In the Beginning

Click on image to enlarge........final image will be 16"x12"

This is the beginning of a portrait commission I've been given. I wanted to share how a piece looks from beginning to end. I had originally planned to post this painting reversed so you see this piece first. Couldn't wait!The challenge with this painting is the figure and dark areas in the reference photo I was given are out of focus. Thank goodness another photo was sent along with this image. It will help with creating the final piece. Ah.....why not take on a challenge now and then. Keeps the senses sharp.

Posing

24"x18" Oil on Gallery Wrap stretched canvas

This little fella isn't very tall .....was a gift from my son and daughter-in-law. He normally sits quietly amongst the books and magazines on our bookshelves. Walking by him one day it struck me he needed a little more attention. So, now I've imortalized him in a painting. I guess my focus of late has been on the quiet suttle objects that, on the norm, don't demand a lot of attention. It's simple joy to interact with these pieces.

Please share with me what objects around your home trigger fond memories. ginlammert@yahoo.com Even better.......leave a comment here. Thanks!

Pear in Green #2

24"x18" Oil on Gallery wrap stretched canvas

Here's a different angle of the same pear I painted in #1. The colors I'm creating paintings with at the moment just keep lifting my spirits. I'm smiling all day long......no matter what! Painting in oils again has inspired me to rearrange my work area. I spent last evening moving furniture. I've created better storage now that allows for space I can set canvases to dry on and not bump them over.

Pear in Green #1

Click on image to enlarge

24"x18" Oil on Gallery wrapped stretched canvas

I've switched back to painting in oils for awhile.....and I love painting fruit! Something about this shape calms me...even the colors I've used here. Ah! Now on to the next pear painting!

I've posted this work on my website as well. www.ginlammert.com under "Latest Works"

Glimpse of Des Moines River in Late Fall

12"x16" soft pastel on canson paper

It's been awhile since I've worked on landscapes this size. This past year all my landscapes have been under 8"x10". Nice change for me to experiement with my pastels. I took this picture a few weeks ago while driving east on J40 hwy. This hwy isn't far from where we live in Southern Iowa. This view is as you're going into Pittsburg Iowa and you get a glimpse of the Des Moines River. The colors were just about done for this fall when I took this shot. Made it a challenge to create in pastel the same feeling I had when driving.

Sunset

18"x12" soft pastel on canson paper

I'm still having trouble photographing my work. I have made adjustments, and applied the information given online to create better images with my digital.......I still have trouble with the blues being more vibrant then what the original is.

In this painting, there is more going on in the lower dark area then what the camera has picked up. It's ever so slight, but there are shadows among the shadows to help give a feeling of depth to the water tower.

This piece was started at the John Preston Pastel Workshop I attended Sat., Oct. 24th, 2009. I had gotten away from using Canson paper for my pastel work. This reintroduced me to an old friend and something I really didn't do before......the use of the side of my hand to blend with. Yes, something I don't think I would do when using sanded pastel paper.

Last Peppers from the Garden

Click on image to enlarge

9"x12" soft pastel on sanded paper

These were some of the last peppers from our garden. Last month flew and this one (October) seems to be going by just as fast. With harvest, preparing garden for next year, painting, shows and commissions.......life is in high gear at the moment. No complaints here! With all that needs to be done before cold weather sets in here in Iowa, I'm almost feeling like I need a clone. This fall reinforces the fact I need to be very organized to accomplish everything I set out to do. I can hear my friends and family saying "Good luck with that!"