Previous issues:
Spring 2007 | Winter of 2006/07
Fall 2006 | Summer 2006 | Spring 2006 | Winter 2005/06
Fall 2005 | Summer 2005 | Spring 2005 | Winter 2004/05
Fall 2004 | Summer 2004 | Spring 2004 | Winter 2003/04
Fall 2003 | Summer 2003 | Spring 2003 | Winter 2002/03
Fall 2002 | Summer 2002 | Spring 2002 | Winter 2001/02
Fall 2001 | Summer 2001 | Spring 2001 | Winter 2000/01
Fall 2000 | Summer 2000 | Spring 2000 | Winter 1999/2000
Fall 1999 | Summer 1999 | Spring 1999 | Winter 1998/99
Ah yes, a brand new issue of the official newspaper of the DavidOleski.com website, the Studio Journal of David Oleski. Smell the freshly dried smear-proof ink, the crisply folded sections. Here you can find the dramatization of the day to day grind, color in the otherwise colorless doldrums of existence, music heard through the monotonous droning of routines broken only by the marking of each plodding hour of tedium.
See the Gallery for some exciting detailed images of the artist's work.
Saturday, September 22, 2007On the final day of summer of the year 2007, I finished the study of the infamous concrete rooster lawn ornament. My eyes do something strange when I look at this piece, the vibration of colors is pretty lively.
Click on the image to see a larger version.I immediately started throwing down paint for a tiny study of two green apples. I'll be switching up my methods over the next few days as I give things a chance to settle. The summer has been pretty exciting, with several trips across the entire country, and one big trip across the world. The season is drawing to a close as I find myself changing so many things about what I'm doing, and as always, I'm excited to see what will happen tomorrow.
Click on the image to see a larger version.Read on...to Fall of 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007After an exciting day, the study of the infamous concrete rooster lawn ornament is almost finished. There are a few areas that need to be resolved, and I should be done with it tomorrow. I'm learning some good things about color relationships, and parts of the session feel like my color theory class, so long ago in the first semester of my freshman year in art school.
Thursday, September 20, 2007Today I started on a very large study of the infamous concrete rooster lawn ornament. I'm continuing on my new course of study, of atmosphere and light and glare and haze. I'm sure frustration and madness will not be far behind. Today was exciting and educational, and I'm looking forward to getting back to work on this tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007I finished the study of a single green apple.
Click on the image to see a larger version.I immediately started working on something new and exciting. I can hardly wait until tomorrow to start throwing paint, and seeing what else I can find.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007I'm finally back to work after the Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show weekend. As always, the show was quite enjoyable, most notably the conversations I had with my neighbors, Peter Stolvoort and Lou Gagnon. After three long days in the sun and the wind and the cold, I had plenty of time to look at my work and think about things.
Last week I received a correspondence from my respected colleague in London, referring to my last few sliced fruit studies, and saying in so many words "David Oleski, why do you suck?" My response included reference to everything from poor color reproduction to the odd glare that seems to emanate from everything as the light shifts and turns golden as summer grows old and yellow. Everything glows to the point that I feel that I'm going blind. If I didn't have to paint, I would say it's all so beautiful. Instead, I try to squint my way through the glare and the haze and try to slash my way through it all with my palette knife. So, in response to having yet another heckler throwing rotten tomatoes while I work, I decided to have a closer look at this glare, and start addressing something that seems to hang in the air like dust in the sunlight. Using the simple subject of a single green apple, I took one step away from capturing the light on the surfaces, and instead sought to capture the light as it hangs in the air. I reached a point where there is a certain balance between atmosphere and cohesion, and then I had to stop. I'll have another look at this piece tomorrow, and see what else I can learn from it.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007The new study of a sliced lemon is finished.
Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 Day of RemembranceToday I finished the study of a sliced lemon, and immediately started another small study of the same sliced lemon.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Monday, September 10th, 2007Today I sliced a lemon, and started throwing some paint.
Sunday, September 9th, 2007In one fast and furious session, I nailed this study down and yanked it off the easel, and hurled it like a giant frisbee into the dark and dank garage.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Saturday, September 8th, 2007I worked on this new study of a sliced grapefruit for all of an hour today, as I scrambled to prepare for house guests.
Friday, September 7th, 2007I continued to work on the new study of a sliced grapefruit.
So far, so good.
Thursday, September 6th, 2007I started a new study of a sliced grapefruit. So far, so good.
Wednesday, September 5th, 2007I finished the new study of a sliced grapefruit. It's fun and exciting, but now I need to do it again and really find something good.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007Suddenly it's another week later, and I'm finally throwing down more paint on this study of fresh slices of a grapefruit. I have so much leftover and crusty paint to use up, I'm just throwing it out there.
