larrybstudio

Brea Art Gallery

2011-08-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was invited to show in an exhibit of plein air paintings at the Brea Art Gallery.
Opening reception for the artists will be this Saturday, August 6th 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

I will be exhibiting 3 paintings of my wine series which you can see below. Please stop by and say hello!

Napa Vineyard 11x14

Red Barn 11x14

Vineyard Barn 10x12

Local Plein Air Painting

2011-04-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

Over the past month I've enjoyed a couple of local plein air outings.

Fellow artist, Wendy Wirth and me (in the hat) catching the last light of the day.

"Wave Study," oil sketch on linen.

While painting in Laguna Beach, I took many pictures of the waves. Back home in my studio I painted the above wave study.

The pictures below are from Laguna Canyon Wilderness Park. The wildflowers were just starting to pop a couple of weeks ago.

6 Inch Squared Exhibit & Sale

2011-04-13T21:53:00.000-07:00

My painting, "Sienna Overcoat" oil on linen, 6"x6" has been juried for the

"6 Inch Squared Exhibit & Sale" at Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA. Framed $300.

Available Paintings

2011-04-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

I recently participated in an exhibit showcasing some of my paintings. The five oil paintings shown here are, from left to right: "Red Barn," (11"x14") framed $650, "Napa Vineyard," (11"x14") framed $650, "Kind of Oaky," (9"x12") framed $595, "Vineyard Barn," (10"x12") framed $625, "Crystal Cove Cottage," (9"x12") $475. (Detailed images are available- I'd be happy to send them to you if you are interested.)

Mixing your own pure pigment oil paint

2010-11-21T12:18:00.000-08:00

So, I haven't had much time to paint lately. Have been working lots. But, I have had a private commission I've been working on and also, have been researching and putting together some information on making paint.

I've often been curious about mixing my own oils from dry pigment but never delved into it. I've seen a few other artists that have posted some about the subject, but I have learned most from my own research. Probably what really peaked my interest was the great information found on "Dick Blick's" website about paint pigments and what each manufacturers names and pigments really were. The second bit of inspiration was Marc Dallesio's painting blog, where as he talks about mixing paint from pigments as well as making his own painting mediums as classical artists did. I have collected enough materials to experience the mixing of my own pure pigment paint, and here are a few photos and bit of description of each. I hope to continue this subject as a series of small informative articles as I learn and experience what it takes to mix your own paint like the old masters used to.

Please keep in mind that many pigments are quite toxic, and you should only try this while exercising safety and the proper protection for yourselves. Always wear a dust mask and wear rubber gloves, and read the warning labels!!!!!

Some materials to start................

You'll need, of course some dry pigment, here I have chosen "Cadmium Orange Deep" from Sinopia. You'll also need a surface to mix on, such as glass or marble, a muller( that big glass thing) some cold pressed linseed or walnut oil, some pallet knives and empty paint tubes to store your mixed paint in.

Carefully pour out approximately 30 grams of pigment, that jar you see above is 100 g.
Next make a little pocket in the middle, like putting gravy in your mashed potatoes. Then add just a bit of oil, maybe a teaspoon to start, you'll have to add some as you mix it up to turn it into a paste like viscosity like peanut butter. I actually ended up adding about four times this much to get it to the consistency in the next photo.

This is what the mixture looks like after mixing the oil and pigment to form a paste.

Notice there is still some dry pigment to be mixed.

Now gather your pigment up into a nice pile and start to grind the pigment and oil together with the muller, this photo is about 10 revolutions with the muller. You will notice that the pigment starts to get more liquidy as you grind it.

After a few more revolutions with the muller the paint really starts to get runny, at this point you'll want to add more pigment.

Here I've added more dry piment to thicken up the consistency and force more pigment into the oil. What I'm after here is more like the lean paint of Old Holland paints.

This is about how your paint should look, notice that it is not runny, and there is not an oilyness look to it. I mixed about the same amount more so I could fill up a tube of about 37 to 40 ml.

Both of these piles of paint filled up my tube quite nicely.

So, here is my first tube of pure pigment oil paint.
I'll be back with more of this series soon.

orange slice

2010-09-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been having a little fun with some small still lifes, here is the latest.

The Bowers Musem Paintings and Exhibit

2010-09-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Southern California Representational Paintings Invitational Exhibit & Sale

The Bowers Museum

2010-08-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

Up next, the Bowers Museum show. September 11th and 12th Saturday and Sunday.

Second Place awarded

2010-08-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

Awarded second place at "SoCalPapa paints the Back Bay"

juried competition last month! As part of the awards for this years show, Socalpapa in conjunction with the Muth Interpretive center at the Back Bay, has opened a satilite gallery at the Muth Interpretive Center. The 3 winners, are the first to hang on the walls. Be sure to visit as it's a wonderful center with first rate displays all about the wild life and the environment of the Back Bay!

More Caspers Wilderness Park

2010-07-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

It's so beautiful at this park I had to go back and do some painting of the views there. I think this will be a location I will go and paint often as there are so many paintings to do there!

Late afternoon or early morning is the best time to paint because the light is best at these times.

