Backyard Bluebird

This one is on a 10x8 inch canvas.  I started it several months ago and got back on it today as I am waiting on the butterfly to dry before next session on it.  I kept it more on an impressionist approach and let it focus mainly on the bird.  I did one on a smaller surface a couple of years ago and it was fun to finish the painting in a couple of hours.  It was almost completed anyway.

We will be participating in an Arts and Crafts show in Victoria at the First United Methodist Church Saturday and have some packing to do.  I love doing the shows and get a chance to sell some art.

Let us pray before we paint,
Jimmie@jimmiesart.com

Monarch Butterfly artwork

I am building the background and flowers for the butterfly in this scene.  It may not look like it, but there is still more to do to the butterfly.  The shapes, shades and highlights  of the background scenery are important to make the butterfly the most important part of the painting.  To make this happen, the flowers need to be pretty but not overwhelming and same for the stems and leaves.  Making brights and shadows believable takes a bit of stepping back from the easel and studying the painting at a distance.  Making sure the light source and cast shadows in the painting are consistent.  More painting to do.

Let us pray before we paint,
jimmie@jimmiesart.com

Another Butterfly Oil Painting in Progress

If you follow this blog, you probably think I am stuck on painting butterflies.  Yes, I really like painting butterflies!  They are colorful and interesting.  I plan to finish this one soon and move on to other paintings for awhile.  I am considering painting a series of Native Indian series next.  I am researching famous chiefs now.  So intriguing.

This work in progress is on a 14x18 inch canvas.  There is a prior post that discusses the start of this one.  Here, the image on upper left is basically where I stopped on it to finish the other butterfly painting with the exception of showing some sky blue spread on with a palette knife to get it going.  (Using the knife helps spread the paint on faster in large areas of canvas.  The evenly spread and detail with a brush.  You may like the knife effects and want to leave them on your painting)  I also penciled in more of the flowers to help the composition.  I didn't follow the photo for the background and flowers, but used it as a guide to create a less busy and more painterly effect.  His antenna got painted over, but can be put back in later.  The flowers are based in and will get more attention later today.  The greenery is the next step.

You are welcome to use the below comment box to enter comments or questions.  Also, if you see the most recent post, click HOME here or in the above bar menu.

Let us pray before we paint,
jimmie@jimmiesart.com

Monarch Buttlerfly Painting, Work in Progress

Made some progress today on the larger butterfly painting by blocking in the color portions of the wings.  (Scroll down the page to see the previous stage of the painting.)  I did a bit of shading and highlighting which brought the painting into dimension.  Nothing has been done to white portions of the canvas.  Notice how the smaller whites on the wings stand out even though not painted.  I will add shades of white later.  Next step is to add the floral background.  I will work on the other butterfly tomorrow and possibly finish it, but we did talk about going fishing tomorrow.  Your comments are appreciated.

Let us pray before we paint,
jimmie@jimmiesart.com

Second Butterfly Painting in Progress

 For this 11x14 inch oil painting, I have a great picture reference to work from.  Thanks to Janet for the picture.

This post follows the work I talked about in the last post.  I blocked in the black areas and a quick impression of the foliage.  For the foliage, I used sap green, yellow light, white, and some of the black to mix for shady green.

 Amazing how adding the sky background adds so much to the painting.  This was a mix of cerelean blue tinted with titanium white.  I used a small flat brush to block in the sky next to busy spots and a larger flat to cover the rest of the canvas including the edges.

Here the painting is shown with the completed sky hanging from a short wire I put on it for easier handling while it is wet.

The next step will be to add the beautiful color to the wings and body.  I could have done more to this one today, but had a broken chainsaw that also needed fixing.

The other butterfly painting will be more of a challenge as the background has beautiful flowers for him to feed on.  I will work on him tomorrow.  Your comments are welcome.

Let us pray before we paint,
jimmie@jimmiesart.com

New Painting in Progress, Monarch Butterfly

Those of you that follow this blog have probably noticed I usually paint several scenes of new subjects.  Recently, I finished the two butterflys mentioned in the previous posts and now starting two more.  I thought it would be of interest to show some of the process and will post some of the stages during the painting.  I was fortunate to obtain some wonderful pictures from my friend Janet to use for reference.  Much appreciated.

Start by transferring the necessary parts of the image to the canvas.  This can be done by drawing it freehand, using the grid method, enlarging and using carbon paper transfer, or by tracing using opaque projector.  I have used all of these methods.  I like to draw my images, but the biggest time saver is the opaque projector when tackling a scene of many lines and shapes important to the composition.  I use a soft no. 2 lead pencil sharpened to a fine point to lightly trace the outline onto the canvas.Heavy pencil marks are more difficult to cover during the painting.  Suggest only tracing the major boundaries to keep it simple.  (The minor details can easily be found and put in once you start painting)   After the image is penciled in, lightly spray the canvas with a fixative to keep it from smudging during handling and painting.  The fixative dries fast so you can start painting within a few minutes of application.

As seen in the pictures, I started with the black parts of the image because it is the biggest area and will maintain the borders for the insertion of the other colors.  Also, by working from one side to the other keeps your hand off painted areas.  I worked from the upper left to right and downward.  Some artists will paint in all areas with color as they go.  Sometimes I do depending on the composition.

Now that the black is blocked in, I can work on another painting while it dries. 

Your comments and questions are welcome.  I would like to hear from you.

Let us pray before we paint,
jimmie@jimmiesart.com

Little Butterfly Oil Painting

Another "Little Butterfly" oil painting on a11x14 inch canvas.   I painted it last month and gave it to my beautiful daughter for her birthday.  Hope you like it too.

Let us pray before we paint,
jimmie@jimmiesart.com

Butterfly on Vine, Oil Painting

Butterfly on Vine, Oil Painting, 16x20 canvas

I really enjoyed painting this beautiful butterfly that kept feeding on our flowers.  This was a unique view, mixing interesting twists of the vine against the bright colors of the butterfly.  Nature provides so many beautiful things for us to see, don't you think?  I tried to capture a bit of nature in this painting,  The original is sold, but prints will be available very soon on my web site www.jimmiesart.com.

Thanks for stopping by.

Let us pray before we paint,
Jimmie@jimmiesart.com

Hummingbird Festival

Our Booth at the Hummerfest.

Dragonfly Oil Painting

The Dragonfly, Oils on 14x18 inch gallery wrap canvas

The "Dragonfly" is one of my latest paintings that will be shown for the first time at the Hummerfest in Rockport, Texas this weekend.   For information on the event: http://www.rockporthummingbird.com/

If you are in the area of the Festival, I hope you can come visit with us.  Our booth is number 38 in the school Commons.

Let us pray for peace in the world,
Jimmie@jimmiesart.com