Mark Landes Fine Art

11 x 14 Oil

2012-01-22T17:41:00.000-08:00

Changed the mountains
Finished

in process 11 x 14

2012-01-22T14:24:00.000-08:00

Putting in the middle ground

Ultr Bl

Burnt Sienna

Aliz Crimson

Cad Y pale

Cad yellow deep

white

Sky is acrylic base

11 x 14 Oil

2012-01-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

Working on something new

11 x 14 Oil Lake Merritt - Oakland

2012-01-22T13:50:00.000-08:00

Some minor changes and wanted to see it in a nice frame.

Lake Merrit Ink Sketch

2012-01-21T16:38:00.000-08:00

see the previous post

Lake Merritt - Oakland

2012-01-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

Did the sketch years ago.

Did the painting this week.

Oil 11 x 14

Oil 11 x 14 in process

2012-01-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

Practive copy

2012-01-08T18:59:00.000-08:00

After a Wm Wendt painting. 11 x 14 oil.
Still quite wet

Oil 11 x 14 practice copy

2012-01-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

Practice copy 10 x 12 oil

2011-12-26T16:12:00.000-08:00

Copied from a magazine

for practice

to force myself to paint something different

Made some changes - Acrylic 22 x 28" $800.00

2011-12-26T16:07:00.000-08:00

Fair Oaks backyard

The waiter 10 x 10 acrylic

2011-11-26T17:16:00.000-08:00

Had a square canvas so copied a painting for practice.

about 90% done

2011-11-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

Backyard- original painting

2011-10-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

With a few changes

Practice copy of a well known artist's painting

2011-10-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

in process

Can't flip it right now

I did it mostly upside down anyway

abt 70% finished

My backyard painting series

2011-10-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

Redid the rocks and water
Acrylic

Original painting-backyard

2011-10-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Completed the background.
Acrylic 12 x 14

Backyard 16 x 20 Acrylic

2011-10-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

Completed the background and redid the rocks.
Acrylic

10 x 12 acrylic the forest

2011-10-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

Did a bit more work on this one to liven it up.

Acrylic.

Practice study (copy)

2011-10-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

Quickie study from a well known painter per a magazine photo -abt 50% done. 11 x 14. Oil.

Northern Idaho landscape-oil 18 x 24 1" deep

2011-10-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

Three paintings in process

2011-10-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

The little one on the right is to work out the bugs for the bigger one--the one in back is for cleaning off extra paint (a more loose quickie just to use up left over paint).

2011-09-25T16:24:00.001-07:00

Northern Idaho 11 x 14 oil

2011-09-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

11 x 14 oil

2011-09-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

I'll flip it sideways later

2011-09-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

Made some changes

Can't seem to flip it

Oil 18 x 24

2011-09-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

Made a few changes

11 x 14 acrylic in process

2011-09-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

doing a small version to work out problems

then I'll do a larger version in oil

abt half done

(Brother Larry might remember this scene)

Recent paintings

2011-08-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

I have changed computers and have not been able to upload photos for a while. These are a few of the paintings I've done in the past few weeks.

Two backyard scenes

This one is in process - with two little paper boats stuck on for planning purposes.

18" x 24" acrylic underpainting - oil on top.

Pretty much done in several hours as I've done two similar different size painting of the same idea.

Fourth of July painting 11 x 14 oil

2011-07-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

"The Diving Rock" Completed this today.

Was 102 degrees today so I actually went in the

pool.

2011-07-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

My next project will be this little corner of the yard.

In process July 4 Backyard painting - oil

2011-07-04T08:41:00.000-07:00

Base coat is acrylic. Now blocking in with oil. Will be 101 degrees today so working early.

Quick Draw 9 x 12 June 21

2011-06-21T10:51:00.001-07:00

Two quickies

acrylic

9 x 12

first on canvas board

second on linen

Landscape Painting acrylic 16 x 20"

2011-06-20T19:59:00.001-07:00

I took the photo just as I finished at 7:45 PM

Painting in process acrylic on linen

2011-06-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

I toned the canvas last night (middle) and then used white charcoal pencil to sketch in the basic shapes (after dusk so I wouldn't have to squint to see the basic shapes) This AM I started the fence and rocks. Now ready to really go.

