Art and Life

The Ice Cream Cone

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:48:00 +0000

Ice Cream Cone

12x16 Oil on Canvas

Here's my newest painting, an ode to Wayne Thiebaud, a long-time favorite artist. I've admired his style and decided to give it a try - I'm so happy with the result that I plan to spend some time on these seemingly easy one character still life subjects.

It looks simple and seems easy but can be deceptively challenging in practice. I enjoyed this painting from start to finish and since it was done as a study - a practice piece just for me - the pressure was off. Clearly I must find a way to get my mind into that attitude for every painting. Just relax and enjoy the process, get over myself. :o)

The Red Truck - Update

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:05:00 +0000

The Red Truck

(new and improved version)

12"x12" Oil on Canvas

When I posted this on Sunday I thought it was finished - then this afternoon I decided the background needed to be darker. As you can see, I think it makes the red pop in a good way. So, here is what I now believe is the finished painting.

Red Truck

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:40:00 +0000

Red Truck

12"x12" Oil on Canvas

Here is my newest finished piece. I love these old 1950's "round nose" trucks - my dream car. It was fun to paint - so much different than my usual landscapes. And the chrome wasn't nearly as challenging as I thought it might be.

Along the Road Less Traveled

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:50:00 +0000

11"x14" Oil on Panel

"Abandoned Gas Station"

After 5 weeks in New Mexico away from my easel I returned and am in the process of finishing 3 paintings that were going when we left. Here's the first one, an old abandoned gas station, overgrown with weeds. I know it's natural that all things crumble and fade back into nature - but it's sad somehow. I love old gas stations, don't know why. I've always thought it would be great to turn one into an art studio and gallery.

Ramona Oak Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:43:00 +0000

Ramona Oak Tree 12"x24" Oil on canvas

Just finished this one - that oak tree was challenging! I thought it was going to be the easy part - guess I should know by now that the parts I think will be easy are always the learning experiences. :D

First Attempt at Impressionist Textures

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:53:00 +0000

I'm between paintings right now so decided to play around and practice impressionistic style and texture. My play session turned out pretty well - I'm happy with this small study (6"x6") and looking forward to incorporating more of this style in all of my paintings. Loosening up has been a long time goal and I think I'm finally getting it.

Update: Finished

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:49:00 +0000

It's finished! Can you see the subtle differences? :D

24"x48" Escalera al Cielo

I'm so happy with this one I decided to go ahead and post it even though it still needs some final tweaks, like highlights on the building and toning down the light on the ladder. I'll post it again when it's done. Just needs a few more days to dry out before the final touches.

Thoughts On the Process of Art Making

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:53:00 +0000

Please forgive me, I'm working on 4 different paintings currently and none of them are ready for pictures, so this post won't have any visual aides. Lately it has become clear that at least for me on my art making journey, the finished product is not the important part of the process.

Of course we all want to have a nice painting at the end of the line - but the most important part of the whole thing is deep in the physical/mental act of bringing this new creation into the world. Sitting or standing at your easel with the brush in your hand, making color decisions, mixing the paint, putting it onto the canvas - the nitty-gritty bit - that's where the artist gets her reward.

Experiencing the zone, more or less being outside of yourself and letting the energy of the Universal conscientiousness of all artists take over and all that goes along with that - that's where the gold is. The fact that in the end you have a wonderful painting to hang on the wall is secondary.

My hope and goal is to infuse each painting with the incredible feelings I experience as I'm painting. In my opinion the biggest compliment a viewer could give an artist is the acknowledgment that they not only see but feel it too.

Once Again - This Time Larger

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:31:00 +0000

Just finished this larger version of the last painting I posted. This is a diptych, 2 canvases that make one painting. I painting it on two canvases so it would be easier to move. Together the painting is 8 feet long. Each canvas is 2 feet by 4 feet. This was one of those paintings that almost painted itself it only took 6 hours total.

Hot Off the Easel

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Fri, 27 May 2011 22:51:00 +0000

Adobe Rooftop

12"x48" Oil on Canvas

Ok, it's not the best photograph, took it with my phone, but you get the idea. :D Just finished this long, narrow painting and I'm very happy with it. It was one of those paintings that almost seemed to paint itself - started it yesterday and finished it up this afternoon.

