Ken Barclay - - Avocaken

Man Visiting Art Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:12:00 +0000

Man Visiting Art Gallery
12 x 16 Oils on canvas panel

Another photo from using the Blogger navigation bars "NEXT BLOG".

Buying Apples With an Audience - WIP

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:06:00 +0000

Buying Apples With an Audience
12 x 16 Oils on canvas panel

This is my version of two photos from Nathalies post "New Season Apples" in her blog Avignon In Photos.

I need to work on this some more so I'm calling this a "work in process" (WIP). :-(

C-45 Expeditor

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0000

C-45 Expeditor
11 x 14 Oils on canvas panel

This airplane is the military version of the Beechcraft Model 18. See the article in Wikipidia HERE.

I attempted to show that the airplane was moving (past the background and foreground). After glaring at this painting for a few days, I think that I want to 1) lighten the background or 2) darken the colors in the airplane.

Lazy Days

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:53:00 +0000

Lazy Days
11 x 14 Oils on canvas panel

I saw this photo as I was scrolling through websites using "Next Blog" button in the Blogger navigation bar. I had a memory lapse and didn't document the name of the blog. I will remove this post if whomever owns this photo wants it removed.

Of course I made some changes from the origianal photo and I DO want to "fix" (what's new?) some things. But, it's basically done.

Douglas C-47 or DC-3 Taking Off

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:47:00 +0000

Douglas C-47 or DC-3 Taking Off
7.5 x 20 Oils on panel

This painting is not finished as I need to paint in the U.S. insignia on the fuselage.

The Wikipedia article says, in part: "The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from theDouglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day."

Sopwith Camel

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:42:00 +0000

Sopwith Camel
7.5 x 16 Oils on panel

This airplane was used in WW I.

The article in Wikipedia says, in part: "The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on theWestern Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult to handle, to an experienced pilot it provided unmatched manoeuvrability. A superlative fighter, the Camel was credited with shooting down 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied fighter of the war. It also served as a ground-attack aircraft, especially near the end of the conflict, when it was outclassed in the air-to-air role by newer fighters."

4FU Corsair - Landing Before The Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:32:00 +0000

4FU Corsair - Landing Before The Storm
11 x 14 Oils on canvas panel

Not too much to say about this airplane except that it's a WW II fighter airplane that was produced from 1940 until 1953. Read more at Wikipedia if you're interested.

Sunday In The Park

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:13:00 +0000

Sunday In The Park
7.5 x 20 Oils on panel

This is made from two photos from two photos on Nathalie's blog Avignon in Photos. Specifically her post "DIMANCHE" and "SUNDAY AFTERNOON". I played with both images then took some (a lot?) artistic license.

I'm letting the paint dry thoroughly then I want to fuss with the painting a bit. :-)

Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:50:00 +0000

Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk
14.25 x 15.25 Oils on 6 5x5 panels

This airplane type is commonly associated with the WW II "Flying Tigers". The Flying Tigers had shark mouths painted on the nose of their airplanes.

I had cut some 5 x 5 inch panels to do some 5 x 5 paintings. Believe it or not I couldn't find subject that I wanted to squeeze into 25 square inches.

Sooooo, I put six of the panels together with a spacer between each of the pieces. My idea is to take the spacers out and assemble them in a nice frame/background.

If "diptych" is a two-part painting (or whatever) then will this be a "hextych"? :-) I couldn't find "hextych" in searching the web, although I did find "septych" (7 pieces).

Admiring An Art Show

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:46:00 +0000

Admiring An Art Show
7.5 x 14 Oils on panel

These are people at an art show. Maybe they'll buy something?

As with almost everyone of my paintings, I think that I need to "fix" something. SIGH

Baseball - Pitchers -Eddie

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:59:00 +0000

Baseball - Pitchers -Eddie
16 x 20 Oils on canvas panel

I have some more baseball paintings that I want to do. These paintings will depict the catchers doing catcher things - whatever that means to me at the time.

BUT! This guy is going to blast a fast-ball right past the batter. Unless the batter is looking for a fast-ball to be thrown. Oh, the strategy that's going on!

I played catcher (when I was MUCH younger) and those fast-ball pitches not only "pop" in the mitt, they HURT. I stopped playing that position in a hurry and whined until the coach replaced me with a kid that was more dumb that I.

France - Menton - Tango in the street

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:51:00 +0000

France - Menton - Tango in the street
16 x 20 Oils on canvas panel

This from Jilly's blog Menton Daily Photo. I "flipped" (mirrored more accurately) the photo just because I could! :-) I also left out some of the finer details from the photo wanting the focus to be on the dancers and the the two women. One seems to disapprove, whispering in her companion's ear.

