Kolene Spicher Original Landscape with Red House

A Happy Family

Lives near the Water  

I don't know if you can see it, but there is a family drawn into the painting! That will be another day that this will be painted into the piece. 

I love the little garden chair and the flowers that look like an antique sampler.  I plan to add some more flowers.  LOOK AT THAT FRAME!  

This painting also has some great antique glass!  

You can see the family in this picture 

More details will be added to the house as well as the 4 people front and left of center.  

Check back early next week for the conclusion!

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Kolene Spicher original painting Whale and fisherman

His Finest Catch 

And maybe his greatest hour.

A whale of a fish! 

I love to tell a story.  True or false, it's just fun.  Today, I present my little original painting, His Finest Catch.  The size overall is 6.75"x 13.5" and I am selling it on ETSY for $525, plus shipping.  

Here are some additional pictures of this fine little painting.  By the way, I present these pictures from beginning to end and also show it hanging in various places throughout my studio so you can get the feel for size and color.  This painting was carefully antiqued at the end so as to not rob the painting of the richness of its color. 

I started out with a drawing.  

I don't know how to explain it but I go from front to back.  I start at the base (many times) of the painting and sort of work my way into the distance.  

As many small paintings usually will display well on a shelf or in a cabinet, this one is no different.  I love it displayed with my items from the sea and other nautical things.  

I wouldn't say the frame is anything really unique.  It is just a simple gold frame with great old glass which I didn't photograph because it keeps a constant glare on the painting and makes it difficult to capture the details.  

Finally, here it is with some of my other paintings so that you can see that it will blend well with my other work if you are deciding to add this to your collection. 

Look for this on ETSY at 

KOLENESPICHER 

Enjoy.  

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Kolene Spicher Original Painting, He was an Oxford Man

The Man on a Prestigious  Horse

This was one of those paintings that I thought I would never complete.  I kept setting it aside for other jobs, even though I loved it.  I had about three different titles on it, one of which was entirely incorrect in its usage of the word.  Oh My, It's good that I have a day job that doesn't involve grammar and spelling.  People at Spicher and Co would say, "Amen" to that. 

As I painted this gentleman, I kept thinking that he looked...important.  Where was he going?  Where did he come from.  I just couldn't decide.  Was he a lawyer?  Maybe.  Could he be a doctor?  No, he didn't look like he was in a hurry.  Then it hit me, he was an Oxford man, whatever that means, I don't care, I like it.  

The frame is a bit beat up but it adds character to the piece.  The liner itself is in good condition. 

The little town in the background added the color that this painting craved.  

I seem to have a certain repeated attraction for distinguished looking gentlemen.  I love horses and farm animals, too, and think they make great subject matter.  

The outside dimensions on this are 18 1/4 x 16"
This is a nice size for just sticking it somewhere, not too large and not too small. 

I love the color tones, too.  It has a mysteriousness to it but with the light background and rich red houses, the painting seems bright.    I am going to put it on ETSY but will let it hang for now beneath my favorite ship painting.  They look great together.  Here is a full shot of the ship... 

Enjoy. 

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Custom Mermaid Painting - Treasure of the sea! - Post No. 1

Sea Treasures 

I love the complexity of this Cottage style frame 

Today, I have started a new custom mermaid painting.  It's actually going to be a double mermaid painting. This painting is about the treasures found in the sea.  It will include (along with the mermaids) dogs, shells, ships, sailors--everything that we love.  Everything that holds mystery…even the sea itself will "pop" in this painting.   

When I paint, I like to draw the viewer into the painting.  To do this, it has to be about something.  The real treasures in life are the people and the animals that are placed in our care for a short time…  

This was drawn very fast, but this is the composition.  

 I want the mermaids to have some sailor friends in the background.  One standing and one sitting, it keeps things interesting! However, the painting is definitely NOT about the sailors.  It is about the dogs and the mermaids.

So ADORABLE~Both of them! 

My idea is that the big shell will hold the dogs.  The two mermaids are actually two sisters.  The "mom" of these beauties wanted them on the beach with shells, etc.  It thought it would be so cute to have the dogs, too.  

Picking the frame is always a challenge.  We decided that we wanted to go with a cottage style.  The frame is really complex.  There are a lot of tones that are under the surface that make it beautiful.  

I am definitely going to be including the warm sand.  It contrasts the frame quite nicely.  

I had this old mermaid print laying around; it is actually too small for this frame.  I thought it would be fun to throw it behind the frame just to see… I like it.  The only thing that I intend to do is go MUCH lighter blue with the water.  

I like these color tones.  

I love the blues here.  

And here...

I am going to include a ship or a sailboat, too.  I am not sure which! This was taken
on the Chesapeake Bay. 

Thanks so much for looking.  I appreciate your time! Check back soon for more updates.  I am going to begin the tedious task of drawing the mermaids very soon.  

Enjoy! 

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