tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58838411978698887762024-03-12T23:46:18.294-07:00Brushes with the LandscapeArt for sale.
I love exploring the landscape and painting and drawing on location. I hope, by sharing the joys and challenges of these experiences, that i can convey to you a fraction of the inspiration that I get from these experiences. Should you be interested in painting i'll also share lesson learned (things not to do as often as tips to try). Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-3781675331483682702022-09-04T15:50:00.004-07:002022-09-05T18:25:48.900-07:00Lands End Start to Finish<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwPzL-25lMiF-WiYK192hTqrSYn9J67iuuHUaJzD3GbIHEASYv7BmWurc007-IP1lUOsZW0KyIP8yVc3jbMJQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-31240980924409922672022-09-02T20:57:00.013-07:002022-09-02T21:02:12.160-07:00Time Lapse of Landscape Painting<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz4AXjXHQv737jTGNFW9wfPbBf1eBobmxsZMRSdHt0RXNX-NFkvrr7VFIu2rYRLlQDQ-_7Ol2aDc7mYGw6UDQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time Lapse Video (First attempt so pardon the quality) of blocking in Beaver Pond Reflections</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_yMPfZP5oFxZhZOrb1HSNKxb66A4GCorTmBAWGyKMoCL8SEP2-lPPHDs9vaPY5OoQPg2dzB1FoBGvwWr7OFwgPLBhDPea97zMDwGRSRUllu9a96J9xADyLFo1NKS2LkAIOt5rwk_wdaPB7PZ0u5CRidNV2Cyd-wJgbDtfgyFON7oftQkVcres7FH/s320/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_yMPfZP5oFxZhZOrb1HSNKxb66A4GCorTmBAWGyKMoCL8SEP2-lPPHDs9vaPY5OoQPg2dzB1FoBGvwWr7OFwgPLBhDPea97zMDwGRSRUllu9a96J9xADyLFo1NKS2LkAIOt5rwk_wdaPB7PZ0u5CRidNV2Cyd-wJgbDtfgyFON7oftQkVcres7FH/s1600/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First pass complete - 45 minutes in</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6Kr-c70NI7Ewk9ADfHWGs36VLolfaRfQdjv5n_wMGQthl4o8Fn6neDlny9pe_V5hQD0tipFLzbm3xCQx97PpL7gk51CsSry8fe9WdsB_2rBtu9GKYpAvFFUjtjlBu1AmH5vjk4o4cFbJi6Ogjg_jeVJcEqVdfwTOHDNyofmDiwqn06EnGJakM45A/s3279/IMG_5309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2431" data-original-width="3279" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6Kr-c70NI7Ewk9ADfHWGs36VLolfaRfQdjv5n_wMGQthl4o8Fn6neDlny9pe_V5hQD0tipFLzbm3xCQx97PpL7gk51CsSry8fe9WdsB_2rBtu9GKYpAvFFUjtjlBu1AmH5vjk4o4cFbJi6Ogjg_jeVJcEqVdfwTOHDNyofmDiwqn06EnGJakM45A/s320/IMG_5309.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Final Painting for sale</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-37612803327472575542022-08-28T12:44:00.001-07:002022-08-28T12:49:01.493-07:00Beaver Pond Reflections Final<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfGQgLYR8xZzNNGwOrNiP7r4ggQTO_5R507vZi0ozoFzlh_mVweVrSzyPExqFwTeIzP1hedyPpupIRUJfoB8Aqx7Byvrs2R47QxZr8eSYLr5Qgd5gcwIdiDjH6CR7qmZmsCRwO0GigFOh-CiQ9_LCiEIoeFR-2GqESXobrzFJc8dhsrU7W55dr5--/s3279/IMG_5309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2431" data-original-width="3279" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfGQgLYR8xZzNNGwOrNiP7r4ggQTO_5R507vZi0ozoFzlh_mVweVrSzyPExqFwTeIzP1hedyPpupIRUJfoB8Aqx7Byvrs2R47QxZr8eSYLr5Qgd5gcwIdiDjH6CR7qmZmsCRwO0GigFOh-CiQ9_LCiEIoeFR-2GqESXobrzFJc8dhsrU7W55dr5--/w400-h296/IMG_5309.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beaver Pond Reflections - Crawford Maine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Acrylic 12" x 16"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below left was the painting before final adjustments for color and composition. Subtle differences in the height of the background trees. I developed the trees on the island and the shape of the island a bit more and, lastly, added some detail and color contrast to the pond, reflections, and foreground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I particularly enjoyed painting the foreground. When exploring the Maine streams and woods in the summer or fall, you will often see trees and driftwood deposited by the spring runoff high among trees or high up on river banks. That was the inspiration for the tree in the lower right foreground. A small thing, an incidental accident, almost unconscious but as soon as I made the first brushstroke - there it was. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizHEr3QtinXZCc0BGXLN4z4r46r52nFum1A7_c7WT5VsLQyt4hZKFx29QYdzOMs9q5fe3YbTvKl-tB2NPToidy9gHAifUaxw9PAk8KIochcXW4uqYYImPmLRW0p5iRLmuGSOrvk_SR3y9yg1QpVaBBrMGjIfcRGov9WBq54j0_TtPZx2oJlI6G-sor" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfGQgLYR8xZzNNGwOrNiP7r4ggQTO_5R507vZi0ozoFzlh_mVweVrSzyPExqFwTeIzP1hedyPpupIRUJfoB8Aqx7Byvrs2R47QxZr8eSYLr5Qgd5gcwIdiDjH6CR7qmZmsCRwO0GigFOh-CiQ9_LCiEIoeFR-2GqESXobrzFJc8dhsrU7W55dr5--/s3279/IMG_5309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2431" data-original-width="3279" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfGQgLYR8xZzNNGwOrNiP7r4ggQTO_5R507vZi0ozoFzlh_mVweVrSzyPExqFwTeIzP1hedyPpupIRUJfoB8Aqx7Byvrs2R47QxZr8eSYLr5Qgd5gcwIdiDjH6CR7qmZmsCRwO0GigFOh-CiQ9_LCiEIoeFR-2GqESXobrzFJc8dhsrU7W55dr5--/w200-h148/IMG_5309.jpg" width="200" /></a> <img alt="" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizHEr3QtinXZCc0BGXLN4z4r46r52nFum1A7_c7WT5VsLQyt4hZKFx29QYdzOMs9q5fe3YbTvKl-tB2NPToidy9gHAifUaxw9PAk8KIochcXW4uqYYImPmLRW0p5iRLmuGSOrvk_SR3y9yg1QpVaBBrMGjIfcRGov9WBq54j0_TtPZx2oJlI6G-sor=w200-h150" width="200" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">The other challenge I run into when painting is to find the proper balance of detail and impression. I prefer letting the imagination fill in detail whenever possible.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">While reading a book of Rusty Heurlin's with his notes in the margins - he had underlined and noted the importance of simplification in his work. "Simplify, Simplify, Simplify.... Put in only what is necessary in a picture and no more."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Easier said than done but the experimentation is fun and remember - there is almost nothing that can't be undone!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-2171117363952062022022-08-25T19:35:00.001-07:002022-08-25T19:41:07.705-07:00Process versus Spontaneity<p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ExqHZT1FrP6HSwXNwmuP_z5Dvy7mg9Z4DGDZE54sFkQ9UcjqPovhC7_dU650ruCXHSZxIIkgW_y0S7BWfSIZfMrf8XORiQKTX9mP0f9jD8zXdMz077zyLbzTBvSCwEXkWDuW3Cp9KlRN6LXTUyTrEHy37iX-9CBAi0JxGL7ZXzcdljJ68C6jknxP/s4032/IMG_5258.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ExqHZT1FrP6HSwXNwmuP_z5Dvy7mg9Z4DGDZE54sFkQ9UcjqPovhC7_dU650ruCXHSZxIIkgW_y0S7BWfSIZfMrf8XORiQKTX9mP0f9jD8zXdMz077zyLbzTBvSCwEXkWDuW3Cp9KlRN6LXTUyTrEHy37iX-9CBAi0JxGL7ZXzcdljJ68C6jknxP/w400-h300/IMG_5258.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Acrylic 12" x 16"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is an update on the progress of Beaver Pond - Crawford. This represents about 45 minutes of work with Acrylic directly on canvas to block in the composition and then about 10 minutes on another day to begin to zero in on correcting colors. (2nd pass)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite type of painting remains on location painting, starting and finishing in one session - generally about two to two and a half hours. However, when I don't have the time to paint on location I'll use on location sketches and trips as inspiration. I've documented this elsewhere if you are interested.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In general my method in these types of cases for acrylics is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Compositional Sketches (very loose - mostly line drawings)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Larger Charcoal Sketch to work on values</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then onto working with Paint:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1st Pass Covering the Canvas in Paint</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Blocking in the composition rapidly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> While attempting to get colors and values correct at this stage - but </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> not worrying if the colors are off </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2nd Pass Fine tuning painting for both color and composition</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Set aside for a few days (or months or years in some cases)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3rd Pass (if painting is not completed) further refinement</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I resisted developing a system or process for years. I just wanted to get out and paint. While that helped me develop as an artist in many ways, it was also frustrating for me as I often spent as much time searching for what I needed, often wasting what little time I had for painting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've slowly come to realize that even on a day when nothing goes as planned with a painting, if the results are horrible and in no way reflect what I am trying to capture - it's fine. I still have learned something. