Author: Ken

Good evening! theres Nothing like the warm late afternoon sunshine. Going to try and capture it (and these tulips) with some oil paint!

afternoon light changes fast, so no time to fuss around. Here’s my composition-let’s get it started!

Values (dark and light) worked out. Time for color! This painting is all about the bright yellow flowers, so all decisions made will be to support that yellow.

I have a color scheme worked out…now it’s all about the details…and a race to get them on the board before the sun gets any lower

I have a color scheme worked out…now it’s all about the details…and a race to get them on the board before the sun gets any lower

As if the quickly changing evening sun isn’t challenge enough: NOBODY TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO CLOSE THEIR PETALS ONCE THE SUN WENT DOWN!!!! That was a surprise! Well, regardless, I had a wonderful time painting from direct observation: no photos, no tech, no ai: is nothing like working from life…bugs and all!!! Clever titles welcome – oil on board, 6×12”

It’s lunch time, and these asparagus are ready to eat! It’s been a good year for asparagus so far, so I want to celebrate the bounty with a painting! 

I have a composition worked out. The drawing on the left is close to the values (dark and light) I want to capture, but the sketch on the right is closer to the composition I want. I want to emphasize the height of the asparagus. A panoramic proportioned board will help. Ok painting time!

The underpainting is roughed out. I used a combination of yesterday’s leftover paint and some violet and Veridian (green). Now it’s time to put colors in!!!

I have a color scheme worked out. A lot of artists find GREEN to one of the more difficult colors to mix. Well, this is a green plant with a green background. I’m living my dream, and I am the one who picked this subject, so will try not to be a crybaby and complain.

Ok! That’s a wrap!!! I really want to title this “kiss my asparagus” what do you think? 6×12” oil on board

Hi there! It’s been awhile since we’ve painted live. These tulips arent going to get any prettier, so let’s paint them today!!!

Worked out a few thumbnail sketches…going to go with the bottom left sketch. Let’s paint!

The underpainting…boy is it windy!!! Let’s get some color on the panel!

Some color down…now to work the colors into a harmony without losing my mind

My painting buddy says he thinks it looks good enough. I think he just wants to get out of this wind. A few more touches and it’ll be finished!

Threes company 6×8”
oil on panel

Did I show you all this little oil painting I made earlier this week when up on federal hill with the Wednesday painting group?

Its the carriage house to the north of the main house: loved how the dogwood tree contrasted with the shady side of the building.

Unfortunately, the wind was too bad to paint from life, so we made sketches and took photos, then worked in the studio.

8×10 oil on canvas

Some step by step progress photos of the oil painting of the Market House Theatre I made the other day while visiting Paducah, Kentucky: very friendly and artsy river town.

Looking forward to visiting again!

Greetings while plein air painting from the ’other’ side of the Ohio River: Fort Massac, Illinois. This is where Lewis and Clark stayed for 3 days on their trip out west-they recruited their interpreter here.

Created with photos or technology—painted directly from observation and my emotional response: while the wind blew, and the shadows crept up the buildings. One building a little skinnier than it should be, but I wanted to squeeze it all in.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

The march trend in Kentucky seems to be: either no wind and no sun, or sun with lots of wind!

I’m in Flemingsburg hoping to catch this sun without being Carried off to munchkin land!

Wish me luck!

sorry for no sketch…was busy chasing this palette before it floated into the creek! I have an ok underpainting. Let’s get some color out!

If you are the kind of person who likes your artists to suffer for their art, you’ll LOVE this painting. Other than being happy to paint sunshine, this has been a miserable experience. ive had too keep my left hand (freezing) in n the palette, to keep it from blowing away. ok, enough crybaby me…let’s get back to work!!!

Spring suffering 8×10 oil on canvas

My neighbors at Blevins Daylily Farm gave me permission to paint some of their daffodils. I’m so honored to be here. Hope to capture some of the natural beauty that surrounds me right now

Here’s my sketch. Flowers painting is a whole other ballgame. My first try for the season. Let’s dive in and paint!!!

The values are worked out. Color time! Hope I brought enough YELLOW!!!

Aaah, the artists life! what In the world was I thinking when I chose to work in this position?!?!

Well, this is not the first time daffodils have been my ruination. I had a lot of fun, but between the moving light, flowers constantly moving in the wind…and my poor choice of posture. Those flowers broke me, lol!

I’m not one to give up. I’m going to try again, but will pick a better time of day and perspective.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Thanks again Dana and Susie for letting me paint your flowers!

Greetings from the Woodlawn Cemetery in vanceburg ky! Some of the lewis county ancestors are tricksters: knocked my paint box down with the wind. I’m going to be respectful and hope they will let me get a painting!

Here’s my sketch with the composition: going to try and get the whole bend in the river with town in the foreground, mountains in the background

I have my values worked out. Time for color!

mid day isn’t the best time for dramatc colors, but I have a color harmony worked out. now it’s detail time

Still working. Can’t say my office doesnt have a nice view

Vanceburg-ancestors view march 2024.

8×10 oil on panel