Just a Little Soot and Water

This is a print of one of my ink brush painting landscapes. I have a strong regard for calligraphers and Chinese and Japanese brush painting techniques. So when I’m in a peaceful mood I bring out my ink brushes and I wonder into that beautiful art form. 

Personally I use liquid modern day sumi ink but I’m reminded that in ancient times master calligraphers utilized soot and animal glue. It's amazing what past and current artists could do with soot, measured strokes, and a flick of the wrist.  

See some additional contemporary ink favorites from other artists.... 

Capturing Clouds

 

"Big Day" San Clemente, California Landscape

 

The focus of this painting is clouds and their movement against the sky....  The painting is representational but I enjoy the fun abstract shapes that fill the heavens...

 

The last few paintings have been in a small format 8" X 10."  I think I'll go a little larger with the next work....



Light In The California Landscape

California Landscape (Capitstrano Beach Area)

I was attracted to this scene because of the light.  I enjoy trees (they all have different personalities) but it was the shadows and light that I wanted to describe.   Also as the trees branches are moving upward there is this light and color that brush the tips…  It’s curious how one scene will grab you over another…

I was also working with the upbeat under painting and I wanted that hint of color to be part of the process…  It always a pleasure for me when light, dark, color, and composition come together.    



Original Landscape Desert Painting

Traveling the Arizona Highway

I know as an artist I should have a camera and sketchbook at
the ready but sometimes I do the best I can with the tools I have…. While rolling down the highway toward Wickenburg, Arizona I saw this set of shapes in the landscape. We stopped for a brief time and I jotted this scene on a paper napkin. (What can I say but I love "In and Out Burgers” and I save the napkins.) After a trip I usually have a couple of “napkin sketches.”

So although I applaud plein aire painters, that day I was not ready to absorb the desert heat. A brief sketch with a strong idea can be better for my art work than a reference photo with too many details. In a way reference photos can be a hindrance if I become absorbed in the details of the scene and forget about the spirit of the painting I wished to capture….

Etsy Updates and A Snippet of Favorite Treasuries in the month of June:

Original Art Treasuries curated by the artists of Etsy:
Summer art for everyone by Ruthsartwork
Fine Art Every Which Way No Matter How You Slice It! by CJsArtShop
"If you see her, say Hello by Bob Dylan" by ArtbyTrudi

Vibrant and fun summer treasuries:
Textured Bliss Studio by jcstrong

Awesome summer arts and crafts for anyone by Ruthsartwork

Ink Play

While taking a figure drawing class, students discussed the cost and lack of availability of figure models.  The teacher pointed to the outside landscape and said paint a tree.  He wasn't trying to be sarcastic but was serious while he shared his feelings about nature.   The teacher shared that trees have weight, curves, and  personality...



I think our forests, backyards, and urban sidewalks are filled with resilient "spirits" that have helped many artists including me with their journey.  I call these paintings "Ink Play."  The first painting was a combination of a large brush and heavily loading it with ink.  The work on the bottom was completed with medium brushes and dragging a partially loaded brush against a dry surface. 

I've always enjoyed the beautiful work of Chinese and Japanese calligraphers and painters.  I love the pictographs.  My art journey is always a combination of nature, memory, and absorbing different cultures...







Prince of Waves Seascape

This man was totally in his element. He was at the beach and had command of his environment.... This painting is a combination of memory and reference photos.

A figure in a painting takes center stage, I wanted this man to be an organic part of the landscape/seascape. The structure and color within the figure was fun to paint. It was a bright day and the sea had a light green feel to it.... You can see the entire work in my Etsy Shop.

Impressions of the California Coast

It's been a long time since I've posted. I'm glad to be back and painting. I took a little time off. It was a refreshing experience. More about my adventures later.

Prior to That First Stroke

"How Far Is Heaven Road"

This is my latest landscape. I’m influenced by nature and its different faces, friends, music, and images I see and find… This week the Southern California coast has been experiencing lots of coastal fog. My painting was a direct result of me wishing for a sunny day….No sun so I turned to reference material. It’s amazing the images that are all stored in our head, studio or available copy right free via the internet.

My friend sent me some photos of her adventures in Utah thus the orange and raw sienna color in the road. I was playing an old CD my son gave me and thinking of old friends and family thus the title “How Far is Heaven Road.” I also went to Wet Canvas and Morgue File web sites. These two sites are great source for reference material. I put all those influences and created this landscape.

The most difficult part of this painting was funneling down all this information prior to that first stroke. I don’t think I’m alone. Well have a terrific day and thank you for letting me share...

"Branching Out"

My usual painting size is 8” X 10” or smaller. These small format paintings have an intimacy that I enjoy and I’ll continue to express myself in that format but I needed a change this week…

While researching this seascape, sketching, taking photos I felt the painting needed an expressive change. This painting is 12” X 16” it doesn’t seem like such a large leap but it was a way of moving forward. The ocean is so huge, you’ll see surfers, swimmers; people enjoying themselves at the pier but sometimes that big water tugs at you and I just want to paint something huge.

So I looked around the studio and the biggest canvas I had was 12” X 16” not very “huge” but it fit the artistic urge. I don’t know where this is going but I’m certain for myself painting is like writing a visual story and sometimes the story needs a few more chapters… and inches of canvas.

