tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77413572345835577522024-03-13T15:07:24.617-06:00Brimley StudiosThe Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-82605724248264709102013-09-26T11:19:00.002-06:002013-09-26T11:23:50.451-06:00I use to be a Bear...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xf1Rnnj61Bs/UkRlFRrUSbI/AAAAAAAAA1A/ngG3cBhgjMk/s1600/Bear+Patrol+1+Under+Painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xf1Rnnj61Bs/UkRlFRrUSbI/AAAAAAAAA1A/ngG3cBhgjMk/s400/Bear+Patrol+1+Under+Painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear Patrol (under Painting) 12 x 16</td></tr>
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At the end of this summer I had the opportunity to attend a special adult training camp for the leaders of our Stake. The training camp is called Wood Badge. It was held up in the beautiful and stunning mountains east of Spring City and Mount Pleasant Utah. We were at Camp Tifie, which is apart of the Mountain Dell Scout Camp. I spent a week with my wife and many leaders from my Stake camping in tents and learning how to be better leaders and more how to be better people as a whole. At the beginning of this experience when you first arrive you are given a name tag with a colored dot on the back. There were for our camp six different colors. We soon found ourselves divided into six various groups now called patrols. Each patrol is represented by a different animal. Beavers, Bobwhites, Eagles, Foxes, Owls, Bears, Buffalo and Antelopes. Like I said we only had six patrols so no Buffalo or Antelopes in our wood badge course. Now once you are assigned a patrol you are that patrol for life. So my wife will always be an Eagle (she says it will be the only way she will ever be an Eagle Scout) and I will always be a Bear. <br />
Well I decided to do a series of wild life paintings based upon the various animal patrols. So naturally, since I'm a Bear I'm starting with the Bear Patrol. Then of course next will be the Eagle Patrol, then I'll follow them in patrol order, Beaver through Antelope.<br />
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What we see above is just the under painting, painted in two colors, Burnt Sienna and Burnt Umber. The whole thing is done quick and rough. It is to do several things but mostly for me it is to setup the tonal range. Next as usual I will be painting back to front and top to bottom. So the sky and distant mountains is the next step.The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-58602155514224902572013-07-23T14:50:00.001-06:002013-07-23T14:50:29.759-06:00The Auction Saturday, June 15th, My wife and I drove on up to Price, Utah for the Charity Auction for Reiss Timothy. We had a great time. There was plenty of activities for the kids and adults. The live auction went well and the painting I made for the event sold for the highest price.<br />
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I just wanted to take this time to that everyone who put on the auction and event and to that Roger Christensen, a new friend for getting me involved with it all. To the gentleman who purchased the print he was wondering what mountain I used for the background. It is the north slope of <a href="http://peakery.com/mount-lovenia/" target="_blank">Mount Lovenia</a> up in the Uinta Mountains.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--d4nUuMkeDM/Ue7sOUYQwVI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/98ky838y78M/s1600/img381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--d4nUuMkeDM/Ue7sOUYQwVI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/98ky838y78M/s400/img381.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the best picture I could find of the event with Roger and me.</td></tr>
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<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-80785702801168573162013-06-13T12:02:00.001-06:002013-06-13T12:02:54.779-06:00Back towards the end of may I received an email from a gentleman about asking me if I would be willing to donate a print, of the painting "Homeward Bound". He wanted to donate it to a charity auction for a little boy of three, named <a href="http://www.anythingforafriend.com/index.php?cID=251" target="_blank">Reiss Timothy</a> with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). After checking him out and making sure the charity auction was lagitamit. I talk to my wife about it Then after some pondering I decided that an original would be far more appropriate. This is how this whole painting got started.<br />After some back and forth emails, Roger call me I told him I wasn't going to donate a print. I waited just long enough to hear the disappointment in his voice. That's when I told him, I'm going to donate an original. Needless to say he was very excited about this. Then I told him the rest. After discussing this with my wife we agreed to not only donate the original but also for one year anyone who bought a print of the original painting. I would donate 50% of the proceeds to the family too. On the phone I could tell that this touched Roger deeply. <br /><br />
At first I was thinking of doing a painting a little larger then what I have been painting. I've been doing paintings on board any where between 8x10 and 16x20. I spent some time looking around my various art stores looking what they had in pre-gessoed boards but I wasn't happy with what I found. So I started looking at canvas. Finally I settled on a 18x24 canvas. But when I brought it back to the studio it just didn't look all that impressive, even after i did the initial layout on it. I did have these three canvas sitting in the corner of my studio but they were much bigger then I felt comfortable working on. They were 30x40 inches. But they just kept nagging at me to go for it. So I did. I took the 18x24 off my easel and made room for the much larger canvas and started over.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9FQB-CaUsE/UboGzjP7_II/AAAAAAAAAvA/S1BgQGm1eaQ/s1600/CE+Step+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9FQB-CaUsE/UboGzjP7_II/AAAAAAAAAvA/S1BgQGm1eaQ/s400/CE+Step+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pencil rough in. Notice the Horizontal and Vertical Golden Mean</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l0CTArNse1E/UboHOSgdJOI/AAAAAAAAAvI/XPPRvkLvjFA/s1600/CE+Step+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l0CTArNse1E/UboHOSgdJOI/AAAAAAAAAvI/XPPRvkLvjFA/s400/CE+Step+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pen and Ink stage</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><b>Roughing in and Inking</b></li>
</ul>
Once I roughed in the drawing, by finding the various horizontal and vertical Golden Mean. Then I laid in the Pen and Ink of the main subjects of the painting. That being the Elk, Wolf, Grouse, dead trees and large rocks. Everything else I roughed in with pencil. Then I gave it three coats of workable fixative to protect the drawing part from the painting part.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oWKARfDZ8QM/UboHaK9aqwI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/BzYNyZyk0u0/s1600/CE+Step+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oWKARfDZ8QM/UboHaK9aqwI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/BzYNyZyk0u0/s400/CE+Step+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under painting with a bit of green added</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><b>Under Painting</b></li>
</ul>
The next stage is the under painting. This part is done very quickly. First with a rag, I scrub in one color mixture over the whole canvas. The color is a mixture of Burnt Seinna and Indian Yellow. Then using a clean bristle brush I get it wet in Mineral Spirits, that I use as a thinner, and remove the highlights of the painting. Next I enhance my dark's by using Burnt Umber, then more so by using Ultra Marine Blue Deep. Then finishing the under painting with a thin layer of green where the grass will be to help set up the over all contrast of the painting.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hMJe505hNhM/UboHmpYfYYI/AAAAAAAAAvY/o-zIAYv8JkQ/s1600/CE+Step+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hMJe505hNhM/UboHmpYfYYI/AAAAAAAAAvY/o-zIAYv8JkQ/s400/CE+Step+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sky done and working on the Mountain</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><b>Top Down Back to Front</b></li>
</ul>
After the under painting and when actually start painting I like to paint from the top of the canvas to the bottom and from the back to the front. So here I started with the sky. Which I just rough in with a very light color of blue and lots of white. Keeping the blue color cool and letting the under painting color wear through over on the right hand side. Next I paint in the clouds and once I'm through with fiddling with them I move onto the mountain.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njpsf2ki45E/UboHyTmgz5I/AAAAAAAAAvg/a7Tk0VPvJlw/s1600/CE+Step+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njpsf2ki45E/UboHyTmgz5I/AAAAAAAAAvg/a7Tk0VPvJlw/s400/CE+Step+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain is done and I'm working on the Trees and the Wolf</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><b>Mid Ground</b> </li>
</ul>
One important thing to remember is that the mountain is there to support and back up the Elk. The Elk will be an Orange color so the Mountain needs to be a Blue color, because blue is the opossite of Orange on the color wheel. Also the Elk will be warm and very Chromatic, so the Mountain needs to be cool and dull. If I didn't do this with the mountain, none of the things I wanted the Elk to be would show up. Also I need to know what areas of the Elk are going to be in direct sunlight and what areas in shadows. So I adjust the Mountain accordingly so. For example the Neck of the Elk is in full sunlight, so the Mountain just to the right needs to be dark. But the belly of the Elk is both dark and in shadow so the mountain at that spot must be lighter. Also the legs of the Elk will be darker so the mountain and then the trees need to be lighter. But with the trees they need to be a little darker then the mountain to help create the illusion of disance and depth. As the trees get closer they need to get darker and more green and less blue. It is all a carefully coriegraphed dance of Hues, Tones, Chroma and color Tempratures.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_W8Tjd4hXY/UboIBoZjCPI/AAAAAAAAAvo/B2voqtIIzXI/s1600/CE+Step+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_W8Tjd4hXY/UboIBoZjCPI/AAAAAAAAAvo/B2voqtIIzXI/s400/CE+Step+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done and signed</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><b>Fore Ground</b></li>
