Unique Circuit Board Clock

Here is another clock I have done.  This one is made of old hard drive parts.  It would be easy just to place the clock hands on the round platter and call it good, but I used pieces from 8 different hard drives to build this.  They are all screwed together and the platter affixed to the center.  The clock has a lot of interest when you look at it closely.    I am really proud of this one, I hope you all like it.

As with my other clocks, this one may be purchased at my Etsy store.  Follow this link to find it.

A Return to a Lost Time

This clock currently for sale.

 Well, I think we have been here before, or at least somewhere close.  This is a variation on the other clock that I made.  This one, obviously, has a round frame around a rectangular piece of diamond plate.  The frame and the hour and minute hands are flat black.  The last 1/2 inch of the second hand is bright red, the rest is flat black.  the picture doesn't show that off as well as I would like.

I'm almost out of material, so for those of you who don't like these works, you wont have to endure much more.  For those of you who do, don't worry, I'll be on to similar clocks soon enough.  This clock is currently for sale on Etsy.  Follow the previous link to view it.

Beach House

Just a quick little painting of a house set back from the beach.

Eat More Chicken

This panting currently for sale.  Contact Michael for details.

Ever been in 4H?  No, neither have I.  But you have gone to the state, or at least county fair right?  Right.  Then you've seen all the chickens at the fair, and you probably have seen one that looks similar to this.

He's a nice little rooster painted in 3 to 4 different layers of color.  The first is just the base coat.  The second and in some cases the third give definition to the bird and feathers.  The final layer adds the details to the feathers, crown and beak, eyes, etc.  I'm actually pretty happy with the way this one came out.  I may go back and paint some foliage in the background, but even if I don't I think he's a nice bird.  Enjoy.

A Return To Nature

This painting currently for sale.

Today, I present to you two pictures.  The bluebird was a lot of fun to paint.  I am still trying hard to get the layering on this right.  Did a the whole sheet with wet paint, then set it off to dry.  A second layer added color depth to the paining.  The third is only details.  The details on this painting are all the feathers, the eye and feet.  I'm really happy with the way this one turned out.  I especially like his head. The tail maybe will get a bit better in the next go round.

Painting measures 7 x 9











These frogs were fun. When I saw the picture of them, I wasn't sure if I would be able to do them justice. They were I think right eye of the right frog is a little wonky, but the painting was fun to do, and they look funny.  I really even kind of like the reflection on the water.    Painting measures 4 x 9

This painting currently for sale

Lets Revisit This Clock

This clock currently for sale.  Contact Michael for details.

I think this turned out great.   A nice frame on the diamond plate sets it off just enough.  The clock could be turned to stand on its short side too.  Keeps great time with a quartz movement.

Bunny

I am trying a new technique that I think is working out smashingly.  Instead of trying to paint everything at once and keep the paint and paper wet, and blend the colors, I'm working on many thin layers.   This allows me to paint smaller areas, and not worry about keeping the paper wet as much.

In this painting, I did all the leaves at one time.  Just a quick fill with green, but kept light.  Then the bunny, and the blue grey background.  The flowers were all done individually.  That took up one lunch hour, though if i had to do it again, I could cut that time down considerably.

So for my next lunch hour, i came back and put the color on the leaves.  When I left just the little bit of light color come through, it instantly became the viens of the leaves.  And if I didn't let the veins go straight, it looks like the leaves are curled.  Who knew!   As for the rabbit, he was totally a light brown except for the red in his ear.  I had to add on all the hair during the second go round.  Also, the head looked really flat during the first wash, so I had to paint the fur in such a way that it would give his head some contour.  I am extremely happy with the way this turned out.

Bench and Brick Wall

Plein air painting at lunch today. Had to walk across campus to meet friends, find a place to sit, then paint, pack up, and back to work all in an hour. As you might assume, I picked a topic that I though I would be able to finish given the time constraints. The place we chose was in a bricked in courtyard.  It didn't afford the most fantastic views, but it did allow us to sit in the shade. 

The plants in the area while green, didn't afford me a real pop of color to offset the green.  So I chose a little different tact.  This afforded me the opportunity to work on perspective lines and trying to keep things square.  I think I might have been able to make the grey cement of the ground a little more angled to the right, but since I had to work quickly, I didn't have that much time to double-check my work.  I still think this little painting work out nicely.   Enjoy.

A Pair of Knockers

I thought these would be a bit easier than they turned out to be.  I don't know what happened to the blue knocker on top.  up close, its a bit much to behold, but actually if you look from afar, its not too bad.  I started with an old rusty door knocker on what was a grey/blue door.  As I drew it, i thought i did a pretty good job of it, but as the paint went on, it got a little more odd with each color.  If you are wondering if it is a man or a lion, so am I.  The picture I took it from was a weird amalgam of the two.

The second one is a Lion head holding a ring in its mouth.  I think that is much easier to see.  I think I did a much better job on this one.  I am even kind of proud of the chipped away paint on the door which exposes the wood behind.

Hope you enjoy them.

Little Grey Finch

SOLD

I saw this little guy and had to give a go of painting him.  I think I got the colors a little dark, but I still think he came out quite nicely.   Perhaps on this one I should have painted a background.

Simple Man Clock

Here is the latest clock.  I call it Simple Man Clock.  I like it.  No Clutter, No Fluff, Just Clock.  The way is should be.  I will tell you that it was a bitch to try to take a picture of.  The surface is so reflective that I couldn't use a  flash, and my office is so dark that i couldn't get a good picture if I didn't use the flash.  With a little persistance, I got it worked out.

Yes, I know the hands are supposed to be at 10 and 2 to form a smile, but I didn't feel like resetting it.  Enjoy

Humming Quail... Wait, What?

This cute little humming bird for sale. 

SOLD

Ok, today we have two different paintings, and really two different types of things.  The first is of course a painting o fa humming bird.    Yesterdays was too cute, so I had to try another one.  This one looks a little like he is wearing a turtleneck sweater, but thats ok.  I was cold today while he was modeling for me.  It has a border around it because I painted it to put in an old frame I had, and forgot to scan it in before i put it in the frame.

The second is an etching that I added  color to.  The original is pressed into the paper, and is in black an white.  Ok, so I didn't go crazy with the colors.  I didn't think this picture called for it.  I have some nice greys on the rocks and nice coloring on the quail, also the sky gradually changes into green of the weeds and stops just before the ground.  I have been afraid to paint this for the longest time for fear that I would really screw it up, but I think I did a fair job of colorizing it, and keeping it looking period.

Flipping you the Bird

SOLD

Just to take a little break from doors and windows, I've decided to paint a little hummingbird.  He's cute, Don't you think?  I think his feathers got a little ruffled.

I was toying with painting a background on this one, but din't time to do it this lunch hour.  Enjoy.

Wednesday's Door and Window

Watercolor 6x9 SOLD

I think todays picture came out pretty good.  A nice perspective painting.  I painted this because I loved the way the wall had stucco, brick and rock exposed.  It made the surface really interesting.  I just hope i did some justice to the real place.  Hope you all enjoy the painting.

Tuesday Lunch

Alright, today I felt a bit rushed painting .  I still think my door turned out pretty well.  I think I am headed in the right direction with the stonework.  Maybe I should stay with that instead of the stucco like the building in the lower picture.

Hope you all enjoy these.