Here is a much better picture taken by my husband Steve - its handy to have a photographer in the family. :D If you like photography be sure and check out his site: http://www.stevenbundy.com/

It's Finished

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Sat, 21 May 2011 04:32:00 +0000

It's finished! :D This one has been challening - but I've learned so much and afterall that's what it's all about, isn't it? I'm especially happy with the church and the hollyhocks were ummmmm, interesting - can't wait to try another painting with adobe and hollyhocks.

My friend, photographer Geraint Smith graciously gave me permission to use his beautiful image for this painting - click on his name to visit his web site and enjoy his wonderful photos.

Painting in Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Tue, 10 May 2011 06:06:00 +0000

Here is an image from photographer Geraint Smith - Geraint is a good friend and has been generous enough to allow me to translate a few of his photographs into oil paintings. I've been working on the one above which includes two of my favorite subjects, the Ranchos Church in Rancho de Taos, NM and beautiful hollyhocks. The painting is coming along but proving to be a challenge - I thought I'd post the photo in the meantime so you could see what I'm shooting for.

Worthwhile Books

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:53:00 +0000

I've just added an Amazon.com widget to my blog with some of the books on art and creativity that are meaningful to me. I heard about these books from other artists and thought it would be worthwhile to pass them along to you. Two of my favorites are The War of Art about why we procrastinate and how to motivate yourself to get out to the easel. And, The Oil Painters Bible - a simple little spiral bound book that I truly love. I keep my copy on the table where I have my palette, right next to my easel and find that I refer to it often while painting, especially if I need a quick reminder on mixing a specific color or a certain technique that I can't quite remember. In my opinion, The Oil Painters Bible is worth it's weight in gold.

If you have an interest in good books on art I hope you'll check some of these out, and if you do, I hope they prove to be as useful and meaningful to you as they have been to me.

Intermission

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:41:00 +0000

Here are some scenes from our travels - photos, not paintings - however one or both could eventually turn into paintings. I took both of these with the camera in my android phone and I think they're better than with my SLR digital camera. :D

Stark, late winter view of old adobe church in Llano San Juan, New Mexico

Along the road in Conejo, Colorado

Pueblo Shadows

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Pueblo Shadows

11x14

Oil on canvas

Finished this a couple of days ago. From a photograph that my husband took - I've always liked the shadows - stripes of light and dark. The way the dirt color that dominates the piece pops next to the blue sky and the blue of the window frames. It was so much fun to paint - hope you enjoy it.

And Now For Something Completely Different...

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 03:06:00 +0000

Three Suns

6x8 Oil on Panel

Here's a little break from the aerial landscapes - three happy little sunflowers in their new frame. This painting always makes me smile - hope it brightens your day too.

Another New One

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 02:49:00 +0000

Geo #1

11x14 Oil on canvas

Finished another aerial perspective painting yesterday. I'm having so much fun making these up and playing with them during the painting process. There are at least three more sketches waiting for their turn on the easel. This one is Geo #1 because I got an idea for Geo #2 as I was painting it - #2 will have flatter more geometric shapes along the canal - a bit like Piet Mondrian meets Chris Bundy. :D

New Aerial Landscapes

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 03:04:00 +0000

I've been busy this week with two more aerial perspective landscapes. These are both 12x12, oil on canvas. It's been so much fun working on these - I've learned a lot about mixing colors and handling the brushes. There's another one (11x14), about halfway done, out on the easel waiting for me - can't seem to get enough of these "looking down" paintings.

Ode to Deladier Almeida

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:34:00 +0000

Aqueduct No. 1

12x24 Oil

Recently I discovered an artist I really like, Deladier Almeida. He's originally from Brazil but has lived in the Sacramento delta area of California for a long time. He's well known for his figure and portrait work but has been exploring aerial perspective paintings of the delta and farmland areas of that part of the state. I fell in love with these wonderful paintings and wanted to learn his style - so much like the artists of long ago, I decided to try my hand at one of his compositions - and the painting above is my interpretation. I'm very happy with it.

Frequently in my years of painting I've copied the works of artist's I admire and have found that I learn a lot. Sometimes that the particular style is way to complicated and not what I want to pursue - sometimes with wonderful results which lead me to explore an exciting new avenue of art. In this case I found that the loose, open but controlled way of painting was just up my alley. I've been interested in aerial perspective drawing and painting for a very long time as well as the patch-work quilt quality of farmland - when I saw his paintings that included both subjects I was blown away.

