Ham Pencil sketch on location

Pencil Sketch - Elmer Ham

4" x 6"

This is one of a number of small en plien air sketches that Elmer L Ham in preparation for larger more finished works.  I find even his small sketches to be very powerful and to my eye, rapidly executed.  If you take a close look at the shading in the trees and the overall pencil strokes, they are long and decisive.   There is an economy of pencil strokes - defining both form and value.  Also the line framing the drawing is not even - which indicates a more rapid process to me.  This sketch would serve as the basis for a work in any medium having a strong sense of perspective as well as arranged patterns of lights and darks. 

Other pencil sketches exist that are more complete and finished works in their own right - but I would hang this on my wall too!

Elmer was also known to work on subjects a number of times.  In a series almost.  When I was younger and newer at painting that never appealed to me.  Monet's haystacks, cathedrals, and water lilies come to mind.   But I can see the value in it now.

Today I took a walk along a little brook near to home, that I've seen hundreds of times.  Yet it is different each time I look at it.  The water was high today and running fast.  Yet areas that were usually rapids upstream were running smoothly - the water was deeper than normal so the rocks only caused whirlpools in the water - not actual rapids.  Other areas that were usually rapid free, with rocks high out of the water, were raging rapids.  The more closely I observe, the more I realize just how little I see of natures beauty.  It's different every day.

Here is a picture of Ham painting on location.

Elmer L Ham

Painting on Location - location unknown

Ham Person Papers Raynor Collection

Elmer Ham floral

Elmer L Ham - Pastel Floral

Here is another fragment of a floral study by Elmer L Ham.  I've really enjoyed working through these fragments and experimenting with different compositions.  

I've never really tried collage before but I think I will in the future.  I'm now keeping scraps and bits that I used to throw away for further consideration down the road.   Sometimes preliminary pieces are so much more freeing to work on - that happy accidents can occur.  

While working on some of these fragments its been very interesting to see the different perspectives approaching abstraction. 

The above fragment is a Pastel.   Below is a watercolor fragment.

I'll include more floral still lives in other posts.  This subject matter definitely reflects Ham's training with Laura Coombs Hills.

Barn Party Harlow Gallery Fundraiser

Looking forward to a day of Plein Air Painting to kick off the summer and help support a local gallery!

Barn Party Fundraiser

Harlow Gallery

Pictured: Top Row Left to Right   Judith Schuppien, Lisa Kyle, Robert Kahler, 

Pictured Bottom Row Left to Right  Ed Buonvecchio, Jeanne Ouelette, Nathan Allard

SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 4-7PM

During the day, 15 artists will be making artwork on location in response to the numerous beautiful, historic barns of Old Village Road in East Winthrop. (see below for full listing of artists.) The artwork produced from the day will then be up for bids during a silent auction fundraiser to benefit programming at the Harlow, a membership based 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to connecting and celebrating art, artists and community in downtown historic Hallowell since 1963.

From 4-7pm, all are invited to congregate at the host barn (location will be disclosed to ticket holders) for an after party and silent auction fundraiser to benefit the Harlow. Beverages and appetizers will be provided. Bidding for the silent auctions will be open 4:45-6pm. Proceeds from the silent auction will be split 50/50 between the Harlow and the artists.

A listing of participating artists is as follows:

Augusta: Valerie porter
Brunswick: Rebecca Hedgpeth
Hallowell: Paul Cyr, Angie Blevins
Lisbon Falls: Robert Kahler
Lovell: Jeanne Ouellette
Manchester: Edward Buonvecchio, Helene Farrar
Pittston: Judith Schuppien
Somerville: Nathan Allard
Waldoboro: Lisa Kyle
Waterville: Gale Davison
West Gardiner: Kay Morris, William Cesario
Winthrop: Penny Markley

The Harlow is supported by the City of Hallowell, Dirigo Capital Advisors, Kennebec Savings Bank, the Roxanne Quimby Foundation and by our members.

Cape Cod - Dunes and Pines in process

Cape Cod - Dunes and Pine

Charcoal on Paper

Cape Cod - Dunes and Pine in Process

This subject was from our trip to Cape Cod last summer (2018).  The sun was very low so that the near dune was completely in shadow, only the top of the pine was illuminated as well as the far dune.  This is another example for me of the benefits of painting on location.  This was an effect on a brilliant sunny day that lasted for probably 10-15 minutes.  I would not have imagined this scene with the back dune illuminated - but there it was.  It was such a striking contrast.

On the right are half a sheet of small sketches done on location at the Cape.   I then did the large colored pencil sketch the top.  I don't work with colored pencil often, but decided to shake things up a bit and do some experimenting.

The small pen and ink sketch was a composition sketch resulting from a feeling from the other sketches and wondering if the background dunes closed the picture in too much.  I then began to work on the large charcoal sketch to further work out the composition.

Eventually I will complete a watercolor and or acrylic of the subject.

There really isn't one way I approach a picture.  Sometimes I work from pencil to charcoal to watercolor to oil.  At other times, I work from watercolor to charcoal.  It just depends on what I'm trying to express and at other times - what I have at hand. 

Every artist develops their own shorthand I'm sure.  I've seen studies by some of my favorites including John Stobart that made zero sense to me, but they weren't for me or even for public consumption.   I also find the process of doing preliminaries is very freeing, and sometimes wonderful things happen that wouldn't have if I had feared to "color outside the lines"