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007Over a week later, and I'm back to work. Today I started mixing colors for an arrangement of pieces of a cut grapefruit. I'm not sure if I'll be able to start on this tomorrow, as I'll be attending a conference for most of the day. We'll see.
Last weekend's show in Chicago was a fun time, as always. It's nice to be home for a few weeks now.
Monday, August 20th, 2007The study of a mixed bouquet of flowers is indeed finished.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Sunday, August 19th, 2007Today I circled around and around this study. The final few hours of the day were spent second-guessing every part of the painting, and trying to avoid just tweaking the details. Some things snapped together nicely, other parts really challenge me. I'll have a final look in the morning to see if it's finished.
Saturday, August 18, 2007The study of a bouquet of mixed flowers is coming together. I feel like I'm out of my element, painting green jade roses, green orchids and green hypericum berries, with some green hydrangeas just to add a bit more green.
Friday, August 17th, 2007I'm back to work, mixing colors and throwing down paint on a study of a bouquet of mixed flowers, for a commission. Normally after more than two weeks off I'd have a hard time getting started, but this bouquet is so unlike what I would ever do on my own that it's coming together easily.
Read about my trip to Poland.
Tuesday, July 31st, 2007I finished the large study of white tulips.
Click on the image to see a larger version.I immediately started closing everything down in preparation for tomorrow, when I'll be leaving for a short trip to Poland. My plan was to get more painting done before I left, but I'm happy with what was accomplished. I will return home on August 12th, when I'll immediately be starting on a commission of a mixed bouquet of flowers. Of course I'll also be returning home with a renewed sense of vision and perspective, so there's no telling what I might do next.
Monday, July 30th, 2007The large study of white tulips is almost finished. I'm spiraling down into carving out some of the details within the leaves, and I've managed to create some interesting patterns and rhythms within the scrollwork of green. Tomorrow should see this piece nailed down.
Sunday, July 29th, 2007Today the large study of white tulips is quickly coming into focus. I'm building up a nice surface, and everything is being carved out nicely, with plenty of fluidity and ease. I'm coming down the home stretch toward another major world trip, and for the time being I'm managing to keep my focus on the easel in front of me. If I stop and think about it, the huge and vast world suddenly crushes in on me. We're all so small and fragile.
Saturday, July 28th, 2007Today I started throwing paint on a new large study of white tulips against a white background. Things are well begun by the time I had to head out the door to drive to Lancaster, to catch The Old 97s at the Chameleon Club. Suddenly things are in perspective when I see those four guys tear it up again in a scorching set.
Having her on my brain's like getting hit by a train, she's gonna kill me....
Friday, July 27th, 2007I started mixing colors for a new study of white tulips. Last night's critique was informative and entertaining. It was nice to have a house full of artists, eating and drinking and arguing as artists like to do.
Thursday, July 26th, 2007Tonight is the big artist's critique here in my studio. Everyone in the world is invited to come, and if you can't be here in person, tune in to the live studio cam at 7 pm Eastern Standard Time (that's Greenwich Meantime minus 5) to observe the festivities, and turn on your speakers, as I'll have the microphone turned on and turned up so you can catch everything. Refreshments will be served at 6:30.
As far as I know, the artists attending tonight's function will include Allan Soffer, Jeff Schaller, Kerry Sacco, and possibly Stephen Brehm.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007For some reason I did not get any painting done today.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007I finished the new study of white tulips. Again, it didn't end well, and I'll try this subject one more time in an effort to have that evasive warm and fuzzy feeling when I finish the painting.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Monday, July 23, 2007I'm almost finished with this new study of white tulips. The subtle qualities of light in shadow are a continuing education for me. The delicate balance of light and dark has become even more important, and more fragile as I push and pull everything. I'm learning some good things.
Sunday, July 22, 2007Today I started a smaller study of white tulips against an almost white background. So much lightness and brightness.
Saturday, July 21, 2007I finished a large study of white tulips against an off-white background. The session almost ended easily, but then I circled the canvas for another two hours trying to push it a bit further. It's an exciting painting, and tomorrow I'll start another study of the same subject and colors. Maybe this time I can make it look easy.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Friday, July 20, 2007I continued to work on the large study of tulips.
Thursday, July 19, 2007And like a bad habit, I'm back.
After two weekends of shows, and thousands of miles of driving, I'm finally ready to get back to work. I just got a fresh batch of white tulips, namely for a large commission to be followed by a series of studies. Today I started throwing down some paint to get things up and running. The paint is moving well, and tomorrow should see this study start to take shape.
