Christmas Night

tommy watching TV ver4
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

That quiet time when all families turn from tree to TV and you wish you had given Dad the wireless headphones to watch the football game. I love Flickr. It's amazing how you can get instant feedback from some of the best artists in the world. Not only do they appreciate your work but they help you improve it. First I did an ink sketch and then shaded it with photoshop. I posted several versions and got some great feedback about my technique. Thanks R8r! check out my Flickr site to see the various versions of this drawing. Next I will do a color version. Happy New Year everyone!

Tree Alone

tree alone
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

This is another treatment (done in plein air) of one of my favorite trees near Lake Merritt, Oakland, California. I did this oil painting study originally as one of several showing different stylistic treatments of the trees. This one has a flowing feeling of the wind. The other is more about the textures (especially when the substrate primer absorbs all the oil immediately) Here's a link to my other painting of this same tree http://cazsh.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

Tea Tree - Plein air

tea tree 894
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

This is one of a series of plein air paintings of trees I did, one each day for a week. 9x12 oil on board. This will be posted to ebay soon.

jane tree on fire

jane tree on fire
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

this little oil painting of the Jane tree in my back yard was a personal breakthrough for me. it doesn't come across nearly as strongly in the photo as it does in person but I remember stepping back from the easel and thinking, "OMG I might be able to do something serious - not just dabbling and playing" In a few posts below you can see three paintings of the tree from inside the kitchen and in full bloom. It's an amazing tree, and the largest Jane magnolia tree I have ever seen (it's more than 25 feet high) Here's a link to a photo of the tree in full bloom about the same time I painted this. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cazsh/106129591/

(9x12 oil painting)

Ladi's Kitchen

kitchen french windows and the tree
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

I originally painted this oil painting as a gift so that Ladi could "take her kitchen to work with her" and, so far, it is the favorite of my "Kitchen Paintings" posted to Flickr.

Click the picture to see full size on Flickr and read the comments. Here are the other 2 paintings of the same scene (both are watercolors and if you click them you will go to the Flickr page and see their comments)
The Green watercolor below is runner-up to the oil painting.

Here's the magenta one