</ul>
Elk, Wolf and Grouse. This is where it is all happening. This is where the narrative of the painting is created and presented to the viewer. But remember, without the Mid Ground supporting, this part of the painting wouldn't be all that grand. First i painted in the wolf then carefully wrapped the trees and the shadows around him. So that we have an animal lurking in the shadows of both the trees and our imaginations. To some (mostly non-ranchers) the Wolf is a misunderstood creature. To others it is just a killer, a loathsome animal. For this painting it is the unanswered question and the cause of contention. Next I painted in the Elk. For me personally the Elk represents what is noble, grand and good in life. Honesty, integrity and hard work. It represents the good in all of us. After painting in these two animals I turned my attention to the dead trees and then the grass. The grass was the tricky bit. I had to keep the shadowed parts cool and dull but not too flat. Where as the bright warm sunlit area of the grass had to be just that, warm bright and sunny, but not so much as to take away from the Elk. Next I painted in the various rocks. Then I painted in the grouse. For me the grouse represents home and mothers. Protecting their young from the dangers of the world. Once all these various elements were painted in I finished by adding a bit more color. By adding in a few wildflowers.<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U3m8tVMGlys/UboITQWBfII/AAAAAAAAAvw/ZkBf7Mi-nUg/s1600/Charity+Elk+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U3m8tVMGlys/UboITQWBfII/AAAAAAAAAvw/ZkBf7Mi-nUg/s400/Charity+Elk+1s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the finished scan</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yHelOrqIiAk/UboIxgddz4I/AAAAAAAAAv4/XIjOO_9A9nQ/s1600/Issuing+the+Call+Flyer+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yHelOrqIiAk/UboIxgddz4I/AAAAAAAAAv4/XIjOO_9A9nQ/s640/Issuing+the+Call+Flyer+1s.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Flyer for the Auction</td></tr>
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<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-22751960881412197122013-05-20T14:44:00.000-06:002013-05-20T14:51:39.555-06:00This is how it all starts<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZGpI_kYhM4/UZqFM5W9_XI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/46DG5HIZS-o/s1600/CE+Step+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZGpI_kYhM4/UZqFM5W9_XI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/46DG5HIZS-o/s400/CE+Step+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough in Pencil stage</td></tr>
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With every painting it all has to start somewhere. But even before I get to the point of drawing on the canvas. Many hours of work have already been invested in the painting.<br />
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<u><b> I've got to decide first on what I want to paint</b></u><br />
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With this painting I knew it was going to be a Wildlife painting. I've been wanting to paint another Elk too. So I started thinking about Elk and their environments. I watch videos on YouTube of Elk in the wild. I also knew that this painting will be put up for Auction in Price Utah, so some place in Utah. When I would talk to people about this painting, I would tell them about the Elk then I kept saying it will be in the Uintas somewhere. So it is going to be an Elk in the Uintas. Also after talking with a guy I work with at the Provo Temple. I told Him I wanted some type of fury small animal hidden in the rocks up front in the lower right corner. We tossed ideas around of various animals, weasel, ferret, wolverine, marmot, wood chuck and so on. Then he came up with the idea of a wolf. I suggested not up front being too large an animal there, but in the back ground, hidden in the trees. So now I've got an Elk and a Wolf. Having the Wolf will add a bit of tension and excitement to my painting's Narrative. But I still need a small animal in front. So after pondering about it, I came up with a Female Grouse and a nest of eggs.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: small;">Research Time</span></u></b><br />
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Now that I know who, what and where it is time to do research into those areas. <br />
<ul>
<li> <b>Knowledge about the subject: history, location, structure, anatomy and so on</b></li>
</ul>
I started by doing more research on Elk, Wolves and Grouse. Also I did research into the habitat of these various animals and the Uintas.<br />
<ul>
<li> <b>Plein Air</b></li>
</ul>
I went out a couple of times to do some plein air paintings for this painting. The first day I got chased away by a lightning storm ( I didn't want to get struck by lightning in the middle of an empty meadow). Then on a second day I just couldn't find a place that had what I was needing. So I'll just use some of my old plein air paintings as reference.<br />
<ul>
<li><b> Reference photos, both on site and internet</b></li>
</ul>
While out getting chased by lightning I took plenty of pictures. Also I spent a few hours on Google doing image searches. These I just use as rough references. I don't copy any of them.<br />
<ul>
<li> <b>Early sketches</b></li>
</ul>
Once I know roughly what I want, I start doing sketches to work out many of the problems of size and arrangement of the various elements of the painting. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TS3XumvD3V4/UZqISv0XxKI/AAAAAAAAAug/Y1DhaWXgVTs/s1600/img354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TS3XumvD3V4/UZqISv0XxKI/AAAAAAAAAug/Y1DhaWXgVTs/s400/img354.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The are sketches from an earlier post</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s6oZ46X9ZSM/UZqMnYoeoWI/AAAAAAAAAuw/tzRBOEhVa-o/s1600/PaintingTest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s6oZ46X9ZSM/UZqMnYoeoWI/AAAAAAAAAuw/tzRBOEhVa-o/s400/PaintingTest.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couple of oil studies of Elk with different painting techniques</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><b>What size</b></li>
</ul>
Well I knew I want to go bigger then what I usually go with, because this was going to help this sick little boy. Bigger is better. After spending time looking at canvas of various sizes I first decided on the standard size of 22 inches high by 28 inches wide. But as I thought about it maybe bigger was better. So now I'm going with 30 by 40 inches.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>What am I going to paint it on </b></li>
</ul>
At first I wanted to painting this on a board. Either canvas board or Hard board with 4 - 5 coats of Acrylic Gesso. But I didn't have anything of the sizes I was looking to paint on laying around the studio. So I went out to see what various art and craft stores in the area had in stock. But no had what I was looking for in boards. So I went with a canvas instead. Plus a canvas at that size (30 x 40) will be much lighter.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Time of day</b></li>
</ul>
Evening, magic hour. A time of warm light and cool long shadows.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Direction of the lighting</b></li>
</ul>
Right to left with the sun way off of the canvas to the right.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>What will be the narrative of the painting</b></li>
</ul>
I'm still not completely sure of this. But it is taking on a life of it's own as I place the various animals and elements in the painting. For me personally the Elk represents a feeling of grandeur and noble strength. The Wolf hiding in the shadows of the trees, darkness and ill intent. The Mother Grouse sitting on her eggs, innocents and motherly protection. <br />
<ul>
<li><b>What over all feeling am I looking for</b></li>
</ul>
I'm just going to see where this one takes me.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>What two main colors will be represented in the painting</b></li>
</ul>
Yellow-Orange / Violet.<br />
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<u><b>Meditation / letting all this information just sit and Stew</b></u><br />
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Hours spent just sitting and/or laying on my back thinking about and visualizing all the various elements of the painting. This is the goal setting part of the painting. If I don't know where I'm going how will I get there or know when I've arrived.<br />
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Once all this is done and I've rough the painting in I'm finally onto the next stage, <b>Inking</b>.The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-76187386788412600832013-05-16T13:13:00.000-06:002013-05-16T13:13:43.148-06:00Add more vitality to your collectionThese are the techniques I used to enhance the print, "<a href="http://www.brimleystudios.com/featured/the-field-is-white-jeff-brimley.html" target="_blank">The Field is White</a>".<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFk_GD0jdec/UZUtJNK-CEI/AAAAAAAAAuA/1qDFh37zzWM/s1600/Feild+is+White+Print+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFk_GD0jdec/UZUtJNK-CEI/AAAAAAAAAuA/1qDFh37zzWM/s400/Feild+is+White+Print+1s.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30 X 40 Giclee Print with frame</td></tr>
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Many of us have in our homes pieces of art to add beauty and vitality to our lives. For what ever reason you have art in your home, very few of us have original art work on display. Most of us have various types of prints. From the high end Giclee Canvas to the low end paper poster. There are various ways to enhance these prints that artist have used to increase their value and beauty. <br />
