Saturday, July 26, 2014

Alternate Route, Modern Subtle Landscape, Janet Bludau

11" x 14" Oil

This subtle landscape has a contemporary, modern feel to it. I painted a quick sketch first to decide on the composition and basic color tones. My goal was to cover the entire canvas with thin paint​ and then decide if I liked the direction it was going. I later went back in, tweaking it here and there and covering the canvas with new paint.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Rejoicing Light, Layers of Oil and Texture, Landscape of Trees and Waterway, Janet Bludau

12" x 12"
Oil on Canvas
$300

This painting was created with many layers using brushes and palette knifes of different sizes. Layers were scraped back to reveal under paintings. It was a fun piece and one I could have kept working on forever - it is difficult to know when to stop!


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Dignified Onlookers, Modern, Abstract Landscapes by Janet Bludau


20" x 16"
Oil on Board
This painting will be part of the Southern California Plein Air Painting Association's Annual Art Show in July IF not sold by then of course!
This piece was finished in the studio and done with a limited palette of paints.  Burnt Umber is a color I haven't used much in the past.  It makes for some beautiful new colors when combined with the blues and yellows I use.  
I hope you like it - it is one of my favorite pieces I have painted recently.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

"Approaching Carmel" Oil, Abstract Landscape, Janet Bludau


14" x 18"
Oil on Canvas 
Parts of my initial underpainting show through the top layer of paint.  In the final stages I added palette knife markings to the painting, further delineating the shape of different crop sections.
Central California provides many photos for my paintings.  I like the geometric shapes of the land and how it all fits together as a puzzle.
Besides the useful photos,  some of my favorite places to visit are in Central and Northern California.  Carmel is at the top of the list.  Carmel is known for its beautiful coast of course.  The countryside of the Carmel Valley is equally beautiful.


Sunday, April 27, 2014

To The Sea, Abstract Landscape of Waterways, Janet Bludau


12" x 12" on Thick Birch Panel
Ready to hang
The wood sides have been waxed with a clear Briwax and buffed

There is a red underpainting applied in the first stage of this painting.
After that I have gone in and added layers, changing parts of the painting as I go.
The last stage is where I took several Oil Sticks to the grass areas and also scratched into the oil with palette knives. 


Friday, April 4, 2014

On My Easel, Janet Bludau, Abstract Graphic Landscapes



Each of these are oil on 12" Square Deep Birch Panels.
My plan is to go back in when they dry a bit, using oil sticks first. 
Then I will scratch through the oil stick applications, using palette knives. 
I hung them up together to decide if I like all the red showing through or if there is just too much of it.  Any opinions?



Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Solitude by Janet Bludau, Abstract, Modern Beach Scene


12" x 12"
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
A mixture of brush and palette knife work.
Red underpainting not only shows through but is highlighted.
Think I would like to be there right now.......

Thursday, March 20, 2014

I have been a bad, bad blog poster lately.  You just can't do it all.......  3 paintings sold over the weekend so I'm a bit fired up.  Thus the posting energy.  One of them is Floating Through Life below.



Friday, January 31, 2014

"30 Day Challenge Collage" by Janet Bludau


We Did It!
Here is my collage at the end of our 30 Day Painting Challenge.
I am opting to post only 16 for my collage.  A few days I missed, a few paintings I thought were terrible.  Here are the paintings I like!
This was a wonderful exercise for me.  It got me back into the studio, it got me back to posting.  Thank you Leslie Saeta for planning this exercise for your fellow painters.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

"Love Scape" Small painting for Valentines Day, Abstract Landscape with Heart Trees, Janet Bludau


7" x 5"
Oil on Panel
"Love Scape" is my last painting in the 30 day Painting Challenge.
Tomorrow, we somehow show all our paintings for the month in a collage.  I have yet to figure out how to actually do this.  Won't it be a cool thing to know how to do though?


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

"Love Is In The Air" Whimsical, Colorful Landscape for Valentines Day by Janet Bludau


5" x 7"
Oil on Panel
Love Is In The Air
This is Day 29 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge
I've missed a couple days but here I am on the 2nd to the last day AND I have tomorrow's painting finished also - so there.  

Friday, January 24, 2014

"Town", An Abstract, Architectural Painting by Janet Bludau


5" x 7"
Oil on Panel
Day 24 of the 30 Day Challenge
This is a very different painting than I would typically paint.  I am always attracted to architectural pieces and cityscapes.  This one reminds me of a children's book I use to read.  I can't put my finger on the one I am thinking of but it is clear in my mind:  soft colors, line drawings, a woman or girl with her purse over her arm - very proper.  Anyone know?


Thursday, January 23, 2014

"New Growth" Modern, Abstract Palette Knife Painting by Janet Bludau


6" x 6"
Oil on Board
Thick Paint Created With Various Sized Palette Knives

Day 23 of the 30 Day Challenge
Skipped yesterday in my posting.  It is not that I didn't paint but I didn't finish in time to photograph and post before my other obligations so there........
Thanks for looking

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

"A Bit Of Hockney" Modern Impressionistic Abstract Paintings by Janet Bludau


A Bit Of Hockney
Acrylic on Canvas
This is Day 21 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge

I have always been attracted to Hockney's work.  What I did was use a similar palette he used in one of his famous paintings and just look at the background and try my hand at my own little Hockney moment.  
Thanks for visiting........