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It took me years to establish a system that works for me with the time I have that still allows me to maintain a sense of spontaneity and excitement when I'm painting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also have a "go bag" (three actually) for Watercolor, Acrylic, and Charcoal in addition to my main paintbox which I will switch out between all of the above and oil paintings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-54166381855753903032022-08-21T19:25:00.001-07:002022-08-21T19:39:00.333-07:00Fall Reflections by Elmer Ham<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg_peoiwfewLblflkUo2GuXJPFIS0UYUCaxf8XPn1r01O1WTAD9AbKWrZpFE0ZK8tKwoFQ4-LpAswKyoTqnwnhmYcYJhBiOdyUogqrS_kWt2pZ4rRD9-oiwS8delbQ5CL7kecxHKYCENPzgotiZCLqL94IOrzizIYBgCa9Gz2diNOewOYGPb6SBxtr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="865" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg_peoiwfewLblflkUo2GuXJPFIS0UYUCaxf8XPn1r01O1WTAD9AbKWrZpFE0ZK8tKwoFQ4-LpAswKyoTqnwnhmYcYJhBiOdyUogqrS_kWt2pZ4rRD9-oiwS8delbQ5CL7kecxHKYCENPzgotiZCLqL94IOrzizIYBgCa9Gz2diNOewOYGPb6SBxtr=w640-h475" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watercolor by Elmer L Ham</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love the light and the sense of atmosphere captured by Ham in this watercolor painting. While this is likely a painting executed in studio - it clearly demonstrates to me the lifetime Ham spent studying nature and painting and sketching on location.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is most likely a Maine or Massachusetts scene by Ham. I've seen landscapes and florals executed by Ham in Watercolor, Pastel, Oil, and Pencil. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Working as a sign painter and painting outdoor advertising murals allowed Ham to pursue his love of painting throughout his life. Ham exhibited paintings in Boston, Provincetown, and Springfield Mass, and Ogunquit and York Maine as well as in competitions and local venues throughout New England and California.</div><br /><br /></div><br />Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-21912285069659787262022-08-14T09:47:00.000-07:002022-08-19T19:01:38.513-07:00Elmer L Ham (1884-1978) Two Seascapes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWsWOP-78wpat2De89WQyLfiP65r2H570m9NnvXlKIDzFVs5IoS9FbmXELRPSGPPyoplCIvvv-alrOOmjElm2lK5ah32d5p3WE62AapKkx-XYYCLzQ2lxyBuC4DK24GtB8t7N3l24Ur1K0jSH7d0bKtenSavZ-0nYx6-1gUgF1HDeVPz8wWzDdjL6M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="882" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWsWOP-78wpat2De89WQyLfiP65r2H570m9NnvXlKIDzFVs5IoS9FbmXELRPSGPPyoplCIvvv-alrOOmjElm2lK5ah32d5p3WE62AapKkx-XYYCLzQ2lxyBuC4DK24GtB8t7N3l24Ur1K0jSH7d0bKtenSavZ-0nYx6-1gUgF1HDeVPz8wWzDdjL6M" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Elmer L Ham painting a seascape on location (en plein air) location unknown</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Discovering this photo of Ham painting on location confirmed what I had expected when I first saw one of his paintings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is something about painting on location which I find intoxicating. As I've written elsewhere, I came across a few old beaten up black portfolios thick with paintings tucked away in a corner in an upper floor amongst overturned furniture. When I opened the first portfolio I was mesmerized by the painting after painting, which had the life, movement, and crispness of having been painted on location or at least having been painted by someone who was a student of both nature and painting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are examples of a couple of watercolor field studies done on location by Ham. Ham often traveled and painted on location with his life long friend - Vladmir Pavlovsky (1884-1944). Ham and Pavlovsky shared a studio in Boston on Newbury Street.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpzneOrze25CqzN0dQSZMkSALqVlI90HkTlAMfXj186DYjbr_ykt15zkAejwoc0Rzjm_9dsv9je0LOOe6DjdrfwDIdAz3K-Zf0cN3mow4tcd9qc9I7njlzphfvfsJ-pXPoqNUo1_HB80_Sa0RJk6D9uAGR8pusqSi8ffniOyIa6ElMi57vopNc1oO/s4032/IMG_0429.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpzneOrze25CqzN0dQSZMkSALqVlI90HkTlAMfXj186DYjbr_ykt15zkAejwoc0Rzjm_9dsv9je0LOOe6DjdrfwDIdAz3K-Zf0cN3mow4tcd9qc9I7njlzphfvfsJ-pXPoqNUo1_HB80_Sa0RJk6D9uAGR8pusqSi8ffniOyIa6ElMi57vopNc1oO/w400-h300/IMG_0429.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watercolor Seascape by Elmer L Ham</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDPFyurYR_3R8KUcUsAn1kXm_U4C4-Gs1m8kd1dG5jx8I8C67gT-1LV8WSAbOPw8_KoLOeKLywUYdcYQinKTgveOOUf6a9UVUqPJ7DSQs1HHY-asGIP9kQwybJm-S1-jUABzs4qw-NvJEbK-Ma_GU7ts70e013P4kdPLgV_gVDkZecWs6oN3dyjg6/s4032/IMG_0669.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDPFyurYR_3R8KUcUsAn1kXm_U4C4-Gs1m8kd1dG5jx8I8C67gT-1LV8WSAbOPw8_KoLOeKLywUYdcYQinKTgveOOUf6a9UVUqPJ7DSQs1HHY-asGIP9kQwybJm-S1-jUABzs4qw-NvJEbK-Ma_GU7ts70e013P4kdPLgV_gVDkZecWs6oN3dyjg6/w400-h300/IMG_0669.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watercolor Seascape by Elmer L Ham</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-77872178818221833272022-08-14T06:11:00.000-07:002022-08-14T06:11:36.749-07:00Beaver Pond - Crawford - in progress<p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzAKDGUWLuy7BHtYE0YCYBoPbQx0M4Q2XAiS92WT_GZbAtrjk87aCRBDUDHhYQU4OU7eb5uWkGQ9NwKQ1Ku8u3W893KX1lCCjpQ1xb99BawmYo9CLCv-br7NQGYScWv7Dmw23sXBs4W34e-m6cVaLtxCQV0iBJ4ECWVP2N84mv0VDgYfYbr010-G5/s4004/IMG_5194.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2792" data-original-width="4004" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzAKDGUWLuy7BHtYE0YCYBoPbQx0M4Q2XAiS92WT_GZbAtrjk87aCRBDUDHhYQU4OU7eb5uWkGQ9NwKQ1Ku8u3W893KX1lCCjpQ1xb99BawmYo9CLCv-br7NQGYScWv7Dmw23sXBs4W34e-m6cVaLtxCQV0iBJ4ECWVP2N84mv0VDgYfYbr010-G5/w400-h279/IMG_5194.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beaver Pond - Crawford</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charcoal - 18" x 24"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The above charcoal is part of my process in what will be one of my next paintings. I stopped on my way home from a trip Down East at a little roadside rest area in Crawford. The play of light through the thick trees and the reflections in the beaver pond on the far side of the brook running through the rest area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were so many potential subjects to paint. In years past it would have been overwhelming. But I've learned to just take a deep breath and to simply soak in the sights, sounds, and smells. I had the place all to myself for nearly twenty minutes. I took a few photos for reference as well as I didn't really have the time to sketch as much as I would have liked. For me, photo's have become a way to take notes at times when there is a fleeting effect in nature, or as in this case, an area that is not one I'm likely to get back to very often.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suspect I'll never see this place looking the same way again. The water was so low due to drought so what was normally out of sight in the middle of the river was front and center. Judging by the river bank, I was standing high and dry in what was normally chest deep water. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is a page from my sketchbook. I made the two compositional sketches on the left with a few notes from my recollections. I wanted to paint some compositional sketches but I simply didn't have the time to paint even small sketches.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAo6w2WdUJl0rnfbQ2mxqJ2d4w8PKLX0b9HoojMfEckPjhJOFAcwJxwUKBTIEGEYIaoJGWHJ2CKYvrosGa2JD3VxEt7c1xH2IaJIbOFexemTm4A8M2l8T_W-FljEAvMxnJAgea9ER9-N5iNQCSMdOSARjTcmq7Sgq8TLr1YGuXzgw0J7uVhxpyS4Ja/s4032/IMG_5127.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAo6w2WdUJl0rnfbQ2mxqJ2d4w8PKLX0b9HoojMfEckPjhJOFAcwJxwUKBTIEGEYIaoJGWHJ2CKYvrosGa2JD3VxEt7c1xH2IaJIbOFexemTm4A8M2l8T_W-FljEAvMxnJAgea9ER9-N5iNQCSMdOSARjTcmq7Sgq8TLr1YGuXzgw0J7uVhxpyS4Ja/w320-h213/IMG_5127.