Defender and Supplier

   This painting is from some reference photos I took at the Air Museum section of Grissom Air Force base. I intend to work up a couple of real paintings involving some of the planes there. This study is of their B17 which is on the Historical Register and painted like the Memphis Belle, in the background is C147 "Gooney Bird". The Gooney was the freight car of the skies during the war and a legend flying "over the hump" into China supplying the troops fighting through the jungles.
   This painting is 9x12 inches and in oil, it is further exploration into the split primary palette. I am finding i like this group of colors and the unity they are bringing to my paintings.

Lillies

  This painting is of a small garden pond an artist friend of mine has near one of his wifes flower gardens. I went ahead and posted some progress shots of it as well. I think I will be working this up into a larger painting later on. This one is 8x10 oil on a pretoned canvas panel.

Hoping for Spring

   Here is a little series of an 8x10 oil I did earlier this week. I am experimenting with a split primary palette and think I like it. This is my first painting with it and I think it adds a certain "unity" to the work that I have been looking for. With just 6 colors on the palette (a warm and cool of each of the 3 primaries) and white it is also quite simple. Thanks for looking!

This is the start of the painting where I am just blocking in some primary items and the strongest light and dark.

Here I have the background pretty well in place and ready to put the foreground over it. For me this system seems to work the best when I am painting wet on wet while trying to abide by the "fat over lean" principle. 

Here is the finished painting, This is a view behind my house looking west toward the pond and creek. The painting is 8x10 inches oil on panel. 

Getting Ready

   Here are some new pieces I have been working on in the wood shop. None of these have finish on them yet but I thought I would put them up. Included a few in stages as I carved them. Thanks for looking!

  Here are some candle boxes all joined up and waiting to be finished up. 

This one I finished up as a "Don't Tread On Me" box. 

A close up of the lid. 

This one I did as a  Revolutionary War box with the year it started on one side, the year it ended on the other and thirteen stars. 

One side all finished up!

Other side finished. 

One of the ends.

Here is the finished box that just needs some stain. The wood I used is sassafras, it has a real nice grain and carves very well with sharp tools. 

This is a spoon rack made out of Tulip Poplar. 

This is my shop cat Twitch, I am starting to carve the Eagle on a wall box out of Pine. 

Here I have one wing roughed out, the Eagle is attached to my carving board with screws from behind. 

Here I have most of the bird relieved and roughed in. 

Some detail coming in lower section. 

Most of the feathers laid in and the shield is done.

Pretty well finished up now it just needs a box to go with it!

Box joined up and the bottom getting ready to go on. 

Ready for some finish. 

Little One

  This little series shows this oil study coming together as I painted it today. I intend to work this scene up into a larger painting at a later date. This is the coal feed to Logansport Municipal Utilities. I just these industrial scenes when you can find a good one.

This is an oil on panel, 6x8 inches. If you are interested in this painting you can buy it on Etsy by clicking Etsy

Groovin!

  Here is the a photo of the plow plane I use for cutting the rabbets (grooves) in boards when I am making boxes. This is for a candle box circa 1750 and will be made from cherry. The plane is an Ohio Tool Company and was made in the 1880's. It is a nice user and one of my favorites. I know this can be done faster with modern equipment but this tool is quiet, dustless and very efficient for the job at hand.