Monday, January 20, 2014

Sunday, January 19, 2014

"Harbor Day" A small impressionistic, abstract seascape with boats by Janet Bludau


Harbor Day
6" x 6"
Oil on Linen Board

Day 19 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge
This was one of those effortless paintings that makes up for all the ones you struggle over.  The paintings that you need to fix and then decide it was better before so, then you re-fix, etc.  
It seemed to paint itself..........

Saturday, January 18, 2014

"Boat Parade Reflections" Abstract, Palette Knife Boat Painting by Janet Bludau


Day 18 of the 30 Day Challenge
Today with my challenge, I am a bit of a cheater.  Again, working on the perfectionism.  This is a painting that I finished (or thought I had) a long time ago.  I never really did anything with it - it got lost in the shuffle.  I was asked to donate a piece of art to this year's Boat Parade Dinner and Auction.  It is a fun local event where all the home and boat winners of the last parade are honored, everyone eats and drinks too much and the Chamber of Commerce raises money to put on next year's boat parade.
Anywho........ seeing as though this composition is fairly perfect for a Boat Parade function, I got it out but made a few changes.  I changed up the color of the boat just a tad, added more shadow under the boat and added a highlight or two.  So, in an effort to get get the most out of my time, multi-task and not do everything perfectly, this is counting as my Day 18 painting also!
If you want more info on the fun party, go to the Newport Beach Chamber's Website and maybe you will join the party?!  My painting will be there and so will I ..........

Friday, January 17, 2014

"Riding To Blackie's", Blackie's By The Sea Bar, Newport Beach Ca, Janet Bludau


Riding To Blackie's
8" x 8"
Oil  
This is day 17 of the 30 day Challenge. 
Blackie's By The Sea is down on the boardwalk in Newport Beach and has been in business for as long as I can remember.  An institution.  I painted a smaller version and without the bike earlier in the competition.  I can't decide if I like the bike or not.  Please feel free to throw your 2 cents in there and comment below.  Stay or Go ??? 
I missed yesterday - mini emergency and I didn't have any paintings far enough along that I could quickly finish and post.  Oh well, another opportunity to remind myself of my New Year's resolution IF I had made a New Year's Resolution - Stop Looking For Perfectionism.
Thanks for looking..........

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

"Azure Sea" Abstract, Modern Seascapes and Landscapes by Janet Bludau


Day 15 of the 30 Day Challenge!
Azure Sea is Acrylic and painted on Watercolor paper.
Bits of Orange and Greens peek through from the underpainting and also were added via Palette Knife.
Thanks for looking!


Tuesday, January 14, 2014

"Diverging Paths" Abstract, Modern Landscapes and Seascapes by Janet Bludau


Diverging Paths
9" x 12"
Acrylic on Unstretched Canvas

This is day 14 of the 30 Day Challenge.  Almost hump day.  
Lots of texture in this painting.  I already had a textured painting on the canvas and then painted over it. I made sure to leave the underpainting showing through in places that added to the overall work.
Thank you for visiting.......

Monday, January 13, 2014

Purple Haze, Abstract, Modern, Landscapes and Seascapes by Janet Bludau


Day 13 of our 30 Day Challenge
Purple Haze
9" x 12"
Acrylic on unstretched canvas
Back on a good painting roll.  I really enjoyed my studio time yesterday and am pleased with this painting and the next two I am almost finished with.  I had to make myself stop yesterday.  I had also promised myself garden time:  a bit of cleanup, tending to the compost bin and planting two little lime green ??  by a small fountain.  
Thanks for visiting.................

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Moss Door, 30 day painting a day challenge, abstract landscapes


Moss Door is on an unstretched piece of canvas.
This is day 12 of the 30 day challenge.  I need to get hoppin' as,  I got nothin' for tomorrow.  Not a start, not a canvas prepped, not one idea.  

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Tangerine by Janet Bludau, Small Still Life for the 30 Day Challenge


Day 11 of the 30 Day Challenge
6" x 6" Oil on Board
Still Lives really haven't been my thing.  The other day I was in Dana Cooper's local Monday workshop. I worked away most the day on my landscape and then added a few touches to my local architectural piece.  Then I thought I would do a quick study of what most the group was painting - the Tangerine in a box.  You should have seen Dana's!  If you want to, I just looked it up on her website.  Link is: http://danacooperfineart.com/works/823166/simply-orange
Gzzz, maybe I need to switch to Still Life.  The simplicity can be just beautiful.
Well, that was a quick tangent.  Back to me.   
I have another landscape on watercolor paper in the works for tomorrow's post.  I also need to drop off 2 paintings that will be in the Huntington Beach Art Center's show that kicks off February 1st.  Tonight is the opening of the Showcase Gallery's new show Perspectives.  I have 2 paintings in this show.
AND, I better get painting or I am going to be caught tardy come Monday morning.
Thanks for visiting!