Only problem with painting late afternoon, or close to dusk, is that's when the mountain lions come out to feed! Signs are all around the park warning of mountain lion country. Still, it's worth it as long as you are aware.

Alright, one more shot...........

Painting at Caspers Wilderness Park

2010-07-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

Caspers park from the nature center.

Some of the SOCALPAPA members painting Sycamores.

....more members.

Huge Sycamores.

Me painting Sycamores.

SoCalPaPa paints the backbay show Info

2010-07-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

I will be showing Saturday and Sunday at the Muth Interpretive center. Also, Friday the 23rd is the juried awards show for those who entered. My painting "Low tide" was juried into the competition, feel free to come by Friday nite for the festivities, starting at 6:00 pm, patrons and friends welcome.

Map and show info at the right and down, (scroll please).

Backbay paintings

2010-07-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

"Late Light" oil on panel, 11x14 inches.

Plein Air Backbay

2010-07-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

My painting, "Low tide" was juried into the "SoCalPapa paints the Backbay" competition!

Me, with some of the "Posse" at backbay.

Plein air Napa

2010-07-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

"In the vineyards" 11x14 inches. On linen board. SOLD

Some other wine country paintings not yet posted.

2010-07-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

MORE TO COME!

A still life of grapes, just because it looked like fun to paint.

6x6 inches on gessoed board. SOLD

Plein Air painting

2010-07-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

The last few months have been very busy as Art Show season is upon us! I have been plein air painting a lot for the shows. Here are some photos, as well as a few paintings that I have not posted yet.

Me with artist Brent Jensen in Sonoma. I'm painting for the upcoming "Vines and Wine" show at the "Lawler Art Gallery"

Regusci Winery in Napa.

Another field of vino in the making!

Vines and Wine paintings

2010-06-03T12:32:00.000-07:00

French or Italian? 6x6 inches

" Vineyard Barn"11x14 inches

"Kind of Oaky" 11x14 inches

Here are some of the new works I have for our vines and wine show!

Painting trip to Napa and Sonoma

2010-05-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Last month, Amanda and I visited Brent Jensen for some plein air fun in Northern California wine country. We painted each day, thou it was a short trip just over a weekend. This time the vines had just started to sprout leaves from the vines, which are cut back at the end of each season.

Brent had found some new areas to paint, more off the beaten path. We painted in the Napa/Sonoma area. Here are a couple sketches from the trip.

From our first morning, not 100 % done, but thought I'd post anyway. "It's done now"

This one was from the afternoon a small quick one.

This was an old winery we painted on our second morning. A great place. The white building is made from volcanic rock and has a date carved over a door from 1878. Also, very nice people there. We were lucky the place was open as it's only open for special events and appointment only. Well, more a little later.

Lawler Art Gallery

2010-04-10T12:29:00.000-07:00

I now have a place where my work is exhibited, "The Lawler Art Gallery"

2705 West Coast Highway

Newport Beach, CA 92663

upstairs

Located next door to the Rusty Pelican restaurant.

Gallery hours Wednesday thru Friday, 11:00am to 4:00pm, or by appointment (949) 887-2223.

Workshops are also available.

Grand Opening pictures..................

BOATS!

2010-04-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

"Red Boat" SOLD

"White Boat" SOLD

"Blue Boat" SOLD

Yes, finally an update! Alot has been going on lately, and I have been remiss in updating my painting blog. These are my newest paintings that I did for the grand opening of the gallery I am now in, Lawler Art Gallery. It was a fun time had by all, and the gallery even sold some paintings! I'll have some more paintings to show in the very near future.

By the way, these little dinghys were subjects from Newport bay here where I live in California. These little boats have quite the character and have been painted and photographed by many.

I really enjoyed painting these little guys, they are so colorful, and allowed me to play with the composition and pure color.

Adirondaks in the snow

2010-01-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year all!!!!!

During my Christmas in Idaho, I decided it was about time to do some plein aire snow scenes. The cold does things to oil paint. Mostly makes it cold, and thick. Which I find I like, but takes awhile to dry. This scene is the pond in front of the Ranch. The infamous 3 adirondack chairs, in the snow. It took approximately 55 min from the point where I started to mix paint till I was too cold to paint any longer. Sun was almost down, and I could feel the cold thru my boot soles!

Bowers Museum Invitational Exhibit and Sale 2009

2009-09-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

"French Linen" SOLD

"Oakville Grocery" Sold

"Napa Vineyards"

"Yellow Dingy"

These are four of my most recent works done for the "2009 Orange County Invitational Exhibit and Sale" at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California.

I won 3rd place in the juried competition for "French Linens" which I sold the next day!

Hope you enjoy them.

Pienza cheeses

2009-09-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

Peinza is a delightful little town that was transformed into what it is today because a pope was born there. This painting is one of the many great shops there. Done at the begining of the year for the Balboa Island artwalk show. Sold

Painting trip.......

2009-09-03T17:42:00.000-07:00

At the end of July, Amanda and I went to see our good friend and artist Brent Jensen. We had a fine old time eating great food prepared by the host himself and fine wine from the area. What area you are asking? Well Napa valley of course. It was the only place that wasn't 100 degrees that weekend. Can't wait for the next trip.