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One is for these artist who created the original piece of art to take a Giclee Canvas print and to paint directly on it. This does several things. First it makes the print unique. No two brush strokes are the same. I have tried to paint two paintings identical side by side at the same time trying to match stroke for stroke. As each brush stroke is put down they each are different. Thus making the painted on Giclee unique. Plus it is something the artist has taken his time to like the original put something of him or herself into. Thus adding to the vitality of the piece.<br /><br /> Another way to add uniqueness to a print is for the artist to <b>sign the print</b> with his hand written signature. Also to increase the value of this process is for the artist to <i>limit the number of prints</i> he will do this, thus making it a <b>signed and numbered</b> print. Back when all printing was done on what is called offset printing. Metal plates were used for the ink to stick to. As these plates were used, over time the plates would wear out. So the first prints were sharp and cleanly focused. But as <br />hundreds and even thousands of prints were made the image would become blury and dull. So the earlier prints were worth more and so they had a lower number. <br /><br />Today many prints are digital <b>Giclee printed</b> on canvas or archival paper. So the first one is just as good as the ten thousandth one. So to add value for the collector of these prints, artist will still run limited batches and sign them from one to five hundred or so, sometimes more or sometimes less. Plus it is interesting to note that over time the artists signature will get worn out and muddy as the number of prints go up. If you think I'm being silly, just sit down and sign your name five hundred times at once then compare how signature number one looks compared to signature number five hundred. I once had an artist friend of mine tell me that his publisher had him sign <b>ten thousand prints</b> all at once. His publisher placed him in a small windowless room for eight hours a day for a week. <br /><br />Another technique to <b>add a unique feel</b> to a print is to use a product called, <b>Gloss Gel Medium</b> from Liquitex. The product looks like white glue and has the feel of whipped cream. Anyone can use this easy to apply product. You <i>don't need to be the artist</i> to do this. To use this product, just apply it with a brush. I like painting with Flat brushes so I used a medium size brush, about one inch. Now despite how the product looks it <b>dries clear and glossy</b>. But unlike other varnishes this product <b>keeps the brush strokes</b> you use as you paint it onto the print. So when dry your print will look like a hand painted still wet painting. So when applying this Gel product it is important to think about the kinds of brush strokes you will be using. I recommend using the <b>painted "X" brushstroke</b>. You literally apply it like you are just painting lots of little over lapping "X-es". Once this is done, you can if you like go back in and use some enhanced brush strokes. This is done by pushing the brush more firmly onto the print and then as you make the stroke you pull gradually away. This gives the <b>illusion</b> of large heavy brushstrokes of paint. Plus as the light moves across the print, these heavier brushstrokes will stand out more and so attract the eye of the viewpoint to them. <br /><br />Hopefully now as you look around your home you will <b>start seeing the possibilities</b> with this product to improve to look of your print and poster collection.The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-60571334456325317302013-05-09T11:35:00.002-06:002013-05-09T11:37:29.663-06:00It all starts somewhereSunday I was contacted through email by a gentleman named Roger, wanting me to donate a print of my painting, "<a href="http://www.brimleystudios.com/featured/heaven-and-earth-jeff-brimley.html" target="_blank">Heaven and Earth</a>" for a charity auction. The Auction is for a little boy, who is 3 years old, lives in Price, Utah, and has been diagnosed with Acute Limphoblastic Leukemea-ALL. He will be undergoing numerous procedures to battle this disease such as spinal taps to inject Chemo into his spinal fluid, blood transfusion, etc. over the next 3 years. <br />
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It all sounded legitimate but these days I'm a little leery about being asked to donate art from close encounters with some scams. So I asked for more information into who he is and what is his affiliation to the family putting on the auction. He asked if we could talk on the phone and I decided that would be easiest for me too. <br />
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Before he called I did research into the boy. I Found the <a href="http://www.anythingforafriend.com/index.php?cID=251" target="_blank">auction event</a> and a <a href="http://www.apieceonreiss.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> right away. I read it all and found it to be very legitimate. So when Roger called I was ready. He told me how he and his family met the Timothy family, through softball and staying in each others homes. He told me a little about his background. Then told me how he found out about my art through the Brimley Studios website and that he and his daughter just enjoyed the "<a href="http://www.brimleystudios.com/featured/heaven-and-earth-jeff-brimley.html" target="_blank">Heaven and Earth</a>" painting. <br />
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I told him that after discussing the issue with my wife that I decided not to give a print to the auction but to instead paint an original Wildlife painting and give the original away to be auctioned off. Needless to say he was very excited. I also told him that anyone who buys a print of that painting, I'll give 50% of the proceeds to the family up to a year after the event. This made him greatly touched. <br />
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Roger currently works for a framing company so I don't need to worry about a frame. Which I'm excited about. I'm always looking for contacts with good framers.<br />
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So I've been spending the last couple of days working out an idea of what to paint, the size and what to paint it on. I think I'm going to go bigger than my standard size. I'm thinking around 24 x 30 inches. A good chunky size. With a frame it will be a nice auction piece. I'm going to paint it on canvas board. As to the subject, an Elk. I've been wanting lately to do a painting of an Elk bugling. So now I'm off and sketching. Working on various ideas. Whether I include a few cows or keep him solitary is yet to be determined by the overall balance and feel I'm looking for.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYtiIchckmU/UYvb49y3BiI/AAAAAAAAAtY/Pz9u6lRw24o/s1600/img354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYtiIchckmU/UYvb49y3BiI/AAAAAAAAAtY/Pz9u6lRw24o/s400/img354.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early sketches of elk painting</td></tr>
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Over the next month or so I'll be blogging about the progress of this painting, the auction and the reception of it. So I guess I'm inviting you all to come along with me through this blog and see what it is like to be an artist as I work on this project.The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-19567983661244145322013-05-06T17:50:00.003-06:002013-05-06T17:50:41.097-06:00Spring Lake Smiling Barn I enjoyed painting the Saunder's old barn so much that I decided to go and paint it again. On Saturday, late in the morning I headed out. This time I set up across the road to the west in the grass next to the fence. It was a clear sunny, warm spring day. After I had just started working. I heard someone ride up slowly on what sounded like a four-wheeler. I had my back to the road so I couldn't see who it was. I had just drawn in the large shapes in Indian Yellow, when they approached. It was the older brother of the guy I talk to the last time I was out there painting. He had one of his young daughters with him. After asking me how much, he basically bought it there on the spot, without having not seen it completed. He told me to bring it by his house when I was finished with it. Which is what I did. He loved it. He told me that the barn is called by the locals, the "Smiling Barn". Which you can see in the painting of the barn. In fact when I was working on the painting. I got to the part of painting where a long board sticks out just under the windows. I thought to myself that it looked like the barn was smiling at me. <br /><br /> While I was out painting the Jersey Cows on the other side of the fence, a little ways off decided to nonchalantly come over and check me out and what I was doing. Then once they had all gathered on some unknown signal to me they all at once stopped eating and just stared at me. Just as quickly as they came they moved on. Soon the horses decided that the cows were up to something and they didn't want to be left out. Also casually made their way over. Once again stared and then moved on. While the cows were there I got out my camera and took some picture of them. So I could put them in the painting later back at the studio, which as you can see I've done. Now that it is scanned I'll take it back to the new owners of it.<br />
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One of the things I learned from this plein air painting trip was that I need more business cards and brochures. So that people who stop by can instantly see my work. I've also created a QR symbol that will be going on all my printed stuff too. I had several people stop and look from their cars. One lady stopped by and talked with me for a bit about what I was painting. Which I enjoyed. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MiRmfXwV8dY/UYhAumUBT5I/AAAAAAAAAs4/vhuSou-SD0o/s1600/Spring+Lake+Smiling+Barn+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MiRmfXwV8dY/UYhAumUBT5I/AAAAAAAAAs4/vhuSou-SD0o/s400/Spring+Lake+Smiling+Barn+1s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 x 16 oil on board "<a href="http://www.brimleystudios.com/featured/spring-lake-smiling-barn-jeff-brimley.html" target="_blank">Spring Lake Smiling Barn</a>"</td></tr>
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<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-89873864736270880132013-04-30T16:39:00.001-06:002013-04-30T16:39:16.250-06:00Crayons, Not just for kidsI've been invited by my local Ward to show the young women how art can be used to add beauty to their homes. I didn't want to break out the oil paints and give them a demonstration because of the smells of the chemicals and the mess. Plus this is to be something simple that they can do easily. So I decided that the best thing to do is to show them how tools that most people may have laying around the house can be used to make art. I choose Construction Paper and Crayons. I bought these below at my local grocery story.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WDZBrNTrILI/UYBC-xnHndI/AAAAAAAAAsY/DqjdhWQcppI/s1600/DSCN0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WDZBrNTrILI/UYBC-xnHndI/AAAAAAAAAsY/DqjdhWQcppI/s400/DSCN0570.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Construction Paper and Crayons</td></tr>
