Antique SeaShell Frame (Blog No. 2)

The Belle of the Sea

On August 13, 2014 I wrote about a beautiful seashell frame that I had purchased in an Antiques Store.  I finally finished a very small watercolor for this little frame and am going to write about it today.  I updated this post because while I had written earlier that I wanted to maybe switch this painting out for another different painting, I decided  today that I would much rather add MORE color to the existing mermaid painting.  This is the new painting with the changes.  Notice the sky color and how it pops.  

UPDATED version after color was added.  Notice the brightness in the water, too. 

Before color was added - it looks flat.

The most obvious color differences will be seen in the clouds and sky areas.   The painting really pops now, where as before it didn't stand out, the frame did (which is not my goal!)

 Here is another shot of the painting which shows some more details.  This was BEFORE I added additional color.  

The Belle of the SEA - BEFORE ADDITIONAL COLOR

I really do love her sweet little face!  But again, it's not about the execution of the subject and expression of the mermaid, it really comes down to the color.  I feel that the sand should be deeper and the water more green.  

PAINTING BEFORE COLOR 

ONE OTHER NOTE,   I was rooting around in my studio and happened to find a little oval that is gold leafed and BEAUTIFUL.  Just for curiosity's sake, I decided to tear apart my seashell frame and lay this little baby behind the oval, and this is what I got!  WHICH DO YOU LIKE MORE?

PAINTING IN DIFFERENT FRAME (BUT BEFORE ADDITIONAL COLOR) 

Picking the correct frame is really a very difficult thing to do.  My goal is that the frame be beautiful but not out-shine the painting.  I am going to take this to my Bedminister, PA show and display it on this little 15"easel.  In case you are curious, the shell frame is 8" wide and 10" tall.  It is stunning!  

This painting and at least 20 others that I have NOT blogged about yet, will be taken to my show in September that I wrote about earlier.  It is only a few weeks away - 14 days … 

http://kolenespicher.blogspot.com/2014/07/bedminster-traditional-artisan-show.html

It's not too late for FREE tickets.  This is a wonderful show.  We have people asking for tickets even up to a week prior.   I can mail them out up to a few days before the show.  I have extra.  No strings attached.  It's nice to look at the paintings on this blog, but I think they are much prettier in person. 

Enjoy! 

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Day Boats

What is a DAY BOAT? 

Prints for sale today (August 25, 2014)  on ETSY - https://www.etsy.com/listing/201139051/sailboat-print-charming-little-day-boat?ref=related-1

A DAY BOAT is also known as a Joey boat.  I know a lot of 'Joeys' and have never felt that they reminded me of a day boat….hm.  I am sure there is some logical explanation~Maybe a later blog entry.

Recently, I provided some artwork to a gal that had an outdoor bathroom that needed a little TLC.  We hung about a half-dozen pieces including a set of day boats that I had painted a while ago.  Today I know a little more about boats than the day I painted these (not much more but I am learning~HA).
I provided a closeup of this one because I liked it the most, and it was the first one that I illustrated.

This shot is slightly blurry but at least you can see my gold bracelets. 

Day boats are used for DAY trips, hence the name.  They sometimes do not have a stern cabin.  I have seen plenty of sailboats that do have cabins and are 'day boats' in the sense that they are taken out for a few hours during the day.  They are big (with multiple cabins).  But today we are talking about Day Boats that truly are day boats.  Lest I am confusing you, here's a good example of a day boat that is bigger than my above illustration but was taken out for the day this last weekend.   I love the flags on this day boat. I am guessing that this is 25-30 feet.

A painting waiting to happen

If you go to www.spicherandco.com you can see other boat and nautical illustrations that I have painted over the years.  I want so badly to show to you some of my current work, but I am saving it for my Bedminster Showing-see early post .  I will highlight these pieces a little closer to my event.  At this show, I will have original paintings as well as some prints.  I might even take these Day Boats.

If you want to learn more about this show and how to get tickets, go here: 

http://kolenespicher.blogspot.com/2014/07/bedminster-traditional-artisan-show.html

Love the clean white background 

These prints can be hung just about anywhere.  I love the simplistic brush strokes and the white background.  This reminds me of summertime and fun :)

Thanks for taking the time to look at these.  I will be listing these (maybe tomorrow) on Etsy.  They are near perfect condition but have just a few dings that are not really visible.  I accidentally  had taken two sets to the outside bathroom job that I had referred to early in this post. 

Enjoy!  

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Antique SeaShell Frame (Blog No. 1)

What should I put in this frame? 

(Blog No. 2 was posted August 26)

LOVE anything Seashell~Dated 1904

I recently was Out of Town and found this little treasure of a frame.  Because I am infatuated with the sea and everything in it, I just had to buy it.  My intention is to ReSell it…hm.  I guess we shall see.  

As I stated in an earlier post, I have begun to paint for a small retail show that is located in Buck's County area, PA.  This piece will go to that event.  If you want tickets, I have them.  Simply fill out the form to the right and I will mail them, no strings attached.  This is a beautiful professional ONE-of-a- KIND type show.  The artists are all over the top incredibly talented.  

Back to my frame…I am thinking mermaid.

This MERMAID is available as a print but what I will place in the above seashell frame is a painting

The color tones will match this print, I am thinking! 

The rich tones along the bottom really add a lot of depth to this painting.  I don't know if I ever explained to anyone my process fully.  What I do is paint layer upon layer.  Each layer enhances (not covers) the previous layer.  I bring out the tones that I happen to find appealing for each painting.  I really play it by ear… 

One more notable thing about this frame is the back.  Check this out! 

Would this have been for a World's Fair? 

If you know anything about this frame and care to share it, please do.  My intention is to put a mermaid in it.  It will be a small painting and take some time.  Many times small things are as time-consuming as large things due to the size of the bristles in the brush.  FYI. Stay tuned to see what the final piece looks like.  I am not sure when it will be posted, but it will find it's way to this blog!  

Enjoy!  

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Perfect Gentlemen

Perfect Gentlemen are always Silhouettes

Today's blog is related to the two men in this shot

Someone told me one time that if you are looking for the perfect man, you'll be disappointed.  Well, I'd argue that some days.  My man is pretty close.  But that one day that he's off, watch out.  I like things the way I like them.  By the way, you won't find the perfect woman either.  HA. I'm glad he knows that, too!  This is all in fun~I promise I'm kidding. 

A while ago, I did a photo shoot of a house that we needed some props to lay about.  We chose the silhouettes because they are fun and the house was really highly decorated in terms of its architecture.  The silhouettes were a good fit.  I love this one because of the printed ledger background.  The frame that is gold (but not leafed) complimented this picture rather nicely, I thought.  It doesn't take away from the artwork!  That's the goal. 

Here's a closeup of the frame along with my signature and the style of painting.  

I love this guy's chair.  I love chairs.  All you have to do is type chair into the search engine of this blog, and you will agree with me that I have a thing for chairs.  The thing that stands out to me is that blue! I love this color and work it into all artwork! (If I can!). 

Here's the closeup!  I would totally hang these guys together.  If you are interested in my prints, you can find them on Spicher and Co's website and also my Etsy store.  I only have semi-used prints on this sight because I blog about the stuff that I use or have used for photo shoots or reference material, etc.  

Check these two prints out on my Etsy store KOLENESPICHER.  

THANKS FOR LOOKING!!

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