Cayman Sailing at Sunset

Cayman Sailing at Sunset
6 x 4 inches colored pencil sketch

We saw some really expensive sailboats around the Cayman Islands. It's hard to capture the movement of the water, the wind and the sails in a quick sketch like this one. Wish I could spend some more time around the islands and really concentrate on painting.

Basti the Coconut Man

Basti the Coconut Man
6 x 4 pencil on paper

When we were in the Cayman Islands on our honeymoon Basti would clean the beach in front of our villa. He is a very interesting fellow who certainly works hard supporting his family in Jamaica. He would collect and open the coconuts we used to make our morning pina colada drinks. Thanks Basti!!

Cayman Islands Sunrise

Cayman Islands Sunrise
4 x 6 pencil sketch


Our recent honeymoon trip to the Cayman Islands produced a few pencil sketches. Here is the sunrise from our bedroom window. Really great skies because of the approaching hurricane.
Our neighbors, Cheryl and Dan Phillippi let us stay in their timeshare. What a great experience!!

Elwood

Elwood Beagle


Elwood guards the James Butler Studios
and offers sage advise to artists. He just celebrated his 3rd birthday with his half brother Jake and close friend Scout.

Elwood will be happy to critique your work. Just leave a photo of the work and your e-mail address and he will be in touch.

Regards from the studio......

A Pitcher with Apricots - rice paper batik - 10 x 14

In June of 2009, I taught the technique of rice paper batik to a group of Kansas art education teachers at Wichita State University. These talented women inspired me to do a series of paintings on kinwashi rice paper. Jan Vavra

SOLD

Sunflower Trio, each 5" x 5"

These Kansas sunflowers were painted as gifts for three friends who are traveling to Lincoln, NE to attend our nursing school reunion. When completing a rice paper batik, the entire paper is coated with wax. The paper is crumpled into a ball. Dark paint is worked into the cracks of the wax. The last step is to remove the wax using a hot iron. Jan Vavra

The Bird Cage, 12" x 18"

I've previously painted this landscape in oil on panel. Painting small details such as leaves and flowers is a challenge in rice paper batik. Friends of mine gave me permission to use their photo taken in Cartagena, Colombia. Jan Vavra

Sumac and Birch Trees, 12" x 16"

by Jan Vavra

SOLD

Purple Mountain Majesty, 12" x 16"

by Jan Vavra

Silver Pitcher, 13" x 10"

I painted this old silver pitcher and fruit previously with oil. Rice paper batik gives a new look to the painting. Jan Vavra

Fall Trees, 18" x 15"

The shadows are as important as the trees in this autumn rendering. The first step in rice paper batik is to render a drawing in permanent ink. The white of the paper is saved with melted parafin, the wax used to seal jelly in jars. The artist paints from light to dark, preserving completed areas in the painting with wax as one progresses. I use a small electric skillet on the low setting. The water color paint must be dry before apply the wax with a brush.

Summer Sun - 24 x 16 - oil on pvc

Part of a series of paintings I am working on about Amish women working "Summer Sun" tries to capture a hot, dusty summer day. I still have some work to do on the wheat and some of the foreground but I like the basic composition. I try to show the heat of the sun with the colors I use in the sky. I enjoy painting people working - especially manual work.

Let me know what you think.....???

The Children's Hour

The Children's Hour Oil on PVC 36 X 24

This is a large painting I am reworking. The light source is a problem and I need to darken some of the shadows. But I want to keep the painting light and airy. I think the composition is basically good although the background, especially on the left side, needs some work. Let me know what you think.

Icon The Flight into Egypt

Here is the nearly finished Icon "Flight into Egypt" which I have been working on for a few weeks now. It is egg tempera painted on a large wood panel. This shows the central part of the Icon. The wood panel has not been stained yet.

In this rendition, the allegorical symbolism is clear and forceful. The dove, which represents the Holy Spirit, is being released by the Angel and guides Mary and Joseph into safety in Egypt. It also represents the Light of Hope. The Divine Trinity is represented by the lilies in the lower left corner as well as reflected in the three gold leaf halos. The Holy Family is fleeing from the darkness of Herod into the light and safety of Egypt. The pyramid on the right side reinforces the concept of the Trinity. It also establishes the location.

" 12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

13 Now when they had gone, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up! Take the Child and his Mother and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.'

14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and his mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt."

Matthew 2: 12-14