Rufus Porter Style Wall Panel

Sofa Sized Wall Panel 

Landscape 

Rufus Porter Style 

Rufus Porter Wall Mural 

This little picture above is an actual Rufus Porter mural taken from a book that I have.  While I want to paint in his likeness, I don't want to completely copy him.  It has to look like a "Kolene" painting, I think.  

This is going to be a long post with a lot of pictures. 

Here was the first step in my painting which is literally about the size of a door frame.  

I started by painting it a soft yellow and pink tone.  You can see the pink along the horizon of the reference picture above. 

Then I put some mountains in on the horizon.  This is very roughly painted for now.  I am resisting the urge to pick up a little brush.  I have learned to lay it out first.  If I get caught up in the details, I will be stuck. 

Here you can see that I am starting to build some color.  Even as I type this, the painting is nowhere near done.  I am just building color at this time.  The further I go, the more I will think about adding elements that make up the composition. 

In this shot, I am starting to add some deeper tones at the base.  This will cause the other elements of the painting to form a cohesive look.  Everything starts to come together.  

This is an actual Rufus Porter wall mural.  I like the colors on this because I happen to have a grey living room.  I think the warm tones with the subtle pink hues will blend nicely.  

My first tree. 

I admit, I really didn't want to have the trunk of this tree as wide as it became.  I decided that with some bark added, it would take my eye away from the width.  I was right.  I like this.  

Here is my second tree.  It looks very basic, but art takes time. Each day I work on this painting, the colors will develop into an antique likeness of an 1810 landscape.  (Or so I hope.)

I found this on line.  I happen to like the colors of this fire board a great deal.  I confess, I don't remember who painted this.  I think it was R.Porter but I can't swear to it.  I love how the colors have come together on this board.  

Here is what I have so far completed.  Tomorrow, if there is time to work on this, I will add more detail.  

Do you remember these silhouettes I painted a few years ago?  I kept some of them and they hang around my home.  Some day I might sell a few of them, but for now, they are mine.  I happen to really love the bird one and plan to place some birds in the painting.  This is a detail that will be added much further in the process.  Every landscape has to have some birds.  

Enjoy! 

Kolene Spicher 

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Wilton, Connecticut Show

My Paintings 

I had a fabulous time at the Wilton, CT show.  It was so much fun, and I have already committed to next year, Lord Willing!!!  

These photographed a little dark, but they turned out beautifully
The one on the left is on HOLD

I love my primitives and always will.  

If you see something that you like, message me, I still have some of these left.  

SOLD

This one might have been my favorite.  Mark was sad to see it sell :)  

I really loved this one.  They were painted on antique books and the bottom one is 3-D.  The tail and the water sort of project forward.  I love, love, love this one :)

These are both gone. 

The attendance was really steady.  Each day had a good bit of traffic.  The 'Society' is already talking about what they will do differently next year to improve the show.  If you think you might like to go to 2016 show, it will be the same weekend (first weekend in November).  I can send you info if you message me your address.  You might get a Christmas card, too! 

Sold 

Mermaids are always fun to paint and seem to bring the buyers joy.  Folks, that is what it's all about for me.  This one was painted on an antique canvas, too!  It has a real vintage look and feel.  

I am keeping this one for a while. 

SOLD

On Hold. 

The next show that I will paint for won't be until next summer.  I know that seems like a long way off, but time does fly.  

SOLD

SOLD 

HOLD or probably SOLD 

Just remember that nothing is ever impossible to repaint.  I love doing something that is similar.    If you have an idea, message me.  If you like something that I have posted, I might still have it!  Just drop me a note.  Thanks for looking.  

ENJOY! 

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Rufus Porter Styled Primitive Landscape by Kolene Spicher

Solitude 

This photographed a bit darker than original

I love to paint in this genre'.  To me, it is fun and whimsical and so unlike everything else that is out there.  I love the individual characteristics that this painting --not only with the surface but also with the colors and tones. It is acrylic paint on my "RETRIEVED WALLPAPER" surface.  You can check out my other posts.  I have many paintings on this surface that I invented to create that primitive antique look  (THAT I LOVE).

Solitude 

I have named this painting Solitude because there is only one person painted into the landscape.  Although, we are never alone, sometimes we discover things about life and beauty when we take the time to walk outside and enjoy creation.  There's nobody to talk to, leaving us to appreciate the beauty of nature.  

This is painted the exact same size as the train landscape that I just posted!  They will be framed the same, too!  

These and all others will be taken to my show in Wilton, Connecticut.  

http://www.wiltonhistorical.org/americanartisanshow.html

If you get the chance and happen to live in or near NEW YORK CITY, why not take your Saturday and head to Wilton for a day trip?  There are two shows going on simultaneously.  The other is in Ridgefield, CT and is fabulous, too! 

Enjoy and thanks for looking! 

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Rufus Porter style landscape

Stylized Train Scene 

A reproduction from the mid 1800s ~ 1835-40

As I have said before, I really love the mid-19th century, specifically primitives.  

A little about  myself, I live near one of the biggest train yards in the north east. I love hearing the "clangs and bangs" of the cars as they hit one another, connecting one train to the next.  To me that is the noise of commerce and prosperity.  

Recently, I was looking thru one of my old folk art books and noticed a primitive painting of a train scene.  It was actually an old sign for a hotel, New Hampshire.  I LOVED IT and thought it would make a neat painting ~Kolene Style!! 

Things that stand out to me, the red!  Also, you should see all the wonderful cracks on this painting.  To me it looks like it was pealed from a wall.  This is what I call my RETRIEVED Wallpaper look.  

In the original painting from the 1830s, there was some very large prominent lettering across the bottom.  While I liked this, I didn't want to do an exact reproduction.  My trees and coloring are painted differently, yet it has the same look.  

The resolution is a little off on these.  I think it is because they were photographed in the evening.  This is always a bad thing.  The lighting is not great and making it difficult to get the clarity, even with an Apple IPHONE!! 

The frame material didn't arrive as of yet, so I cannot include what the finished product will look like. The frame has a burl look to it.  The piece will have a museum look (hopefully) when it is finished.  I plan on floating the mat.  

Before the Frame 

ENJOY

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A Kolene Spicher painting in the style of the Rufus Porter School

Primitive Retrieved Wallpaper Technique 

 Landscape by Kolene Spicher 

This painting and many others will be at the Bedminster Show in Pennsylvania next weekend 

http://www.bedminstertraditionalartisanshow.com

The crackled surface has the feel of being something that was "pulled" from a wall.  I invented this technique and use
it often with paper, too! 

This is a painting that is done in the Rufus Porter style.  He was an itinerant 19th-Century artist that roamed the New England area painting the walls in numerous homes.  Anyone who has an original Rufus Porter is one lucky individual.  Everything about this from the subject matter from the  exaggerated  trees to the colors reminds me of this  RPorter 'look.'  I love to paint in this style.  

Porter trees were graduated in size.

This tree fills the entire canvas, as far as the height is concerned.  This, too, was in  keeping with the way Porter painted.  The trees in the foreground were always as large as the  mural wall would hold.  I love the little guy on the boat! 

Oversized bright birds

This bird tree reminds me of a feather bush.  The red lighthouse carries your eye to the back of the painting, which I like.  A little color here and there will cause your eye to roam the entire painting.  

White background or Black?  

I prefer the black background or Mat.  I have not decided which way I will go.  I also grained this frame to make it look 'old' like the painting.  The sides of this frame are a simple black.  

Let me know your thoughts!  White background or black?  

Follow me on Facebook at Kolene Spicher.  Go to the page that I manage, not my personal page!  Thanks! 

Enjoy! 

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