Backyard painting - acrylic

2011-06-16T08:34:00.001-07:00

June 16, 2011

Landscape Painting acrylic

2011-06-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

Acrylic

16" x 20"

Backyard painting in process

2011-06-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

About an hour into it. One more session should do it.

Painting in process acrylic on Linen

2011-06-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

About 30 minutes into it. Will resume tomorrow when the light is similar. Toned the canvas this AM. Marked out the plan with white charcoal. Three colors. Acrylic.

Painting in process

2011-06-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

Rhonda's Southern California 30 Minute Rendition

2011-06-06T20:10:00.000-07:00

30 minute rendition of southern california (facebook)

photo by Rhonda. 8 x 10" Acrylic

The Rose bush and Fir tree 22" x 28" on linen - acrylic

2011-06-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

The backyard Rose Bush -painting in process

2011-06-04T17:04:00.000-07:00

Moving along. Still raining so I'm stuck insisde.

Using one brush -#8.

Painting in process - acrylic plein air 2 x 3 feet

2011-06-01T17:27:00.000-07:00

More rain and hail - just at the sliding door to paint the backyard -- moving along a bit -

The rosebush and redwood tree

2011-05-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

Starting an open air painting (or at least open door-it was raining for several days). I'm using a lot of medium so it's pretty shiny at this point.

Boston Fire pushes Childe into art

2011-05-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

How the Universe works:
Childe Hassam (1859-1939) is a favorite painter of many Americans.
How was it that he became a painter?
His father did quite well in business and had a teasure trove of antiques
but the Boston fire of 1873 wiped him out and he had to sell his antiques. So because of the fire and because he had to sell his antiques he sent his son Childe out to work doing accounting. One more step - since Childe had difficuty with numbers and was spending time at work drawing - his employer told him to go become an artist.

Acrylic Seascape 2 feet x 3 feet

2011-05-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Very busy with things other than painting lately. Had one sheet of hardboard left so I primed the surface with blues and darks. Then I started to see a painting with rocks and water. So I added to it little by little enhancing what I visualized -- and will stop at this point. It's a bit like furniture store art but I haven't had time to think what I really want to paint and didn't want to not paint in the meantime --so this one fulfilled that purpose. (to not paint is to pain)

sketching practice

2011-04-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

Lara Downes is the residence pianist at the Mondavi Center (at UC Davis). I think this newpaper photo of her is awesome and I have been using it for sketching practice. This sketch is about twice the size of the photo. I will do one more about four times larger and then decide if I will do it in oil. I used two diagnonals and one horizontal locator lines (and a lot of eraser corrections.

2011-04-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

Monet had 7 gardeners - I have none- (He liked roses and geraniums) I quickly shot off some photos as the sun declined- What would Monet do --any backyard could be painted.

Sketch study for a larger painting

2011-04-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

Practice for a larger version.

On vellum.

#2 pencil

plus some shading with colored pencils

Daily Sketch notebook (6" x 8")

2011-04-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

Quick sketch practice

pencil, pen, colored pens

water color

2011-03-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

Working on the ladies and the background a bit

Karst Hills China - oil 2 x 3 feet

2011-03-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

I did this in acrylic and posted in on July 13, 2010. I redid it in oil today and made it bolder. The "frame" remains acrylic undercoat of Venetian Red and overcoat of a hobby-shop type gold acrylic. It 2 x 3 feet on hardboard with base of triple-coated gesso.