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first few compositional sketches were closer to as the scene really was, but in order to capture the feelings I had while there, I needed to rearrange the elements and open up the composition as in the larger charcoal sketch. I've grown to really enjoy working out compositional issues in these quick sketches. It's almost like completing paintings except that it's much quicker and I haven't spent two hours painting something to then discover I've got to start over if I want the effect I was pursuing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Am looking forward to launching into a large watercolor of this subject and smaller oil. I am also thinking of painting this view as a fall and winter subject as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-62830408494404926092022-08-06T13:32:00.001-07:002022-08-06T13:32:41.169-07:00Sunset Paris Hill Pass 2<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFD0CODNIFZGb3Ch_Sa30EFRvg6ZenEM7Wqitub-o7PqDbYdsOTvYbZDNtNoY8dY5Vw-QHFRJ7i_SjjC79bjEfcp130phiqn0p3MpY8TwgmzbjPFk9Txzl9xkNAhF3-wqsQg-ze9sTpPGLyq1BKzGur7Zkc8HvNanKsecaNJ6VqYYM91KFL8kByEL/s4030/IMG-5123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2634" data-original-width="4030" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFD0CODNIFZGb3Ch_Sa30EFRvg6ZenEM7Wqitub-o7PqDbYdsOTvYbZDNtNoY8dY5Vw-QHFRJ7i_SjjC79bjEfcp130phiqn0p3MpY8TwgmzbjPFk9Txzl9xkNAhF3-wqsQg-ze9sTpPGLyq1BKzGur7Zkc8HvNanKsecaNJ6VqYYM91KFL8kByEL/s320/IMG-5123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is today's pass with Gouache over the charcoal sketch below. The Focus was mostly on the sky and distant mountains. The house had a particular shade of blue which is work for another day. Feels great to be painting again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8NVkRO5PXBxr7VeOImRIDEJVVfMyEVXxvZqEEc7xZzE2YcFSZQnfWj-905YRXTwz9pn-4NOGiQyPrGUNcC2ctMvwN9xUkNtzNaU2MpiFQrI2wZzlozZYVpXzvGpaXcoP7Jl6vVQi2_sClqlidLgbPfYbGGPXPlAoeERch1VSmwC42LR4-wbXicTI/s4032/IMG-5104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8NVkRO5PXBxr7VeOImRIDEJVVfMyEVXxvZqEEc7xZzE2YcFSZQnfWj-905YRXTwz9pn-4NOGiQyPrGUNcC2ctMvwN9xUkNtzNaU2MpiFQrI2wZzlozZYVpXzvGpaXcoP7Jl6vVQi2_sClqlidLgbPfYbGGPXPlAoeERch1VSmwC42LR4-wbXicTI/s320/IMG-5104.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-33879687398917533212022-08-06T09:31:00.000-07:002022-08-06T09:31:16.716-07:00"Just Paint"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VsZhQRXWRiRRxRSrJnQxaduA_4y44BtFYqBQXosGi0aNeNPx-OtXoDNDumpCl4YsagcVDh0jAnVb--Q-iL7Jw7NO8oMSaXrfroVs_aq3qStyvOcg7n3C6hjD8vwvXyMhOSsMhe0k345Jgz8d7qXkH0yPlhBwVWJs2mgCiFlbDd3j2bE9DRH0-Xa8/s4032/IMG-5104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VsZhQRXWRiRRxRSrJnQxaduA_4y44BtFYqBQXosGi0aNeNPx-OtXoDNDumpCl4YsagcVDh0jAnVb--Q-iL7Jw7NO8oMSaXrfroVs_aq3qStyvOcg7n3C6hjD8vwvXyMhOSsMhe0k345Jgz8d7qXkH0yPlhBwVWJs2mgCiFlbDd3j2bE9DRH0-Xa8/w320-h221/IMG-5104.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charcoal Compositional Sketch<br />18" x 24"</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>I fell into my bed - exhausted. Drifting off.... "Just paint" <div><br /></div><div>It could have been the tinnitus, but the voice was persistent. "Just paint" </div><div><br /></div><div>I dragged myself out of bed and stumbled down cellar to my studio where I had previously taped four blank note cards to my easel. </div><div><br /></div><div> For a host of reasons, I've been unable to paint for quite awhile - too long for my liking. But where to start? "Just paint" </div><div><br /></div><div>Many years ago on Paris Hill a particularly striking sunset looking west from the village green beyond Hannibal Hamblin's house to the mountains beyond was seared into my mind. It was breathtaking.... I soaked up every minute of that sunset. </div><div><br /></div><div> "Just paint" </div><div><br /></div><div> I did a few quick Pen and Ink compositional drawings and then broke out some gouache and did these four quick compositional studies. From the top left to right - sketches 1,2, and 4 were closest to the actual scene as it was. Three was a combination of the scene with a cloudscape at sunset from a different time and location. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4_hGeDKS3HQQ1_R20q56YL0we-Sz-qQyv8WPcXB8BG3dzrruvXnadA1FtUid_nfVsqpK8ZJLEcPOJC9K6oU8mvyR3ftn7aptE4mq01rkIQd4vQsBoEzMuuxCHQDTMX-IVXqcVfRWM9-TuG5FbrTcPdU2OqAQm2sKnfGYHmLmo_7zIyiMqr1Ip-QG/s4032/D82AE68D-5A86-4C98-8B43-A77E19576E36.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4_hGeDKS3HQQ1_R20q56YL0we-Sz-qQyv8WPcXB8BG3dzrruvXnadA1FtUid_nfVsqpK8ZJLEcPOJC9K6oU8mvyR3ftn7aptE4mq01rkIQd4vQsBoEzMuuxCHQDTMX-IVXqcVfRWM9-TuG5FbrTcPdU2OqAQm2sKnfGYHmLmo_7zIyiMqr1Ip-QG/w400-h418/D82AE68D-5A86-4C98-8B43-A77E19576E36.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The color was way off (off-full you might say) but for my purposes it didn't really matter. I just needed to push some paint around and work out a few ideas that though they would not be exact representations of the scene but that would capture the feelings it provoked in me. </div><div><br /></div><div>In looking at the sketches - a combination of numbers two and three let to this larger charcoal sketch (18" by 24") which will be the basis for a finished painting<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvyKuZjKbMRyP2mxRumklk_NEULDiSXJJ36wLFhFd6qFRykwzpyDqT5aktEJ7SAuYxb__ACSZvdeGLYkQYOlGVsq9DHjsaRD_rzXu2nkizlFhL_0vc8doCIraL7aDQzhdyvR1_exELEsXZNVyiLxwBYPefdSvqXfxKk9tXPEy8F3iOq3_drSEnbwz/s1170/76808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1170" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvyKuZjKbMRyP2mxRumklk_NEULDiSXJJ36wLFhFd6qFRykwzpyDqT5aktEJ7SAuYxb__ACSZvdeGLYkQYOlGVsq9DHjsaRD_rzXu2nkizlFhL_0vc8doCIraL7aDQzhdyvR1_exELEsXZNVyiLxwBYPefdSvqXfxKk9tXPEy8F3iOq3_drSEnbwz/s320/76808.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are all quite loose for sketches, but each one informs me a bit more and helps me catch errors in composition before being heavily involved with the final painting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thank God I'm no longer held captive by the thought that each and every painting and drawing must be perfect and "finished." It relieves so much unrealistic self imposed stress to not make any "mistakes." I wish I'd figured that out well before my mid 40's </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each and every effort informs the next one and so on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just Paint!</div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-9902568074377188612022-07-31T10:39:00.000-07:002022-07-31T10:39:28.795-07:00With All Thy Might<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEIRtbNftENDIEIpeGFJCkfhI-arPugUQCwnSW-XYjyb5QhRLSIYhtae8DI5lAggJ36CFJtz7PKiLzD3ST33e2GiDfy6TDVvjj4MiJn4kUtsyhSDt6paVjQloPzOrseMd_AgwYorB6713V2qSCzWZup15cHxKYCJiTa9oyr3P00T5GwfAQar1PutR/s1694/with%20all%20thy%20might%202.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1694" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEIRtbNftENDIEIpeGFJCkfhI-arPugUQCwnSW-XYjyb5QhRLSIYhtae8DI5lAggJ36CFJtz7PKiLzD3ST33e2GiDfy6TDVvjj4MiJn4kUtsyhSDt6paVjQloPzOrseMd_AgwYorB6713V2qSCzWZup15cHxKYCJiTa9oyr3P00T5GwfAQar1PutR/w400-h276/with%20all%20thy%20might%202.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With All Thy Might<br />Acrylic 12" x 16"</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I enjoy times at the coast when the weather is such what the roar of the ocean and wind drown out the concerns of the day. These walks and painting sessions bring to me a deep sense of peace that is both as indescribable as it is increasingly rare in the frenetic pace of our daily lives</p><p>This subject, like many of mine, is a combination of a number of places along the Maine Coast and it's islands. The bulk of the painting was completed in one day. I'd really been fascinated with the ever changing cloud formations.</p><p>The original pass at this subject is below. I knew that the wave was not correct, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it - so I simply set it aside..</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPasaq8Ciber-wyIN5fb1ePHySHLMGjOit9cnnTK6AuyPfW2-MO2IhtcGDhgpwU6cEbeBmGvare-Dn6Jzt_a2Y0d5Y3_3ui4TH8xt-o8AuYm-CxepkXx32EfWDeX15avm11D1AcLD1Y2Ri1qP0awFPyJ3lbwXSkWB8mGeRCrruynDXjb08jOlhBuH/s1592/with%20all%20thy%20might%201.