Thankful

sketchbook research... selecting titles for some recently finished pieces...

the studio, this week... precariously stacked paintings in various stages of drying...

detail shot of newest floor painting, in progress...

There is quite a lot to be thankful for this year. Reflecting back on the past twelve months, there have been some pretty spectacular moments. Now, I'm right where I always wanted to be. And, I have some exciting projects in the works that I can't wait to share with you. Until then, have a great week and I'll see you back here next Sunday. =)

Sketchbook

studies from recent life drawing sessions

after Uglow (Gyroscope Model)

New / In progress work

I finished this little guy yesterday - 15"x15", oil on canvas. This is the third in the new jar series... head over to my website to see the others. They are a fun side project in between larger pieces; I still think they relate to my body of work as a whole, though. The idea of residue has been weighing heavily on my mind lately.

... mixing up some sexy chromatic neutrals...

... and for those of you who have wanted more studio wall and floor pieces, here is a detail of the newest floor painting, in progress.

All in all, it's been a good studio week. Lots of exciting projects in the works - stay tuned, details soon! Be sure to check the Facebook page for updates during the week!

Studio (November)

I bought a new easel recently. Best purchase I've made in a long time. This one is much sturdier than my old French easel, and it is big enough to hold canvases with a wider profile. I'm very excited about the prospect of making larger paintings again.

details of a new work in progress – it's always about finding the balance between image and surface

SIRENS - reception this week!

“Sirens: Art Exhibition by  Blaine Bradford and Samantha Haring” November 1 - 25, 2014 The Brent and Jean Wadsworth Family Gallery Romeoville Campus - The Oremus Fine Arts Center Gallery Talk: Thursday, November 6, 3-4 pm (Open to the public) Reception: Thursday, November 6, 7-9 pm  (Open to the public) Blaine Bradford earned a B.A. from Michigan State University and completed his M.F.A. from Northern Illinois University’s School of Art in 2010, where he is currently a Foundations Instructor and 2D mentor. Blaine predominately works in oil paint on canvas, occasionally switching to digital process to manipulate presentation and theme. Samantha Haring earned her B.F.A. from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2011 and she recently completed her M.F.A. from Northern Illinois University this past May. Samantha is an observational oil painter. Her work reinvigorates the mundane through the faithful depiction of things that may otherwise go unnoticed.  Want More Information? Contact Natalie Swain, Gallery Coordinator, for more information swainna@lewisu.edu

Hope to see you at the reception this Thursday! Check my website for full images of several new paintings, and be sure to check my Facebook page for updates during the week!

"Sirens" - Exhibition Info

COMING SOON: Blaine Bradford and I are having a two-person exhibition at Lewis University. I'm honored to be exhibiting alongside him. I've been a fan of his paintings for years. Check out his work here: www.blainebradford.com

We are having an informal artist talk and opening reception on Thursday, November 6th. Hope to see you there! If you'd like a postcard, or if you want to be added to my mailing list, please feel free to email me. In the meantime, here's a detail of a new painting I just finished for the show.

Last week was the closing reception for my solo show at South Suburban College. I had a blast talking with the students and seeing some of their work as well. They were very enthusiastic and asked great questions. If you haven't yet, check out the video promo we made for the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpwB0kE2gxE

Design From Line - Foundations Exhibition

This week we had the reception for "Design From Line", an exhibition of NIU Foundations student work. This was the brainchild of Eric Fuertes, and it was a great insight into the connections between the four Foundations classes (Drawing 1, Drawing 2, 2D, and 3D). Check out some photos below:

The show explored the element of "line" across the four core classes, and showed how the curriculums overlap and build from one another to give the students a solid foundation.

a reel of 2D animations

 a sample of Drawing 1 work, including observed linear perspective and contour studies

 Here you can see some Drawing 2 projects; while we are currently focusing on color, a line is merely the separation between two planes. This was a good opportunity to remind the students that all the elements and principles are interrelated. The skills they acquire in our classes will give them the necessary foundation to succeed in their upper-level courses.

This was one of my favorite 3D pieces in the show. The center wheel actually spins to mimic the motion of a combination lock.