Kolene Spicher

A blog about my thoughts and my love of artwork as it develops. It reflects some of the basic steps that I go through to achieve the artwork which is eventually presented to Spicher and Co, an innovative design firm that manufactures artwork for the trade. The why, what, how, and where are a few of the questions that I attempt to answer as I blog away! This is a tiny window into the life of a painter, and my hope is that my love for life shines through in the objects that I work to create.

Showing posts with label blue. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Large Black Swan Painting by Pennsylvania Artist Kolene Spicher

Wait for me

Wait for me is a painting about a family going for a ride on a black swan! Total Whimsey!

Having had 5 sisters, it wasn't uncommon on a Sunday morning or Friday night to hear, "Wait for me!"

"I want to come, too!"

That is what this is about. I love the big fluffy clouds and bright white Ticket House!

I decided to paint ME in the picture...again. It is becoming a new trend! Maybe not.

Mom started out as 'sister', but then I quickly decided she looked more like 'mother'. I think the little girl, named Sister, looks quite patriotic in her blue dress with red shoes and American flag. Lots of flags always make me feel free and happy.

Wait for me!

You can never have too many ships, I think. I might even add to this painting after a bit. I am working on it for Wilton.

The frame you see pictured is an 1850s LEMON GOLD frame, New England.

Here she is! She's full of whimsy and fun. If you live in New England around Wilton, Connecticut, I am working on this piece and others for a show that is held at the Wilton Historical Society on Friday evening... This is a fund raiser (the opening night) so the ticket price is a bit more than usual. However, you can come on Saturday and Sunday and it's much less. Read about it here!

http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/american-artisan-show-2016-artisans/http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/american-artisan-show-2016-artisans/

Enjoy!

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Kolene Spicher Custom Teacup collection for Spicher and Co

Blue and White Teacups

Spicher and Co

High Point Market, 2017

First of all, I apologize in advance for the poor photos you are about to look at. Just imagine them not blurry, LOL.

I wanted to post for all my wholesale customers with gift shops or for my designers that buy thru Spicher and Co.

Each teacup is painted in shades of blue and white. They are each different and vibrant and pretty in their own way.

I feel that these could go in a lot of rooms, but think bedroom or maybe kitchen or living room.

I think the pictures speak for themselves. I really enjoyed painting these and started them awhile ago. I paint a little here and there till it's finished!

I think a black frame would be lovely.

Decorate your home with TEACUPS by Kolene Spicher.

Available after October, 2017.

Enjoy. Teacups for Spicher and Co

Friday, August 4, 2017

What goes into a custom piece like a mermaid

The Black Pearl

I am working on a custom piece for a couple. This is the painting that they referenced. I thought today's post could be about what is involved in making a "Custom" painting.

The first step is to find a frame. In this situation, the couple is looking for a 'beachy' frame. What is a beachy frame? It's a frame that would go well with beach decor! They are usually white, black, or natural.

We immediately thought of black. We have at (Spicher and Co.) a simple black moulding that we often will frame nautical pieces in. I have framed original art in this moulding and it looks fab. In the photo below, it is featuring a folk landscape but imagine a mermaid...

We also could go white. In this next picture, you will see a beautiful chipped up white frame that screams beach.

The scale is wrong on this, but we could have it cut to fit.

LOOK

This leads me to my next step, choosing a size.

My suggestion for mermaids would be to go with something that is 18x24, and this would be painted on paper. The frame would add even more size to this piece. The frame is a big part of the art!

Here are the colors!

Correct color pallet

The actual black pearl painting is below. The room is dark that this was photographed in so the colors are sort of muted and dull in the reference piece.

Colors not accurate

I love this ocean. Oceans can really reflect many different colors. We can go dark sea or light. Check this out!

Beginning stages of seascape with whales (top)

This is what we start with! I go bright and each layer subdues and enriches the next. Till I am done with this, the colors will be wonderfully muted like this mermaid!

Really, that is the process. Frame first, which determines the size, and then subject matter, and finally color.

All you have to do is message me!

Enjoy.

Thanks for looking.

Kolene E. Spicher

Monday, July 17, 2017

A Ship Scene

The Star

Today, I thought I'd talk a little about ships. Over the years, I have painted many of them, too numerous to number!

I really loved all the blue on this piece. Blue is really a strong color right now, and I love to incorporate it into artwork. This painting really shows off a number of the 'blues.'

As I was painting this, I added some stars across the top of the sky, It seemed like that time of the day when light and dark are parting, one will take over the other. Is it almost night or is it nearly morning? You can decide.

In this above shot, you can see how I added some additional ships. There can be only one STAR, though, and my big ship is that Star that shines in this piece.

This would be a nice piece for over a sofa or mantle. It is what I'd call a large painting. The sailboat over the buffet is really huge. I seldom paint that BIG unless I have a customer in mind.

