This is a new support and a new process I am experimenting with. MJ Harding non-absorbent primer and paint on Rives BFK paper.
Fallow BFK
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Tag Archives: big sky
Fallow
This is fifth in a series of large format corn harvest paintings. This one being 2 miles east of Granger, Iowa. The sky all subtle hues of the three primary and three secondary colors from horizon to zenith. Violet, red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.
Party Line
Love the Iowa Sky in Fall at harvest time.
Expanse
Go the Distance
24×24
New addition to the ethereal Iowa Harvest Landscape Series.
Early Corn
This is a work-in-progress, and fairly large for me. But it’s turned out great so far. I may just do a tiny bit of adjustments. Enjoy!
Vanishing Point Sanibel II
My painting practice involves attempting to create a rich and prismatic sky of pastels, from horizon to zenith, as often seen in the magical hours of the day both in the morning and at evening time. This, with a knife.
A Walk on the Beach
There is a particular ether to the light at Sanibel Island, Florida. If you know the place, you might be familiar with why this is so. Sanibel is shaped like a shrimp, with Captiva being the tail. The apex of its back, which is exactly where the Casa Ybel property is situated, faces straight south towards Key West and beyond to Havana, Cuba. Therefore, like no other beach, the Sun comes up where the beach meets the water in the East, and goes down where the beach meets the water in the West. Very unique, and very easy to get sun burned there. Stay tuned for more!
Odebolt, Iowa grain elevator 2
Searching for new Iowa towns to paint. Let me know your ideas!
Odebolt Elevator
Crop Reserve
Because I constructed this large painting straight from the imagination, you can count me out as a realist. From the imagination counts as romanticism, and if it’s considered not ugly, it then falls within Romantic Positivism.
It’s a work in progress, as I see a few things, a few values worth fixing. Maybe some telephone poles. This painting is rather big at 4 feet by 5 feet and, I am getting very comfortable with the larger paintings. Stay tuned!
Bus Route
The early morning bus ride is often in the magical time of day for most kids who live out in the country.
Iowa Farm Night III
I kind of like how this little series is developing. Time to try it on a larger scale. Be back soon!
Sauk Country
The latest in the Iowa Sheep series which has found a home in a private collection.
The rural Iowa land scape continues to inspire this painter to reap the beautiful and true from the simplicity of eternal forms that surround us.
The New Horizon
2021 has come to a close with this last plein air study. Here I now stand, after following the rules of classical form for five years of painting, at the precipice of knowing that what lies ahead is toward the abstract. In order to avoid painting another ho-hum landscape, albeit ones with sound harmony and sensibilities, I’ve realized, from recent in-depth studies of the principles of Cezanne, that true art comes from the corruption and violation of nature. One is otherwise making a replica or a copy of her. The picture is the thing. It is its own thing. A two dimensional thing that must be created in its own right. I’m setting out. Wish me luck.
The Golden Gate
I lived in California for five years in the early 90’s. As a school age kid, I was a California dreamer. Volkswagen beetles and flower power seemed very alluring to me. The entire west did. I eventually discovered it all and, the west and its beauty became my inspiration to paint. The Golden Gate Bridge represented the entire promise of what the west had to offer. Today, it is a vastly different cultural and political climate but, the beauty remains. This painting will most assuredly find a home.
Racoon River in Water Works
This is the result of a two-hour plein air excursion in Des Moines. Though it is not finished, I am hesitant to paint on it again to guard against altering its freshness.
128 Corn
I have just a few adjustments to make, and then I’ll sign this one. Edit: you are now looking at the updated and final version. Thx!
R16 and 270th. Dallas County Sunrise.
I’ve been driving around the surrounding farmlands this summer and fall, taking photos of future paintings. I just got around to facing, and finishing this one, after starting it a month ago, and being intimidated by the light in it.
12 Sheep
It’s rewarding to knock off a small painting of, say, 12×16 but, I’d like to increase my production of larger paintings such as this one. This is still a work in progress and I’ll only fix a few small details.
Flock B
Farm life subject matter is something not to be overlooked in Iowa. In fact, it’s a challenge not to consider when looking for striking compositions here in the prairie.
East of Adel
I am beginning to drive around the state of Iowa more often, scouting for those special places that may be painted in the early or late light of day. This was a barn just east of Adel, Iowa that I found interesting enough to sketch out. The light, however, is the thing I am after.
Iowa Fields
The fields of Iowa have been in the news as of late. For us Iowans, we live, every day, with the idea that, if you build it, they will come.
Iowa Summer Storm
Clouds have inspired me lately and, there is every color in the sky. Ultramarine, Cerulean, Viridian, Yellow Ochre, and Alizarin are all used, though very highly tinted, with Titanium White. This, excluding Burnt Umber, is my entire palette.
Born Yesterday
Something about this little calf I can’t let go of. My attempt, however, was to capture the ethereal quality of the summer Iowa air and landscape.
Countryside 111
12×24 oil on panel – Sold
Sapphire Day
12×24 oil on canvas – private collection
“Small Town Twilight”
9×12 oil on paper
“Hogback Bridge Study”
9×12 oil on paper
“Forty Four”
One more pass at this needed and coming soon. Stay tuned for final draft.
“On the Park Point bridge”
9×12 oill on panel – private collection
I have been fascinated with the aerial lift bridge since seeing it for the first time over seven years ago. Now that we have been spending our summers on Park Point, I have finally gotten around to approaching this marvel as subject matter. I am so taken by it that I intend to keep painting the bridge in all available light. This little jewel turned out to my liking. I hope you enjoy it too!
“Aerial Lift Bridge II”
11×14 oil on panel
Canal Park Duluth
9×12 oil on panel
“Warren County Road”
20×24 oil on panel
I went driving around Iowa on Memorial Day looking for cattle. I only found clouds.
jeff klisares 