Rufus Porter Style Wall Panel, Post 2

Painting In the Trees and Getting the Detail Correct 

Another day is gone, and I am no where near finished. My back doesn't enjoy working on the floor :).  This is a large painting, and it has to be done on the floor.  You get the idea, time isn't on my side, it's slow going.  

My goal with this is that the colors are bright and current but the technique, I want to look old and historic.  I plan on painting in some sailboats and ships.  I am thinking that some of the boats will have red sails.  (See picture directly above). 

As stated in yesterday's post, I want some birds in the painting, too.  They will be executed very much like the painting on the bottom left.  I love the flying bird and also the stationary ones!

I am getting closer, but no solo, yet! I love the stylized trees and the sunset/sunrise color scheme.  This will look perfect on my grey walls until I am ready for something new or it sells. 

'

Look at my mess, actually, this is rather tidy for me ~ smile. 

For now, here is what is completed.  By tomorrow, I should have some birds in the painting as well as some ships.  The panel has sort of a breadboard edge on it, which I intend to grain.  

Here is an example of some of the graining that I believe could look really cool on the edge of my mural painting 

Thanks for looking today.  Enjoy your weekend! 

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Show Paintings for September 2016 ~ The Bedminster Doylestown Art Show

Nautical Paintings for my UpCOMING 

Doylestown, PA Show (formerly called the Bedminster show)

in September 2016 

I am starting to stock pile paintings.  It is necessary for me to set aside artwork so that I am not painting "last minute" slipshod  artwork.  As I have said, I like to take my time and work thru the process and produce great stuff!! 

I removed the drape along the side as it was too distracting.  

I added ropes on either side of the red curtain and it looks really nice 

I got lucky when I picked up these frames on the two larger pieces, as they are identical in size.  I love how it all goes together.  Three of the four of these (above) were part of a painting that was all attached.  I decided that I disliked the frame and that it would sell better if they were smaller paintings.  

I love the crackled canvas.  Because they are not on paper, they are not behind glass.  

You can see how they all sort of meld together and the colors blend well.  This is important to me, as I want all of my artwork to hang well together, should you decide to buy them all! I added the little boater in the front left of the round piece.  That is why I included this piece in this batch, I know that I already had blogged about the round piece.  

Enjoy! Thanks for looking.  Let me know if you would like some free tickets to the Doylestown, PA show in September! 

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Whimsical Impressionistic Windows, Part 3

The Final two Windows

A Hotel room with a view 

I can't paint windows without including a window from a hotel.  When I visited Paris, I was transfixed with the view.  It was so gorgeous with the rivers and 

Eiffel Tower and all the architectural details, total feast for the eyes!  

I tore the edges on these windows so that I can
mount them on some beautiful paper.  I will frames them all the same size. 

I loved the idea of having a window with a topiary.  When I was in Paris, there were many topiary trees with beautiful bases.  They were lining the streets, some of them had flowers, but they were all well done and maintained.  SO MUCH FUN.  

This one is my favorite, I think.  I love all the action and the colors with the little boat.  The birds add some whimsy.  

I wish that I had 10 of these frames, but I do not.  I am going to take them to a framer and get another opinion about how they should be framed.  If anyone has any suggestions, Please message me.  I welcome the feedback.  

Ten of them!!  

This was a fun project.  It was time-consuming, but that is okay.  It is very rewarding to have something that is complete and detailed.  I will have one more post that will include how I decided to frame these.  

ENJOY! 

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Arranging and Living with Nautical Artwork by Kolene Spicher

Collecting and Arranging Nautical Paintings

Newly polished Sterling Antique Trophies really stand out!  The Cutter ship in the gold frame is only
there temporarily, as it is sold.  The whimsical print directly behind it is for sale on my ETSY KOLENESPICHER store.  

Many of you know that I am an artist and that I paint for a living for Spicher and Co.  However, did you know that I have a side of me that loves to decorate?  In fact, I have decorated many a properties--including, beach houses and other venues that are not my own.  One of the funnest jobs I have ever done was in Ocean City.  I had the opportunity to install all the artwork (mine, of course).   Sometimes it is not very easy to know where to start.  This is especially true if you have a lot of 'things' that you want to use in your staging.  I am a big fan of the layered look.  I get a lot of compliments on the mantle in the above photograph.  The trophies on the left could use a little polishing.  

I like to group paintings that tell a story.  The picture on the bottom is actually a print and will be for sale on Etsy.  My store is KOLENESPICHER. 

In the above example, it's fun to imagine that these paintings somehow all go together.  The lighthouse groupings are an obvious connection. The ships in the background of the Original with the "shabby chic" (above photo) frame sort of tie the top two to the bottom two.  I like to imagine that the sailor and mermaid were privy to the ships that are illustrated.  In my mind, they all flow nicely together.  

This is a closeup of the print for sale on ETSY.  

Keeping them all in a line is a very simple way to display them.  Sometimes if you have them all scattered around a room with a picture centered on a big wall, the artwork becomes lost and unnoticeable.  The groupings tie them and anchor them to the room.  The box and the items create a grouping--think 3! Three things always look swell, except for with people, three's a crowd. 

I know it's not practical  but I really like the seashells on the ottoman.  The stripes of the chair work with the carpeting, too!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/231940792/kolene-spicher-whimsical-light-blue-airy?ref=shop_home_active_1


Again, we have the straight line going up the wall.  Imagine a pencil line going straight up.  The nail is driven on the pencil line, carefully lining the bottom painting up with the top.  The sailboat and chair and paintings create a 3!  Think 3!!  The bottom print is for sale on my KOLENESPICHER Etsy store.  It is a second but is in good condition.