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I also decided that a demonstration finished piece should be make so they could see the potential of these simple items. Now I've never really worked in this medium. Well not since I was three or so. I did some basic research last night on Google for a half an hour, to see how other artist had worked with crayons and to pick up some pointers. Then today I when out and bought my supplies and got to work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-fvkUREfcU/UYBExd9pOuI/AAAAAAAAAso/2DonrjBDKzE/s1600/Fun+with+Crayons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-fvkUREfcU/UYBExd9pOuI/AAAAAAAAAso/2DonrjBDKzE/s400/Fun+with+Crayons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8 x 10 Crayola Crayon on Paper</td></tr>
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I had a lot of fun. I felt like I was a kid again. I used a picture I had on my computer of a still life, as reference. I didn't use anything except the Crayola Crayons and a pencil to rough in the objects. It is amazing to me how many of the principle I use in oil painting applied straight across to this drawing. One of the things I learned early on is that you can easily go dark, but going light was very difficult if not impossible once the heavy darker colors were put in. I could use white to lighten up hews a little bit on the stronger colors. <br />
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I'm looking forward to doing this again tomorrow with the young women. I think for the young woman I'll bring a flower in a glass bottle for them to look at and draw. I'll try and take picture of their art and post them tomorrow. <br />
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<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-7068614281749594472013-04-29T15:25:00.000-06:002013-04-29T15:25:52.479-06:00A Mistake!! What's the World Coming to?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BaF0Nra89zI/UX7j6IeTW3I/AAAAAAAAAsI/TlasUtXvULc/s1600/The+Forbidden+Fuit+1+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BaF0Nra89zI/UX7j6IeTW3I/AAAAAAAAAsI/TlasUtXvULc/s400/The+Forbidden+Fuit+1+s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">16 X 20 oil on board "<a href="http://www.brimleystudios.com/featured/the-forbidden-fruit-jeff-brimley.html" target="_blank">The Forbidden Fruit</a>"</td></tr>
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Every so often I get asked what do I do when I make a mistake. I have to chuckle a bit with that. Because for me my paintings are just numerous assorted layers of mistakes. Through hard work, lots of patience and wisdom. I have learned what to continue to work on and what to leave alone with each painting. Over time it becomes a beautiful painting. It is a process of learning and growing. Mistakes are just evidence of refining work being done. Over the years I've developed a process of using mistakes to get better at painting.<br /><br />To use the mistake process you must first know what it is you are trying to do. Saying that you want to create a beautiful picture isn't enough. This is a type of goal and the more specific you can get the easier it will be to learn, grow and get better. <br /><br />So for example I'm working on Plein Air paintings. My current goal is I want to paint paintings that are warm and friendly, eye catching, strong tonal and temperature contrasts and simple brush work with an easily defined focal point.<br /><br />Every time I sit down and paint I'm going over these goals in my head. I'm making choices based on them. Also I've learned that once you put down a stroke don't go back and fiddle with too much. Be confident in your brushstrokes. If you fiddle with the brushstrokes too much you'll just end up with a muddy over worked tired looking painting. <br /><br />Once the painting is done enough, it's time to compare it to your goals. This is where I perform a kind of autopsy on my painting. The key to this part is asking questions. Your brain will in time find the answers. So start asking. Why did or didn't it work? What could I do next time? What goals did I get close to and why? What artist that I like are able to achieve the goals I've set successfully? What is the difference between their painting and mine? Then sit back
and ponder. This is just giving you brain time to find the answers.<br /><br />Once you get an answer then you may want to further refine your goals or go and do another painting, repeating the whole precess again. The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-34298659141084655892013-04-27T11:07:00.000-06:002013-04-27T11:07:43.670-06:00Focal points and Goals<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTPbsldx6eQ/UXv0jiWIP8I/AAAAAAAAAmU/X1HghwOnbZw/s1600/Old+Saunders+Barn+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTPbsldx6eQ/UXv0jiWIP8I/AAAAAAAAAmU/X1HghwOnbZw/s400/Old+Saunders+Barn+1s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 X 16 oil on board "Old Saunders Barn"</td></tr>
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I read an older and well read article in the 2007 issue of <a href="http://www.artistdaily.com/" target="_blank">American Artist</a> magazine, titled "Attracting the Viewer's Eye With Skillful Simplicity" by Linda S. Price, about an artist by the name of <a href="http://dhfa.net/" target="_blank">Doug Higgins</a> and his Plein Air paintings. I have read this article many times, however this time, my attention was drawn to one thing in particular that he said about one of his objectives of Plein Air paintings. He said, "[m]y goal is simplicity. Complexity is easy - anyone can achieve that through thoughtless copying of details. You need intelligent strategies to keep it simple." In my case, I think he is right. I've been somewhat thoughtlessly jumping into Plein Air paintings, assuming that my many years of painting would bring it all together, but they haven't. <br />
My old mentor, Greg Olsen, was right when he said that until you do something, you won't know what real questions to ask or know what it is that you really want. I've painted several Plein Air paintings and I'm just now beginning to understand what it is that I really want from them. Up until now, I've been going out and just, "thoughtless[ly] copying". Even in my most recent experience, I jumped in and started noodling to early (to noodle is to use a liner brush to make small excessive details). <br />
I have learned that I need to take a little more time before I start, think about what I want my main focus to be and lay as much of the painting out in my mind as possible. In essence, I am presetting my goals for the painting, even before I apply the first stroke of color. Then, as the painting progresses, not losing sight of my original goal. With that in mind, I hope to take a little time to determine my end goal for the painting and work to hold to it. My plan is to do another painting of this same farm, from a different angle. I would like to express my thanks to the owners of the property who have generously allowed me access in my endeavors. The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-82687798535594302042013-04-24T09:21:00.001-06:002013-04-24T09:24:05.630-06:00Stage Fright and Plein AirSometimes just going out and doing Plein Air paintings can be so nervous for me. Because here I am painting out in public, in front of the whole world, well at least a small part of it. Every time just before I start I get a kind of stage fright. Butterflies and tingly fingers. The adrenalin really starts to get flowing through me. This is both good and bad. The adrenalin gets me to push through my fears and go a head and paint, but it also makes me shake. So once I'm set up and painting I have to take a couple of seconds and take a few deep breaths to settle myself. Then I stare at the scene in front of me, make a few decisive decisions and then paint, letting it all just flow.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSc_u6oAf2M/UXf4Pp-hNeI/AAAAAAAAAmE/51ZhZTqTpF0/s1600/Horses+and+Bairs+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSc_u6oAf2M/UXf4Pp-hNeI/AAAAAAAAAmE/51ZhZTqTpF0/s400/Horses+and+Bairs+1s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 x 16 "Horses and Bairs" Oil on Board </td></tr>
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<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-90229317766597598682013-04-18T13:36:00.001-06:002013-04-18T13:36:35.519-06:00The Field is White in Backersfield <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4aUGP-7HIWM/UXBHdkqtbQI/AAAAAAAAAl0/qka0h-oT9RE/s1600/The-Field-is-White+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4aUGP-7HIWM/UXBHdkqtbQI/AAAAAAAAAl0/qka0h-oT9RE/s400/The-Field-is-White+1s.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jeffrey-brimley.artistwebsites.com/featured/the-field-is-white-jeff-brimley.html" target="_blank">The Field is White</a> 18 x 24</td></tr>
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So an interesting thing happened to me with this painting. I was approached by someone looking to buy the original. Which they couldn't because it is already owned buy another collector. So they bought a large print of it. Then they told me that the print will be going into the new Mission Home for the newly created Bakersfield Mission. Apparently the new Mission President and his wife were sealed in the Manti Temple and are from Cedar City. Plus the overall missionary theme of the painting will also fit in nicely. <br />
Well once in a while I offer on special occasions to take a canvas print and paint on it thus bringing out the original color qualities and then signing it. But in the case of this ordered print the buyer had bought it before I had a chance to tell them how to go about doing this. But when the print arrived it had received shipping damage. Which almost never happens. So I was contacted by the buyer because we could now do the process with the replacement. It is interesting to me how the Lord works in our lives. I am grateful for this opportunity to do this for such a wonderful location.The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-14713050379043854722013-04-15T17:25:00.001-06:002013-04-15T17:34:03.170-06:00Back to Pen and Ink!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V1flIF43OBE/UWyIF4eCIuI/AAAAAAAAAlU/UV0JbasWDkE/s1600/Bull+Rider+3s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V1flIF43OBE/UWyIF4eCIuI/AAAAAAAAAlU/UV0JbasWDkE/s400/Bull+Rider+3s.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 x 16 Pen and Ink</td></tr>