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1592" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPasaq8Ciber-wyIN5fb1ePHySHLMGjOit9cnnTK6AuyPfW2-MO2IhtcGDhgpwU6cEbeBmGvare-Dn6Jzt_a2Y0d5Y3_3ui4TH8xt-o8AuYm-CxepkXx32EfWDeX15avm11D1AcLD1Y2Ri1qP0awFPyJ3lbwXSkWB8mGeRCrruynDXjb08jOlhBuH/w400-h294/with%20all%20thy%20might%201.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometimes the time in between first pass and second is less than a day. At other times - years. In this case it was the latter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I added more movement to the wave, with the center pushing forward more quickly. I also added a little more contrast to the tall grass and a few hangers on - leaves on the saplings. I'm always amazed how nature finds a way - in this case a few leaves in an exposed wind and surf driven spot remain attached even through the first snow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#robertkahlerlandscapepainting,#acrylic, #maine, #ArtForSale, #WorkingMethods, #seascape</div><p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-45512574880996691692020-12-21T20:30:00.004-08:002021-09-19T18:01:08.977-07:00Rising Tide<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LDdJInJc9A7oti9sh4mYFvDMgWqH5g2Ld0Fpj4z1K04YNd3n42g2dGAF9VwF7n8L6UaGDW-TjfqJ2i4m2jNe4HD5-x55YUswP-0Pmcy-oFrosWO2XSy6pqCRJXWg3Ut64FM1615rQHM/s2048/675402A4-3430-48FC-9DCF-4E8D2F34C1E0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2048" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LDdJInJc9A7oti9sh4mYFvDMgWqH5g2Ld0Fpj4z1K04YNd3n42g2dGAF9VwF7n8L6UaGDW-TjfqJ2i4m2jNe4HD5-x55YUswP-0Pmcy-oFrosWO2XSy6pqCRJXWg3Ut64FM1615rQHM/w400-h295/675402A4-3430-48FC-9DCF-4E8D2F34C1E0.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>#eastportme #artforsale #watercolor #robertkahlerlandscapepainting<p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-12286721511552912302020-11-14T08:51:00.004-08:002020-11-14T08:55:46.153-08:00Above the Mill Pond<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWWKYdZFMtBGDrytir2C6YYg60iUqxCAksUGOMETpzNFxi0zoXG8Fy2a4sh1fbk4v-fVv16Z8sHGD3n1BhB4P4pG7NuiU7CztVwmpmrgrtQw8lyQHRG8vNwmJi_OjcQjNmToemFRMXvE/s2048/IMG-6377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWWKYdZFMtBGDrytir2C6YYg60iUqxCAksUGOMETpzNFxi0zoXG8Fy2a4sh1fbk4v-fVv16Z8sHGD3n1BhB4P4pG7NuiU7CztVwmpmrgrtQw8lyQHRG8vNwmJi_OjcQjNmToemFRMXvE/w640-h472/IMG-6377.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Above the Mill Pond</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mixed Media - Acrylic and Oil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">12" x 16"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This painting began on a Sunday afternoon drive. I did some on location Pen and Ink sketches and then explored the area as much as time allowed. The small watercolor sketch below was done in studio and just a quick experiment to see how I might capture different aspects of the area in one painting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgryF-Hs2YZyvRfT3ukqyZ8x3pUu4zm26jZdneEMd_7OigaORMLasCEmAL-c-0GGEaxjZnZ9KKRnW0fxYg_0_FJrV52EB9F0pQ8-UcIP732zyTxbulXcF7tDMFzRfmZ10UPu4PznsqQ4/s2048/IMG-4671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1739" data-original-width="2048" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgryF-Hs2YZyvRfT3ukqyZ8x3pUu4zm26jZdneEMd_7OigaORMLasCEmAL-c-0GGEaxjZnZ9KKRnW0fxYg_0_FJrV52EB9F0pQ8-UcIP732zyTxbulXcF7tDMFzRfmZ10UPu4PznsqQ4/w200-h170/IMG-4671.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is the first pass at the subject with Acrylic paint. I enjoyed the exercise of altering the perspective of the subject. I also wanted to simply suggest the background bank of the mill pond rather than painting it directly. Although this "draft" of the subject did capture some of what I was trying to achieve, it wasn't complete in my mind. I set the painting aside and moved onto other subjects - which is something I do either consciously while I let things simmer in the background of my mind. The more I paint and observe, the more I have to draw on for the next subject.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuW76kwUuB4sBjsvY1fVGyFTOhyi-mdA3ZbFeJJTsWQzWpOKlIeI0F9uZ1IaOwAZQ1XjTrs8Fw86DG6vThVvpmfmLqUB-KNn6RBdP8A_B2StaNy8wpI4X0WAarejnVMp4unUs4NPAtjFc/s2048/IMG-4765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="2048" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuW76kwUuB4sBjsvY1fVGyFTOhyi-mdA3ZbFeJJTsWQzWpOKlIeI0F9uZ1IaOwAZQ1XjTrs8Fw86DG6vThVvpmfmLqUB-KNn6RBdP8A_B2StaNy8wpI4X0WAarejnVMp4unUs4NPAtjFc/w320-h245/IMG-4765.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWWKYdZFMtBGDrytir2C6YYg60iUqxCAksUGOMETpzNFxi0zoXG8Fy2a4sh1fbk4v-fVv16Z8sHGD3n1BhB4P4pG7NuiU7CztVwmpmrgrtQw8lyQHRG8vNwmJi_OjcQjNmToemFRMXvE/s2048/IMG-6377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="2048" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWWKYdZFMtBGDrytir2C6YYg60iUqxCAksUGOMETpzNFxi0zoXG8Fy2a4sh1fbk4v-fVv16Z8sHGD3n1BhB4P4pG7NuiU7CztVwmpmrgrtQw8lyQHRG8vNwmJi_OjcQjNmToemFRMXvE/w320-h236/IMG-6377.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-84048941466515003212020-10-25T15:38:00.005-07:002020-10-31T10:46:35.410-07:00Robert Kahler Landscape Paintings for Sale!<p>Tired of hearing about the election? Looking for a unique gift for the holidays? Escape into Art!</p><p>I have one watercolor and two charcoal drawings for sale at River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta, ME. Two of the three are pictured below. These are sold without frames which allows a lower price for the holidays!</p><p>If you are interested in any additional paintings on my facebook page or blog or if you would like to potentially commission a painting please email me at robert.kahler65@gmail.com</p><p>I work in oil, watercolor, charcoal, gouache, acrylic and pencil and I have paintings ranging in size from 4" x 6" to 2' X 3'</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86x9jpBJJAJSMV45Kr9OzDC55baTLKMI4PPIZXkaJ07MAcHWR5z1xB1T8Jl8_93vhGssa8_1r4UbRwGKLXGAxNoM4ioZ9cbfH60tUOg5gjLWS9yYB1dQTmyi_vbJcFdUDlLrjmWjsFz0/s2048/IMG-4235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="2048" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86x9jpBJJAJSMV45Kr9OzDC55baTLKMI4PPIZXkaJ07MAcHWR5z1xB1T8Jl8_93vhGssa8_1r4UbRwGKLXGAxNoM4ioZ9cbfH60tUOg5gjLWS9yYB1dQTmyi_vbJcFdUDlLrjmWjsFz0/w400-h269/IMG-4235.jpg" title="Rainy Day at the Basin" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rainy Day at the Basin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watercolor and Gouache</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">12" x 18"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">$125.00</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoEDBwLp7xvoid8JTJ4NSaJrPjIM9Zyqmvvxl9ZqD88QC_Hoavvh-sXfBYzq_zDaZ18Erj6g4v8Xmv15AZzDD682XepPyvhh7Q-j1veeFukWfYgZMQvREJU5YoUsoKCk451U0D0X5Nag/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="203" data-original-width="300" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoEDBwLp7xvoid8JTJ4NSaJrPjIM9Zyqmvvxl9ZqD88QC_Hoavvh-sXfBYzq_zDaZ18Erj6g4v8Xmv15AZzDD682XepPyvhh7Q-j1veeFukWfYgZMQvREJU5YoUsoKCk451U0D0X5Nag/w400-h271/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Falls, Little River Topsham/Lisbon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charcoal on Paper</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">12" x 18"</div>$100.00<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you'd like to learn more about the locations or my creative process, please explore my blog</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52); font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">https://robertkahlerlandscapepaintings.blogspot.com</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Enjoy and be well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#robertkahlerlandscapepainting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#artforsale</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#watercolor</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#charcoaldrawing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-57676275213324328062020-09-07T11:01:00.002-07:002020-09-07T11:01:33.142-07:00Eastport Shades of the Past<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdt_wXtZ-Zo5bGezzJ4V6IFa1HVjlrFyikSRZNHuREG_5DckL_AUn8VDIHa0B057vJgX_ds79T4OgPbbLTn-fj0n0dHz4dKWmUPvFwUMhnRoYEq-k4sSJz0UZtg0KI1yVcULyDNnvmag/s2048/IMG-5778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="2048" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdt_wXtZ-Zo5bGezzJ4V6IFa1HVjlrFyikSRZNHuREG_5DckL_AUn8VDIHa0B057vJgX_ds79T4OgPbbLTn-fj0n0dHz4dKWmUPvFwUMhnRoYEq-k4sSJz0UZtg0KI1yVcULyDNnvmag/w500-h341/IMG-5778.