Day 2 - "30 Paintings in 30 Days"

Snow Shadows, pastel, 9x12, $375. uf, $500. framed
with AR glass in gold, silver or black custom frame.

"Snow Shadows" for day 2 is a scene that I had been contemplating to paint for quite some time. I am glad I waited because I feel I resolved some composition issues that were bothering me. If you live in west Michigan you will know that we don't have quite this much snow yet. Some of the information, like the snow on the pines was from my photo reference. Hope you enjoy the painting!
Also see my painting and others at "30 Paintings in 30 Days" and on facebook.

Day 1 - "30 Paintings in 30 Days"

January Moonrise, pastel, 6x6, $125. uf, or $225. framed with AR glass and a beautiful soft gold or silver frame.

My first painting for the challenge, "30 Paintings in 30 Days".
This pastel was painted from memory! The full moon was actually last week, and the sky had this hazy appearance. I also used some moon sketches that I have here in the studio to assist me in these types of paintings. To purchase, please send an e-mail to Kalinowski@chartermi.net or be the first to call my cell at (616)446-1308.

A New Year Challenge

Glorious Sunset, oil, 16x20, $1650. framed, $1400. unframed

Happy New Year for 2013!

To start the new year out right, there is nothing like a challenge to push creativity and potential growth. For the month of January 2013, I have joined with the "Artists Helping Artists" blog to paint "30 Paintings in 30 Days".  Starting tomorrow, Jan. 2, I will be posting a new painting a day on my blog and on the AHA blog. My goal of course is to do a painting a day. I am not setting a theme, only   I will try to do as many as I can from life or from previous studies. The sizes also will vary, and the mediums will be pastel or oil. These works will be for sale, framed or unframed, some at special prices just for my collectors.

http://www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Winding Down with 2012

Full Moon - Winter, pastel, 6x6, SOLD
A commissioned piece painted right before Christmas!
I used my small moon studies and past experiences with painting snow to quickly execute this  special painting for a some special art collectors.

Low Sun - Winter Evening, pastel, 12x18, SOLD
Also sold to a collector as a gift to his wife for Christmas.

Melting Snow, oil, 8x10, $400. unframed, $500 framed
This small oil painting was painted last year during a plein air session. I have always liked it and did a little enhancing of added contrast, in a demo during one of my recent painting classes. 




Thank you for viewing my artwork this year!
I have a special project planned for the New Year and will announce it in tomorrow's blog.... stay tuned.

Painting From Studies III

Along the Bay, pastel, 18x24, $1500. framed

I just finished this pastel based upon the oil plein air study below.  I totally relied on the study for most of the painting. I had a few photos of the water, rocks and foreground that helped a little.
I like the vibrant color of this pastel and the loose freshness of the study. It really is hard to capture that same feeling when painting in the studio. That is why painting on location is so important to a landscape painter. To remember the feeling of the day, to simplify and edit, to record the colors and tones that natures gives us that create a natural harmony.

Bell's Bay, oil, 6x8, $300. framed

Plein air study on Bell's Bay, Charlevoix, MI.

Working From Studies II

Bell's Bay Sunset - Charlevoix, oil, 6x8, $300. framed
I painted this study while camping at Fisherman's Island State Park, near Charlevoix, MI,  last summer.
It is one of four plein air studies from the area.

Michigan Sunset, oil on linen, 24x30
I was inspired to paint this studio piece by combining the ideas from my study and a photograph of the beautiful sunset from that evening.

Working from Studies

This is the first post in a series of studio paintings that were painted from plein air studies.

Kelderhouse Road, oil, 6x8, SOLD
This study was painted during the Glen Arbor AA paint out and sold during the reception. I am glad I took a photo of it because it reminded me of why I loved the composition. The day was also very hot and the thunderheads were rolling in. I also took several reference photos.

Summer Heat, oil, 24x30Fresh from the easel, I can still make adjustments if necessary.
The studio painting includes the cumulus clouds from the photos that I took. The photos also helped with the birch grove on the left.