Instant Concept!

I think the photo ref was somewhere in China. It looked more like Pandora. Can you spot the Instant Concept?

More to follow... :)

Industrial Complex

The sky is too plain, but again architectural complexity nabbed all of my time. This one felt better, even though it's the only one that I overlayed any photos into so far...

Snowy Arches

Love the contrast of the snow on red rock...

Autumn

Since the trees here in Florida don't turn this color, I had to paint them. My wife really likes this painting, but I think the composition could use some work...another one from photo reference where I probably should've improved that part of it...

Value Problems

I haven't bothered to fix this one, but there are some definite value and color issues. Any advice?

Chalk Brush Strikes Again

I found this one extremely satisfying in its simplicity.

Sunset Sky

So, in case you couldn't tell, I've really been digging my chalky brushes. There are two or three that I basically use for everything. Maybe I will show them sometime, but right now my Photoshop brushes window is acting up on me...

Little House on the Prairie

30 Min, 1 Hour, What's the diff?

Well, there is quite a difference when painting architecture as compared to a natural landscape. This was one that got away from me, but I revisited it to finish it up and ease my mind.

Another Study and What Not To Do

The bottom image is the original, but I really disliked the wall along the bottom. This is an example of the problem of blindly copying photography, you also copy anything bad in them like this composition!

Read more about these here.

Another Study

Another one of these, which are all done in Photoshop using photo reference as a color and speed exercise. This one probably went to 45min-1hr or so....still working on the speed and simplification to hit the 30 min mark.

30-Min Color Study

From a little initiative at work, inspired by the inimitable Robh Ruppel. It's a new thing, and I want to make it a habit. I've learned a lot already! These are all from photo reference. In the future I want to start collecting dramatic cinematography shots to paint from as well.

Some of these ended up taking a bit more than 30 min...

Also, hop on over to my talented friend Tom Schmuck's blog to see some of his studies from the same initiative!

Stay tuned for more...