to think he put so much thought into his work. I don't think I will ever get to that point.
I am more of an organic fly by the seat of my pants composer.
Though, I found it kind of funny that this is how my drawing lined up. Purely by accident! Just eyeballing the composition and sitting down to draw... I wonder what Vermeer would have said...Beginners luck. He would be right.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Poached Egg and Porcelain
original by Peter Yesis
8"x8"
oil on masonite
(Click Here to Bid on EBay)

Daily Painting Practice - Plum Shades

2008-08-06T19:19:00.007-06:00

Another day another color combination to play with.
The plums really stand out against this old piece of pottery.
The thing that is giving me the most trouble is how much detail to show in the pottery. Too much and it comes forward and takes away from the plums.
I thought I had it at this point but there were a number of things that bothered me. The foreground for example... don't like it.... take it out!

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Plum Shades
original by Peter Yesis
6"x6"
oil on canvas board
(Click Here to Bid on EBay)

I also put a layer of background color on a ran it into the shadow side of the pottery. Then went back in to bring out some texture. It has a real southwest feel to it. Don't you think?

Daily Painting Practice - Yellow Delight

2008-08-05T12:39:00.004-06:00

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Yellow Delight
original by Peter Yesis
6"x6"
oil on canvas board
(Click Here to Bid on EBay)

Sorry I don't have progress photos of this one. I did ...but I erased them by mistake from the camera. Marigolds are by far the most fun flower to paint. They are so forgiving. They have such character. You only need to suggest their form and your mind completely understands what it is you are looking at.... not only that but they make the studio smell good too.

Speaking of feeling good. There are several art bloggers that I go to whenever I need a smile. They can write with humor about almost anything. Here's my list of smile blogs;
First up is ( Tracy Helgeson ). Tracy is my cup of tea first thing in the morning blog. To me she is the Erma Bombeck of the art blog world. If you are too young to remember Erma Bombeck...go ask your mom.
Next is ( Maggie Stiefvater ). Down to earth practical with a keen sense of humor. She not only writes well.... Well, she writes. I mean she not only is an artist and humorist she is also a published author. You also will learn a great deal.
Speaking of learning a great deal.( James Gurney )will teach you more about art and dinosaurs than you ever thought possible ...and you'll enjoy it. You'll feel smarter as soon as you read his blog.
Finally ( Bill Jones and Lisa Towers )get my prize for the funniest art blog I know of. Their humor can get a bit earthy. But the two of them take the cake. They can make me laugh out loud. Just what I need sometimes when the painting gets tough.

That's my list to help you smile. Do you have any favorites?

Daily Painting Practice - Porcelain Whites

2008-08-04T15:53:00.007-06:00

Thank God I have a studio in the basement. Nice and cool down here. It was a miserable hot and humid day today. The kind of humidity that when you walk outside you feel like you are wearing a set of damp clothes.

Another day to experiment. I purchased some Gamblin Neo Megilip medium. I think it is supposed to be a Maroger medium replacement. It looked interesting at the Blick art store so I bought a small jar and gave it a try.....(I have no idea what I am doing). I started with a toned board and grayish monotone underpainting. The medium gets very tacky very fast.
I kept picking up paint from the under painting as I tried to add layers. Perhaps this would have worked better as a two day painting. After a lunch break the painting looked like it was almost dry... but that was just a trick. They should call this trick the artist medium. I made the mistake of using a brush that was damp with turps....oops! off came the paint...when will I learn?

click on image to enlarge the painting

Porcelain Whites
original by Peter Yesis
9"x12"
oil on masonite
(Click Here to Bid on EBay)

Though I struggled with the new medium I enjoyed the way it held the color of the paint. I certainly will continue to practice with it though I think they need to give a new name, Neo Meglip,... sounds like a period of history when small dinosaurs ran around.

Daily Painting Practice - Great news

2008-08-03T17:34:00.007-06:00

I received some great news this week. I was accepted into two shows.
First, my painting,"Cowboy Dave", was accepted into the (American Plains Artists 24th annual show). It will be held at the Museum of the Southwest in Midland, Texas. ( I should buy some cowboy boots because I will be flying down to the lone star state for the opening reception on August 28th.
I was also picked for the (International Guild of Realism Juried Exhibition) in Naples, Florida - February 2009 show. This painting " On Foot" did not get picked. That's fine because I am free to give it to a gallery now.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Carafe sur Rouge
12"x16"
oil on canvas

However, this painting was one of 53 chosen by the guild. I love the name... (thanks goes to my manager in charge of titles/wife). The show will be at the (Weatherburn Gallery) in Naples, Florida. I am thrilled beyond words.... OK maybe not beyond them, otherwise how could I tell you? But I am thrilled!