Childe Hassam 1859-1935

2011-03-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

Childe learned to paint in Boston. He started at age 21. He began displaying his street scenes at age 26. He spent three years in France and returned to NYC in 1889 [studio at 95 fifth Ave. at 17th street - wonder what's there now). He saw nature as still life. He felt the painter's first priority is to paint his own time. He used a low tone delicate palette. He was influenced by French impressionist but about 1889 realized there was an American school (after all we had George Inness, James Whistler and John Sergant). The US economy took a bad slump in 1896 (sound familiar) and he auctioned off 205 works which sold for an average of $47.00 (this was not considered a good auction result). His street scenes were great - cabbies and their horses - the stupid critics complained about his rainy days scenes and he switched to a sunlit palette. (Info from Childde Hassam - American Impressionist by Ulrich W. Hiesinger). I wished he had lived a bit longer - I could have met him.

Childe Hassam (1859-1935) at work

2011-03-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of Childe Hassam in his studio in 1885 (excuse the flash reflection) Somewhat dark, definitely cold and cluttered. Is he dressed just for the photo - probably not. One window, up to the left. This photo always reminds me not to be a "studio wimp" just get to work. I painted a quick sketch for fun.

2011-03-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

I'm getting visitors from China so I will briefly note my background as far as Chinese studies. I studied Chinese language at Stanford and University of CA Berkeley. I was drafted during the Vietnam war and signed up for Army Intelligence, hoping for Chinese language school. There were 20 in my intelligence class and we all had orders for language school (Spanish for me) but at the last minute they sent us all to Vietnam. I studied with a older Chinese scholar I found working in a watch shop in a market place. After Vietnam I spent a year in Germany and then went back to school at UC Berkeley. I studied with Kun Chang, Ch'en Shih-hsiang, Peter Boodberg, Tu Wei-ming and attended quite a few Buddhist sermons of Abbot To Lun in San Francisco. I finished the BA and then spent 5 years completing the Masters including several years in Taiwan at the Standord Center and two years working for the National Palace Museum. I did Ph'D work in Seattle and by then I was married and had a child so I went out into the working world.....I have not yet visited mainland China. I would like to travel about China and paint. I find pleasure in learning and timely review (K'ung) but also have a distrust for the written word (Tao) and try to keep a sense of humor (Chuang). Excuse the old style ping yin.

After the wedding

2011-03-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

So much rain I should not be using the flash but I need a photo at this point in case I blow the whole thing when doing the ladies. Using oil now.

I bought a half-inch filbert brush which I used for the oil layer.

After the wedding

2011-03-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

starting to include the bride and two girls dancing about the lawn. I used white charcoal pencil to sketch in the ladies and their shadows.

Painting in process 2 feet x 3 feet

2011-03-13T19:43:00.000-07:00

This is from a wedding photo that my daughter took and uses on her business card which you can see if you look close above the canvas. It's quite small. There are (will be) two girls and a new bride dancing about the lawn. I've started in acrylic. I am amazed how much moisture this surface soaks up (triple layered gesso on hardboard-masonite like board). I've sketched in where the figures will be but they don't show up in the photo. This took about 30 minutes. The focus is on establishing the values. If you get the values right the mind can fill in quite a bit. I will need to get the figures right though and dare not save them for last. Used only a one inch synthetic brush so far.

Landscape study 9 x 12

2011-03-12T16:02:00.000-08:00

Study - after a painting by James Gurney.

Oil 9 x 12 on linen canvas.

Sister's Horse 2' x 2' oil on masonite

2011-03-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

A bit of touching up on the face and hands and

I'll get off this bus. This is my first horse painting since I was a kid.

Landscape painting 9 x 12

2011-03-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

Couldn't resist doing a James Gurney painting seen in the current issue of International Artist.

Just a practice piece of course - not for sale. Not quite finished actually.

Horse Painting in process

2011-03-09T15:46:00.000-08:00

Moving on with oil -so much smoother and easier to apply.

Horse Painting in process

2011-03-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

Enough acrylic

Moving it to the easel

and will now use oils

Horse Painting in process

2011-03-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

Still using acrylic

Blocking in a bit more

I'll leave the background vague

Trying to keep believable values

Horse Painting in process

2011-03-06T12:33:00.000-08:00

Blocking in some color and dark areas.

Still using acrylic.

Plan to use oil for the final.

