Face Exploration 2

I went very big, detailed and full of brush strokes on the first face study I did. I went the opposite way with this one. It is still kind of big but I only hint the features of a face, keeping it very simple and playful. I only share these studies so you can see my journey.

Face Exploration 1

NOT FOR SALE

I posted a rough face painting earlier, my first step in finding out how I want to express faces. This is my 2nd attempt and totally different than the first. I went big, very big and worked more on details, but still keeping things loose. These series of explorations are for sale if someone want to buy them, but I don't paint them for that purpose.

Forest exploration 2

I didn't have any intention to post this one, not one of my favorites, but people around me have other ideas, they like it.
 I just went exploring with this one. I had no reference photo or planned direction, it just evolved along the way.

Forest exploration 1

In September last year, I started to paint on canvas hardboard-MDF (hardboard that has a canvas glued on it). Before that I painted on paper for a while, exploring and finding my "voice" as a painter. I accidentally ran out of canvas hardboard-MDF last weekend, and I started to paint over a an old unfinished painting on paper.
I realized that in some ways, I loose up and am less afraid to fail on paper, perhaps because it is cheaper. I like the result and I think I will do more on paper.

Birch Trees 6

After I did my first Birch tree paintings, I have had in mind doing a more elaborated painting. After doing a mid-size painting on canvas board-MDF, I realized that I didn't like fiddling with small details and that I loose range in colors and textures. Since I didn't have any large canvas board-MDF at home, I took the largest paper I got and just let loose. This is the result. I toned down the colors and let just some pure color hit in places.

Tree-top 1

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A few days ago I went to a park near where I live to get inspiration and some reference photos to work from.
The photos that was taken was mainly fall/autumn trees, a lot of warm colors. This paining is  inspired of a tree's character and my way to interpreter it. I kept it clean and simple, I thought about going more wild with it, but I liked it as it was, and I can always do another where I let go more.

Birch Trees 2

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When I did the first Birch-tree painting, I kept it simple with a restricted color palette. After that one I did a small (8" x 8") more colorful Birch-tree painting, to be shown later, and then I did this one.

That time of year 4

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After I did the first "That time of year" painting I wondered what it would look like if I had painted it bigger. I think I do have a better flow in the lines when I go up in size. This is the answer to that question (what it would look like....).

Birch Trees 1

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Thought I would go back to nature. I continued with my quest to find my way to capture nature. Birch-trees are graphic and stunning, and you can find many artists painting them. Do I do something new? Probably not, but hopefully I will put my twist on it in the end. 
I kept this one simple, held back on color and let it have a graphic feel.

12 squares of waterlily fun 2

SOLD

Before I painted the "Don't play with apples" I felt like doing another 12 squares painting, but the first one took some planning, each square would be like a small painting, but also they should work together. That's why I did the apple one, testing what it would look like if I didn't plan anything, and a square shouldn't work on it's own.

This painting is more like the first "12 squares" painting, but I tried to take the planning and each square a step further. I like the result, but it took much longer than usual to paint.

Don't play with apples

 

Well, this one is a result of not being sure what to paint, gets stuck between 2 ideas, and just let go and had some fun.

Lilac 3

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I got a commission a month a go to paint a Lilac painting, I did 2, and the client ended up buying both. I thought I do another one. Took things that I liked from the other 2 and tried to keep it loose and fresh.

Purple Iris 10

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I am sure this post will not get many hits, cause in one sense I repeat last post and many will think it is the same.
I like the painting I am going to show at that Exhibition, it is only around 3 months since I painted it,  but it isn't how I would have painted it today, so I gave it a go, almost the same composition, same reference photo. This is how it turned out.

Purple Iris 1

This painting made it to the Annual Fall Juried Art Exhibition in Malmo (Sweden's 3rd largest city). The exhibition is called "Höstsalong 2011" in swedish. This is the first time I tried this, so I am happy to make it.

Apple drowning in Horse-chestnuts

Yes I know, another Horse-chestnut painting, but haven't had time to really getting into a place where I could focus on what to do next, so I continued on the path I was on. I had the idea of massive amount of chestnuts and a hint of an apple, like it was covered or drowning. Here is the result.

Partially Abstract Purple Iris 1

I squeezed in some painting yesterday. Haven't had time to paint, so when the opportunity came I just let go and did this one. I call  it "Partially abstract" because I really didn't hold back. As you all know, I am no realistic painter, but even for me there is degrees, and I think this is one is one of the more "out there" Irises I have done.
Not sure what to think yet, am too close to be objective right now.

Green apple and Horse-chestnuts

My 3rd and for now final Horse-chestnut painting, is a kind of "in your face" composition I wanted it to be over the top, but still simple and kind of calm. As usual I played with my brush strokes, wanted it to be loose and spontaneous.

Horse-chestnuts on the ground

Haven't had much time to paint the last days, but as I told you, did a 3rd take on The Fall's Challenge. I often get ideas about future paintings while I am painting, it can be totally different subjects or ideas of I could do things different than I am doing.
I do think my 8" x 8" paintings are fun and I am satisfied with most of them, but I still think my strengths come through much better when I paint bigger. This one is an example of that.

Lilac 1

Well, I've just painted another horse-chestnuts painting, a larger and warmer version of my last post, but thought I post the first commission Lilac painting I did. Never done Lilacs before this one, so I had to learn and get the feeling of Lilacs.

SOLD

Lilac 2

As I mentioned before I haven't had much time to paint my usual stuff cause I have been working on a commission painting. The client wanted a painting of his girlfriends favorite flower, the Lilac. I did 2 takes on the subject, this is the 2nd one. The client loved both very much (though his favorite was number 1) and unless there is change of mind he will buy both.

 SOLD