I am also planning on going to that opening. It should be a lot of fun attending these two shows. Luckily they are spaced far enough apart.... hopefully I can sell a few more on Ebay to cover the airfare.

Daily Painting Practice - Plein Air Studies at Hanscom Park

2008-08-02T18:10:00.007-06:00

Thursday was Plein Air Day for our little group. Only two of us made it though. It was back to Hanscom Park in Omaha for some fun with calla lilies and the water fountain again.
Just started here mapping out the scene. This was a great location, in the shade with a nice breeze.
Here's my two for the day. Not a bad bit of fun!

Summer Fountain Hanscom Park study
original by Peter Yesis
6"x8"
oil on canvas board

click on the image to enlarge the painting
Calla Lilies in the Shade - Study
original by Peter Yesis
8"x10"
oil on canvas board

Plein air fun in the sun. A great way to spend a hot summer afternoon.

Daily Painting Practice - Cake's in the Oven

2008-08-01T20:04:00.005-06:00

A good daily painter must be ever on the look out for subject material and always be ready to act . After my baker/wife finished baking the other morning, I spotted this flour covered measuring cup full of egg shells on the kitchen counter. I waited until she left the room, then I grabbed it. I quickly hid it down in the studio so she wouldn't clean it and throw out the egg shells before I had a chance to paint them.
Art schools should teach how to sneak props into the studio. It is a valuable skill that was nearly lost until the daily painting movement came along to reclaim this ancient practice. I have heard that some classical art ateliers still teach this method, but it is a long 3 year process that most young artists don't have patience for. Where is the discipline these days?

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Cake's in the Oven
original by Peter Yesis
6"x6"
oil on canvas board
(Click Here to Bid on EBay)

I think this maybe the first egg shell painting I have ever done. As a daily painter I think it is required to paint certain subjects...My daily painting resume is short on runny eggs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and pastries. I guess I should get to work on some of those.

Daily Painting Practice - Marigolds

2008-07-28T14:11:00.011-06:00

Here's an experiment I tried in the afternoon. I wanted to see if I could turn off all the studio lights (my studio is in the basement) and paint only using the southern light that shines in the basement window. I decided to reuse a panel that had this early daily practice piece on it. Recylced art.
I spun around in my studio chair and set up my plein easel. This worked well for having both the subject and my panel in the same light. However, my palette is now on my right side and I cast a big shadow over it when sitting and painting (not good). I covered the panel with very wet Cadmium Red & Cadmium orange mix of paint. I knew I was going to really slop on the paint when I started out this way. Notice how cool the light is in the background? Watch how the sunlight changes in the background of the studio as the painting proceeds.
Sketch a little with the darks...I can still see the roof from the previous painting.
Block in the main shapes. So far the light is holding out just fine maybe changing just a little....but wait...
That window in the back is on the western side. The sun has moved and it is getting darker all around me.
"Eyes don't fail me now!" The light is beginning to fade a little and so am I. I should lighten the background more but I decided to quit.

click on the image to enlarge the painting
original by Peter Yesis
Marigolds
8"x10"
oil on masonite
SOLD

Now you can understand why painters always say paint from a north light window if possible. The north light stays constant and cool. The southern light changes position and temperature through out the day.
I hope this will work fine for my small daily painting practice pieces because the light changes take about 2 hours. If a painting needs more time I will have to come back and paint the following day.

Daily Painting Practice - Hanscom Fountain Study

2008-07-24T18:49:00.006-06:00

Thursday is Plein Air Painting day in Omaha. We tried Elmwood Park again this week but when we arrived it was raining and the park had no place with an overhang to take shelter under and paint. We decided to head to the coffee shop. Of course, it was a downpour just as we got out of our cars. We run in, buy a coffee sit down...... and the rain stops. John wanted to check out Hanscom Park thinking it had more to offer. So off we drove. The weather held back but the sky was dark and gray.
I started a on pre-toned board that was dark olive green/gray. I kept thinking the rain was going to start any second so I painted fairly quickly.
The wind kept moving the angle of the fountain spray... First on the right, then on the left.......I felt like I was playing follow the leader.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Hanscom Fountain Study
original by Peter Yesis
8"x10"
oil on canvas board

I think this place has the potential to make a good larger painting, though my art advisor/wife thinks I should go back and see what it looks like with the sun shining. Good thing we are painting there again next week.