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I decided to try something that has been kicking around in my head for a while. I decided to try doing a Pen and Ink drawing in the wood block engraving style and then use this as the tonal under painting. To get the greys I just used mineral spirits to wash in the area with the most ink. Doing this step reminded me how much I enjoyed doing Pen and Ink drawings and back to old days of being an illustrator. Also as an added dimension to this painting is that so much of cowboy and western equipment has engraving decorations on them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5HeGfngHsvU/UWyJ7m8xpLI/AAAAAAAAAlc/U7qCCf1E3y8/s1600/Bull+Rider+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5HeGfngHsvU/UWyJ7m8xpLI/AAAAAAAAAlc/U7qCCf1E3y8/s400/Bull+Rider+1s.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 x 16 Mixed Medium</td></tr>
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Now I've added some color. The background is painted in with the trees and barn. Plus I've roughed in the dirt. I'm trying to paint thin enough that the ink drawing shows through, thus adding to the over-all detail of the painting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBl0BALp4Ig/UWyKusgH9HI/AAAAAAAAAlk/rMhvKsd-NMM/s1600/Bull+Rider+2s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBl0BALp4Ig/UWyKusgH9HI/AAAAAAAAAlk/rMhvKsd-NMM/s400/Bull+Rider+2s.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 x 16 Mixed Medium</td></tr>
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Now the fence is painted in and so is the ground and the Bull. One of the things I'm trying to do with this is that the Pen and Ink drawing was full of precise detail, but the oil painting is loose and painterly. With here and there a little bit of the ink drawing showing through. So far I'm loving the effect. But this is just a 12 x 16 inch painting, recently I had someone inquire about me doing a 4 x 5 foot painting. Just thinking about putting down that much ink is making me a little nervous. So we will see.<br />
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<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-73243935429172471532013-04-03T13:21:00.002-06:002013-04-03T13:24:44.417-06:00As some of you many know, I have started again this year painting Plein Air paintings. I've done this to improve my landscapes, western and wildlife art over all. I've found a lack of understanding of tones, chroma and contrast with these painting types. So outside I've gone to improve on these painting elements, just as many great painters like the Hudson River School paints did. All ready I'm seeing great positive changes to my paintings. Right now I'm working on have more contrast in color and temperature. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx8iVyTXuo8/UVx6xOcBmHI/AAAAAAAAAkc/mXBbt00Wimg/s1600/Heber+Plein+Air+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx8iVyTXuo8/UVx6xOcBmHI/AAAAAAAAAkc/mXBbt00Wimg/s400/Heber+Plein+Air+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First two plein air paintings of the 2013 season</td></tr>
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These first two paintings were just, "lets just jump in and start painting" paintings. I've got to start somewhere so I did. A couple of friends that I work with Friday nights at the Provo Temple as Ordnance Workers are from the Heber Valley area. They kept telling me how beautiful the area was and that I should go up there and paint. So I did and these two paintings were the result of this. While I was painting the painting on the right. An older lady rode up on her bike and checked out what I was doing. As she road up she exclaimed, "Oh, you're painting, we were wondering". She then went on to ask me if I competed in the <a href="http://www.midwayartassociation.org/" target="_blank">Midway Art Association</a>'s Plein Air competition. I said I'd never heard of it and that I would check them out. Which I did and I'll write about it later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OG9jSE4DorE/UVx9kbP54_I/AAAAAAAAAkk/7yPBGVWaJ58/s1600/Horses+and+Bairs+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OG9jSE4DorE/UVx9kbP54_I/AAAAAAAAAkk/7yPBGVWaJ58/s400/Horses+and+Bairs+1s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Horses and Bair"</td></tr>
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Next I went and painted on a friend of mine's horse property just off of Geneva Road in Provo. I kept telling him I was going to do this, but for some reason he never really believed me. So one day the weather was good so I went and did it. I had a great time. He and his wife were working on the property at the time and when they had finished with the horses they came over and checked it out. Needless to say they were shocked how much I had done in the short amount of time I had spent working on it thus far. Over all this painting took me just over 2 hours to complete.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Lg519O5Poo/UVx-4p4CzeI/AAAAAAAAAks/0PKrDFkoeUk/s1600/Platte%27s+View+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Lg519O5Poo/UVx-4p4CzeI/AAAAAAAAAks/0PKrDFkoeUk/s400/Platte%27s+View+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Platte's View"</td></tr>
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So then I put a post up on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/brimleystudios" target="_blank">Facebook</a> asking people for places to painting. I said I'm looking for places <span class="userContent">to paint Plein Air paintings. If any of you
know of a place or know someone who has a place let me know (with in
Utah for now). Just about any place will do. If you think you have the
best view of Timp or the Wasatch Front let me know. I you think your
street, that you live on is absolutely magical just before sunset please
contact me. If you or someone you know has <span class="text_exposed_show">a
farm, ranch or horse property and wouldn't mind letting me set up my
easel and spending a couple of hours painting there, please contact me.
It's not that I'm running out of place to paint. It's that I'm looking
for more options. There is a lot of great spots out there that are on
private property and I'm looking to paint on those locations too. So if
your best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from
this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who has a great
spot to paint let me know.</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">My friend Platte responded with a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151355687827532&set=p.10151355687827532&type=1&theater" target="_blank">response and a picture</a>. So I decided to prove it to people that I was serious about the offer and the above Plein Air painting was the result. </span></span><br />
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<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">I think tomorrow I'll head out and paint another evening one of Utah Valley from a secret location. </span></span><br />
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<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-58198060922817065462012-06-29T15:31:00.002-06:002012-06-29T15:31:49.410-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2eDcu1S5k9M/T-4avEZlOHI/AAAAAAAAAic/SgQ633X-Ub0/s1600/Family+Outing+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2eDcu1S5k9M/T-4avEZlOHI/AAAAAAAAAic/SgQ633X-Ub0/s320/Family+Outing+s.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I thought I would share some of my newer paintings. This one is titled, "Family Outing". I had a lot of fun doing it. I learned a lot about how to paint water and ripples. It went so well that I added a fish to the water to increase the number of animals. The idea for this painting just popped into my head one day when I was taking a break to think about the "Elk in the Gold" painting I was working on at the time. I found it to be quite enjoyable getting in and painting with my smallest liner brush all the feathers of the geese.<br />
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I was told by an art critic that I noodle my paintings too much. My understanding of noodling is that you go in and paint too many little lines or bits of color. He said my work just isn't painterly enough with too many hard jumps from one color to the next. But this has go me thinking. What if instead of trying to move away from noodling to going towards it and noodling more, even over the top. So that is what I'm trying to do now. Here is my first example of this.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pz7-32XrbuY/T-4dCETkHrI/AAAAAAAAAik/timthZ8ih18/s1600/Gray+Wolves+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pz7-32XrbuY/T-4dCETkHrI/AAAAAAAAAik/timthZ8ih18/s320/Gray+Wolves+1s.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
I really got in there and painted each line of fur. I love how this painting turned out too, although it was quite a fight. I wasn't having fun with it until the last 20% of it. I didn't think it was going to turn out. Plus I gave up on the painting twice, but in the end pushed through and finished it. Which was good because some collectors of mine saw it and loved it. They just had to have it so they bought it.<br />
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The next step is to do a larger painting using what I learned with this one. I also learned that striking contrast is far more visually exciting. It may not see like much to anyone else but for me this contrast made me very uncomfortable, which I'm learning is a great thing.<br />
Well the next one is off and going. I'll get a shot of it in progress tomorrow. I also did some new pre-drawing things too.<br />
<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-6207804935276861982012-04-09T14:11:00.002-06:002012-04-09T14:12:15.952-06:00Why Wildlife Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YQHoXn73c8/T4NB5p37M-I/AAAAAAAAAgc/GoWu0S7muX4/s1600/The+Nightwatch+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YQHoXn73c8/T4NB5p37M-I/AAAAAAAAAgc/GoWu0S7muX4/s320/The+Nightwatch+s.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I’ve decided to start painting for a new market for me,
Wildlife and Western art. I’ve for some
time had the desire to try painting Wildlife paintings but just not sure I
could pull it off. As I started working
on my first wildlife painting, “Elk in the Gold” I found a part of me long
since forgotten from my childhood reawaken.