Now that I've completed this one and enjoyed it so much I intend to paint more using my own drawings - I've been drawing like a woman possessed. When you do copy another artists work it's best to do it in a different size (in this case mine is smaller) and you can never sell it or put it into a show as your own work. These practice paintings go into my personal collection and are strictly learning tools.

Mr. Almeida has a show coming up next week at the Knowlton Gallery in Lodi, CA - "The Geometry of Occupation," featuring his aerial perspective paintings - you can check it out by clicking on the gallery name above. They've also posted a short video which is very interesting - shows him painting which helped me a lot. Wish I was made of money - I'd buy the original. :D

What I've Been Up Too...

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 03:14:00 +0000

With the holidays and all they entail - painting time has been limited in the last few weeks. Don't have anything finished to show so took a picture of a few things that I'm working on, in various states of completion.

The Sunflower

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 06:19:00 +0000

The Sunflower

6"x8"

Oil on panel

The good news is that I've been doing a lot of painting lately but haven't finished anything to post - except for this one. Actually, I started this a long time ago and in my frustration with another painting noticed this one sitting forgotten in the corner of my studio and decided to see what I could do with it.

Its exciting to me because sunflowers are my favorite flowers and this is the first one I've attempted to paint that has turned out well. When I went to work on it yesterday the background colors were very different. I decided to add the complimentary color to yellow, which is purple, and I believe that the various shades of purple really work.

Road to Ocate

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:16:00 +0000

Road to Ocate

12"x16" - Oil on Canvas

Here's another new one I've just finished - painted from a photograph taken on one of our photo safaris in New Mexico. Photo safari is what I can it when we get into the car with no particular place to go and enjoy the adventure and wherever we end up. On this particular day one of the places we found was Ocate, NM. It was a great day and I'm really happy with this painting.

Thank you for checking in and have a Happy Thanksgiving next week. Hey, if you're not in the United States I guess you won't be celebrating Thanksgiving - have a great week anyway. :o)

Taos Pueblo

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:31:00 +0000

Taos Pueblo

9x12 Oil on Canvas

Hi. It's been awhile since my last post - sorry about that. The good news is that I've been painting. My garage, also known as my studio, is starting to fill up. The picture I've posted above, Taos Pueblo, is the newest - finished yesterday. I learned alot during this particular painting and can't wait to get started on something new. It seems that my own personal style is finally coming through and I can't tell you how excited I am about that. It's been a long time coming and I'm grateful for it's arrival and looking forward to seeing where it goes.

As always, thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your interest and suppost.

Giving It Up for Steve Bundy

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:28:00 +0000

The Night Church - Steven Bundy Photography

Steven Bundy Photography Website

Happy News to Share –
We just found out that my husband's photograph of the Ranchos Church at Night has been accepted into the Photography 2010: Contrasting Landscapes show at the LH Horton Jr Gallery at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, CA. Carol McCusker, a highly qualified juror, was the judge and it's a real honor to have an image included in this prestigious show.

Show dates are November 18 – December 16, 2010 – if you’re in the Stockton area check it out.

As far as my painting endeavors are concerned, I'm still plugging away. Have been painting larger canvases that can't be finished in a day. My larger work takes a few days to dry inbetween each work session so painting everyday isn't always possible. I know, I know, I should be working on another painting or two at the same time so I'd always have something to work on - however I'm finding it hard to switch my mind from one painting to the next so am not there with multiple paintings at the same time. And, painting everyday is harder and takes more dedication than I had anticipated. Insert BIG SMILE here. Right now I'm working on a white Datura flower and am learning a lot about white - mostly that white isn't white! As soon as I feel it's ready for sharing I'll post a picture - it's not there yet.

July 1, 2010 - Work in Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Bundy) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:54:00 +0000

Ocate Adobe

12"x24" Oil on Canvas

This is a work in progress - a new landscape I'm doing from one of my husbands photographs. The other one on the easel (top right) is 12"x12" - it's something I painted awhile ago but I jazzed it up a bit today - although it's impossible to see the detail in this picture, sorry about that. :o)

Would prefer to post finished paintings, but it's been a few days since my last post and I wanted to show that I have been painting.

Happy 4th of July this weekend.