Landscape Paintings

Left: Michigan Avenue, pastel, 18 x 24, $495.00

Right: Michigan Ave. study, pastel, 9 x 12, $110.00.

Lots of times, I work out a painting idea in several versions, in pastels, watercolors, or oils, and in different sizes. This is a good way to get my idea down more clearly in my own mind, deal with any problems, figure out the color palette, and so forth. Last summer, I went to downtown Chicago, and took some pictures. I've been fooling around with some ideas, sketching, etc., ever since. Here are 2 versions of Michigan Avenue, looking south from the Water Tower. They're both in pastel, both finished as is. They may also serve as studies for a future oil. We'll see.

Greeting cards

This is the image that's been optioned by Hallmark. It has 2 names: Passover 1953 and Passover on 19th Street. It's totally from my imagination, but I like it because it's based on fond memories of childhood Seders at my Grandparents' apartment on Chicago's West Side. The goat on the left is a reference to the traditional song, "One kid, one kid (Chad Gadya)". The vignette on the lower right is a reference to the neighborhood, with its ranks of apartment buildings. Though it's one of my favorite paintings, it's definitely for sale to an interested buyer.
Passover on 19th Street, oil on canvas, 30 x 40, $1800.00.
Just click here to let me know.

Greeting cards

I was recently asked to create an invitation. I have done a painting for that, which I'm posting here. Then I got a proposal from Hallmark cards, who have taken an option on one of my paintings. So maybe I'm going into a new line of business. We'll see how that works out.

Anyway, here's the image I'm using for the invitation. It's only a first draft. I'll be redoing it in goache, adding lettering, etc. But I'm kind of pleased with it so far.

Color Fields - Swamp

Here is the other painting I've been working on and finally finished. Color Fields - Swamp, oil, 24 x 24.

I've also been doing some pastels, some drawings, attending workshops, getting ready for my next show at Edward Hospital. And guess what? Hallmark Cards has taken an option on one of my narrative series. It might go on a card someday. Really exciting.

I'd love to get some feedback.

Bend in the River

I haven't posted in a while, but I've been working. Here is "A Bend in the River," oil, 24 x 24.

Changes

This past month has been one of changes. I have a new, redesigned website, and I've added some more paintings for sale to Etsy.com. I've sold my tent, since I've made the decision to concentrate on solo and group shows instead of doing art fairs. So - autumn always feels like the start of the year to me, and now is the time to go off in a new direction.

I've always been fascinated with color, and the more I paint, the more my paintings are just about color. They'll probably always be representational to some degree, but I'm much less interested now in portraying a particular place or object. Instead, I want to see how far I can push the colors to see what they're capable of. In other words, brighter, softer, subtler, bolder - what can color do?

Conversely, at the other end of the spectrum, I am still very interested in portrait painting. So between the two objectives, I should have enough to keep me occupied for a while! Keep checking this blog for updates on how this is all coming along.

New Slideshows

Please scroll all the way down to see 2 new slideshows, showing a selection of my landscape paintings in oils and in pastels. They are all for sale, so please click here if you'd like more information.

Open Studio

I've been busy getting ready for my Outdoor Open Studio on Oct. 18th & 19th, so haven't posted lately. But I'm still here, so please check out www.LipkinGallery.com for examples of my work. I'm really looking forward to the open studio. In addition to selling my work, I plan to have a couple of demonstrations over the 2 days. So if you're interested in how a work of art is created, be sure to come over and see.

Landscape Paintings

Here's the almost finished painting. It's finished for now, but I think it still needs some work. I think I'll subdue the background more, and brighten up the focal point, for greater contrast. I love working like this, taking my time, going back and forth in the painting. Stay tuned for the final version. It will probably take me another week or so.

Landscape Paintings

This is an intermediate step. I've got all the colors blocked in, but the painting isn't really unified yet.

Landscape Paintings

Here is the other landscape painting I've been working on. It's called, "Color Fields (Swamp)", and was inspired by a South Carolina swamp, which was absolutely gorgeous, and full of life. I'm showing here some of the stages in its creation. It is very subtle, and all about getting the values right. I may decide to brighten it up at some point, but I wanted to see if I could manage a very subtle palette. This first shot is the photo that inspired the painting.

Demonstrations

I had a very good week. I did two demos, and here is the finished version I began at the Lemont Artists Guild on Wednesday. It's a painting that has its inspiration in the plein air study I did about 2 weeks ago at the Chicago Botanical Gardens in Highland Park. It's a view of the Japanese Garden from "Across the Pond," oil, 11 x 14.

Landscape paintings

I've been working on 2 landscapes recently. They're a bit different from my earlier work, in that I have been experimenting more with layering the paint. This is creating an interesting shimmering effect. So actually, these paintings are more about the paint than about the subject matter. But they're still representational paintings. Here are the next 2 stages of my River Bend painting, oil, 24 x 24. I think it's finished now, but I may change my mind after it sits a while. The one on your right is the finished version.

Landscape Paintings

Here are 2 shots of the painting I'm doing, based on the "river bend" photo. The first is a shot of the canvas on my easel, and the second is a close-up of the same. You can see it's not finished at all. Just the preliminary layers, defining the basic composition and the color scheme. I'll be posting more pictures as I develop the painting to its conclusion.