As a child I loved watch the nature shows that where on T.V. As a scout I found peace and beauty in the
outdoors and an irresistible freedom when camping and hiking. I’ve always had a fascination with birds and
flight. As a child my grandfather would
take me down to the local airport to watch planes take off and land. Even now on stressful day if I need a break,
I’ll go down to this same airport and sit and watch the planes. When I started I was worried that I wouldn’t
have any ideas to paint or that my strong creativity would go to waste, I was
wrong. I’ve got already far more ideas
then I’ll ever have time to paint and my creativity has never been more
challenged or active. My abilities as an
artist and draftsmen are also being pushed to even greater heights. I’m excited with this new direction and I
hope you will come to enjoy it just as much as my other art.</div>
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Thanks,</div>
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Jeffrey V. Brimley</div>
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<a href="http://jeffrey-brimley.artistwebsites.com/">Jeffrey V Brimley Prints</a></div>The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-22415795905270975372012-01-30T14:41:00.000-07:002012-01-30T14:41:33.194-07:00The Value of knowledge<br />
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So it has been a couple of weeks since my last post. As mentioned before I started to paint Plein
Air paintings because I found my landscapes to be flat. I was hoping that in doing on site paintings
this problem would be fixed but all I found I was doing was repeating these
same problems. So I took a step back and
did a lot of research as to what I was doing wrong. Through my research I found many things I was
doing wrong. First of these was my tonal
depth was off. But a big part of this
came from not taking into consideration the paint I was using. What I mean is that I rarely use black
paint. It kills colors, making them dull
and lifeless. Well what I never
considered before is that white will also do this. I’ve always known that black and white are
not colors but tones. I just never
thought of them as the same coin and thus both dramatically affecting the
colors they are mixed with. So if I wasn’t
going to use white as much as I was what was I going to use to lighten up my
colors? Well the answer was either I buy
precise premixed colors which is both expensive and can limit your choices or I
just use light versions of my main colors.
I went with the later. I’ve now
added a light yellow, for my warm colors and a light blue for my cool colors. In using these instead my colors keep their
chroma and value base, without becoming dull and chalky. </div>
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Also I learned a lot more about color theory. I
learned there are 4 properties to paint, Value, Hue, Chroma and Temperature. Value is light and dark (grey scale). Hue is the name of the color itself and I don’t
mean “sand” or “Sea Green”, I mean “Red, Yellow and Blue”. Chroma is the color’s relative brightness or
dullness. A fire truck is a bright red
hue but a brick is a duller red hue.
Temperature is how warm or cool a color is. Red, yellow and orange are warm, where as
blue, green and violet are cool as a general rule. </div>
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I learned not only about value contrasts but also Hue,
Chroma and Temperature contrasting too.
All to produce a better more visually appealing painting.</div>
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With this I learned that dramatic value passages are for
more appealing to the viewer then similar ones which tend to blend together
thus making a dull boring looking painting.
A passage is an area of the painting.
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For example the single blueberry in this still life painting
is a passage or an area the eye moves across it and onto other passages around
the painting.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_3W7fKP_BP8/TycMFFi9WsI/AAAAAAAAAeU/h2rap6BtGuU/s1600/Grandma%27s-Blueberry-Jam+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_3W7fKP_BP8/TycMFFi9WsI/AAAAAAAAAeU/h2rap6BtGuU/s320/Grandma%27s-Blueberry-Jam+1s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So to test all of this I did a test painting. This is the result of it. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NKX2dbdWyAE/TycMf5R5TnI/AAAAAAAAAek/TwYIrBGiKJY/s1600/Old+Vineyard+Dairy+Farm+1s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NKX2dbdWyAE/TycMf5R5TnI/AAAAAAAAAek/TwYIrBGiKJY/s320/Old+Vineyard+Dairy+Farm+1s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now see the side by side comparison to see the
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before and the one on the right is after. Also remember both paintings were painted at the same time of day and the same location.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hq9fZpecXHc/TycOLCWQuxI/AAAAAAAAAes/OO7Nn_oA6fU/s1600/Main+Street+Vineyard+Painting+both.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hq9fZpecXHc/TycOLCWQuxI/AAAAAAAAAes/OO7Nn_oA6fU/s320/Main+Street+Vineyard+Painting+both.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think I’ll do one more test painting before going out to
do another Plein Air painting to further en-grain the new skills and knowledge.</div>The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-21052481840863753982012-01-11T13:31:00.000-07:002012-01-11T13:31:09.015-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQD-BY_j6GQ/Tw3uBL80gNI/AAAAAAAAAeE/E0I4RhkBGW0/s1600/Main+Street+Vineyard+Painting+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQD-BY_j6GQ/Tw3uBL80gNI/AAAAAAAAAeE/E0I4RhkBGW0/s320/Main+Street+Vineyard+Painting+s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well here is the painting I did yesterday. I didn't meet and tonal goal. I think I was distracted by how cold it was with the wind blowing at me from off the lake. I had forgotten my gloves too and by the end I couldn't feel my fingers at all. <br />
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I've sat down and thought about what all went wrong and I think I may go out again to the same area and try doing this painting over. I choose a different angle and I'll bring gloves and maybe a blanket too. I need to think more about the gray scale while working on this. Maybe I'll make a scale and have it with me as I'm mixing my colors to get the proper tonal depth.<br />
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The cold had a interesting effect on my paints too. They became very thick and required more mineral spirits to work with them. This painting was done on a panel so the paint when thined properly moved around a little easier and thus dried faster.<br />
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I had the sheriff drive by twice but he didn't stop and another truck drove by, but beyond that I was alone. Well there was a small flock of black bird who sat in a tree the near by watching me for a bit, a about 100 plus geese flew over circled then flew off south and two hawks flew over and checked me out too.<br />
<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-1717742379406864012012-01-09T13:23:00.000-07:002012-01-09T13:23:18.636-07:00Main Street Vineyard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5eOGu2EMfxE/TwtLOlZkaBI/AAAAAAAAAd8/9ox6R2RsmsU/s1600/Main+Street+Vineyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5eOGu2EMfxE/TwtLOlZkaBI/AAAAAAAAAd8/9ox6R2RsmsU/s320/Main+Street+Vineyard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the map selection location for this weeks Plein Air painting. I've scouted it out a head of time a little. There is an old abandoned farm out here that I think will make a great focal point for this painting. <br />
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My First goals for this painting is to try and focus on creating depth and distance through better tonal use.<br />
My Second goal with this painting is to paint it later in the day with an evening lighting setup.<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-50124197705945347132012-01-07T13:01:00.001-07:002012-01-07T13:01:20.556-07:00900 West 200 North Provo PaintingWhat a wonderful experience! I can now see somewhat why painting Plein Air is so addictive. Just being out of the studio in the fresh air was great. It took me 3 hours and 22 min. to do this painting. I've been told that a typical painting should take at least 4-6 hours. I realized about a third of the way through that you really need to just pick how and where the shadows should look in your painting. Because the whole thing is changing right in front of you. Of course I first noticed this when I was trying to paint in some clouds. I was feeling the whole time I need to paint faster and be more decisive in all aspects.<br />
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I guess i should explain that when I do a painting I work top down and back to front. Also with this style of quick painting I learned I need to block in all my major shapes and the over all major tones too. I didn't do this with this painting. Being my first ever I just went out there and started painting. I also learned that my Maul Stick is an important tool to getting straight cleaner lines (2/3 through the painting). It is important to lock your painting down, because having a wet painting suddenly blow at you is a bit excited and frustrating. I still do not know how or where I picked up that yellow paint on my hands, but it quickly spread all over me, my brush handles and into my mouth! Later that day I even found some under my lower lip and once again all over my hands.<br />
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I had 2 neighbors come by and one looked for a bit. The mail lady walked by but I was still at the beginning so nothing much to see. My neighbor across the street came home from somewhere and after going inside promptly open their front windows and watched for a bit (they are new and I don't think they know I'm an artist. They probably think I'm a nutter now). I had one guy on a funky looking bike ride passed 3 or 4 times, getting slower with each pass. The problem was I was facing the street so the canvas back was all anyone could see.<br />
