Oh, just some stuff.

Here is what I have been calling the Enchanted Forest, but now I am thinking of changing it to The Enchanted Forest with Poison mushrooms.  What do you think about those blue dots, too much whimsy?

And here is the change on Ernie Banks' tree which I thought was too harsh but now I am lightning it up a bit.

And these are my entrants for the high prestige Renaissance Art Fair which will be on Thursday, July 23rd.

 

July 4, 2026 — Elaine O.

I pondered and pondered and couldn't think of any background that would add to this...so I decided to leave it as is. I know that plate looks strange, but it matches the reference! Sure, it's drawn and not traced, but seriously, that's how it looks!

14" x 10"

I'm on the last sheet of my paper block, so I decided to do a quick still life. This is my first cantaloupe of the season (and it was incredible!). It's not finished, obviously, but there are some lessons here. I started with the cantaloupe and it looked way too dark. I thought I'd ruined the painting...until I added the surrounding dark background. A reminder that you have to keep the whole painting moving together and that values are relative.

10" x 14"

And finally, I had to sketch this rather disheveled robin who's been hanging around my front window this week. His front feathers are fluffy and "uncombed" and he's got the cutest tilt to his head. 

4" x 3"

Lerma, Burgos, Spain - second wash, and finished

Lerma - pencil

Lightening up

 That first one is the painting I was calling The Ugly last week, and I think made it more, interesting (Note the red cat).  The second is a new version of the Ernie Banks tree, a little heavy-handed at this stage I think.  And the last one is because I think I need to lighten up a bit.  I am calling it The Enchanted Forest.

Alan Summer - 2026-3

 I finished the view of the Chicago River behind Blick. While I didn’t put the geese and ducks in, I thought it was a nice representation of that scene. On hot press. 

A bigger view. East Beach in Ocean Springs looking west towards Biloxi. I liked using the bloom to suggest rain and some little scraggly clouds. 8 X 10 on coldpress.  Got some work to do on the pier and shadowing. 

Survivor Three 062526

Best in Research

Got Any Pie?

  Maybe a little more work on the big shadow. I used Daniel Smith Shadow Violet (which is always a surprise when it dries) and dropped in some Peacock Blue. 

Evanston street - sketch

June 27, 2026 — Elaine O.

Well, this was originally intended as a quick impression, but along the way I got interested in the different leaves and petals. So it's moving forward slowly but I'm okay with the change in direction.

14" x 10"