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shades of the Past</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gouache on card stock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been experimenting with small painted sketches, working out different ideas for subjects including utilizing differently cropped perspectives which keeps the subject focused yet implies a lot of distance outside of the view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This scene was taken from an on location watercolor I completed a few summers ago in Eastport, ME. I was struck by the play of shadows on the sunlight face of an abandoned factory just off main street.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a student of history, I could just imagine the harbor filled with three and four masted schooners in its heyday and I decided to alter the pattern of the shadows on the factory to represent that history.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#robertkahlerlandscapepainting #workingmethods #sketchingwithpaint #eastport #maine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><br /> <p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-77244553579416868222020-08-09T17:59:00.001-07:002020-08-13T19:04:27.001-07:00Overcast Day at the coast<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31r5TPeuIOi23ADD0g2-nQbXQsQmC-4Zp9kUE93ox9t5TTj2j4hk6qvvwmByDDjrM_4kMxHxrgCo0HzdeoNU7VO-UgRjLbit1j_5gKxqfgxig69o6-5CXVHPNYEE8LDPFRc2a5jwFkSs/s2048/IMG-5651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31r5TPeuIOi23ADD0g2-nQbXQsQmC-4Zp9kUE93ox9t5TTj2j4hk6qvvwmByDDjrM_4kMxHxrgCo0HzdeoNU7VO-UgRjLbit1j_5gKxqfgxig69o6-5CXVHPNYEE8LDPFRc2a5jwFkSs/s640/IMG-5651.jpg" width="640" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Overcast Day at the Coast</div><div style="text-align: center;">Acrylic 3" by 5"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is another small seascape I painted after doing some detail work on a larger painting. It's an imaginary scene but based on many years of exploring the Maine coast. I find these quick sketches to be very freeing. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I go through different phases of sketching. A few years ago it was a deep exploration of pen and ink. Lately it's been small color sketches in watercolor and acrylic from imagination. I keep being reminded of how each work informs future works. While I was painting this small sketch I had a an unplanned trip. I didn't do it consciously, but when I mixed the paints I flashed back to living over a garage in Westbrook, working on landscape painting with our new arrival (Ari) asleep in the living room. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was just one brushstroke but as the paint mixed on the canvas I was transported back nearly a quarter of a century. This is also what I love about painting on location. The intense focus and observation of nature, processing it and expressing it on canvas or paper that place/moment in time becomes part of you and you of it. I urge you to give it a try!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-20063330560366938622020-08-09T13:45:00.000-07:002020-08-09T13:53:26.577-07:00Islands Edge<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkCu6STAPT0lfh6GZ1KzihAR6pD9Z7aEzLVpUnLvNXaYSmMfG_JU28S8nQXL40EeR_5w7XSCva4vHlh3qas5wNfiBLX3Ag923tyOLLr6p4Hbfv3w7x0A0UStB_41P4mcmJChOLdUewEI/s2048/IMG-5635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkCu6STAPT0lfh6GZ1KzihAR6pD9Z7aEzLVpUnLvNXaYSmMfG_JU28S8nQXL40EeR_5w7XSCva4vHlh3qas5wNfiBLX3Ag923tyOLLr6p4Hbfv3w7x0A0UStB_41P4mcmJChOLdUewEI/s640/IMG-5635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Island's Edge </div><div style="text-align: center;">Acrylic 12"x 16" </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had originally envisioned this painting with a bright clear sky with almost silver reflections off the sea. But as I began to work on it, I wanted to focus on more color in the surf - which would lend itself more to an active storm. I wanted to vary the colors in the sky more than a storm would allow so I decided to focus on after a storm with patches of blue sky and storm clouds breaking up. It would take awhile for the surf to return to normal. I also decided to have the time of year be late fall which would allow us to see through the wind blown scrub brush clinging to the cliffs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I enjoy the creative process whether it goes exactly as I had planned or, as in this case, it goes in another direction. </div><p></p>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-8723725952453405922020-08-06T17:10:00.001-07:002020-08-06T17:15:32.695-07:00Small Seascape<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpUmlZV-dHXMtVA0ALv8kRnGTRoGSPTWgpQAK-pc4g8My9vjHdLpNk_ZbVaDlI52dQfuN6dcMSTkbraTKsWJZ9XofX_7JP4DaKScymFy94LMRrYkVrpiuVnMx5zxIKj7NuPbi7mGAshs/s2048/IMG-5579.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1424" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpUmlZV-dHXMtVA0ALv8kRnGTRoGSPTWgpQAK-pc4g8My9vjHdLpNk_ZbVaDlI52dQfuN6dcMSTkbraTKsWJZ9XofX_7JP4DaKScymFy94LMRrYkVrpiuVnMx5zxIKj7NuPbi7mGAshs/s640/IMG-5579.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seascape <br />Acrylic 3" x 5"</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpUmlZV-dHXMtVA0ALv8kRnGTRoGSPTWgpQAK-pc4g8My9vjHdLpNk_ZbVaDlI52dQfuN6dcMSTkbraTKsWJZ9XofX_7JP4DaKScymFy94LMRrYkVrpiuVnMx5zxIKj7NuPbi7mGAshs/s2048/IMG-5579.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While doing some detail work on a larger seascape, I began working on some small paintings for a couple of reasons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For one, I don't like focusing for a long time on small detail work, so I need to break things up. Also, the yankee in me hates to waste any paint. If I have paint left over I try to do a small painting - like the one above. If the paints do not lend themselves to a monochrome or a painting like above, I will use it to put a first coat on a canvas if I have any about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Below are a few other examples of smalls. Some of which will be simple studies and abandoned. Others will lead to other painting journeys. All, good or bad, complete or incomplete, do help inform my future paintings. Any day painting is a good day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoD6-IdWbBCsUYe6UOqoFDtGufeLL6h5eUUj1MsLRRIZe0ZeZ6akvL4Fv0O-xYZCCzT8Gii_OAbxoCO78L6ajxMuZvmqMjwFI7Xh8PCQ1RpT36_ZMMhYnKMmiKF603ORQ5YuAc_k_sWPY/s2048/IMG-5591.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoD6-IdWbBCsUYe6UOqoFDtGufeLL6h5eUUj1MsLRRIZe0ZeZ6akvL4Fv0O-xYZCCzT8Gii_OAbxoCO78L6ajxMuZvmqMjwFI7Xh8PCQ1RpT36_ZMMhYnKMmiKF603ORQ5YuAc_k_sWPY/s640/IMG-5591.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-60582747188532728492020-07-28T15:46:00.000-07:002020-07-28T15:49:56.605-07:00Currently on Display<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltH1VHSg-bQ1uQ9zdqfDhXxCxZpr-T8Xg0DGDvi6TnBIA1CKZANKrwetIwYT9_wJ_kDwB17a2Glo3m2Bgo7ltX8lw_PjrtA1Afn5H0HDlUGlI6EikINFH8H0TQw64MHQ5fnEy5DSFV-s/s2048/breakers+march.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2048" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltH1VHSg-bQ1uQ9zdqfDhXxCxZpr-T8Xg0DGDvi6TnBIA1CKZANKrwetIwYT9_wJ_kDwB17a2Glo3m2Bgo7ltX8lw_PjrtA1Afn5H0HDlUGlI6EikINFH8H0TQw64MHQ5fnEy5DSFV-s/w500-h368/breakers+march.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Breaker - Cape Elizabeth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oil on Canvas Board 12" x 16"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This painting is currently on display in the members show at River Arts Gallery in Damriscotta through August 15th.</div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-15909783515639042072020-07-28T15:22:00.000-07:002020-07-28T15:26:25.503-07:00Lessons Learned - Is your painting complete or it it finished?<div class="separator"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3iOJmFf46dOnDglpPIWZyM30P6zR38DTJiafYTbJPh4cVowvpoUhfdG_1ai0Okk-isy70nytmi6LTdtdA6pi1pTfafvCE0z8Kb64Tpgb3maQM-WgDBYkvWSlsjtG_2YNVZFuVQmD2w4/w625-h426/IMG-5407.