Daily Painting Practice - Postcard from Nebraska

2008-07-23T22:26:00.004-06:00

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Postcard from Nebraska
(formerly Nebraska Summer)
original by Peter Yesis
5"x7"
oil on canvas board
(Click Here to Bid on EBay)

I almost called this Postcard from Nebraska. (Update: I went back and renamed it)
I painted it with a nod toward the style of and as a way of paying tribute to Julian Merrow-Smith and his (Postcards from Provence) blog. As I mentioned in my last post I have been blogging now for two years. Along with my friend (Darren Maurer) who got me started, Julian Merrow- Smith was one of the first artists I began looking at and studying everyday. I continue to marvel at his work and admire his fluid brush and rich color.

Daily Painting Practice - Celebrate 2 years!

2008-07-21T16:39:00.011-06:00

I have been working on several large pieces hoping to get enough backlog because my galleries are due for some fresh work. This is the Saturday farmer's market in the Old market of downtown town Omaha. The flower vendors dominate the area under the roof. I thought I would show you some progress steps of the latest.
Here's an early detail. I am trying (hard) to keep everything grey and not go wild with the color in the beginning.
I am hoping to clearly establish the background , middle ground and foreground before getting into the detail.
Here I am adding more darks and bringing the color up a notch.
This is where I quit for the day. I still need to work on the fore ground then go back and clean everything up. I hope by the end of the week I should have this completed. It's 24"x36"

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Popcorn Celebration
original by Peter Yesis
5"x7"
oil on canvas board

I was so focused on the large painting I completely missed my 2 year anniversary of this blog. So I painted the popcorn as a celebration. I have learned a lot in 2 years . The biggest thing being I have a lot more to learn.

Daily Painting Practice - Path in the Park

2008-07-18T11:28:00.005-06:00

This was my afternoon plein air practice spot from yesterday. Two in one day. What a joy! Same park as yesterday's post. I needed to stay in the shade so when I noticed this path, that was all it took to start painting again.
I have the most difficult time identifying the shadow colors when I paint outside. I think they are cool one minute the next minute I think they are warm. My eye plays this game with my mind the whole time. Finally I decided it was a little of both and kept painting.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Path in the Park
original by Peter Yesis
8"x10"
oil on canvas board
(Click Here to Bid on EBay)

The sun gods were having their way with me. Turning the sunlight on then off then hiding it behind a cloud. But, like the Greek plein air heroes of days gone by, I fought my way past their mischief and stuck to my .....path.
(Peter's pun of path painting pleasure points to the positive progress of patience and practice)

Daily Painting Practice - Elmwood Park Pavilion

2008-07-17T15:14:00.005-06:00

Omaha has a beautiful park ( Elmwood Park) in the center of the city just behind the University of Nebraska Omaha campus. In the middle of the park is this Spanish style pavilion. The sun was illuminating the stucco walls with a wonderful dappled light, Just perfect for a little plein air practice.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Elmwood Park Pavilion
original by Peter Yesis
9"x12"
oil on canvas board

We had a new artist join our Thursday painting group. Another Omaha artist, Chris Bolmeier. Chris paints in a very colorful and expressionistic style. Check out her website (here). She really helped me today, suggesting I throw some bold brush strokes and color into this practice piece. Bold brush strokes! What a concept. Do you think I can manage to do it two days in a row?

Daily Painting Practice - Summer Melon

2008-07-13T17:13:00.010-06:00

If this study worked out I thought this might make a good larger painting. I started with painting in Alizarin Crimson on a dry toned canvas board.
I thought an over the shoulder view would be fun to try. Here I am laying in the darks.
Then starting in on the color. Keeping it fluid and transparent...
and getting more opaque as I go along.
I even have proof that I can change brushes. ( That's only because I was aware of taking the photos.)

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Summer Melon
original by Peter Yesis
6"x6"
oil on canvas board

Nothing is better than painting then eating a juicy summer melon. Or should that be tasting then painting??

