Mary - Icon

Mary - 7 x 5 1/2 Egg Tempera on Wood Panel

Here is another Icon of Mary - mother of Jesus, which I just completed. It still has to dry for a month or so before I put on the shellac. I have started using Russian Gold for gold leaf instead of metallic foil.

Ezekiel's Wheel - Icon

Ezekiel's Wheel 17 x12 Egg Tempera on Wood Panel

The elements of this Icon are taken from the vision of the Prophel Ezekiel as described in the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel. His vision of a "wheel within a wheel" the "color of beryl" which contained a lion, a bull, an eagle and an angel like creature has been given many interpretations. Most scholars believe the vision references the political turmoil contemporary to Ezekiel's experience. Some researchers attribute his vision to an encounter with a UFO or perhaps a brief look into the future.

Something unusual did happen while I was painting (writing) this Icon. I was about 60 percent finished after three or four days work and set the Icon on the floor next to my work area. When I came back the next morning, the Icon was completely blank - completely white gesso. Scout, one of our beagles, had licked the egg tempera (and three days work) completely off the gesso. I called the poison control center since the egg tempera contains so many toxic minerals and they said it was too late to do anything except to monitor his conditon. We watched him closely and he seemed his normal self - except for some very colorful poop.

ICON - Christ Casting out Demons

Casting out Demons

17" X 12"

Egg Tempera on Wood Panel

Finished at last except for the final coat of shellac to seal the egg tempera. The subject of this Icon does not appear often in liturgical art. Perhaps that's why it took so long to research the symbolic elements of the composition.

I added the Archangel Michael battling with the evil one in the background to reinforce the powerful strength that Christ brings to bear against the force of evil.

Comments???

Christ Casting Out Demons - ICON

This ICON - Christ Casting Out Demons - egg tempera on wood panel - has been in progress for about three months now. But I'm close to finishing.

As described by St Luke, Christ encounters a man living in a graveyard who is possessed by demons. The demons identify themselves as "legion" or many. Christ commands the demons leave the man and go into a herd of swine. The swine them drown themselves in a nearby lake.

In my Icon I have added the Archangel Michael fighting Satan in the background to reinforce the basic theme of good vs evil. The figure on the right side represents humanity poised between heaven and hell. In my representation, Christ is rising above the filth of the world as he exorcises the demons from the possessed man.

I'll post a better photo later when I have finished sealing the Icon with a mixture of shellac and alcohol.

Comments????

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

The Little Arkansas in Fall

The Little Arkansas in Fall - 20 x 20 oil on PVC

This seems to be the final version of "The Little Arkansas in Fall" which is the last in a series of seasonal paintings I have done of the river behind my studio. I should set up my "good" camera and use it to make photos of paintings instead of using my cell phone camera. But it will give you a good idea of what the painting looks like.

I tried to show the sweeping vista of fall colors which surrounded the river in November. I think that landscapes are inherently abstracted by the very subject matter. This painting is far from a photo rendering of the subject.

I hope to show this painting somewhere outside of Kansas. But then I would have to get some travel insurance and stay at an hotel somewhere. I'm tired of staying at hotels and traveling and have never liked the idea of insurance. Perhaps someday when I mortgage the house.

Let me know what you think...... thanks...

Little Arkansas in Fall

Oil on PVC. Progress on Little Arkansas in Fall. Still more to paint but I think I am starting to get good depth and color. The fall colors are easy to work with although the reds can easily overwhelm the painting. Perhaps I'll finish this one by Thanksgiving.

I hope to take a better photo next time. This one was done with my cell phone and doesn't show as much detail as I prefer.

We try to paint something everyday in the studio.

Little Arkansas in Fall

A work in progress. "Little Arkansas in Fall" is the fourth and last in the series of paintings I have been doing which show the four seasons of the Little Arkansas River which is next to my studio. It is oil on PVC panel like the others. At this stage I am still working on underpainting and some compositional elements.

Let me know what you think. Comments ???

The Annunciation

"The Annunciation" is a large egg tempera on wood panel Icon which I finished a few days ago. It is still lacking the shellac finish which will be applied in a few months after the egg tempera is completely dried.

In The Annunciation the Angel Gabriel comes to the Virgin Mary and tells her she will deliver unto the world the Christ Child. The Holy Spirit is represented by the white dove suspended between the hands of the the Angel Gabriel. The lilies represent the Divine Trinity.

In the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a Virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you.- Luke 1:26-28

Comments please ?????

A View from the Studio

The Little Arkansas in Fall

The view from James Butler Studios. I'm thinking about painting a view from my studio and this might be it. Perhaps later when all the leaves change to fall colors. It won't be long now......

Elwood Beagle - guard dog

Elwood guards the James Butler Studios when he is not guarding the sofa in front of the television. He likes playing with his half brother Jake and friends Max and Angus. Elwood just celebrated his second birthday. A recent graduate of Wagin Tails obedience school, he looks forward to a career in computers.