Landscape Paintings

I'm continuing to do landscape paintings, but my style has been evolving recently. My paintings are moving away from realism/impressionism and towards more abstraction. I'm experimenting with just moving the paint around, creating layers upon layers, veiling the atmosphere. I'm trying to distill the essence of the scene, rather than portraying its details. I should have taken some pictures of the very first stages, but since I didn't, I'll show you where I am at the moment.

This photo is one I took some years ago in northern Arizona. I was attracted by the curve of the river, and the hazy mountains in the distance. I recently looked at it, and decided it would a perfect basis for my next painting. As you can see, it's not a very good photo, kind of hazy, with a tree in the middle. But that's OK. I don't like to use really good photos for my references, because it would be too tempting to just copy them, instead of interpreting them in paint.

Etsy

Well, I fixed the etsy link, so now you can see the paintings properly. Hope you enjoy them. Just click on any one to access my Etsy store. Thank you.

Now Selling on Etsy

I just signed up to sell my work on Etsy. I've listed only 5 paintings so far. I apparently didn't select the right way to display them on this blog, so please bear with me while I try to fix it. But if you click on one of the paintings, you will get right to that painting, and the rest of my on-line store.

As you know, I did have my work listed on ebay, but, though I sold a bit, I wasn't satisfied with their processes and policies. It works fine for many things, but not fine art. Items stay listed on Etsy much longer, are not subject to auction, and you can have an actual store where viewers can have a wider selection all in one place. So we'll see how this goes.

Still getting ready for my Open Studio Sale on October 17 and 18. This will give my clients an opportunity to see a wider variety of work than is usually on display at one time, and will also be a lot of fun. Hope the weather holds out!

Open Studio

I haven't posted in a while because I've been really busy getting ready for my Open Studio Exhibit and Sale, to be held Oct. 17 & 18, from my home. This is a really exciting opportunity for people to see and acquire some of my pieces that haven't been seen in a while. I'm looking forward to hosting this event, which will be my first Open Studio. More information coming soon.

Landscape Paintings

Well, the Wetcanvas.com group had some criticisms of Pale Bridge. I think they mostly missed the point, though. I know the reflections arent' accurate. They're not supposed to be. This is an Impressionistic painting, not Realism. But it's always good to get other people's opinions. Jump in anytime.

Landscape Paintings

This is a painting I did of a swamp on a plantation near Charleston, SC. I loved the way the swamp reflected its surroundings. I intensified the colors to suit myself (artistic license, you know), but to me, this evokes the mystery of the place. I submitted it for a critique on WetCanvas.com. Personally, I think it's one of my best. I'd like to know if my colleagues agree.

Pale Bridge, 30 x 30, oil on canvas (gallery-wrapped)

$900.00.

Portraits

The portrait is done. I added some color, texture, and movement to the hair, and finished up the details. The process of creating this portrait took about 2 hours for the initial sitting, plus 3 days of studio work. Pretty much par for the course.

Portraits

Here we are -nearly finished. I just need to smooth out some of the color, work on the background, and add a bit more detail.

Portraits

Here's the first stage of my oil painting. Notice that all the elements are in place, but it's rough and unfinished. I need to let it dry a bit before continuing. If I keep on working it, I'll just get mud.

Portraits

Here's a pastel drawing of Elizabeth, done from life. At this stage, in addition to trying to capture a likeness, I concentrated on getting the lights and darks, and basic skin tones. The drawing is rough, but contains all I need to continue working on my own.

Portrait of Alexis

Here's the finished portrait of Alexis, oil, 16 x 12.

Portrait of Alexis

This is a 2nd pastel painting, done from a different viewpoint, head only. I'm concentrating more on getting the colors just right here.

Portrait of Alexis

Here are a few photos of the stages of creating a portrait of Alexis. I built up her lovely skin tones layer by layer, using transparent oil glazes. It takes a while to do this, but the result is very worthwhile. This image is the first pastel painting I did of her.

Small Format

Here's a study and a larger painting I did for the same subject. They're in Arles, France, where Van Gogh rented a room, and then later, a yellow house. The paintings show the steps and street outside Van Gogh's room. The small one (bottom) is 12 x 9, and the larger painting (top) is 30 x 24. Both are oils.

Portraits

Emma, oil, 16 x 12

Portraits

This is Emma, first charcoal and white Conte drawing.

Portraits

I've been taking a portrait painting workshop, and have done some oils based on my initial in-class pastel drawings. You can see the process of using a couple of different poses in order to get a sense of the model's personality and create a finished portrait. This is Emma.

Portraits

I've been studying portrait painting this summer, and am nearly ready to post my first efforts. I've done portraits before, of course, but it's always a good idea to hone your skills. And I've very much enjoyed having models to work from. I've been participating in a figure-drawing workshop, which is great, but it's nice to specifically have faces to focus on in this portrait class. I should be able to finish the 2 paintings I'm working on now in a day or two, and then I'll post them, along with their preliminary sketches.

Another small format painting

This painting, entitled "Alsace" is an original oil, on linen, 9 x 12. I was fascinated by the reflections in the water, and this is what I wanted to capture in my painting.

SOLD.

Small Format Work

I've done a number of small paintings, oil on linen, in order to capture a lot of ideas and experiences from my travels quickly. My intention was to use these as studies for larger works. Here's one from my trip to France.

It's called "Measuring the Petanque." While in a small town in Provence, we came across a group of men playing Petanque, which is a sort of bowling game, something like bocci ball.

Measuring the Petanque, oil, 9 x 12. It's for sale, and bidding starts at $25 on eBay. Art, Orig, O/C . Click on the link to get started.