Here's a closeup!

I love the fresh clean sails.  I think it compliments the chair nicely, too!

Enjoy!
…and thanks for looking today! 

 

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Chicken Roaster Thing - Hand building Pottery

My Chicken Roaster 

A while back, I posted some pictures of some of my hand-built pottery.  This was a piece that finished 'less than perfect.'  I thought I'd bring it home, anyways, and try it out.  

If it turns out that it bakes a decent chicken, I will toss this one and make another one that isn't messed up (there is a crack that you can't see).  

Here are my steps that I took to prepare and make the chicken.  I know, this isn't a cooking blog, but it is an "Art" blog, and I consider cooking an art.  

This was the smallest chicken that I could find at the store that wasn't 'cornish.'

 

I cleaned the inside of the chicken out really well and patted it dry.  I then salted the thing like there's no tomorrow.  My experience is that most of the salt cooks or runs off.  If you don't season well at the beginning, it isn't as good.  

I then took fresh rosemary and thyme and stuffed it down INTO the piece of pottery along with some hot water and vinegar and garlic.  

I shoved a half a lemon into the rear end of this bird…interesting. 

I also put some rosemary into the pan to flavor any juices that are created in the baking process.  I lifted the skin away from the bird to stuff Rosemary and thyme under the skin.  I shoved some garlic down into the bird. 

Because the bird sitting on the pottery piece sits much higher than normal, I had to adjust my baking racks inside the oven.  I removed all but the lower rack, and turned on my circulating fan and adjusted the temperature to 375 degrees F.  I plan on leaving it in the oven until it's done (there's a little thing that pops out.)  **Also, I EVOO the outside of the chicken and put some misc. spices on the outside of the bird--including, salt, pepper, garlic, and Trader Joes Lemon Pepper!! It's in a self-grinding container.  

Also, I added some potatoes and carrots and onions into the red baking dish.  They will get crispy and delicious.  Some of the vegetables will not be consumed in their whole form, as I plan to put them into a blender with the drippings to make some sort of gravy when the chicken is finished.  

BACK SIDE

It will be interesting to see how this turns out.  The bird looks huge on this pottery stand…  My teacher will be pleased to know that I tried it! 

Enjoy! 

Merry Christmas! 

Kolene Spicher 

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Cape Cod - Cottage Style home

A Summer Home on Cape Cod

I really love that I have this person in my life that has expressed such an interest and enthusiasm in my artwork.  Not only does she forward all kinds of room settings that she finds that has my artwork

on the walls, but she also has taken the time to share with me (and YOU) her 

personal home on the cape. I love everything about this home from the 

proportions of the windows and the flag that proudly hangs at the door, to her gardener who

meticulously takes care of the outside! 

Look at the sweet pillow with the bouquet embroidery! 

The whale that hangs over the bed was one of my paintings, actually it is a print.  You can buy this through Spicher and Co.   We will gladly put you in touch with a vendor in your neighborhood.  If there is no one nearby that carries my artwork, then we will find another way!

One thing that I like to talk about when it comes to decorating with artwork is that you need to feel free to put things together that you love.  If you love blue or red and checkered patterns, then do it.  Hang a painting that compliments the blue and stick to a subject matter that you love when it comes to the artwork.  Artwork is suppose to make you feel good and pull you into a world that you otherwise may not be privy to.  

The common thread in this above picture is the blue.  But look at it closely.  The blue is subtly worked into every aspect down to the tiny blue flowers that are on the coverlet and the bedskirts.  The checks are JUST OVER THE TOP.  I wouldn't have thought to put this together and I am so impressed.  The geometric pattern pulls (automatically) with the Canton bedside light.  The blue color just ties the knot! Even the rich tones of the bed naturally compliment the blue and the scroll work reminds me of the water--hence the whaling scene.  LOVE THIS ROOM!

More LOVELY

Of course everything about this picture can be just a big DITTO from what was said above.  The antique beds and the soft yellow wall are very cottage-like.  She has really thought of everything.  From the top of the bed with the nautical ship prints to the bench at the foot of the bed~I love it all!   The quilts are the anchor in this picture and nicely tie in with the floorcloth between the beds.  Can you see how this works?  Both in color and geometric shapes, pulling this room together with the things that you love can be done by adding a few simple likenesses.  

For instance, she added some more of that same blue.   Even the lampshade with its floral pattern help to pull together the upstairs and tie one bedroom with the next.  One thing that I didn't say about each of these pictures is how much I love the black hardware on the doors.  The white trim and wainscoting is perfect for this New England home.

Her gardener again at work!! 

I would love to have a home on the Cape but to coin a phrase of one of my dear friends, "I should have been born rich instead of beautiful." LOL.  

Last year I painted a New England house for the gallery I sell to on Nantucket.  This house has the quaintness that I love to illustrate.  I loved this painting and frame and thought that it would be a neat tie-in to this entry.  The criss-cross frame would look really lovely with either bedroom.   

The bedding really adds a lot to each room.  I hate to say it but you need it all.  You have to have the bedding and the artwork and the neat beds and for heaven's sake, get the wall color correct! LOL.  Each thing by itself is not as special as when it is all put together.  You just have to know where to buy the stuff.  

Nantucket Country is a good source for antique quilts (and my artwork)--just saying. Google it! 

I blogged about this painting last year, too. 

Enjoy! 

Kolene Spicher 

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