Haystacks at Yoder

Haystacks at Yoder 16 x 16 Oil on PVC panel by Butler Sept 2008

Evocative of impressionist artists such as Monet, Haystacks at Yoder captures light and color on a late summer day near Yoder Kansas.

After looking at the painting hanging on the wall for a few days, I might make a few small changes but essentially THIS IS IT..... Finished at last.

Let me know what you think....

Exploration Place Exhibit

The inspiration for the three largest paintings was a trip to Italy. Pompeian Courtyard illustrates leaves made translucent by the warm sun. Palatine Facade is a centuries old building in the ancient area of Rome. Each day we passed #4 Aventina, a residence, on our short walk from our hotel to the metro station. The small painting, Victoria Park, is a charming storefront on E. Douglas, Wichita, KS. These paintings are part of an exhibit by Jan Vavra on view in The Egret Room at Exploration Place (no admission fee needed for this area of the museum) Wichita, KS through Oct. 25th.

Early Planting

Well, this is finally done. The last revision of "Early Planting" 16 X 22 Oil on PVC. I like the composition and the colors. This one will be shown at the upcoming exhibiton at Exploration Place here in Wichita.

I'm thinking about making some Giclee prints but I really don't know if there is a market for them. Some artists abhor Giclee prints. I've never sold them before but I'm open to ideas. Ultimately, the original is the only one that will be worth anything in the future. Giclee prints might help promote the original though.

Boy Koi

This is a small 6 X 16 oil on pvc painting I did to experiment with water effects. I'm not sure what I want to do with this other than keep it in the studio. Trying to capture the surface tension of water is like roping goats. Just when you think you finally have it - it slips away. Well, it's just an experiment but I think it did help with my understanding of the properties of light and water.

Let me know what you think. Comments??

Early Morning Spring Planting

Oil on PVC 16 X 32 - Here is the painting which I have been working on for a few days. As you can see I have used some of Monet's "haystack" colors especially in the background. The colors of an early spring morning are a counterpoint to the somewhat monochromatic dresses and aprons of the Amish women working. This painting says many things so you will have to sort out your own meaning based on your own experiences.

Let me know what you think???

Haystacks at Sunset - Frosty Weather _ Claude Monet

I've always liked the colors in this particular painting by Monet. I'm thinking of using some of these colors in a painting of some Amish women working in the field.

I believe this painting by Monet is in a private collection somewhere but I can't seem to find who actually owns it. Anyway, it's one of my favorites.

Painting by Van Gogh

This is a Van Gogh painting that is in the Chicago Art Museum. I had not seen this one before and frankly don't know very much about it. The painting shows a lot of strength and vitality. The sky is especially interesting.

Comments anyone ????

Chicago Art Institute

Waiting to get into the Chicago Art Institute. It opened at 10:00 a.m. and we were there by 9:30, waiting to pay our twelve dollars. But it was worth it even though most of the Impressionist collection had been moved to Dallas/Ft Worth while the museum is renovating several galleries. We spent most of the day at the Art Institute but we did manage to squeeze in some shopping at Macy's (Formerly Marshall Fields) before going to dinner.

Chicago is a great place and the people were all (almost all) very friendly. If you go to Chicago just park your car and take the wonderful Elevated (Metro) system. It's cheap, fairly clean and seemed to be safe. Wish we would build a system like that in Wichita.

This is one of the few paintings by Claude Monet that was not sent to Dallas/Ft Worth. To bad they didn't park all those Impressionist works here at the Wichita Art Museum while they are renovating the galleries in Chicago. But I suppose we are much too PROVENCIAL.

Little Arkansas River in Spring

Well, we are finally back from vacation. Chicago, Atlanatic Iowa, Atchenson Ks, a whirlwind tour. More about that later,

I have worked some on my River in Spring painting and I think it has been improved. Still some work to do with adjusting the green colors and perhaps some more work on the river.

Let me know what you think

Jan Vavra - Artist

Jan Vavra at work. Jan is the other artist in Butler Studios. In addition to painting she also teaches art classes. Here she is working on something for an upcoming watercolor class.

Little Arkansas in Spring

More work today on the "Little Arkansas in Spring." Lots of good spring colors and rapid brush strokes. At this point I think I will let it set for a couple of days and think about it. I know it needs some color adjustments to balance the greens.

Generally, I like the painting although I usually prefer working on figure studies or portraits. Landscapes are not very demanding and even relaxing to paint.

Let me know what you think. Comments???

New Painting - Little Arkansas in Spring

The river behind my studio has been inspiration for several of my oil paintings. This photo shows the very beginning of a new painting of the Little Arkansas River - in spring. At this stage of the painting I have blocked in some colors and I'm beginning to define shapes with brush strokes.

I'm using oil on pvc panel 24" x 22" which has been sprayed with XIM primer.

My goal in this painting is to keep the colors light and use brush strokes to define shapes and to draw the eye the focal point. The large triangular shapes help define the focal point.

