Artist Statement

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Lovely Landscape, Semi Abstract - Gifted


Lovely Landscape, Semi Abstract
Mixed Media on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, 16" x 16" x 1.5"
Gifted

Here are enlargements and Details



Job 12:7-10 is handwritten very faintly in white on the sky


The Right Side Edge, sunbeams are in the photo only


The collage elements include prints on tissue of the underside of a mushroom, actual birch bark, magazine scraps, mulberry papers, tissue papers, and African fabric in the tree trunks. There is also acrylic paint and a double coating of Matte Gel Medium, which gives this painting it's translucent look. Sides, top and bottom are all completed, so no frame is needed. I am very pleased with it, can you tell?

Friday, September 27, 2019

Dear Hamus. Regards from Edith. - SOLD


Dear Hamus. Regards from Edith.
A Flavor of Nostalgia
Mixed Media on MDF Board, 14" x 14"
SOLD


Detail of Crackle Area at the top


Detail of Edith's beautiful handwriting


This one started life as an assignment from the wonderful class I've been taking, called "Soulful Abstracts," taught by a wonderful French artist and teacher, Laly Mille. The assignment was called Layers of Time, and the idea and inspiration was an old papered and plastered wall. I found other things that wouldn't be found on a wall...a lovely note in an old book, some paper doilies, magazine clippings, a page from a book about love, an old graphics newspaper, and some blue striped wrapping paper. Collage and paint, and loads of time. I'm pretty happy with it.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Do What You Can - SOLD





"Do What You Can, Where You Are, With What You Have" quote from T. Roosevelt
Mixed Media on Paper, Mounted on MDF Boards, 6" x 6" each
SOLD at $25 plus $10 shipping

Continuing with my current fascination with abstracts in general, this was part of a series of different sizes and uses from one large watercolor sheet. Some went into cards, but these two I decided to mount and treat as paintings. Fun, aren't they? I really like this quote, too. Good reminder. Here are a couple of the cards:



Saturday, August 31, 2019

Tidal Textures - Gifted

Tidal Textures
Textured Abstract Painting Series
Each Cradled Panel is 6" x 6" x 1" deep
Gifted.

See details of each panel below. These are signed on the sides, so that you can choose whatever orientation that feels right to you. They could also be hung in a row, say in a hall way. Or you could split them and hang them as singles or doubles, whatever you like.

Close-Ups:





Saturday, July 27, 2019

T'is of Thee - SOLD

T'is of Thee - SOLD
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Hardboard, 14" x 14"
Available at $45 plus $10 shipping

My impressions...chaotic American politics, spiraling out of control, lots of heated dissension, more anger and bitterness than we've ever seen, but still...the Lord is in control, even when we can't see or sense it.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Conceal and Reveal - SOLD

Conceal and Reveal
Acrylic on Hard Board, 14" x 14"
SOLD at $45 plus $10 shipping



It could be hung this way:


Some details below (close Ups)



Abstracts are way harder than you would think. By the time you play, refine, remove, add, cover, change, scratch, sand, stamp, remove more, add more, squiggle on top, drip, change, adjust...it has taken on a life and a history of it's own. Fun stuff, but harder than you would imagine. For a first attempt, I'm pretty happy.

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Loose Iris Number Four - SOLD

Loose Iris # 4
Watercolor on Cold Press Paper, 9" x 12"
SOLD at $20 plus $10 shipping.


This one I did with no sketching at all underneath. I laid down deep color, then added clear water to let it spread, controlling (sorta) where it was all floating off to. The leaves were done the same way, with negative painting when it dried. The technique needs work, but I DO like this one.

Friday, July 12, 2019

Floating Feathers - SOLD

Those of you who know my cousin H, and have been to the home of H and D, you will recognize where the idea for this one comes from. They have a beautiful piece of artwork with actual feathers that float, attached outside the frame, it's beautiful. So here's my version in watercolor.


Floating Feathers - SOLD
Watercolor, Ink, and Pencil on Arches Watercolor Paper, Image size is 19" x 21"
Available at $65 plus $10 shipping

You can click on the image to see this one larger.
(The ink lines break up at larger sizes, but they are solid.)
Thanks for looking!

Sunday, July 07, 2019

Loose Iris Watercolor 3 - SOLD

Loose Iris Watercolor #3
Watercolor on Blick Cold Press Paper, 9" x 12"
SOLD at $20 plus $10 shipping

For this one, I reverted (mostly) to my regular defined style, with an effort to incorporate some of the looseness that I've been trying for. Here are the first two versions:


First Try


Second Try - SOLD

There are parts of each that I like, but I'm not to the point where I'm confident with the loosey goosey style that I'm after. I'll keep trying!

Saturday, July 06, 2019

World Watercolor Month Watercolors - SOLD

A few more watercolors, mostly exploring a looser style.