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I was nervous starting out but as I started painting the rest of the world just disappears and I was off and painting. Time flew by and before I knew it I was done. I look forward to next weeks location and painting. Monday I'll post the new location and goals. So with out further ado hear is the painting.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YepNgXbFmmU/Twijxm6o4qI/AAAAAAAAAd0/Qy4OPbPOENY/s1600/900+West+200+North+Provo+Painting+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YepNgXbFmmU/Twijxm6o4qI/AAAAAAAAAd0/Qy4OPbPOENY/s320/900+West+200+North+Provo+Painting+s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-46418539048085792292012-01-05T16:02:00.000-07:002012-01-05T16:03:07.346-07:00900 West 200 North Provo I wasn't sure if this weeks painting was going to happen. Seeing as the first part of this week I was trying to recover from a nasty bout of the flu. But this morning I felt great and when I got up early it was a clear day. So I decided to go for it. Seeing as this is my first Plein Air ever I decided to do it out in front of my studio. Also this would be a great place to work out unforeseen problems (which there were many). As stated in the earlier post here is a map of the painting area.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZHDPdHUDZ8/TwYrXusXYTI/AAAAAAAAAds/tMiT1IdL9XA/s1600/900+West+200+North+Provo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZHDPdHUDZ8/TwYrXusXYTI/AAAAAAAAAds/tMiT1IdL9XA/s320/900+West+200+North+Provo.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
My goals with this painting are really just to start this project and get it going. I said I was going to start with the first of the year and I mean to do so now.<br />
<br />The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-50604663913896617052012-01-05T15:21:00.000-07:002012-01-05T15:21:51.748-07:00Plein Air Painting Project<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve come to the conclusion that my landscape paintings need
improving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want them to move towards
being more photo realistic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not
looking for full photo realism or hyper-photo realism, just cleaner and
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve struggle with tonal difficulties
and color temperatures too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So to tackle
all of these at once I’ve decided to finally start doing En Plein Air (in the
open) paintings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What are Plein Air paintings, you may ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a great article from <a href="http://www.p-a-p-a.com/information/pleinairpaintingexplained">Plein Air Painters of America</a> explaining it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To do this I’m going to do one Plein Air painting a
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either I will choose a location or
I’ve created maps of Utah Valley that I can roll on to find a location randomly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S4wL12LpOW0/TwYiHO3Og0I/AAAAAAAAAdg/ll63TR_KBtk/s1600/Provo+Orem+Vineyard+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S4wL12LpOW0/TwYiHO3Og0I/AAAAAAAAAdg/ll63TR_KBtk/s320/Provo+Orem+Vineyard+s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the beginning of the week I will show the location I’m
going to go to on a screen shot of the map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will blog about my hopes and goals for that particular painting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterwards I will blog about how things went
and my thoughts and feelings about the whole experience that day and any
interesting that I may have experienced, i.e. people, animals and such.</div>The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-8846778849252285532011-09-08T13:16:00.001-06:002011-09-08T13:16:10.775-06:00Sacrament Meeting Notes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3wrvdYUIx8o/TmkTmtNhX9I/AAAAAAAAAc0/gncCyfiFpIY/s1600/SMN+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3wrvdYUIx8o/TmkTmtNhX9I/AAAAAAAAAc0/gncCyfiFpIY/s320/SMN+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's time for another edition from my "Sacrament Meeting Notes". I drew each one of these drawing in about 40 min. The ideas for them I usually come up with just before I draw them or they maybe apart of a series of similar drawings all growing from the previous one. <br />
<br />
Enjoy<br />
The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-56003535589421655802011-08-10T19:27:00.008-06:002011-08-10T19:40:59.158-06:00A Behind the Scenes look at Grandma's Blueberry JamI want to start by sharing the story about how this project came to be.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had been feeling a bit weak in my tonal range and depth of view in my paintings, when I came across an article excerpt in the June 2008 magazine American Artist, titled “Classical Painting Ateliers : A contemporary guide to traditional studio practice” by Juliette Aristides (‘ateliers’ is French for ‘workshop’).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One of the exercises discussed about was about tone. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I decided to try this exercise to see if tone was indeed my problem.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal">The first question always seems to be ‘what to paint?’<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I knew I wanted to do a still-life painting after the classical style.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I kept my eyes open for subject ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One day I was looking at posts of my various friends on Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One of my friend’s had commented on a photograph of some blueberry jam that her sister had made.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Looking at that photo, I knew what I wanted to paint:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>a bottle of blueberry jam, with a some blueberries scattered about and a few orange slices for color contrast and that pop of vitality.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0OHpysK3eU/TkMv89DcqKI/AAAAAAAAAcA/3hWlJDMJTl8/s1600/BB%2BThumb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 268px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0OHpysK3eU/TkMv89DcqKI/AAAAAAAAAcA/3hWlJDMJTl8/s320/BB%2BThumb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639403882625673378" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I spent an afternoon gathering my parts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I borrowed a glass jar from my mother as well as some gingham for the cover, bought some fruit from the market, and some raffia from the local craft store.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After arranging the rough idea in my head, I laid out a few simple, quick thumbnail sketches, and took a picture to have something to show here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>At this point I’m just getting my layout arranged, Golden Mean set up, eye line and so on, nothing very drastic. </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxCume3XU5w/TkMwnM9-TkI/AAAAAAAAAcI/O5BW1xC6zQo/s1600/DSCN0081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxCume3XU5w/TkMwnM9-TkI/AAAAAAAAAcI/O5BW1xC6zQo/s320/DSCN0081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639404608452185666" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">I decided to paint this on a canvas board of standard size, 11 x 14, mostly because that is what I had laying around.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I started by doing a rough pencil lay-in.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As you can see faded in the background, I moved the jar over more to the right.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I found I didn’t like the edge right up against the main vertical Golden Mean, thus placing the body of the jam bottle too close to the middle of the painting.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, I redrew it with the body of the jar centered on the main Golden Mean line.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>All the various angles and measurements are based off of that Golden Mean in one way or another.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Another picture taken.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zKGUwJrcKC4/TkMxSgLd_aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/piEJXeo0pfQ/s1600/DSCN0085.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zKGUwJrcKC4/TkMxSgLd_aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/piEJXeo0pfQ/s320/DSCN0085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639405352343436706" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Using a sienna brown colored pencil, I drew in the final drawing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is interesting to mention here that I prefer to use a cheap, Crayola brown colored pencil for this stage of the painting. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have found it to be of better quality than the more expensive, “high-end” art pencils (which I will refer to as the ‘others’) in that the lead in the cheap Crayolas are more complete and not shattered every few inches as the others tend to be.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Also, the others tend to crumble under the slightest pressure of drawing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think it also fair to mention that one of the other colored pencils costs as much or more than an entire Crayola 12 pack of colored pencils.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Alas, Crayola is also not without its cons.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The biggest problem with the Crayola colored pencil pack in my opinion is that they only sell them in color sets – one of each color, and I only want one color, the brown one.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, either I deal with the more emotional other pencil or I have a studio filled with every color of Crayola except brown.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have contacted Crayola about buying just a case of browns, but so far they have told me that they no longer offer single color bulk purchases.