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="625" /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Ammonnoosuc River - Watercolor on Paper</div></div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div>I did some detail work on my large watercolor of the Ammonnoosuc River in Northwestern New Hampshire. On the lower left, was the early pass at the subject. I will, from time to time, revisit a subject. As I had left the picture, it struck me as close to what I was trying to achieve, but overall too dark. It was accurate feel for the day and time, but the river didn't match the sky. I decided to just leave things as they were for the time being to get some distance. Often in Nature - there are times and locations that are quite interesting and moving, but they don't necessarily translate into a strong composition or painting without some artistic license.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>There were parts of the picture that seemed flat to me, not enough of a difference in value. I wanted to increase the interest throughout the picture while not confusing the eye with too much detail. I remember vividly my first art show many years ago. I was not really ready to show - but I went for it anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div>I walked the grounds and viewed the works of other artists and I found myself to be exhausted by the end as I was focusing on every detail I could. I didn't really understand the lessons I was learning at the time. The eye is naturally drawn to detail. How to balance detail with leaving much up to the viewers imagination?</div><div><br /></div><div>Years later I went to an exhibition of NC Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Andrew Wyeth at the Farnsworth in Rockland, Maine. It was a breathtaking exhibition and really a master class on both composition and using, or avoiding, detail to draw the viewers eye to the intended center of interest. What I noticed immediately was that these paintings were at once very dramatic and moving, yet very "relaxing" to view. I wasn't searching the center of interest - it was clear in each and every painting. It wasn't really until the second or third pass through the exhibition that I began to notice the areas of a painting that were merely indicated with a minimum of brushstrokes and subdued values.</div></div><div><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZI9UW27wxsY2RbdR11IY6IxuIOxJp_yO_P1xqmD6HHq9RmKlQhRVmfDZFPkfBbulzNj6PrdOtiVJxSWBw0Gpvi0NZvY17dUyXvSJlkxT0RY4S4g3idnHLVxpYTITEjJS-fH5h1nL2hE/w320-h236/Ammonoosuc+River+%25232.png" width="320" /> <img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="2048" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3iOJmFf46dOnDglpPIWZyM30P6zR38DTJiafYTbJPh4cVowvpoUhfdG_1ai0Okk-isy70nytmi6LTdtdA6pi1pTfafvCE0z8Kb64Tpgb3maQM-WgDBYkvWSlsjtG_2YNVZFuVQmD2w4/w320-h218/IMG-5407.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">I brightened the sky to bring it into line with the river in the mid ground and darkened the water in the shadows in the foreground. and I also did some more variances in value throughout all the areas of the picture to add depth and interest.</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiux0XsHI_Y_5HA7xTSuAYv4b4KlXTqiF2cKU2O3_Ac_JUF2-edovFyyyjEq7oKKXvqp2mfm-8gPAT4fBXMJ-2-o2OF_RHYLqeNALPZXa32CTs699YjWSbeHWF84VrkCAySRRMW_E9nUvQ/w192-h256/IMG-5414.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Detail Left" width="192" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHWLZQvhUwxu2EsJ6FNvc0STt1m0IX_i6ywZ5dsWM88qAAnCEPopS-baXzD1pzA-fL0YsILoUPKbpGgvdDbYJ-188t7qnLbETOUcIYac9S-ekAmS2YnhnYYNCaw-o_qSdLoUkC9_olyI/s2048/IMG-5412.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1395" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHWLZQvhUwxu2EsJ6FNvc0STt1m0IX_i6ywZ5dsWM88qAAnCEPopS-baXzD1pzA-fL0YsILoUPKbpGgvdDbYJ-188t7qnLbETOUcIYac9S-ekAmS2YnhnYYNCaw-o_qSdLoUkC9_olyI/w174-h256/IMG-5412.jpg" width="174" /></a><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Detail Left Detail Center Detail Right</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I also added some shadows to the rocks in the foreground and added more variance in the values on the small island. It is a challenge to know when enough is enough with any subject. Sometimes one brushstroke can be just what a painting needs to bring it to life, or it can ruin a subject. As Bob Harris (Robert George Harris (1911-2007) Artist and Illustrator) advised me: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><font size="5">"It's important to know when a painting is done before it is finished!"</font></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><font size="5"><br /></font></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">None of this is meant in any way to detract from interest or pursuit of highly detailed paintings or Trompe l'oeil paintings. Those types of paintings are simply not an area of interest for me - at this time. I do believe that every type of painting, every attempt, informs my work on my next painting. If you can express what you want to - what moves you, I don't believe that there is a "wrong" way to approach that painting. </div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK02di_QWxlw0sEQYnAsQdHm_HLvhVF51nAr0W9M4nm1D8o-wzDZ_d4Z5p4u3_L3nRfT4QT7GWwgHVegTAnqXKM7UvYAdHBN5U-szftLb2muGGGklGkeSNQ1c3rcVEecPOi-4k-8erLo/s2048/IMG-5409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1574" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK02di_QWxlw0sEQYnAsQdHm_HLvhVF51nAr0W9M4nm1D8o-wzDZ_d4Z5p4u3_L3nRfT4QT7GWwgHVegTAnqXKM7UvYAdHBN5U-szftLb2muGGGklGkeSNQ1c3rcVEecPOi-4k-8erLo/w197-h256/IMG-5409.jpg" width="197" /></a> </div><div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-45156288283933810992020-07-22T11:42:00.001-07:002020-07-22T11:46:33.617-07:00Rocks and Wildflowers Round 2<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2pEZU04Pk4FF_UEcSUUfA2TVxVmuOL_rXpyHFZVvam3-IobthxMYwkzLCBGRUntgN1P5QOEJ6AbTy_wKhFYWdpj9ovjzA2-6ZdwawP17HRi4uoymK8MyaZEx3NYaUJn6dw5vdxScWRI/s2048/IMG-5350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1543" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2pEZU04Pk4FF_UEcSUUfA2TVxVmuOL_rXpyHFZVvam3-IobthxMYwkzLCBGRUntgN1P5QOEJ6AbTy_wKhFYWdpj9ovjzA2-6ZdwawP17HRi4uoymK8MyaZEx3NYaUJn6dw5vdxScWRI/w470-h625/IMG-5350.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rocks and Wildflowers - 2nd Pass</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Acrylic 12" x 16"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXRnH6x5c2G8Tj-XzpRyWwxNSiTO_VD9AR9zwWXDET2eQ6v4NHakASDs1sXDyuF9w2_ei-3tY0Hoc4ly-4TjUmSBtU6fXcKHUk_n6Pflpl4IVi8xZTKHB3KJzd7xXzXnrazhFtKd-ExA/s2048/IMG-5173.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXRnH6x5c2G8Tj-XzpRyWwxNSiTO_VD9AR9zwWXDET2eQ6v4NHakASDs1sXDyuF9w2_ei-3tY0Hoc4ly-4TjUmSBtU6fXcKHUk_n6Pflpl4IVi8xZTKHB3KJzd7xXzXnrazhFtKd-ExA/w154-h205/IMG-5173.jpg" width="154" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1563" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbixoBX1m34dJADRTP_bryHRu37IuhvN2BWzB_IusdUf7o-yUDLBqkbTk2HS0-FVgwxDv13J96lZN9LFYTUVT9-RQKSw8wwoEVnaWbG8P5P39RibaywhhajCsYiL37g0wbcs5n6d5lB54/w156-h205/IMG-5317.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="156" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrf3aqeGf8htGdddrJGhDn9w8rMgXnWK4N5lHoA6ubocU0nsynOkncvC5YCEHk0-NYQR3PWJVLJd7CsoHPAZyzmYrVvQ7vcAVkmqpIi-m1PJpJj2uXAIwMdjY3okGfHEr7O7N7eSEI88/s2048/IMG-5350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1543" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrf3aqeGf8htGdddrJGhDn9w8rMgXnWK4N5lHoA6ubocU0nsynOkncvC5YCEHk0-NYQR3PWJVLJd7CsoHPAZyzmYrVvQ7vcAVkmqpIi-m1PJpJj2uXAIwMdjY3okGfHEr7O7N7eSEI88/w154-h205/IMG-5350.