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I've said before that I think of my tree paintings as portraits more than landscapes. I believe these two demonstrate that concept fairly well; clearly each is unique in personality. The first painting is for sale now, the second one will be listed tomorrow evening (June 22).

Title: Zen Shimpaku
Medium: oil pastel on bristol
Size: 3 1/2 x 2 1/2"
Status: For Sale (click image for link to auction)



Title: Majestic Kapok
Medium: oil pastel on bristol
Size: 2 1/2 x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale Soon(click image for link to store)

Well I said that I would post the progression of the Poe painting, so here it is.
The first step was to create a very simple under-painting. Most of this will not be visible on the final piece, but it's still very important because what will show through will have a major impact on the final piece. I basically used a two-tone scheme, but I added some orange areas and some dark areas to the red portion so that it would add complexity and definition to the final piece;


Once that was finished I let it harden up a bit and then I applied the top coat with soft Sennelier oil pastels. Again I stuck to a basic two-tone color palate. The basic look I wanted was black and red with alabaster white. Using subtle accents of pale blue, orange, and grey will add depth and richness to the bold color scheme without destroying the effect. Here is the top coat; you can see that it almost completely covers the under painting.


Once that was finished, I only had to add the filigree and the text. To do this I used a stylus (a blunt metal tool) to scrape away the top coat. The colors underneath then show through and reveal the gradations of color. This technique is called "sgraffito", or sometimes just graffito or even graffiti. The next and last thing I did was add some depth with various shades of grey oil pastel. To see the final piece just look at my previous post.

Here is a different detail picture of the final painting, showing some of the knotwork and filigree.


Also, I now have this painting available as a poster and on shirts and more in my Cafepress store;
http://www.cafepress.com/klturner/3166840

Title: Worlds Apart
Medium: oil pastel on bristol
Size: 2 1/2 x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (click image for link to auction)


Text from the auction;
A rocky crag is overlooked by steep cliffs, separating two weathered trees. Two of a kind, the hardened mountain pines seem to be reaching across the gulf towards each other, hoping for companionship or mutual strength in a rugged and merciless environment.

I do not like to think of my tree paintings as landscapes, but rather I prefer to consider them expressive portraits. The subject is the tree, and my goal is to portray its spirit; its strengths, weaknesses, the trials it has faced and the character it has developed. Most of my trees are not drawn directly from real subjects but are the product of my experiences amongst trees with similar features. My experience studying the art of training bonsai trees also projects a visible influence on the design and composition of my tree portraits. But behind the subject there is also a statement; a metaphor, or an expression of some sort.

Extreme close-up of painting;


I'm frequently asked how I am able to get so much detail in these small paintings, whether I use a magnifying glass, and so forth. Truthfully, it's rather easy for me because I have been drawing finely detailed pictures all my life. I don't use any magnifying glasses or any other mechanical magnification, though I do have 20/20 vision and I like to have plenty of light to work with.

The auction for this one ends in two days. It's similar to another blossoming tree I made in April, but in a larger format and, in my opinion, a little nicer end result.

Title: Radiance In the Sun
Medium: Acrylics and oil pastel on canvas
Size: 14" x 11"
Status: For Sale (click image for link to auction)


Also, here are two new abstracts I completed this week.

Title: Gilded Web
Medium: Acrylics and mylar on canvas
Size: 16" x 20"
Status: For Sale Soon


Detail;



Title: Journey's End (Extended Invitation)
Medium: Acrylics on canvas
Size: 16" x 20"
Status: For Sale Soon

Here are my latest two paintings. The first one is the Jabberwock (from the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll), and the second is a "bonsai" style shimpaku juniper tree.

Title: Jabberwock
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)



Title: Rocky Perch
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)


'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

~Lewis Carroll

I've painted the Cheshire cat, White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and even the lizard, Bill. I guess it's about time I got around to painting Alice!


Title: Alice
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)

I've got a couple more Zodiac ACEO paintings up for sale, Aries and Leo. Only two more to complete the series!


Title: Aries
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)



Title: Leo
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)


Also, I got a bit of practice doing my latest art form, Mehndi;

I have never used Henna as a medium before but there is a very natural flow to it that I find enjoyable. I'm sure I'll get better in time, but here are a few of my earliest attempts. I've been not only practicing the techniques involved with using the medium, but also improving the recipe to get darker stains that last better. I've got a pretty good batch mixed up right now that stains to a dark cherry color, and promises to last for a couple of weeks at least. To see more pictures, look behind the cut;( Pictures Here )

Here are the latest two from my Zodiac series, this makes 8 finished- only 4 more to go! Pisces is up on eBay, Taurus I will list tomorrow.

Title: Pisces
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)




Title: Taurus
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale Soon (Click image to go to eBay store)



And because I needed a break from constellations I decided to paint a blossoming cherry tree (the crabapples around here are inspiring!)

Title: Awakening
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)

I am creating a series of art cards based on the Greek Zodiac. I have chosen to create them in no particular order. The first four are finished, the others are in process and should be completed within the week, I'm posting them on eBay as I finish them. Here are the first four;

Title: Cancer
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)



Title: Gemini
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)



Title: Capricorn
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)



Title: Aquarius
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)

Well I decided that Red needed some company after all, so I went ahead and painted the Wolf.


Title: The Wolf
Medium: Oil pastel and colored pencil on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)

As I painted this painting of Cthulhu I thought it would be a good idea to photograph it in stages so that if I overpainted the original sketch too much I could go back and look at the photographs to get back on target. As it turns out I haven't needed to do that, but I do have some nice progression shots now. Since I always enjoy seeing others' work as it unfolds, I thought I would share this progression here for anyone interested. This painting is not yet finished, although it is getting close. The latest photograph looks different from the others because it was taken at night using my studio lights instead of during the day using natural window light. The actual color is somewhere between the two. I'll use better lighting to photograph the final piece.

I'll post everything behind a cut for those who don't want to see all the images, but first here is a sneak peak at the latest in the progression;


For the progression to this point ( click here. )

I have been so busy working on commissions that I haven't been able to paint much for myself lately! Most of my "spare" time has been setting up a Cafepress store. So, without further ado, I will publicly announce the URL for anyone interested in seeing my work on mugs, T-shirts and greeting cards;

http://www.cafepress.com/klturner

Please bear in mind that while I have spent several days getting this set up, there is still a lot more material to get installed, so make sure you check back again later to see what I still have yet to add! Also, once I get the basics going I will be making custom HTML and graphics to pretty up the look of the store.

And since I haven't posted any new art recently, here are a couple of new pieces. The first one is an abstract, this auction closes tomorrow;

Title: Captured in Gold and Wine
Medium: Oil pastel on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale (Click image to go to auction)


This second one is a departure, or maybe a step or progression, I'm not sure. I have never painted a self-portrait before, and I really never thought I would since I have plenty of photographs and don't really care to curse the world with yet another physical representation of my image. But I felt compelled to paint a different kind of self portrait. This shows the way I "see" myself right now in life- of course this portrait would look different if I were to paint it again a year from now because I see myself as ever changing. I used a graffito technique with oil pastels to make this. It is not yet for sale, but I may put it up for auction tonight. I also may decide to paint a larger and more refined version of this.

Title: Self Portrait
Medium: Oil pastel on Bristol vellum
Size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
Status: For Sale Soon