Much more work to be done here......

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

The Little Arkansas in Spring

The Little Arkansas in Spring. A view from James Butler Studios of the Little Arkansas River. Perhaps it will be the subject of an oil painting.

Comments????

Saint George Icon

This is the final (?) version of the Saint George Icon. Egg tempera on wood panel. After a few more weeks I will coat it with shellac thinned with denatured alcohol to preserve the surface. I hope to show this one in a liturgical exhibition which Karg Glass hosts every year.

Icons are quite interesting to paint. Many hours of research was required before I could even start the sketches for Saint George. Perhaps learning about the saint depicted in an icon is as important as learning about the technique used to paint it. Anyway, I have learned more than I thought possible about 11th century Icons during the process of painting Saint George.

Let me know what you think. Comments ???

Mermaid Mosaic

This is the famous mosaic which resides in the middle of the floor inside James Butler Studios. I finished it about two years ago. It was my first attempt at a real mosiac and it took me FOREVER to complete. I would sit on the deck for hours with small colored vitrious tiles and a tile cutter working on this design. Anyway, it's finished at last. It is in the style of some roman mosaics which I saw at Pompeii during my last trip to Italy.

The mosaic is about 28 inches in diameter. It is evocative of the river which flows past the studio a few yards away.

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

James Butler Studios

Inside James Butler Studios.

Some works in progress as well as some older pieces on the walls. The studio has very good north light from two sets of double french doors on the north wall which lead you out to the patio and garden and eventually the river.

The studio is not huge (about 500 sq feet) but also has a large garage style sliding door along the east wall to facilitate moving large pieces into and out of the studio.

In the center of the floor is a large circular mosaic which I finished about two years ago. (photo tomorrow - I promise)

Let me know what you think.

Comments???

Finding Vincent

This is an oil painting on pvc panel (26 X 34) I finished a couple of years ago but have never shown outside of my studio (until now). I had always admired the dynamics in the very famous "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh and wanted to try something inspired by his painting but with a Kansas connection. Since it has so many elements of the famous Van Gogh painting in it I would never sell it as an original work so it will always hang in my studio as inspiration. I call it "Finding Vincent."

Comments??

St George Icon

This is a photo of the (in progress) St George Icon which I have been working on for a few days. It is still very much in progress but you can see the composition and generally the color scheme. Egg tempera is certainly interesting to work with The colors are quite strong and are very durable and long lasting. However, on the negative side, they are somewhat difficult to use. Every day I want to paint something I have to grind new colors and mix them with egg yolk. Nothing out of the tube here. Then everything must be carefully cleaned at the end of the day.

Preparing the wood panels is also a long tedious process.

But I started this as a way to learn 12th century painting techniques and I have certainly learned a lot. Next time I visit the Icons in the Philadelphia Museum I will be much more appreciative.

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

Exploration Place Exhibition

James Butler Studios will be exhibiting oil paintings by Jan Vavra and James Butler at Exploration Place in Wichita during the month of October. The exhibition opens the last Friday of September and runs through the end of October. Several new works which have not previously been exhibited will be on display.

For more information please E-mail tassie_jim@hotmail.com and ask for exhibition details.

Moon Gate O Fortuna, Velut Luna

"Moon Gate" is a sculpture which sits outside of James Butler Studios on a bluff overlooking the Little Arkansas River on the edge of Wichita KS. It is about eight feet in diameter and is constructed of cedar painted red.

"Moon Gate" was inspired by traditional Chinese circular gates built into doorways and constructed of stone.

Inscribed with "O Fortuna, velut Luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut decrescis," from Carmina Burana the "Moon Gate" is an elegant yet stark connection to the lunar cycles which guide our lives.

"Moon Gate" was designed and assembled and installed by James Butler Studios. The basic carpentry was done by Bob Krause, a local craftsman.

Comments Anyone?????

Koi

Jan Vavra is the other artist who works in James Butler Studios. Here is a watercolor she finished a few days ago. This is the third iteration of the watercolor "Koi." There is also an oil version.

Let us know what y0u think. Comments???

Fisherboy

This painting of "Fisherboy" is a small 14 X 11 egg tempera on wood panel painting which I used as a kind of testbed for tempera techniques. I feel the composition could be better but I wanted to try several different techniques with egg tempera .

Let me know what you think. comments???

update

Lately I've been working on a painting which has been a test bed for egg tempera technique. I'll post a photo soon. it is a painting of a man fishing along the river. I've learned quite a bit about egg tempera technique while working on this painting.

Let me know if you have any questions about using egg tempera on wood panel.

La Mexicana

"La Mexicana" is a portrait I did a few months ago of a young Latina girl with gang tattoos. I especially like the punk hair style. This portrait has never been exhibited and I'm looking for the proper venue in which to show it. It is oil on PVC panel and I tried to use the same techniques that were used by Vermeer in his painting of the "Girl with a Pearl Earring."

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