It's really cool that the dancers can block out their surroundings, don't you think?

Baseball - Pitchers - baseball_pitcher 3

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:50:00 +0000

Baseball - Pitchers - baseball_pitcher 3
16 x 20 Oils on canvas panel

Nothing special here. I was in a baseball frame of mind during the leagues playoff games. So I made some baseball paintings. This is probably a college ball game because I put the team logo on the players' jerseys.

Skateboarder - White Cap

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:45:00 +0000

Skateboarder - White Cap
11 x 14 Oils on Masonite panel

This skateboarder is doing one of those "tricks" that totally amaze me. Just think of the falls and slides he endured while perfecting the technique. He isn't wearing any kind of joint (knees or elbow) protection - must be a tough guy!

House Close to the sea

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:40:00 +0000

House Close to the sea
11x14 Oils on canvas panel

I don't do "landscape" or "seascapes" very well. Probably because I avoid painting them, ya think?

Anyhow, I gave it a shot and I'm kinda, sorta OK with it now. I added the little fleet of sailboats in the distance but it was (I think) still lacking something. Sooooo, I added the larger sailboat.

The Smallest Cowboy

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:34:00 +0000

The Smallest Cowboy
11 x 14 Oils on Masonite panel

Melissa (my wife) and I went to the Benton County (Arkansas) Fair to see the 4H sheep judging. (Melissa is a volunteer with the local 4H group.) This young man was being ignored while his older sibling was showing their sheep for the judge. He appeared to be just a bit pouty but brightened up when his Mom came up into the bleacher and sat with him.

He was dressed to the nines with cowboy boots, hat, shirt and etc. TOO COOL!

Couple Studying art in Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:23:00 +0000

Couple Studying art in Museum
12 x 16 Oils on canvas panel

This couple can't get much closer to the painting they're scrutinizing, can they? I think that they don't know what the artist was/is trying to "say" in this painting. If I were the artist I wouldn't have any idea why they're curious why or what I was thinking when I made the painting. I'm usually clueless anyhow. I just paint and paint and paint. Lots of color is mandatory.

Monaco - Color - Building

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:17:00 +0000

Monaco - Color - Building
12 x 16 Oils on canvas panel

I saw the photo on Jilly's blog Monaco Daily Photo and it seemed to be an abstract painting - so I made one! I couldn't help myself and put some texturing in the orange side of the building. Most of the colors are straight out of a tube with just a tiny bit of mixing. I try to make paintings with many colors from the tube(s). Although I usually seem to mix some colors. Dang!

Man and Couple looking at modern art

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:08:00 +0000

Man and Couple looking at modern art
12 x 16 Oils on canvas panel

Another composite from several reference photos.I am greatly amused by the man at the left seemingly working hard to understand what he's looking at. The fellow on the right seems amused by the other fellows dilemma while he himself has no clue either.

New York Inspiration - Looking at the art

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:03:00 +0000

New York Inspiration - Looking at the art
11 x 14 Oils on Masonite Panel

I saw a photo on an artists blog and it seemed a natural to make a painting.

Women in museum looking at sculpture

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:59:00 +0000

Women in museum looking at sculpture
12 x 16 Oils on Masonite panel

The title "Women in museum looking at sculpture" might be more accurate as "Women in museum ogling sculpture". :-) At least the lady with the brownish sweater has SOME class and is studying my painting of "A Dollar An Hour".

Baseball - Tagged out at 2nd base

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:53:00 +0000

Baseball - Tagged out at 2nd base
12 x 16 Oils on Masonite panel

No names, right? The ball player sliding into second base is totally O_U_T! Another idea for a painting from a photo with many other elements that I chose to omit.

Skateboarder - Airborne - Blue Tee

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:49:00 +0000

Skateboarder - Airborne - Blue Tee
12 x 16 Oils on Masonite panel

This painting was taken from a photo reference with many skateboarders doing their thing. As I've said, these skateboard people are amazing.

Five People Looking At Art

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:44:00 +0000

Five People Looking At Art
12 x 16 Oils on Masonite panel

This painting is a composite of four or five reference photos. The lady on the left is laughing aloud at her companion (a MAN!) The three ladies on the right are contemplating the meaning of the center painting.

All of them are totally ignoring my painting "Flameno Dancer With Red Fan". Obviously, they don't recognize good stuff when it's close by.

Young Lady Waiting

noreply@blogger.com (Avocaken) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:36:00 +0000

Young Lady Waiting
9 x 12 Oils on Masonite panel

The reference photo for this painting came from Jilly's blog Monte Carlo Daily Photo. The young lady looks more than a little miffed because she has some business to take care of. And the wedding is taking LIKE F - O - R - E - V - E - R - R - R.