In this shot, you can see that we sometimes at Spicher and Co, print seascapes on our Vintage Vinyl. They make a great doormat or dog mat! Message me if you want to buy one. Here's another...

The ship at the top has not been scanned or printed yet. It is not for sale yet, either. There is still some work to be done on it and it is being painted for the Wilton Show which takes place in November, 2017, Wilton, CT. Here's a link for that show. Let me know if you want tickets!

http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Kolene Spicher for Spicher and Co Original antique frame artwork for sale Birds, Trees, sky, and Landscape paintings

Paintings for sale on ETSY

KOLENESPICHER Store

This is the lot of them!

There is a link to each picture below that will (if copied and pasted) take you to my Etsy store, KOLENESPICHER.

**https://www.etsy.com/listing/516455861/kolene-spicher-original-tree-silhouette?ref=shop_home_active_5

I like this one because it has the little bird's nest in the branch. I love the naked tree! NO LEAVES!

Just copy and paste the link below each painting to see them on ETSY. This puts me in mind of baby shower.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/503820520/kolene-spicher-original-painting-raven?ref=listing-shop-header-0

I also have another oval that I think is precious, too. I think WEDDING for this one!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/502982154/kolene-spicher-bird-tree-silhouette-tree?ref=listing-shop-header-1

I like this one because it is actually taken from a tree in my back yard. I live over a valley and there are mountains surrounding me with lots and lots of birds.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/516451951/kolene-spicher-original-hand-painted?ref=shop_home_active_6

I love hanging art in unconventional ways. In this picture, I have the painting hanging over the knobs of my most recent project where I painted a cabinet with blue paint to look like that old antique blue chippy paint.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/502978044/kolene-spicher-original-hand-painted?ref=listing-shop-header-2

I live in a family that HUNTS. We enjoy living off the land. I think this would be a nice painting for a man in a masculine setting. Maybe a father's day gift.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/516459757/kolene-spicher-tree-silhouette-scene?ref=listing-shop-header-3

I really love this one. Again this is a tree from near my home. I just love the shape of a tree. I love the leaves but love the tree more without them. It is just pure art. The knots, the crooked branches, the imperfections...they make the tree unique and perfect. The sky gives this a peaceful feel. LOVE.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/516455861/kolene-spicher-original-tree-silhouette?ref=shop_home_active_5

Well, that is it! I hope you take the time to go to my store and take a look at what I am offering. If you buy more than one, I can offer a better discount.

Enjoy!

Kolene Spicher

Friday, August 26, 2016

Whaling Scene

Calling All Whalers!!

Making History One day at a time.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474883307/kolene-spicher-medium-whaling-scene?ref=shop_home_active_1

Small whaling Scene

I don't know now I come up with these titles but they work. I just imagine that they would have to use banners and signs to get the word out, Worthy Whalers Wanted!

The Call to all Whalers!

So this is an antique frame. I painted this on canvas so it is not behind glass.

The colors go well with the other paintings that I have done. Most of my work blends with each painting that
I have done in the past. These both are for sale on ETSY today.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474883307/kolene-spicher-medium-whaling-scene?ref=shop_home_active_1

I love anything nautical. My house is full of all kinds of props! I like how these look sitting behind the ducks.

Here is the painting in its entirety. It measures about 11"x13" Check it out on Etsy!

For Scale

I use acrylic paint. I love to use vibrant colors to depict things but also manage to subdue them if necessary, don't like garish colors.

I wrote an inspirational saying on the back. Isn't this so true? Sometimes, when I look back at what we have had to do, I think WOW, how did we ever do it! Doing what looks

impossible starts with the first step...

Enjoy.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474883307/kolene-spicher-medium-whaling-scene?ref=shop_home_active_1

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Harbor Mermaid

Providing Safe Harbor

When the Night loses its light, I am there

This painting was executed on paper using Acrylic paint in two techniques. Watercolor

and dry brush.

Although this photograph makes her face appear a bit dark, I wanted to include it so you could see how sweet she turned out. See below for the true rendition.

She's like an ANGEL with her little etherial looking face.

I love a good story. This mermaid has it with the lighthouse, the silhouetted ship, the darkness, the light, etc. She is for sale, but not now. I have to start painting for my show in September or I am going to be in trouble. I will be forced to show up with all prints. Cry.

When the Night loses its light, I am there.

I wanted her to glow, and she does. Just like that lamp at her tail, she puts off light! I love light. This painting is actually the moon scene (background) that I painted a few months ago. I had kept that particular painting, knowing that I would morph it into something else. I wasn't sure what, though.

Providing safe harbor (written in the water).

I love the way the black frame and the gold liner pull the light and contrast the darkness that tries to overtake the night (of this painting). Isn't it so cool that we have a moon and stars that give us light. No darkness can overtake light, even a little candle is enough to outshine darkness.