Painting in process

2011-03-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

After Kareoki last night I darkened some of the sketch lines and put a layer of clear gesso over the sketch. This AM I put is some background color (deep yellow and UM blue plus a cheap not-very opaque white ). It's winter and there are trees in the back ground. My little sister raises Andalusian horses and I have always liked this little b&w photo of her with a new foul and mom.

Original acrylic painting - Landscape

2011-02-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

Painting in process 2 feet x 3 feet

2011-02-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

I have been tinkering a bit. The rocks are not part of the painting yet but were painted on cardboard, cut-out and stuck on so I can see if I really want rocks and where to put them. I like the rocks. I changed the mountains too - more blue and more like mountains than hills. This one is fun. Unfortunately I cannot get the flash function to remain off and these photos were taken using a flash. Time for a new camera.

Painting in process 2 feet x 3 feet

2011-02-05T19:34:00.000-08:00

Painting in process

2011-01-30T11:50:00.002-08:00

So many flat surfaces filled with this and that

so I put the large easel in the living room which is currently off limits to the cats.

Using the dining room table - I'm used to working flat. I can thin out the acrylic and not worry about lean and fat.

This is suppose to be an underpainting in acrylic and then oils will follow if they are willing and able.

But who knows what can happen when you paint on a table.

I've been doing medical peer review about 12 hours a day

It's interesting work but it gets in the way.

About two 40 minute sessions so far starting with the priming.

The size is 3 x 4 feet MDF is the base and -------

Original Oil painting 9" x 12"

2011-01-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

9 x 12 on linen board

Original Oil painting

2011-01-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

Painting in process

Oil 8" x 10"

Some sheep will come into view shortly

Original acrylic 2 feet by 2 feet

2011-01-03T20:46:00.000-08:00

Completed this on the weekend. Acrylic. After an Edgar Payne painting, although he showed a morning view and I chose an evening view.

2 x 3 foot acrylic landscape painting

2010-07-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

New painting in process. Last month I did a Chinese Karst hills scene in a 3 x 4 ft format. This is 2 x 3 feet which makes for easier handling and I have found a plywood from China that is thin, light, very strong and is perfect for this size painting. Shop at Lowe's- 4 x 8 piece --3 cuts and you have four 2x 3 foot panels plus two 2 x 2 foot panels for $11. Add several layers of Gesso and get going. No need for back bracing. This was done in about two hours - out of my head - but I did do something similar a month prior.

California landscape painting 2 ft x 3 ft acrylic

2010-06-06T15:48:00.000-07:00

Just about finished-hope it lines up fairly well with the initial version. Photo on left is with natural light - photo on right is inside with flash. I am always amazed at the difference.

Painting in process 2 feet x 3 feet

2010-06-05T19:15:00.000-07:00

got a late start today on a new painting. Will be a compliment to an earlier painting. First photo is the earlier work -- second photo is with flash and third with natural light. About 45 minutes into this at this point...

12 x 16 oil painting

2010-05-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

See what happens when you shoot blind -but it does show the colors better in sunlight versus shade.

Original Oil Painting 12 x 16

2010-05-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

My first use of oil for several years. The consistency and smoothness is so much better than acrylic.

Painting in process

2010-05-09T19:57:00.000-07:00

Acrylic Painting 24" x 24"

2010-05-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

On the left -photographed in the sunlight; on the right - in the shade. What a difference.

I added some color today and matte-finished this one.

Home made easel and painting in process

2010-05-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

I picked up a camera tripod at the thrift store for $6 and glued on some wood parts to make myself a light plein air easel. The painting I've started is not a plein air painting-just something I started indoors last night.

Returning to oils

2010-05-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

Very frustrating week --too little time to paint. Friday PM and work done. Grabbed a pre-primed linen board and started in. Decided to switch to oils, my first love. On the right is 10 minutes going and on the left -another five minutes --feeling a bit inpatient. Best to stop here and take a fresh look tomorrow.

Original Acyrlic Painting 2 feet x 2 feet

2010-05-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

Took a number of photos and they all look darker than the painting.

