Back at easel

It's been a while since my last post. We are working on some technical issues involving making the transition to a faster modem and service. I have received some photographs from my son-in-law from Wisconsin and have decided to combine elements from 3 photos into one painting. He went out last weekend and took some photos of the surrounding area-involving a split rail fence and some lake shots. Keep watching-I will hopefully show the painting in it's various stages of start to finish soon.

In the meantime, I have added a painting I did from the wedding photograph of my parents-George and Minnie Koland. They were married in 1923. My sister found the photograph and shared it with my brothers and sisters. They look much more somber and serious than I remember!

Tuesday update

I finished a painting yesterday and feel pretty good about it. The New River bridge turned out just as I envisioned it. The small farmhouse set near it makes me feel good. Even better, though, is the oil I completed of the 4 Mount Rushmore presidents. This painting shows the impact these 4 men have had on our country through my representation of what they have brought to our government and people. From Congress to farming to education-these 4 men have helped our country develop as it has. It felt good to start with the Mt. Rushmore monument and let my imagination soar from there.

Sometimes it doesn't seem real that my oils only take about 2-3 hours to complete. It feels like the paintbrush moves by itself somedays. I usually only use one brush and my palette is a mixture of oils running into each other. The blending techniques I use may not be classically correct but they sure seem to work for me!

Blog being worked on!

I may not have much to say here for a day or two as the blog is going to go through a re-vamping for a new look and the ability for Pat and I to do updates ourselves. Right now our daughter is working on it on our behalf but we want to do it from Virginia. Tomorrow we will start the transition.

In the meantime, I got 4 new canvases and my son-in-law, Bruce, sent me some photos from our trip to Vegas and landscapes of Wisconsin that I may start to play with. There may be some ideas that I can use from these photos.

What about those Packers this afternoon against the Vikings and the great Virginia Tech win yesterday!!!

Friday morning

The canvas is still calling me but Pat made me stop and have breakfast. I don't know where this will end but I have decided to paint a small corner of the stadium with the impression of the crowd as a blur of color and the Virginia Tech emblem boldly in the forefront of the painting. Let's see how that looks...be back later.

First Draft!

Sitting in my kitchen with my wife, Pat, working at her stitching. My morning golf game is finished and I won 75 cents again from my brother Laddie and friend Don. I found a photograph of the Virginia Tech stadium with the team rushing in and I know I need to paint this. Luckily there is an empty canvas sitting by my chair. That's all it takes.