Note: The NA means that I probably gave them away or TIC (Turned into Cards)


Yellow Floral
NA, 7.9" x 7.9" (20cm x 20cm)


Loose Iris First Iteration
NA, 9" x 12"


Loose Iris Second Iteration - SOLD
9" x 12"

The yellow one was just splashing color, then figuring out how to refine it. Probably better to go at it with something a little more definite in mind.

For the irises; the first one was done painting more in my usual style, but then softening as I went. Some parts I like quite a bit (mostly the leaves), and some not so much. The second one I did was with pale splashes of color wet-in-wet, then let that dry and paint on top. I lost my purples to the green dried washes. So the color isn't as nice, but again, there are some bits that I like (the leaves and the top iris.) 

If you would like to have any of these watercolors, just send an email to me at NelVanL@aol.com.
...and the watercolors continue.

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Wheat Fields Watercolor - SOLD

Wheat Fields Watercolor
Watercolor of Watercolor Paper, 9" x 12" (including a small unpainted border)
SOLD.

In preparation for a large landscape in oils of a dirt road thru wheat fields, I did this small watercolor to test some colors and shapes. It's a nice little piece, for someone that might like fields and farms.

Thursday, May 02, 2019

Two Peaches - SOLD

Two Peaches
Oil on Hardboard, 5" x 7"
SOLD at $20 plus $10 shipping.

Revised from a small piece done last September.

Friday, April 12, 2019

Winter Colors - SOLD

Winter Colors
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, 10" x 10" x 1.5"
SOLD at $40 plus $10 shipping

Side View Here:


Painting wraps around to the wall. No frame needed. Painted top, sides and bottom.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Spring Sky Scape - SOLD

Spring Sky Scape
Oil on Wood Panel, 12" x 16"
SOLD at $35 plus $10 shipping.

A simple landscape with a concentration on the sky.
Revised from a sky study I did in August.


Saturday, March 23, 2019

Sun Splashed

Sun Splashed
Oil on Wood Panel, 12" x 16"
Available at $45 plus $15 shipping.

Originally posted as "Walking Path" on September 3 of last year, I thought this one had good bones, and was worth refurbishing a little. I made it brighter, and hope you like it better.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Lake Sunset - Gifted


Lake Sunset
Oil on Hard Board, 14" x 14"
Gifted.

This one has been revised a couple of times since I first painted it last July.
I changed the sky and trees.
I think it's in final form now, just waiting for a home.


Friday, March 08, 2019

Uphill and Down

Uphill and Down
Oil on Hardboard, 14" x 14"
Available at $40 plus $15 shipping.

This one is revised from a piece from last September, which I liked, but it was done with an overcast sky, and maybe wasn't as cheerful as a collector might like to have hanging on their wall. So I changed the sky, added some brights, and made the path more contrasting.

The shipping is a little higher, since the wood MFD backing makes is a bit heavy to ship.

Thursday, March 07, 2019

Plum Paintings - SOLD

Plums Stacked
Oil on Hardboard, 6" x 6"
SOLD



Plums in Pottery Bowl
Oil on Hardboard, 8" x 8"
SOLD at $20 plus $10 shipping

Both of these small ones are from before, but I've changed them up a little with more suitable backgrounds and some touches in the plums.


Saturday, March 02, 2019

Triple Peony - Gifted


Triple Peony
Oil on Hardboard, 7" x 7"
Not Available, Gifted


Apparently, this one never got posted. It only had the bottom peonies in it, and a sort of muted light green background. I did some punching, added a third bloom, and I think it's better now. The peonies are tricky to do, since they are so loose and can yet need some controlled looseness, if that makes sense.

Friday, March 01, 2019

Shadowed Pond - SOLD

Shadowed Pond
Oil on Hardboard, 8" x 10"
SOLD at $20 plus $10 shipping

A revision of a little painting from this past summer called, Summer Pond.
I've ramped up the color and changed things up a little. A bit cleaner, I think, more appealing.

Wednesday, January 09, 2019

Fall Woodland Trail - SOLD


Fall Woodland Trail
Oil on Hard Board, 11" x 14"
SOLD at $35 plus $10 shipping.

This one was always a bit on the dark side, so I've lightened it up, and made it brighter in spots. I think it works nicely now, and probably won't revise it any further.

Tuesday, January 01, 2019

Glimpse of Fall - SOLD


Glimpse of Fall (a revised painting)
Oil on Hardboard, 10" x 10"
SOLD at $35.00 plus $10 shipping.

Happy New Year, everyone!
Thanks to all of you for the support and encouragement throughout 2018. Here's wishing you a happy and prosperous 2019, full of all good things.

I thought to ease back into a painting routine, I would start by revising all the pieces that weren't "quite" there, using less brilliant light so the contrasts aren't so stark, and adjusting little things that could have worked better. This is the first one. I really like it now.