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1563" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbixoBX1m34dJADRTP_bryHRu37IuhvN2BWzB_IusdUf7o-yUDLBqkbTk2HS0-FVgwxDv13J96lZN9LFYTUVT9-RQKSw8wwoEVnaWbG8P5P39RibaywhhajCsYiL37g0wbcs5n6d5lB54/w305-h400/IMG-5317.jpg" width="305" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrf3aqeGf8htGdddrJGhDn9w8rMgXnWK4N5lHoA6ubocU0nsynOkncvC5YCEHk0-NYQR3PWJVLJd7CsoHPAZyzmYrVvQ7vcAVkmqpIi-m1PJpJj2uXAIwMdjY3okGfHEr7O7N7eSEI88/s2048/IMG-5350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1543" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrf3aqeGf8htGdddrJGhDn9w8rMgXnWK4N5lHoA6ubocU0nsynOkncvC5YCEHk0-NYQR3PWJVLJd7CsoHPAZyzmYrVvQ7vcAVkmqpIi-m1PJpJj2uXAIwMdjY3okGfHEr7O7N7eSEI88/w301-h400/IMG-5350.jpg" width="301" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Rocks and Wildflowers Two Lights</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The picture above left was the first pass at the painting, the picture on the right is the finished painting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In addition to adding the wildflowers, I also did a little color work in the rocks, and some slight compositional changes to the water , rocks, and shrubs which I think made the composition a bit more dramatic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I may even scale this painting up to an 18" by 24" or a 24" x 36" There are so many compositional possibilities let along different seasons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've included a link to the previous post which describes a bit more about the genesis of this particular painting below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52); font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">http://robertkahlerlandscapepaintings.blogspot.com/2020/07/rocks-and-wildflowers.html</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52); font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-79304328836677374112020-07-20T13:32:00.002-07:002020-07-20T13:35:37.087-07:00Rocks and Wildflowers<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlb-fWuqOXDfOX4SCXZbLB93hO-QvZYCSyJTXPyEsb7gN9E2BlBiAl5OGdTXpIPP2qgVKPgRbG57eSsvUPOhyKDnG69brXFLzuW1qVTG7ZhYRD0OKDbrG-UkptHyDzfw2LGviENqJ-hcA/s2048/IMG-5317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1563" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlb-fWuqOXDfOX4SCXZbLB93hO-QvZYCSyJTXPyEsb7gN9E2BlBiAl5OGdTXpIPP2qgVKPgRbG57eSsvUPOhyKDnG69brXFLzuW1qVTG7ZhYRD0OKDbrG-UkptHyDzfw2LGviENqJ-hcA/s320/IMG-5317.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rocks and Wildflowers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two lights </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Acrylic 12" x 16"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my latest Acrylic Painting of a composition that is a common sight in and around Two Lights. I explained the process to this point in another post if you are interested in learning about methods for creating painting. Below I've put the large charcoal drawing (12" x 18") side by side with the Acrylic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl_bjyRvmHGh33DchfDgVYc2ALErjcvXOUQHKLZmYI-0Y8A-FMqRXj05Hl_0Y-nRsbrSe7cVlv3HwKFD7uRZEOPMfyF77u7SvtOx9szOeBe3aw4eY3db_Z0wzWSqqR4iEfGz6-NJQ-QA/s2048/IMG-5173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl_bjyRvmHGh33DchfDgVYc2ALErjcvXOUQHKLZmYI-0Y8A-FMqRXj05Hl_0Y-nRsbrSe7cVlv3HwKFD7uRZEOPMfyF77u7SvtOx9szOeBe3aw4eY3db_Z0wzWSqqR4iEfGz6-NJQ-QA/w154-h205/IMG-5173.jpg" width="154" /></a><img height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlb-fWuqOXDfOX4SCXZbLB93hO-QvZYCSyJTXPyEsb7gN9E2BlBiAl5OGdTXpIPP2qgVKPgRbG57eSsvUPOhyKDnG69brXFLzuW1qVTG7ZhYRD0OKDbrG-UkptHyDzfw2LGviENqJ-hcA/w156-h205/IMG-5317.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="156" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I had reached a stopping point in the main painting, I decided to quickly sketch out some other ideas from my trip with leftover paint on 4" by 6" note cards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPivaWBIBeX6gnSuJCu81ThNfZodZ4o8Qaz_yV1u75w-GU4rmjcOBJsVSIp87yA8KtlaxD5FWUyEqbii2CqB7O5QlX4M5Z8TpNtLwsp6recH3F5a4ZX8FUecGEdHSI6ZpTAZsfGoOxvko/s2048/IMG-5316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPivaWBIBeX6gnSuJCu81ThNfZodZ4o8Qaz_yV1u75w-GU4rmjcOBJsVSIp87yA8KtlaxD5FWUyEqbii2CqB7O5QlX4M5Z8TpNtLwsp6recH3F5a4ZX8FUecGEdHSI6ZpTAZsfGoOxvko/s320/IMG-5316.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sketch " x 6"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really enjoy these quick sketches. I learn a lot from them with very little time invested. For instance, in the painting above, the ocean seems to "run off" the picture to the left. Through the placement of rocks or shrubs I will reverse that so that it leads the eye into the painting and not out of it. It's a win win. I don't waste paint and I get to explore ideas in a much looser manner.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1K4eEyY2xJOOmwWmOCXBgRwxnF9f08ieJ3w9GMXU5qmoXUw99Jx9-Hqv5NDo_bDbeDd7vf9rwNvYrFlAzsf9twwo_f2S_lH_6FbfJUz00VawsDnorMtRaASRV4k-CK4kYUPy-OtNSIs/s2048/IMG-5315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1480" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1K4eEyY2xJOOmwWmOCXBgRwxnF9f08ieJ3w9GMXU5qmoXUw99Jx9-Hqv5NDo_bDbeDd7vf9rwNvYrFlAzsf9twwo_f2S_lH_6FbfJUz00VawsDnorMtRaASRV4k-CK4kYUPy-OtNSIs/s320/IMG-5315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Surf Sketch 4" x 6"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYliZpaCKDLXmP_FWW37-KqL7gPEYxdvvzLar9lDn06qEIQmJYYTphnxL97tWQndHLuBYrE4emP6aJff-D1H_YLC98RO6KkkVFTMnqhn8OaLkfoTdoqjst_HVoS0_zWCZ-03t89MTnJIE/s2048/IMG-5313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYliZpaCKDLXmP_FWW37-KqL7gPEYxdvvzLar9lDn06qEIQmJYYTphnxL97tWQndHLuBYrE4emP6aJff-D1H_YLC98RO6KkkVFTMnqhn8OaLkfoTdoqjst_HVoS0_zWCZ-03t89MTnJIE/s320/IMG-5313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scale of Sketches</div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-17557885393082917662020-07-11T20:51:00.000-07:002020-07-11T20:53:58.909-07:00Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIiUcTSEvxXxOzDuK59ZOUBIWC1Xn37R9U-eRUUgsS5O9s7ZPXZfjds8z7wGyfqfGTHeGhr4BxLBGLbX7HCWa2aKmCdvGqbOyHo5oVGHa-qrzyB1vaKpTa-L2ENJwMih-B9qD37AVzrE/s2048/IMG-5173.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIiUcTSEvxXxOzDuK59ZOUBIWC1Xn37R9U-eRUUgsS5O9s7ZPXZfjds8z7wGyfqfGTHeGhr4BxLBGLbX7HCWa2aKmCdvGqbOyHo5oVGHa-qrzyB1vaKpTa-L2ENJwMih-B9qD37AVzrE/w375-h500/IMG-5173.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Comprehensive Charcoal Drawing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Between the Rocks and Sea</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two Lights Cape Elizabeth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">12" x 18"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although I don't have any single process for creating a painting, this subject has progressed in a fairly typical way of late. Spending time on location is always motivating. I make a number of quick notes and sketches on note cards in addition to simply spending some time walking a location and observing. I've begun using note cards for these sketches as they fit into a travel kit very easily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZx5cppbrZjzx9QsQDfYoskI0twAdyHPRx3CxM-zSlCFpJSw6lpIPBk720gsfOuIhkHWmURF_uwPUqMtKU5FnyS-7zJm6dW3qj3V-GgSm1m3kHdalWyQ-u49i2ObycrYRf1nKDczLmBZI/s2048/IMG-5140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="2048" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZx5cppbrZjzx9QsQDfYoskI0twAdyHPRx3CxM-zSlCFpJSw6lpIPBk720gsfOuIhkHWmURF_uwPUqMtKU5FnyS-7zJm6dW3qj3V-GgSm1m3kHdalWyQ-u49i2ObycrYRf1nKDczLmBZI/w256-h163/IMG-5140.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pencil notes from direct observation 4" x 5"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I then review a number of sketches and decide which subject to elaborate. See below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qwvMtr3AD85YxxQeCnVj_3sCJbvh-QHwkavBQ_7KFedeZYINKFSz0bAbVF5zqBI9t5eEsjuomIybTPzxXQNXxnZghYeyfjGndkCEnCvgwsva1ejAJxug_J_f4x9dj69nA8E0CAq4z7U/s2048/IMG-5139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qwvMtr3AD85YxxQeCnVj_3sCJbvh-QHwkavBQ_7KFedeZYINKFSz0bAbVF5zqBI9t5eEsjuomIybTPzxXQNXxnZghYeyfjGndkCEnCvgwsva1ejAJxug_J_f4x9dj69nA8E0CAq4z7U/s320/IMG-5139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pencil Comp Sketch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">8" x 11"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Years ago I had a happy accident when looking through some old sketches - they were on top of one another and at times created new and interesting compositions. So I now will intentionally crop drawings to examine other possibilities. When I'm on location, its still easy for me to get caught up in the scene and not seeing things from a perspective of composition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUxvcYhnEsmHWlJpwIvbXMx9fem2v31iltjHJTvC06RPeas2v-tqaM_k_AzNwes6qG3hhk_cj9AGJ1ftpYmLKSH5JbbEWsFc0EFceky2DuRGFlm-50OcJfeA9ckUDuSdZFHKOZ9GOxlo/s2048/IMG-5144.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1508" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUxvcYhnEsmHWlJpwIvbXMx9fem2v31iltjHJTvC06RPeas2v-tqaM_k_AzNwes6qG3hhk_cj9AGJ1ftpYmLKSH5JbbEWsFc0EFceky2DuRGFlm-50OcJfeA9ckUDuSdZFHKOZ9GOxlo/w236-h320/IMG-5144.jpg" width="236" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx60Qo2oh11xLjStXhqNQyRWflU5Vvp1q9kzDs8lkfWJFuXfZPEctH8M9Wvh0ZqxCAom3_R_1cOXvNg0eNp_KqNR9cv-jyD4sEI_OkkWlq-fPOuUUiGvlfqt7pg5Hly7sXGcIIgQrsrg/s2048/IMG-5145.