"STILL HERE"

Yes! I am still here in Minnesota with three days of snow fall and the possibility of not flying out and getting back home.... The good news is, I have about 167 photos to go through with the potential of half of that be subject for my small wonders and larger canvases... I have to see when I get home and to my Mac... Gosh! I do miss my mac....  Anyways, you all will know when I'm home, so stay tuned for my up-coming paintings.

"HERE IN MINNESOTA"

Just landed in Minnesota yesterday with my son, picked his car up and drove to his house.  On the way I shot picture after picture of snow, gray skies, traffic and all the things I love to paint.  This morning woke-up to snow and more things to paint.  The look is like my black & white paintings with dark trees and white snow with backgrounds of deep grays.. All things that the doc ordered for my minds-eye.
I have only been here 24 hr and at this point have subject matter to paint for weeks  to come with five more days to go, how thrilled am I... And! dare I forget, I get to spend  time with son, his wife,grandkids and her family.... All good stuff. I will try to up-load some shots without giving-a-way what I will be paintng....  That's it for now.

"CANYON FOG" original oil painting

Many times while riding down this canyon the fog would roll up to greet me.  Oh! There are plenty of sunny days here, but for now I choose this for the mood needed in a memory I have of this place.  You see, most of the canyon has been widened after years of protesting by resident's and local supporters.  Picket sign swinging people would line the sides of this road wanting you to honk in approval of their mantra "no building"... I waved back knowing the inevitable.   After years the builders won.  I must admit, it is far safer now as this once quiet road is now four lanes.  I'm glad I got to see and travel up & down this old road for every now and then I get to paint what once was.  Here is an original 6x6" oil painting on Birch panel, mounted on a varnished wooden box: $120   

"AWAKENING"

The beginning of the morning was wonderful after the rains had washed the air and all clean. It allowed the sun to illuminate the now crystal clear sky and its rays to peek through the trees making for a most perfect days beginning.   This 8x6" in oils is on Birch panel mounted onto a varnished wooden box: $125

"SHADES OF GREEN"

A truly magical place in Minnesota, I return this first week in Feb with my son to see his new home.  This is from a few years ago and a walk in one of many parks in this great state.  I  hope to get some more photograph's of snow to take back to my studio and produce  some more paintings.  This 6x6" painting is in oils on Birch panel that has been mounted to a varnished wooden box: $120 

"APPROACHING RAINS"

I headed down to Dana Point in Orange County knowing the ocean this week was really going to be turning up the surf.  I took the time to reflect at this and all that is going on in the world and hoped for calmer waters.   It is all so beautiful when one slows-down to see it. This is a 6x6" oil painting on Birch panel that has been mounted to a varnished wooden box: $120  

"QUICK STOP"

Just a quick stop to pickup some milk & cereal for a quiet dinner back in my room, a goodnight sleep and then it's road time and on to the next stop.  Thus the life of doing shows out of state, my choice.  This is an oil painting on Birch panel mounted on a varnished wooded box: $120   

"MISTY"

Driving back from up northern California on this overcast day, I put my window down on the passenger side and held my camera up to take this shot while coasting at 75 mph... Not knowing if the photo came out or not till the next stop I was glad to see I had a new painting waiting to be done.  This oil painting is an 8x6" on Birch panel mounted on a varnished wooden box: $125      

"STARTING TO RAIN"

Driving out of the "U-Rent" with their last car, I pulled out in to traffic just as it starts to rain.  Not knowing where the wipers or defogger is, I strain my eyes to see what's ahead and off into the night I go in search of a motel and sleep.  What a great beginning to what could be a long weekend.  Oil painting on a 8x6" Birch panel mounted to a varnished wooden box: $125

"LIFE LINE"

Looking down the tracks I thought of all the goods, people, supplies and stuff that these steel rails brings to us and binding us all together in one-way or another like a life line now catching the morning sun.  4x12" oil on Birch panel mounted on a varnished wooden box: $150

"CYPRESS AT 6:00 PM"

Another painting reworked and I must say I like this much better, so its a new post and new name, the rest of the story remains the same.  

Not even a breeze out here, but chilly nevertheless.  I looked at the twinkling lights below and just let my mind drift.  After a time I walked back in joining the rest and seeing what  the remaining of this evening will bring.  This is a 8x6" oil painting on Birch panel that has been mounted to a varnished wooden box so no faming is needed: $125+s/h   ,

"THE SCREEN DOOR"

This is the finished painting.  Below you can see the some of the progression but this here is complete.  It is primarily a black & white with shades of gray giving a hint of color in those tones.  The red bicycle is the only real color and to paint this without having it jump out at you there is an under color of dark gray softening the red.  The 36x36" painting is gallery and wrapped and painted on all sides.   For inquires  

schwartztart@earthlink.net And for more on my B&W paintings GoTo

NEW WORK IN PROGRESS

  

Here, starting from the beginning from stretcher bars, blank canvas, bit of outlines fallowed in the next three some of the painting progression.  Still more work to be done but I wanted to share.  This is from a 6x6 inch painting I posted a few weeks back.   This is one of many canvass to fallow for my summer show in Laguna Beach starting July.  This painting is 36x36 and I should ( It says here in fine print ) will be completed before the weekend... Then it is another round of my 6x6s  fallowed with more canvas.   My goal is to paint 8 new canvass before Jun 12.  Yes I will post this one when finished.      