Painting in process 2 feet x 2 feet

2010-04-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

The only difference in the top and middle painting is the lighting-the top view was taken outside in natural light. Acrylic - about 80% completed.

Oceanside Painting inspired by John Gamble

2010-04-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

This was done is very short bursts of work. When I move to full time painting I will surely need to keep several painting going at once. I need to take a lot of fresh looks. I did add some burt sienna to the deeper greens in the trees (yellow, burn sienna and ultra-marine blue).

Painting in process

2010-04-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

Painting in process 2 feet x 3 feet

2010-04-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

Did a bit tonight. Regret needing to use a flash.

Used some cadmium red and burnt umber in making the greys.

Painting in process 2 feet x 3 feet Acrylic

2010-04-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

Filling in a bit of the foreground and establishing some more shapes. Added yellow ochre to the mix.

Painting in process 2 feet x 3 feet Acrylic

2010-04-22T21:37:00.000-07:00

So far using three colors: UM Blue, Cadmium Yellow Medium (Susan Scheewe) and Venetian Red and quite a bit of a very cheap "titanium white" which is hardly even opaque but great for mixing and altering the key of colors. I used two brushes so far- a number 8 bristle and a 1.5 inch painters brush (for the foreground).

Painting in process 2 feet x 3 feet Acrylic

2010-04-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

New project. Trying to set it up to do Saturday. Sketched it out and put on some base colors tonight. It is inspired by an early CA painting of John Gamble. On the right will be two trees and there will be a lot of rocks and flowers in the foreground.

Time to Relax 2 x 3 feet original painting

2010-04-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

Signed and finished with matte finish and back

bracing.

Painting in process 2 feet x 3 feet

2010-04-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Well now the flash is going off as it is getting late. Tonight or tomorrow we'll add some flowers.

In Process 2 x 3 foot painting

2010-04-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

The foreground will be fields of flowers ala Redmond Granville - the key will be to put a few things in the distant valley that give perspective.

Trees and Valley 4-18-10 Painting in process

2010-04-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

Been too busy past two weeks to paint. Nice weekend to myself finally. New painting in process. Acrylic - may switch to oils and use the acrylic as the underpainting.

Almost finished Acrylic Painting

2010-03-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

OK the front cab is no longer a stick on-I decided to paint it in. He is now real. Finished.

The coachmen are off break and have climbed up onto their cabs. The kitty ran off. Still deciding whether to paint in the first cab -it's still just a cut-out stuck on. No idea why the lower photo came up sideways. Think of that one as an abstract.

Moving along Street scene 2 x 2 feet

2010-03-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

This is the fun part - placing cut-outs here and there. My little kitty photo is placed to check perspective - I drew a coachman and placed him to decide if I want to add another cab. Fun.

Put in another 15 minutes - keeping it loose and fun. I have been using a cheap acrylic "white" which is great for body color/mixing/lightening but is not really opaque. Today I used a bit of true titanium white. I'm using a flash for the photos which is a no-no but oh well at this point.

The sky should be darker but I hit upon a winter sky color I have been searching for -- this shade is used often by my favorite painter, Childe Hassam (1859-1935) in his winter street scenes- if he had lived to 100 years I could have met him. I have left a border top and bottom but will probably fill those in. The cab drivers will be painted next.

Acrylic Painting in process

2010-03-21T20:29:00.000-07:00

Not sure this is going anywhere - just using it to keep me painting while I decide on the next painting.

Acrylic 2 feet by 2 feet

2010-03-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

I saw an article that included a picture of this painting by Norbert Gouneutte (1854-1894) and it rung a bell --I did this painting years ago in oil and gave it to my sister. I have an odd shaped piece of masonite on which I will practice this painting again and afterwards may do it on a 2 x 3 foot size which would be more appropriate. I'm going to stay loose and just have fun. I spent 30 minutes noting some perspectives and sketching in some basics with blue, greys, whites and burnt sienna. The perspective is going to be odd as the reference painting is more rectagular than square.

Acrylic Landscape painting 2 ft x 3 ft

2010-03-20T14:26:00.000-07:00