Original Painting Alla Prima Landscape by JC Strong

"Canyon Abstraction"

We've had a little bit of "June Gloom" in California and I decided to go in another direction. This small format painting is a vivid memory of the mountains and canyons of Utah...

Original Impressionist Seascape by JC Strong

"Nancy's Walk"

I’m grateful for my friends. I’m not sure about other artists but for me painting is a solitary endeavor. I’m mainly alone when I paint and research my artwork. It’s so nice when my friends take me out of my cocoon. My little habitat is fun and filled with paints and brushes but nevertheless its still a little “arty” envelope . . .

So my friend and I took a walk out to San Onofre State Beach. The walk is filled with native plants and at the end of the trail and cliffs below you see the ocean. Well I didn’t have any paints and forgot my camera at home but thought the scene was the beginning of a painting.

My same friend went out again on a nature walk. She remembered how much I liked the cliffs and ocean and sent me some reference photos. So this painting is a combination of memory, imagination and a friend’s thoughtfulness. “It can’t get better then that.”

Original Acrylic Still Life by JC Strong

"Brent Gave Her Roses"

I hope everyone had a good weekend. Initially, the painting began with a lighter middle valued background but it just didn't seem to do the roses justice.

The roses were a fun and fabulous gift and they had lots of oomph. So I tried making the background luminous with darker values and color. It seemed to bring out the roses and give them more spirit and punched up the golden tones in the roses.

I'd been reading a book about the artist Robert Motherwell
an American abstract painter. His images have big blocks of color, texture and they are huge. I think his strong color sense kind of slipped into this painting.

Original Acrylic Painting by JC Strong

"Sunday Driving in Trabuco Canyon"

"Evening Transitions"

Trees always have a visual story to tell. Some of these trees I found in Trabuco Canyon, an interesting rural slice of nature in Orange County. Everyone, have a great Mother's Day.

Original Impressionist Painting Garden Wild Roses

"Out of the Dark"

I found these roses while walking toward the San Clemente Pier. I thought I'd be researching possible future seascape paintings and instead I found theses wild roses. They looked like they were fighting to survive and come out of the dark. The vibrant colors against the dark have an intimate quality.

One of my favorite artists and I have many is Pierre Bonnard. He created these intimate/psychological visual stories with vibrant colors . . . I like the idea of not only making a statement with your subject matter but also with the color, value, composition and brush strokes.

Original Impressionistic Seascape by JC Strong

With the help of imagination and reference material, this latest work is my idea of the many colors and moods of the ocean.

Everytime I paint a landscape or seascape I'm aware that nature is the ultimate artist:

"Nature" is what we see -- The Hill -- the Afternoon -- Squirrel -- Eclipse -- the Bumble bee -- Nay -- Nature is Heaven -- Nature is what we hear -- The Bobolink -- the Sea -- Thunder -- the Cricket -- Nay -- Nature is Harmony -- Nature is what we know -- Yet have no art to say -- So impotent Our Wisdom is To her Simplicity." by Emily Dickinson

You can find more information regarding this painting by visiting my Etsy Shop. With so many options on the web, thank you for stopping by and viewing my work...

Original Miniature, Small, and ACEO Paintings

This treasury is a gallery of miniature, small format, and aceo original paintings. Most of the work is created by Etsy Team members of the Finding Fine Art Team, Fine Art Friday Team, and participants of the First Friday Art Walk on Etsy sponsored by Art Walk Etsy Team.

Small format art and ACEO's are a great way to start an art collection. You can experiment with different styles, mediums, and subject matter. The artwork is affordable and takes up minimal space.

Original Painting Acrylic Still Life by JC Strong

Its been raining off and on in San Clemente, so I worked on this 8" X 10" still life painting. On this cool day these warm colored oranges just popped out at me.

Original Impressionistic Painting by JC Strong

A new "alla prima" impressionistic painting. I love doing landscapes and trees but today I wanted to switch gears. The rain is coming and the light is subdued so I thought of a more neutral palette.

Original Acrylic Landscape Painting

JC Strong Gallery

It's Sunday afternoon and I hope everyone is having a peaceful day. I thought I'd start the week by sharing my latest acrylic painting.

Original Ink Paintings Landscape and Floral

JC Strong Gallery

The combination of sumi ink on watercolor paper is an exciting medium. The "happy accidents" and many shades of black and grey that are possible is wonderful. The ink picks up every nuance of an artist's brush strokes.

Most of the time it's good but when I drink to many cups of coffee, you can see it. I guess, that's one of the unique qualities of original art.

Updates, Links and Etsy News:
I found the online Little Frog Gallery of Charles Chu a former Yale University Professor. His artwork is a great example of Chinese ink paintings and a master of Chinese Brush art work.

Today between 6:00 & 9:00 pm eastern time the Finding Fine Art Team is having a treasury blitz in order to give fine art a visual voice/boost on Etsy... So if you're looking for fine art just go to http://www.etsy.com/ and use the findingfineart tag in your regular search or curated treasury section. You'll find some incredible art in these treasuries and the support will be much appreciated.