Daily Painting Practice - Plein air Flower Garden

2008-07-10T16:08:00.003-06:00

click on image to enlarge the painting

Plein Air Flower Garden
6"x6"
oil on canvas board

Today our little Plein Air group met at John's house near Plattsmouth, NE. John's wife has a gift for growing flowers and has lots of these small flower gardens all around their house. This corner on the back of John's workshop was fun to paint even though the temperature was near 90 in the sun. I was happily planted under the shade of a mulberry tree though. For a snack all I had to do was turn around, reach up and pick.

Daily Painting Practice - Still Life Study - Limes

2008-07-09T12:39:00.006-06:00

It feels good to be back painting after a long weekend break with family visiting from back east. This little still life study is an idea I have had for a larger studio piece.
I was attracted by the depth in the reflections in the bowl and the cool contrast brought in by the limes. The reflection of the knife added an interesting highlight and line to the composition.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Still Life Study - Limes
5"x7"
oil on canvas board

This is a good study for a larger painting but I think I will need to do more experimenting with the composition. Adding a lemon on the right side might help give it a good punch.

Daily Painting Practice - Pink Ladies

2008-07-02T20:19:00.008-06:00

OK! If I am going to do another daily peony painting I figure I might as well experiment a little and have a little fun. So I ground up some Yarka compressed charcoal and mixed it with a little turps and Liquin.
What a lovely little wash painting it produced. I smudged the halftone in with my finger. The style feels very Oriental to me.
As I pondered about the background I completely forgot to let the wash under painting dry......Oops! I brush on the background and brushed off the under painting....
What is that saying? If at first you screw it up. Try try again? The good thing is, not having an under painting so well defined really allowed me to stay loose. At this point I have not used any blue... In fact I never did, the green was made by mixing the charcoal and yellow.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Pink Ladies
original by Peter Yesis
5"x7"
oil on canvas board

I really like the loose brush strokes and the suggestion of the glass vase. All done without blue.

Daily Painting Practice - The Rectory

2008-07-01T13:14:00.005-06:00

What a beautiful day yesterday was. It is hard to believe that we in Omaha had such horrific weather the past week. We had a terrible wind and rain storm run through us like a freight train...over 110 miles per hour winds. Put the wind together with torrential rain and hail and you get 130,000 people without electricity... We were lucky, the only damage was to our tomato plants. We had been without electricity since Friday night.... And now we have weather like this...

Nebraska June
12" x 16"
oil on canvas

Yesterday afternoon, after buying more ice for the freezer... Still no electricity, the only thing I could do was go plein air painting.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

The Rectory
original by Peter Yesis
14"x18"
oil on canvas

By the time I got back to our house in the afternoon the electricity was back on! Yeah! That meant I could paint in the studio again.... so I finished this one.

Daily Painting Practice - Peony and Shells

2008-06-24T18:06:00.004-06:00

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Peony and Shells
original by Peter Yesis
8"x10"
oil on canvas board
SOLD

A very quick arrangement and a quick daily painting. I know what you are thinking...."I thought he said no more peonies". Well, I 'm using artistic license to change what I said. I like how I did the shells the best...loose brushwork. I think I should have loosened up a bit on the glass. A bit too linear for my taste.

Daily Painting Practice - Clouds Gathering Over the Platte River

2008-06-22T19:56:00.007-06:00

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Clouds Gathering Over the Platte River
original by Peter Yesis
30" x 40"
oil on canvas

Here is a studio painting I am finishing. I think it is done... I always mess with the sky too much at this stage, so I am calling this finished and will let it sit for a while. Then if I see something it should (he says hopefully) only be a small touch up. Any thoughts or comments get them in now or forever hold your peace.

Daily Painting Practice - Plein Air Tree Study

2008-06-20T07:04:00.004-06:00

Yesterday our small Plein Air group painted at the (Mount Vernon Gardens Park) in Omaha. It is a beautiful little park built in the early 1930's to replicate George Washington's home in Mount Vernon, Virginia.(only half the originals size). Though beautiful, it took a while to find something I wanted to paint. I finally decided on this large maple tree.
Of course the sun played hide and seek behind the clouds. And the mosquitoes had a picnic on my arms but overall it was a lovely day. I really liked how the sun lit up the tops of the hedge rows. Notice how the painting seems so much warmer in the sunlight compared to the studio photo below.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Plein Air Tree Study
original by Peter Yesis
9"x12"
oil on canvas board

We had a new person join our group yesterday, Jackie Newell. Jacki does wonderful plein air work. Our plein air group must be getting very brave. Next week we all decided to paint in downtown Omaha at the Old Market...at lunch time...yikes.