"TREE SHADOWS" UPDATE

Just when I thought I was finished with the above painting I thought to myself that it needed more.  So, after a little more thinking and work a new painting emerges.  One can see the difference between the two, one is bigger then the other.. "I kid"   Hopefully you agree and if not, well I'm staying with the change.   This is up north of Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Valley.  A quiet walk and some good thoughts.  This painting is a 6x6" oil on Birch panel that has been mounted on a varnished wooden box with no framing needed: $120+s/h   

"THE RED BICYCLE"

It was late by the time he got home.  Leaning the bike against the tree he could smell the apple pie fresh out of the oven. His feet couldn't run fast enough as he entered the house to those familiar sing-song words "Close.. the.. scre-een"  Here we have a 6x6" original oil, painted on Birch panel that is mounted to a varnished wooden box so no framing is needed: $125 + s/h YES!  I'm re-posting this for the red bike did not come through, so new post and name.

"LAST BUS OUT"

Laguna Beach bus stop and just one of those late nights.  I want this painting to have the  feeling that this is the last bus out of town.   Yes!  I took liberties in doing this painting, but I can I'm the artist.  8x6" oil on Birch panel mounted on a varnished wooden box so no framing is needed: $125+s/h  (Sold)

"SLOW GOING"

Another freeway drive to wherever, it really doesn't mater sometimes, you just know its its gonna be slow going. This is a 6x6" oil on Birch panel mounted on a varnished wooden box: $120 + s/h  (Sold)

"ONE MORE RIDE"

I really like doing black & white paintings of the night.  It presents an interesting challenge in working out all the gray values and an interesting subject to talk about.  This is a 6x6" oil on Birch wood mounted on to a varnished wooden box: $120 (Sold)

"FREED AT LAST"

Just another angle and still exploring the shades of grays and their many moods.  (For more on my black & whites) Deciding on the placement of the balloon took a little time.  I knew I wanted red, but where to place it?  A little to the left a little to the right, higher, lower then finely, the balloon was freed at last. Oil on Birch panel, mounted on a 6x6" varnished wooden box: $125+s/h

"UNDER THE BOARDWALK"

Tones, shapes and grays and a painting begins its journey reveling moods and memory's.  The process like a never ending march one step at a time is a constant.   Like my life, this painting is bits & pieces and like me, put them all together and here I am.  6x6" oil on Birch panel mounted to a varnished wooden box. $125   (Sold)   

'STARTS AT 2:15"

Returning to my ongoing series of B&W's, I knew some color would be a part of it just not sure  how much or how little.  So once again I post what should be about four more paintings after this one... The process will tell me when to stop.  I use a culmination of photos of  skies  and small towns from road shows some years back.  Taking something from this  photo and that, the painting begins to emerge.   This oil painting is on Birch panel mounted on a 8x6" varnished wooden box.  $130

"BOOTH PLEASE"

Taken from my 12x12 canvas painting I wanted to explore just this part of the subject.  The handling of this is much looser than I normally display but, it felt very apropos at this time... I never know what style might speak to me at that very moment the brush is poised centimeters above the awaiting surface.  It is in that  moment  I say "YES" and the painting begins.... How fun is that...  This oil painting is on Birch paneling that's mounted on a 6x6" varnished wooden box all ready to be placed on a wall.  Price $125 +s/h     

"MIDNIGHT RUN"

It was late when I came onto this beast. For one, the bass tone that resonates from this steel giant one can feel deep inside the body... I got goosebumps even before I saw it, it let me know who is in-control.  "I do love them".   Original oil painting on Birch paneling mounted on a 8x6 inch varnished wooden box. $125 + s/h  

"LA PALMS & POLES"

So living in L.A. one begins to realize that slowly these poles are disappearing.   More and more people are moving into the world of cable, satellite & cell phones... The telephone & electric poles I love to paint are going to leave me.... "sooo sad."  But, I and I alone hunt deep into L.A.'s back alleys, old forgotten neighborhood's and dangerous places. Where few go I will venture, armed with my trusty camera hoping to take the best shot for another painting.    Fortunately I have a bunch of photos so none of the above is necessary any longer.   This oil painting is on Birch paneling that is mounted to a 6x6 inch varnished wooden box and is priced at $125 + s/h

I did this for a customer, I have it posted with more detail about how the painting came to be on "CANVASES". Do take a look.  It is an oil on canvas 60x24 gallery wrapped... 

I'm finishing up some canvases for my gallery in Tustin Chemers gallery  then it will be  back posting my blog works.  

"FIRST RAINS"

The first of many that I knew I was in the path of so being true to form, I picked my camera up and said to self, "Self" Heres your next painting.  This has been painted on a very heavily prepared wood panel, not just with three coats of the best gesso in my opinion but then the finest of oil ground to assure a life time of quality of color.   I do love the process of painting.

This is a 6x8 inch oil on Birch panel mounted on a varnished wooden box. $130+s/h

Also check-out the new canvas painting at Canvases.

"AMERICANS"

 A photo was given to me of this Hopi reservation in the hopes that I would paint it.  It is a place of the true Americans.  I took my time to paint this ancient dwelling for I wanted to give it life and respect.  It is a 6x8 inch oil on Birch wood.  (Sold)