The show in Denver was great fun. The drive across the country was pretty spectacular, culminating with the long drive across Kansas on the evening of July 4th. It was so flat I could see every small-town fireworks display for miles in every direction, and every little skyrocket from every little backyard was visible from the highway. For some reason I was thinking that the Cherry Creek Arts Festival was like coming to the Emerald City, to Xanadu, where the streets are paved with gold and the artists are carried around on the shoulders of the common people. I was expecting clients to be running alongside the truck as I pulled into town, like eager children chasing the ice cream truck. In the end, it really is just another show. Several paintings were left with new clients, and the long drive home was just as beautiful, back into the lush green hills of Pennsylvania. Last weekend in Westport was also great fun, and several more paintings found new homes.
The heavy heat of summer is crushing down now, and my show season is suddenly almost over. I have a big hole in my schedule for the next few weeks, and I'm planning some fun things to break up the time and make things really interesting. We shall see what happens.
Next Thursday, the 26th, I'll be having a group of artists to my studio for our monthly critique and discussion. I'll be centering the studio cam on the critique floor, and activating the microphone, so the whole world can watch and listen. The meet and greet will begin at 6:30, with the critique beginning at 7:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time, and that would be 11 pm for all my droogies in Merry Olde England, so mark your calendar and be there. I'll try to post a list of attending artists and their websites when we have a head count, so everyone can research the participants before the event.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007The painting is finished, and I'm throwing my bags into the truck and leaving.
Click on the image to see a larger version.I'll be back next week, unless by the chance of some unforeseen calamity that I may never be back. We'll just see what happens.
Monday, July 2, 2007Today I started and almost finished one more commissioned study of one more bouquet of purple tulips. It was fast and lively, and so close to being resolved in the final light of day. I'm gathering all my loose ends together in my final preparations to start the drive to Colorado tomorrow. I'll have one more look at this study in the morning, and tighten up some things and wrap it all up, before hopping in the truck and pulling out. It will be a great adventure, to drive the whole way to Denver, Colorado in the big truck.
Saturday, June 30, 2007This morning I finished the study of apples. It's almost like a train wreck, and it's almost a great painting. This afternoon I attended the wedding of fellow artist David Bielick. So much of our lives are spent focusing on our works, it's nice to be reminded of those moments of celebration.
Friday, June 29, 2007I started another large and rude study using my giant brushes. Suddenly painting has become more like sculpture, to carve out and lay down such large and crazy swirls of color. This study is almost finished.
Thursday, June 28, 2007Last night Jeff Schaller looked over some of my recent work, and asked what would happen if I used a really huge brush for a change. In response, today I broke out a few huge brushes, and hogged out a quick and rude study of apples. Some things are definitely happening, and I'll see about making some more things happen in my next effort. Suddenly giant brushes open up a whole new vista of possibilities, the least of which is the idea of truly thinking large. And of course, everything is fun when it's big.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007I painted a quick study of apples just to break things up a bit, and to try to loosen my hand after two tightly rendered studies of tulips.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007I finished the new study of purple tulips.
Click on the image to see a larger version.I have another bouquet of tulips on standby, but I think I'll take a break for a day or so and work on some other things. This painting snapped together easily and quickly, and there is something fresh and lively that I'd like to revisit in a few days.
Monday, June 25, 2007The new study of purple tulips is almost finished.
Sunday, June 24, 2007I started mixing colors and throwing down paint on another study of purple tulips.
Saturday, June 23, 2007I finished the new study of purple tulips.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Friday, June 22, 2007I suddenly made good progress on this new study of tulips. After a long and intense session, this is suddenly very solid and cohesive.
The results of my doctor's visit this morning revealed that I'm suffering from lateral epicondylitis, more commonly known as "tennis elbow". After a prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs, a padded forearm wrap and promises of injections of cortisone directly into the muscle tissue, I'm back to avoiding doctors whenever possible. In any other country I might have been referred to a therapist or an acupuncturist, in this country I get a prescription of drugs. Of course the doctor would love to see me stop doing what caused the ailment, but mixing paint is somewhat crucial to what I do as a painter. All paths to happiness are wrought with suffering.
Thursday, June 21, 2007 Summer SolsticeThis morning after breakfast, the visit with the London artist Michael Lang and the delightful Miss Dean came to a close, and he continued on with his North American tour. On this first bright and sunny day of summer I finally started moving some paint on this new study of purple tulips against a greenish yellow background. I was moving slowly and with great effort, as the late night of wit and tomfoolery had me struggling a bit more than usual. By tomorrow I should have most of my momentum back. The pain and lack of mobility in my right arm has been reaching some amazing crescendos in these past few days, so obviously nothing will cure itself, and I shall seek the advice of my doctor tomorrow.
After so much banter and discussion with Mr. Lang and Miss Dean I have a newfound focus and fervor with what I am doing, and where I shall be going with it. The sense of having a global community of like-minded artists is truly a wonder, and being reminded of the connection and correspondence that artists all over the world can enjoy in this age of technology continues to inspire me.
If you find yourself hungering for yet more dramatization of the angst of a painter, see Spring 2007 for the previous season's struggles.
