Old Mill Tavern

Tavern by the rails in Rockaway, NJ.

Potbellys

Rockaway, NJ

Coney Island Beer

I'm having a good time with bottles.....especially when they're filled with something good to drink!

Weekend Van Gogh

I'm still having fun learning about Van Gogh,  copying his work and seeing how his style changed over the years with a lot of it depending upon his state of health. I have to say he's a very interesting character.   

I'm continuing using colored pencils as the medium of choice when I'm doing past artists work.  It's a much slower process than watercolors which allows me to appreciate the master's artwork even more so. I have a lot to learn about using these pencils, for instance I just found out about a blending pencil which should cut down some of the harsh lines. Anyway, I'm having a great experience and open to any suggestions too.

 And back to a water color....My oldest brother had requested a painting of this bottle so he could give it to his neighbor as a card for his upcoming birthday on the 19th.  I guess this is his favorite choice of drink. It gave me the idea of filling up my Stillman & Birn beta hardbound journal with nothing but bottles so maybe by the next to the last page I'll finally have more equal than slightly cockeyed sides to these bottles that is as long as I keep the bottles closed until the sketching has been completed.

The Art of Stealing

I'm reading a book that was recommended by someone in my internet circle called Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon. In the book the author hi-lights various ways to unlock your creativity. The first chapter is about how nothing is completely original and that all "...creative work builds on what came before". And with that piece of knowledge you are free from being stressed out about creating something original because everything is a "mashup" of a few ideas. Some people might be offended with the thought about their stuff not being original. For me though I always was afraid to copy others work for fear that the plagiarism police would come after me. But now I know that to develop my own style, I need to study from other artists that I like. So I've chosen a few artists that have always appealed to me and with the help of the local library, will learn about their lives, pour over their styles and copy some of their paintings. And in a sense I'll be developing my own style by the teachings of the best.

Here are the first two artists that I have chosen to mentor me in style, light and colors.