The Palette

This is a palette that I've been using for the past several years. There is no specific brand of paint that I use. As for colors, they vary depending on the painting. I place no limit on the number of colors on my palette at a given time. I may be using a limited palette with 2-5 colors, or I may have as many as 24 colors.  The following is a list of colors that I have on my painting table to choose from:

• Titanium white
• Titanium/Zinc white
• Flake white
• Naples Yellow
• Yellow Ochre
• Yellow Ochre Transparent
• Hansa Yellow
• Indian Yellow
• Cadmium Yellow Light
• Cadmium Yellow Medium
• Cadmium Yellow Deep
• Cadmium Orange
• Cadmium Red Light
• Cadmium Red Medium
• Cadmium Red Deep
• Cadmium Maroon
• Alizarin Crimson Permanent
• Quinacridone Red
• Quinacridone Violet
• Manganese Violet
• Ultramarine Red
• Cobalt Violet
• Dioxazine Purple
• Ultramarine Blue
• Cobalt Blue
• Cerulean Blue
• Prussian Blue
• Phthalocyanine Blue
• Manganese Blue
• Phthalocyanine Green
• Viridian
• Chromium Oxide Green
• Permanent Green Light
• Sap Green
• Terre Verte
• Burnt Sienna
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Raw Umber
• Indian Red 
• Venteitan Red
• Van Dyke Brown
• Ivory Black
• Lamp Black
• Payne's Grey
•  a few more that slip my mind at the moment. 

"Morsel's" oil on canvas, 24" x 36"

Morsel's

Where else would someone eat after bowling a few games at Ambassador Lanes.

Ambassador Lanes, oil on canvas, 26" x 39"

Ambassador Lanes is a painting 22 years in the making. I used an old Ektachrome slide that I shot an of this sign in 1989 for reference. The sign is long gone. Again I used painting knives as much as possible only resorting to brushes for areas too fine to make knife work practical. This painting will be a part of a show of landscape paintings that I am having in September 2011 at BayArts.

Natural light is key. This is a photograph of me in the studio.

Unique Beauty, oil on panel, 7" x 5"

This storefront is a real "Unique Beauty."

SOLD

Late Sunday Afternoon, Oil on Panel, 8"x6"

This is one of the small scale Cleveland landscape that I've been working on. I'm using painting knives for paint application in most places. The title is a reference to a famous painting of a similar theme.

Can anyone name the painting and artist?

More Abe Lincoln Sketches from my Moleskine

more Abe Lincoln Sketches

Lincoln without his iconic beard at age 37.

Abe Lincoln Sketches

These are a few pages out of my Moleskine sketchbook. Abraham Lincoln is a hero of mine and I'm considering doing a portrait of him.

The Minifig in the Golden Helmet, oil on panel, 10"x8"

I've been working on this little painting for a few days now. It is my rendition of the famous painting The Man in The Golden Helmet. I always have great fun trying to get a Rembrandtesque feel. It is painted in oils on an Ampersand panel. The minifig head is taken from a Lego Viking figure.

PRINTS AVAILABLE!!!

Website Update!

I have finally got a beta version of my website published. Please take the time to check it out and give me your feedback. I have many more paintings that need to be added. I will continue to use this blog for more up to the minute announcements and works in progress.

http://www.martineoconnor.com

Jack 'n' Meg ,oil on canvas, 17.25"x25.75"

I started this painting way back in January. I finally put the finishing touches on it this week. I usually avoid narrative but had some fun with the Lego minifigs in this piece. Elements of the composition have been appropriated from a popular photograph of Jack and Meg White of the garage rock band, The White Stripes.

SOLD

I'm Back

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I will be back to blogging as usual this month. You can't expect to see several new paintings and drawings posted before years end.

Rock Totem

I hope this totem helps me find my way.

Fire Chief, oil on canvas, 18" x 27"

Chief comes from an era before Lego developed the transparent flame piece. Never the less Chief is brave and hasn't forgotten where he came from.

Portrait in progress, oil on canvas, 18" x 27"

This is an in-progress, full-length oil portrait of the fire chief for the LLFD. During the course of this painting I've come to respect the him as the most knowledgeable fire chief I've met. I will post the progress of this painting.

Lorain at W.68, oil on panel, 5"x7"

This is a very small study of a decaying residential structure on Cleveland's west side.

Bass Player, oil on canvas, 25"x32"

I've been working on this painting for a long time now. I finally put the finish on it today.

Some preliminary sketches for my Art Tatum portrait.

Unfinished Skull, oil on canvas, 8"x10"

This is a little skull that never made it to the finish. I still think it has some interesting attributes.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season. I had a great Christmas this year. I have taken a few weeks off from the studio to spend with the family. I will be back to posting regularly after the first of the year.

Skull, 9" x 12" oil on canvas

Skulls, skulls, skulls! I enjoy studying this form. The subtle tones of bone are always a challenge.

Shop Duster, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

Two Pears, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

There is no narrative here, but if there were it would be:
"Hey,... a little help here! I've fallen, and I can't get up."

Special, oil on panel, 6" x 12"

I'm starting a series of Cleveland based urban landscapes that I plan to publish into book form. Can anyone guess what sign this is? Hint: Lorain Rd., west-side.

Yellow Bulb, oil on panel, 5" x 7"

Two Lemons, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

When life hands you lemons, paint them.

Red Vessel, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

No attempt at narrative here. Simplicity and honesty were the goals.

Skull #2 oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

Thanks to the grey Cleveland sky it was too dark in my studio to work from one of my usual still-life set ups. This is a painting I completed in the early spring.

Two Fuji, oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

Two apples for your consumption.
I wanted to create a simple graphic composition while maintaining my usual approach of modeling form. There is no attempt to hide brushwork or other "art marks."