Daily Painting Practice - Playing at Rosenblatt

2008-06-18T18:06:00.010-06:00

Warning: This is a long winded blog. If you have other things to do, read this later.

First a little background. Omaha hosts the College World Series for a week every year in a lovely older stadium called Rosenblatt Stadium. It is a bit of Americana. A big controversy brewed in Omaha over the last year because they are going to build a new stadium in the downtown area over the next 3 years and knock this one down. I hope they design the new one as close as possible to this old one...except for the bathrooms and vending areas, those need to be demolished.
So here is the continuation of the story I mentioned in my last post. I drove over to the stadium early on Tuesday morning to buy a ticket and take more reference photos ...this time with fully charged batteries...two sets!

At 10:00 AM, the line for tickets was half way around the stadium so I turned to leave. I didn't want to spend all day waiting. As I turned, I bumped into a wonderful man selling one ticket. What a break, no waiting! I bought it and drove home. I had no idea where the seat was but I had one.....

This photo was taken from my seat. It doesn't get any better. The man I bought the ticket from has had series tickets and the same seats since the 1960's. I sat next to him and his lovely wife. In fact, I met several nice people around me, all of them had tickets for the same seats for years...some even handed down through the generations. The man on my left had been going to the series since the beginning ( that's 60 years!) I can see why there is so much nostalgia for this old stadium. They hate to see it go....except for the bathrooms.

I was able to sneak down to field level and get a bunch of good shots.
I love the choreography of baseball. It would make a great ballet.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Playing at Rosenblatt
original by Peter Yesis
5"x7"
oil on masonite

I had a great time, met a bunch of terrific people took a bunch of photos. I have a lot of new ideas for paintings. I would like to capture the feeling of what it means to play and watch the game at Rosenblatt stadium before they knock it down. I guess I have my work cut out for me over the next 3 years.

Daily Painting Practice - Game Day College World Series Study

2008-06-16T22:25:00.004-06:00

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Game Day College World Series
original by Peter Yesis
5"x7"
oil on masonite

Every year Omaha hosts the NCAA College World Series. It has been doing this for about 60 years. Yesterday was the first day I have ever gone. My wife was given tickets to the LSU, North Carolina game. We thought that it may inspire some painting ideas. I grabbed my camera and off we went. I snapped 3 or 4 pictures and... the batteries died! What a bummer! LSU and North Carolina have great team colors and the crowd must have been a sell out .

I painted this in a very loose impressionistic manner. It makes a great study for a larger work. I need more references, I have so many ideas for paintings I can't wait. I left this morning to try and buy tickets for tonight's game... Its very late now so ...More of that adventure tomorrow.

Daily Painting Practice - Plein air at the Park

2008-06-12T20:17:00.003-06:00

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Plein Air at the Park
original by Peter Yesis
11"x14"
oil on canvas

Thursday is Plein Air day. I am very grateful for the small group of us that do this each week. It makes me get out of the studio. Today they all came to my house and we painted at the small city park near by. It was an absolutely beautiful day...unlike the day before, torrential rains and tornadoes every where.

I really tried to capture the dappled light hitting the grass. The lush green is so difficult to paint....a lot of fun, but difficult.

Daily Painting Practice - Pears and Wine Study

2008-06-09T16:39:00.005-06:00

I like the composition for this piece. I tried about 30 different arrangements but came back to the very first one.
The key I think is making sure the long neck of the bottle has soft edges. Hard edges on the bottle neck or the top of the glass would have lead your eye away from the fruit.

click on the image to enlarge the painting

Pears and Wine Study
original by Peter Yesis
5"x7"
oil on canvas board
SOLD

I will do this again on a larger canvas. My wife / art consultant suggested this daily painting should be a gallery painting. It's a good thing I like it too. It will be fun to try it again.

I once read that when an artist paints a portrait the highlights in the eyes should not be equally bright. One eye or highlight should dominate. The same probably is true in still life painting. One highlight should be the brightest.... but which one?