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFx60Qo2oh11xLjStXhqNQyRWflU5Vvp1q9kzDs8lkfWJFuXfZPEctH8M9Wvh0ZqxCAom3_R_1cOXvNg0eNp_KqNR9cv-jyD4sEI_OkkWlq-fPOuUUiGvlfqt7pg5Hly7sXGcIIgQrsrg/w224-h400/IMG-5145.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>When examining the two halves of the picture - I immediately settled on the right side of the composition as much stronger the whole composition as originally sketched. The left side of the composition seemed much too static when viewed in this manner.<div><br /></div><div>I plan to execute a number of paintings from this drawing including watercolor, acrylic, and oil. I enjoy exploring different media as the unique qualities of each capture different elements of nature. <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-2021935033419821622020-06-29T12:07:00.002-07:002020-06-29T12:11:24.373-07:00Island's Edge<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FRQlXaWDniVKj_qMhSUGY3fs_i1KyAn07BbmMgnlPF6-flMyudl9X0SSTvQ_LBg_MjaXuRz0TJqC4TTfUMQ1pEFtS7U5I4GGrnZkjfOMwaOPtPUBbbowQ9WdUL0XwNfDMU1Xf2o4SEQ/s4032/IMG-5104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2692" data-original-width="4032" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FRQlXaWDniVKj_qMhSUGY3fs_i1KyAn07BbmMgnlPF6-flMyudl9X0SSTvQ_LBg_MjaXuRz0TJqC4TTfUMQ1pEFtS7U5I4GGrnZkjfOMwaOPtPUBbbowQ9WdUL0XwNfDMU1Xf2o4SEQ/w500-h335/IMG-5104.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Island's Edge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charcoal on Paper 12" x 18"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my latest piece, inspired by many trips to Long Island, Maine and along the Maine coast in general. The more frequently I draw, the more I approach drawings like a painting. Not just in terms of composition, but also in terms of technique and approach. When my drawing becomes more free, I begin to experience the "happy accidents" that occur in watercolor painting as well. Where the effects of nature, the emotions you are feeling, appear almost unconsciously or accidentally.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been paying more and more attention to sky. Each day , each few minutes actually, brings its own abstract painting into being. The ocean, even as a storm approaches or in full storm, has always brought a sense of peace to me. It's vastness and power always serve to put things into perspective for me. Problems that seemed so vast, almost insurmountable, vanish in the spray and thunder of the ocean.</div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-35001344972903085512020-06-02T19:19:00.000-07:002020-06-02T19:19:05.033-07:00To the Sea Study<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYDQWRAX7tstcLemrfso00Hk-SmtcWKRjX0QqaDB6K1EuYTVNR8lcj_g2IFX_UKS1_fO3FfSCHAO7R1jH3X7K8csU5sxzpiVcj71y6Iga8jI6kBclFIyb0ZZRGEVpjIPiRo1yVAy2Wok/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYDQWRAX7tstcLemrfso00Hk-SmtcWKRjX0QqaDB6K1EuYTVNR8lcj_g2IFX_UKS1_fO3FfSCHAO7R1jH3X7K8csU5sxzpiVcj71y6Iga8jI6kBclFIyb0ZZRGEVpjIPiRo1yVAy2Wok/w400-h300/IMG-4885.jpg" width="400" /></a></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To the Sea</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Study</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watercolor and Dry Brush</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This small preliminary watercolor is drawn from my trips Down East and also to Pemaquid. In this study I decided to simplify, by removing the cemetery from a larger earlier study (see below) and reducing the foreground trees to one large tree on the right. I also was interested in trying to paint the foreground field using the dry brush technique. I also am trying different treatments with skies. It's fun to just let loose with paint from time to time! (okay, actually all the time....).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maine has so many peninsulas where the view to the ocean is still wild. I find the contrast between the ochres of wild fields in the fall and spring and the blue of the ocean is striking I find the views most interesting in spring, fall, and winter. Summer has a beauty of its own but visually I find that I'm more drawn to the play of light and reflections as the overall range of colors is reduced in the summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More and more development, means these views are not as plentiful as before, but the views are there if you take the roads less traveled. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL2eGK3ntTftlqljW7oaRBQRVhjActeXXilUsKMvb3O2C3Xsn5vMn9RPlnkO-k6iz0ZYW3Usr-Yrqrv_8vT4EncbLZkZzbkMC61RrMI6X3UgAmt4xWDVl2Lzu09DxkbMtXCOELwsNw3s/s640/IMG-4462.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883841197869888776.post-80716410005605447572020-05-17T15:28:00.001-07:002020-05-17T15:28:03.458-07:00Is it Done or Is it Finished?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYYV8mcvfEEqwOyOgF_sDaCOIHuG1ckaesq4FKDwdIJno2diS3zMfVSdYFdAzsK7HxD9W32-9YbjhCsy35r9DFF40goRcDn8fIgWaVEjJYuadvvEe8OvC9pA3_J3NXk5g881GXGvVxAU/s1600/IMG-4818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1459" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYYV8mcvfEEqwOyOgF_sDaCOIHuG1ckaesq4FKDwdIJno2diS3zMfVSdYFdAzsK7HxD9W32-9YbjhCsy35r9DFF40goRcDn8fIgWaVEjJYuadvvEe8OvC9pA3_J3NXk5g881GXGvVxAU/s320/IMG-4818.jpg" width="289" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDyTySw1QOKVjYm-oiuLXC8D7l1NsvFfdnvnmZz7yQ2azsbQEv2swW2MtaHtfs_aDA5R3-jYZhZIEHVWeGkZbsokCv3KLpiberNEijqLrNbdxsudRjyr5iNi5PGbwipSGDZ0NoSDD8VU/s1600/IMG-4813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDyTySw1QOKVjYm-oiuLXC8D7l1NsvFfdnvnmZz7yQ2azsbQEv2swW2MtaHtfs_aDA5R3-jYZhZIEHVWeGkZbsokCv3KLpiberNEijqLrNbdxsudRjyr5iNi5PGbwipSGDZ0NoSDD8VU/s320/IMG-4813.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
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These two photos of two of my most recent paintings give a better sense of the size of the water color sketches to the finished work. For these two acrylics, the sketches are about 1/4 the size of the finished work.</div>
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With the large watercolor I did of the Amonoosuc River, the ratio was more like 7 1/2 to 1. At this point, I don't do a detailed scale down or up from sketch to finished painting, it is more just a part of the process. Trying to keep this as simple as possible for quick and efficient sketching in an attempt to capture the moments which catch my attention.</div>
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I'm quite motivated by the idea of capturing the different moods of a subject, and even imagining them based on earlier observations of nature. Both of these paintings are realistic subjects - they do exist, but in imaginary perspective for the old mill pond, and imaging a winters evening full moon light at a local farm. I really enjoyed these different exercises in the studio. Working on location remains my first joy in painting, but studio work is gaining in its standing and enjoyment for me. </div>
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I also try to keep the advice of two well known and highly successful artists front and center as I paint. John Stobart advised putting only as much detail into a sketch as would be needed to execute a finished painting later. This was to avoid "copying" even one's own work and maintaining room for the spark of creativity.</div>
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The late Bob Harris (Robert George Harris) was very encouraging to me through our correspondence and phone calls. One of my favorite quotes of his is: "It's important to know when a painting is done before it is finished." </div>
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I also remember vividly the original illustrations by N.C. Wyeth and Howard Pyle on display at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine. The paintings were monumental in scale, composition, color, and use of limited detail. They knew how to lead your eye where they wanted it to go. A large area of background scumbled in with virtually no detail in no way diminished these paintings. On the contrary, the contrast made the paintings even more powerful. You really had to be on the lookout to even notice these techniques.</div>
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<br />Robert Kahlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03572160088575567844noreply@blogger.com0