Another 3-D Mermaid, Part 2

The Pencil Sketch 

The Loaves and the fishes 

I have been busy painting the background on this custom piece and am ready to start painting the mermaid.  I need a good solid pencil drawing before I proceed.  I want to make sure it is just the way I imagine it.   

Antique Field Book, 1929 

I have always adored this book.  I thought the fish on it were so pretty.  I used this for my inspiration when drawing in the fish.  The mermaid is carrying a shell filled with fish and a few loaves of bread.  

I spent a lot of time on the shape of her tail, too.  When you look at her tail, you can sort of see the legs within the shape.  This was what I was aiming for for the final pencil draft. 

I hope you are not distracted by the color of the paper on this, I left it the way it was because I felt it added some interest.  It will have no impact whatsoever on the final painting.  

The inside of this book is full of mostly pencil illustrations, which I really enjoyed looking at.  

Recognize her?  

This is from my favorite pasta box.  I snapped a picture of it a long time ago.  I think this girl's posture is so beautiful.  I LOVE IT.  I used this for my inspiration for my mermaid, although, my lady is much older and mature.  You can sort of get the idea from this exactly what I was trying to accomplish.  

This mermaid is going to have (at its final destination) a back drop that is a light grey.  The customer lives at the beach and this will go to the left of her kitchen.  Although, I don't have the exact color, I do have one room in my home that is a light grey.  To get a feeling of what that might look like, I have included a picture.  

This shell tray was painted long ago by me.  I have always liked it and have kept it over the years moving it from
room to room.  What do you think of that light?  That was a goodwill purchase.  It was an ugly brown with an even uglier shade.  I replaced the shade and sprayed it white, selecting some of my favorite shells to go inside.  

I have a big frame that just happens to be the exact size of the frame that this will go into when finished.  The final frame will not be gold leafed.  It will be a walnut color (no sienna) and will be hand grained.  

The little guy in the back ground will be there in the big piece, too, but he will be catching a very specific type
of fish.  Check back to see what it is!!

Just to keep it fresh in your head, this is the reference piece that the customer seen and loved.  Can you tell that she is 3-D?  Can you see the shadow on her tail?  

The painting that I am custom doing is larger than this one (below) but you can get the feel.  

Check back soon for more images as I progress!  

Enjoy. 

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Whaling Scene by Kolene Spicher

UH-oh! 

The Composition 

I like action.  This painting will be done in the same technique as all of my other work in the sense that it will have the same flair and movement with similar "Kolene" colors.  I like to do this so that my collectors can hang them with their other earlier pieces. 

THE FRAME 

This just looks like a craftsperson's work, tramp art like.  I would say 1880.   I think the girl on the far right made it.  Just kidding! 

In some of my previous posts, I have talked about the type of person who would have chosen 'Whaling' as a profession.  They frequently attracted skilled people--educated people good with their hands.  This is because the pay was good.  Even young people participated and there was a job for nearly everyone.  I liked this frame because it looks like something that someone might have 'widdled' away at while sailing at sea. 

Closeup.  This is Walnut, I think.  The color looks like cherry, though.  Hmmm.

It has a nice thickness.  The little crack is stable and not going anywhere. 

I really love the frame and because there are warm cherry tones in it, I am going to use a color palette similar to this (below).  The glass is wavy and the image size is about 6 X 9.  I am thinking that this will be tucked away for my show in September 2016.  Google it, it is called the Bedminster Show and is located in Doylestown, PA  at the Delaware Valley College.  At this point, I am only doing one or two retail venues, the rest is strictly limited to the trade and located in Atlanta and High Point, NC.  

I will add more clear turquoise to this, too, it will not be murky  ...  and of course there will be some words.  I may do my 3-D thing with it, as well!  Playing it by ear!  It will be fun.  

Enjoy and check back often.  I am getting ready to start a 3-D mermaid.  I have actually already prepared the surface for this and am ready to go… 

Kolene 

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Kolene Spicher Original Mermaid Circus Painting - an UPDATE from 10/01/14

The Noblest 

of 

Art is that of making 

Others Happy! 

If you look at Oct 1, 2014, you will see a very different version of this painting 

So this morning, I got thinking about this painting.  I've had it for a while.  I decided that the painting (not this one but the first version of this one THAT I JUST FIXED) looked really FLAT.  It lacked what I call POP.  So, I sat down on the floor and began the process of tearing it apart.  It was time-consuming to fix but well worth it!  The first thing I did was replace the frame.  I had a really nice gold leafed one tucked away and decided that if it made this painting feel "happy" it might be worth the extra effort to fix it.  I began by painting a drape.  

The drape had to be blue because it compliments the frame. 

Next I added a stripped flag.  Remember, I wanted things to POP. 

Thirdly, I added a saying in the water "If you are Smiling, I've succeeded." 

This painting is so happy now.  It makes me want to keep it.  You know, sometimes when things aren't the way they should be, you have to take the extra time to fix them.  Ask someone to do the parts that you don't like.  For instance, I had my son Ian tear the picture apart.  I hate removing the framers points.  

Recently, I received some bad news, I said to myself, what can I change about the way I am looking at this that is making me unhappy??  I decided that I need to switch my focus.  So I am focusing on making others happy.  Like life, No painting is perfect.  But sometimes if you add something colorful and intricate, it takes your eye and focus away from what is flat and, forgive this word, dead.  That is what I am doing, focusing on something different!  My perspective has changed and I can't wait to see who I make happy (through this painting). 

Finally, I painted the HULL black.  Wow, that really brought it together. 

This was the way it WAS.  What a difference! 

Finally, I wouldn't be telling the whole story if I didn't mention that the saying on the flag came from the circus man, himself,  P. T. Barnum. I think it would make him happy to know that I felt this painting needed some of his wisdom.

Enjoy! 

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High Point Trade Show - Wall of Ships

Wall of Ships 

Some pictures of Spicher and Co's Show Room - High Point, NC 

This is one of my favorite walls

I just arrived back home from our trade show in High Point, NC.  It was a great trip and a really good show.  I thought that I would give you a glimpse into our show room there.  The above pictures features a wall of some of my ship paintings that I have sold over the years.  

Recently, we had the ship paintings RESIZED.  This simply means that we enlarged and or shrank them in  size to accommodate the SAME SIZED FRAME for each print.  This was long overdue and I am so happy that we did it! It created a lot of effect! 

Bottom Portion 

Top Portion 

Why did I bother to resize, you may wonder.  Simply for ease of hanging.  If you are bring to decorate a large wall with many pictures, it is so much easier to hang the prints if they are all the same size.  Plus it brings so much drama and effect!  

A close up! 

Love the green water with the stormy sky! 

I love how all the colors of the water just meld with one another from print to print.  You could easily do a WHOLE wall of these (if you loved impact).  It would be incredible.  If you are interested in these prints, please contact me or Spicher and Co., and I will set you up with an outlet in your area.  

Also, if you love the real deal,  check with me because I may have an original painting around my studio.  I am painting all the time and have some inventory! 

Enjoy and watch for more market pictures! 

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