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So depending on my mood I’ll either add another ‘11’ to the pile, or crumble my way through another brand. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For this painting I chose to crumble my way through it with a Prismacolor. Photo taken.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpQk621lChQ/TkMxpLV_zwI/AAAAAAAAAcY/DFyVkRGLVRE/s1600/DSCN0088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpQk621lChQ/TkMxpLV_zwI/AAAAAAAAAcY/DFyVkRGLVRE/s320/DSCN0088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639405741887442690" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Finally I get to add some paint.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>First comes the under painting.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As per the direction of the article when you do this step you paint straight out of the tube, with no use of medium to thin the paint down.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I always do an under painting on all my paintings (well almost always, the exception is when I paint on paper).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On most of my paintings I will use a rag and scrub in a greatly thinned down unifying paint color (Burnt Sienna).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then I’ll go in with Burnt Umber and put in my darkest area, and use the reductive technique for my lightest area.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With this particular painting, I used Raw Umber straight from the tube onto the canvas using a large, soft, one inch #12 flat brush.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then, using various brushes and a rag, I employed the reductive method to create the tonal under paint image. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The reductive method I prefer involves using Mineral Spirits to wipe out the thickly applied Raw Umber paint to create the various tones (lights and darks) I’m looking for. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Another photo.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2t9PWSo_P7U/TkMyHh1WPYI/AAAAAAAAAcg/WRC-SndI8vs/s1600/DSCN0092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2t9PWSo_P7U/TkMyHh1WPYI/AAAAAAAAAcg/WRC-SndI8vs/s320/DSCN0092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639406263320591746" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once the under painting stage is fully dry to the touch, I then start applying the local colors in thin, transparent layers, letting the under-painting come through.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve been experimenting with thin layers of paint (called Glazing) since the start of my painting career, but it wasn’t until I read a book written by Leonardo Di Vinci, that I felt I really mastered it. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This book was originally written by Di Vinci in Italian and later translated into what may have been some older form of English (lots of fun, once I learned with help from my wife, that what looked like a single letter, could indeed be either “F, P or S”, and they apparently hadn’t invented punctuation yet, giving the appearance of one giant run-on sentence).<span style=""> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Besides trying to make sense of the “spelling”, the biggest problem with the book, was that Di Vinci would reference other books to better understand concepts he was talking about, only they hadn’t been written.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the local color lay-in and before the paint is dry, I’ll use a more Western Wet-on-wet technique to finish off the rest of the painting. Last photo.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mtc0ncWlLI0/TkMyrR5gDWI/AAAAAAAAAco/YjoJlJYz1mI/s1600/Grandma%2527s-Blueberry-Jam%2B1s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mtc0ncWlLI0/TkMyrR5gDWI/AAAAAAAAAco/YjoJlJYz1mI/s320/Grandma%2527s-Blueberry-Jam%2B1s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639406877518335330" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After completing this painting, I don’t think that tones are really my main problem on my larger paintings, but rather it might be more the color temperature.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, I’m putting together another Atelier exercise, and this time I think I will do something around peaches, probably with a French country theme.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t yet know exactly how I will bring them all together, it just seems to warm my heart as I think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m also a sucker for Florentine and rococo designs (these themes are almost always somewhere in my fantasy paintings). <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A note in closing, I was originally going to go with peaches in this first experiment, but the photograph of the Blueberry jam formed an idea so strongly in my mind that I chose to go with that instead.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741357234583557752.post-32747059401493148772011-07-30T13:11:00.011-06:002011-07-30T13:23:43.761-06:00Children's Picture BookWell, it’s finally time to do another fantasy painting. I can only hold it off for so long. As I’ve mentioned in the past, people love my fantasy art, but they just always sure what to do with it. So I’ve decided to try something that is new for me. I want to paint a children’s picture book, but with a twist. I don’t want to spoil it so early in the game, so you will have to wait and see how the project develops.<br /><br />Even though this project is “fantasy” in nature, I still like to paint from models – even if it is only for reference. With that, I come to what I need help with – finding models. First and foremost, I take the safety of your children very seriously, so let me be very clear that ANY submission of photographs must be provided with consent of the parent or legal guardian. I don’t want any parents or other concerned persons to have any doubt about the legitimacy of what I’m doing, so any questions will be welcome. I’m looking for children to be stand in models for the main characters. In the past I’ve either worked with kids from my neighborhood, family or friend’s kids, or worked through friends to find models. Norman Rockwell use to do it that way too. I’m always looking to expand the pool of model choices.<br /><br />What I’m looking for on this particular project, are children between the ages of 8-10, three boys and one girl. My usual method is to come over to the home of the children and do the photos shoot there so their parents can be involved, however, I’m willing to work with the parents on what they feel most comfortable with. The first boy will need to have a suit (preferably a dark suit), white long sleeve shirt, tie (not zip or clip), belt and dress shoes and dark socks. The second boy will need “classic” style, two piece pajamas with a button up top. The third boy will need to wear a Cub Scout shirt and a ball cap. Finally the girl will need to wear a long dress (preferably with lots of frills).<br /><br />Again, for the safety of the children and for me, I will only work through the parent or legal guardian of the children; I will never contact your child directly. If you are interested in allowing your child or children to be a part of this project or if you know of someone who would be interested, please email me a head shot (like a school photo or family photo) of your child or children, along with contact information (phone or email, whichever you would prefer) and we’ll go from there. Any questions can be addressed by email to brimleystudios@gmail.com.<br /><br />Below are some sample drawings of each of the characters from the book.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PkArduGzBHc/TjRX95zN1TI/AAAAAAAAAao/DznMC8Rcaow/s1600/Hero%2BBoy%2BColor%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PkArduGzBHc/TjRX95zN1TI/AAAAAAAAAao/DznMC8Rcaow/s320/Hero%2BBoy%2BColor%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635225754746606898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgsXCNM9anw/TjRYKf9PORI/AAAAAAAAAaw/BAt1yYVsmro/s1600/Hero%2BBoy%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgsXCNM9anw/TjRYKf9PORI/AAAAAAAAAaw/BAt1yYVsmro/s320/Hero%2BBoy%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635225971147618578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Cb1jeZv-n4/TjRYkDMZ9AI/AAAAAAAAAa4/cJBzunip0bs/s1600/Pajama%2BBoy%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Cb1jeZv-n4/TjRYkDMZ9AI/AAAAAAAAAa4/cJBzunip0bs/s320/Pajama%2BBoy%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635226410103206914" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UiUE5eQNlL4/TjRY57wKuAI/AAAAAAAAAbA/ARcGoALe5uI/s1600/Bear%2BScout%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UiUE5eQNlL4/TjRY57wKuAI/AAAAAAAAAbA/ARcGoALe5uI/s320/Bear%2BScout%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635226786062841858" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrkkmgNorL8/TjRZhwvWP9I/AAAAAAAAAbY/413hXTnnnpo/s1600/Little%2BGirl%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrkkmgNorL8/TjRZhwvWP9I/AAAAAAAAAbY/413hXTnnnpo/s320/Little%2BGirl%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635227470301380562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4yEfMFdGboM/TjRZN1fYv0I/AAAAAAAAAbI/8cJGVX4_RiM/s1600/Flying%2BTaxis%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4yEfMFdGboM/TjRZN1fYv0I/AAAAAAAAAbI/8cJGVX4_RiM/s320/Flying%2BTaxis%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635227127979228994" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zfNsc22gos/TjRZZGnaFeI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/PoT2scMKztE/s1600/Twilight%2BBaron%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zfNsc22gos/TjRZZGnaFeI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/PoT2scMKztE/s320/Twilight%2BBaron%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635227321554834914" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v83Id1-_BV4/TjRZsAtrvyI/AAAAAAAAAbg/jeuW92sqq1o/s1600/Brill%2BBog%2BBrother%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v83Id1-_BV4/TjRZsAtrvyI/AAAAAAAAAbg/jeuW92sqq1o/s320/Brill%2BBog%2BBrother%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635227646388059938" border="0" /></a>The Daisy Chain Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05395621960141066702noreply@blogger.com0