Moby Dick depicted by Pennsylvania Artist Kolene Spicher

Ahab Seeks Revenge

A Nantucket looking Painting 

His Name was Ahab and he lost his leg one day
while being stoved by this great white whale... 

Recently,  I was sitting waiting on an appointment for a test.  I waited and waited and then decided that I needed to illustrate while I waited.  Might as well make some money whilst I sat!   To my delight, there were some markers and paper designed to entertain children laying on my right.  I guess I am still a girl at heart!    While I sat, I also noticed that there was a trailer for a 2015 Moby Dick movie which was directed by Ron Howard.  This caught my interest and was my inspiration.  I like Ron Howard, Happy Days.  Anyways, I updated old Moby and Ahab, I gave him my signature polka dotted hat and put a smile of sorts on that old whale.  The bird is for fun  and so is the fish.  The book tells what Ahab was thinking.

Upon arriving home, I went into my storage area and found this yummy looking period lemon gold  frame.  YES, that will be my choice.  I love the way the golds and the blues work together.  I am using up some of my favorite frames that I have been hoarding.  

Here's another yummy antique frame that I recently picked up.  I love the watercolor tones in this piece.  Both Ahab and this ship are available for purchase.  Message me if you are interested.  

The whale at the bottom is sold, but I thought it would be fun to show you what I have been working on since getting home from Wilton, CT.  The show was amazing and I thank all my wonderful customers that came out and supported my efforts.  

Back to Ahab... 

The photo is a little dark but here it is in its entirety.  

The story line goes as follows.  Ahab's ship was stoved by this aggressive angry white whale.  During this process, Ahab loses his leg.  Bad news for everyone.  Ahab is vindictive and stubborn  just like that ole whale.  He's going after it!  He's going to avenge his leg.  That whale, come Hell or high water, is going down!  LOL.

"I know not all that may be coming but be it what it will.  I will go to it laughing.  It is not down on any map,
 these places never are!"
~Ahab 

These sentences are cumbersome and problematic.  Even as I proofread it, I want to change the wording, but it is what he said.  So be it!  I love this storyline.  I always have been fascinated with whales.  Such a glorious large monster that mysteriously roams the seas.  Aren't we fortunate to still have these creatures?

Enjoy. 

Kolene Spicher 

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A series of Whales by Pennsylvania artist Kolene Spicher

Whales, Whales, Whales 

and More Whales! 

This is a series of whales that were painted for a customer in the mid west.  Depending on what she chooses, there may be some of these available by the end of this week (Jan 16, 2017).  Message me if you have any questions.  

14" x 16" No. 1-585LG

This is a watercolor on paper using highly pigmented paints, the painting is an one-of-a-kind original and the antique frame has a wonderful patina and lemon gold finish. This one is a little more unusual because I don't often come across this type of fun oval frame with the right amount of 'chippy.'

7 1/2"x 8 1/2   No. 2-165-LG

Loving all the little sailboats floating around in front of my little whale.  This frame is antique and little but it is nearly perfect in it's finish.  I love it.  Watercolor on paper! Look at his grin!

5"x6" No 3-135-LG

This is a new frame! Moby Dick!  

5 1/2" x 4" No. 4-137-LG 

I love the color tones on this one.  The frame is antique and Italian! 

4"x4" No. 5-130-LG

The depth of the sides on this make the painting look like it's in a shadowbox.  The turquoise in the water is the perfect shade to compliment the yellow gold tones in this little square frame.

17 1/2 " x 10 1/2" No. 6-485-LG 

Moby Dick...AGAIN.  This little guy isn't as little as the rest.  Measuring in close to 18" wide, this piece makes a nice statement.  It has Clean lines, a lemon gold frame, is a watercolor on paper, and  has lots of action and movement in the water!

Thanks for looking and enjoy this winter day! 

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Building a Shadow-Box frame for Seashell Captain

Shadow-Box Frame for Seashell Captain 

Getting ready for the http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/ Show!  But before I do that, I miss finish this lovely... 

Here you can sort of see the shadow box effect in the photograph above.  It is about 1 1/4" deep to accommodate the shells comfortably.  

I made a duplicate frame and attached it.  The top frame is the original 1820 lemon gold frame.  The sides are not finished because some Joe tore it apart and this was originally a liner inside of another larger frame.  

While my solid black frame is not a perfect match for the top, it is very close and your eye is really fooled into thinking

that you are looking at a "double" old antique frame in all its glorious imperfections.  

As you can see, these old frames are not perfect.  Even in its imperfection, it was considerably expensive.  Add on all the modifications, and it gets laborious, too. 

I do love these shells!  

There is a self lining extender that also has to be custom fitted and then careful slipped inside the "double."  

When finished, this is what you see.  It turned out quite lovely, if I do say so myself.  This will be the last painting I sell for a while as I am going to paint for a show in the fall up in New England.  It is the Wilton Historical Society's original show now being held at the Society.  This building is amazing and chock full of antiques and wonderful reproductions.  It will be held the weekend of Nov. 4, 2017.  Here is the link: 

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

Thanks for looking

Like me on Facebook! 

KoleneSpicher@Spicher.Company

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ROSES in an Urn - Primitive 19th Century Reproductiion

FLOWERS IN AN URN 

Pen and Ink Style Reproduction Flower Painting

Today, I decided to talk about this little painting.  I just love primitive folk art and I really like to 'invent' my own thing.  If someone else is doing it, I shy away.  This particular piece was painted on paper and is behind ANTIQUE glass.  Each step of this piece was important to achieving the 'overall' look of the painting.  

Antique Lemon Gold Frame

Even the little pinstripe that I painted along the edge just adds to this picture.  I am typically not a plumb sort of girl--things are usually out of level.  Having married a carpenter and having a dad as a carpenter, makes me at the least TRY to paint straight.  Because they make fun of me if it's crooked.   I spent some time on this edge (in other words).  I love the lemon gold frame.  I usually buy them when I see them.  If there is antique glass in it, all the better! 

LOVE THE HOLE

I folded this paper and did my thing that I always like to do--distress the H E double toothpicks out of it.  I sometimes don't know when to stop--downside. 

In this shot you sort of get an idea of the scale of the piece.  Take a look at that banana.  You can see that this is about 2 1/2 bananas high and 2 bananas wide.  Now I am sounding like a monkey. 

This painting is sold! 

Another Urn painting 

In this style, I chose to do mostly black and white ink.  It still has that primitive feel but is really not as 'serious' of a painting.  It is fun and stylistic and even contemporary.  This is also sold.  I included it so that you can see some of the various styles that I like to experiment within.  I actually blogged about this painting on February 8, 2014 if you want to look it up! 

Closeup!

I hope you have enjoyed today's post.  It takes a lot of my morning each day doing it, but I really enjoy it and it makes me happy--that's the goal. 

Enjoy! 

 

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