T R G Prints

Evening Bins

2012-02-02T21:18:00.000-08:00

Julie wanted another autumnal picture, I wanted to do another pastel; they came together in selecting a photo from Bill Church's archives. I'm really enjoying doing pastels on a larger scale (this is 14 X 20) now that I have sanded paper. It's a bit hard on the finger tips though, since that's what I like to use for blending and smoothing colors. Ah well, guitarists get calluses on their fingers, right? Another reason watercolor still is my favorite medium.

For Colin and For Fun

2012-01-14T22:39:00.000-08:00

Though I didn't know it at the time (30 plus years ago), I began a tradition of giving my family members copies I made of the marvelous works of Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit? You remember...) I made one for my mom, then one each for my own children, then, for some reason, when they married and started having their own cuties, I was commissioned to do one for each of the grandkids as they arrived. Colin Robert Wilson, being half Brit, certainly needed one (Potter was a Brit, too, of course) and his mother had me do the one above.
The shed is from a photo I took last winter. It resides in a cow pasture, just south of us. What can I say - I'm a sucker for these pathetic things!

Hobbes & Madeline

2011-12-21T21:55:00.000-08:00

Finally got to work on two of my favorite people - Bray & Kajsa's children: Hobbes and Madeline Wilkins. I still find portraiture very scary - particularly of family, but Kajsa has wanted these two in pastels for some time. They look a lot older today, but these paintings hopefully stop time, for their parents. (Done on 400 sanded paper with Rembrandt pastels: black, gray, and white.) Love these kiddos!

Christmas Clearance

2011-12-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

We're doing a massive clearance on everything!! Prints, deluxe and basic cards are all on sale. Click here to shop. We'll be adding more and more stuff so check back! (Some things are just pictures as we're working on getting paypal linked for everything.)

Or email directly with questions: trgprints@gmail.com

Painting Lessons with Grandpa

2011-11-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

I'm sneaking in to post some pictures of the kids getting painting lessons with Grandpa! Asa said he painted a chair and the sky.

Bristol Harbor Blue Boat

2011-11-23T21:08:00.000-08:00

Bristol, England: an old, but still very busy harbor. It was a wonderful mix of classic boats and old cranes, with lots of warehouses and sheds, alongside huge, new cranes and freighters. How could I resist? I took some liberties in reducing the clutter a bit and amping up the colors (not to mention eliminating tourists, like us) in the scene. American harbors don't have quite this same charm...sorry.

Wood Duck Solo

2011-11-14T19:35:00.001-08:00

This is a first for me - pastel on 400 sanded paper! Who knew? Thanks to Jan Perley for the tip to use sanded (not sand paper) paper, made just for pastels. So after she showed my art class this amazing product, I had to have some! This poor wood duck was all by his lonesome on our nearby pond - the other, much less colorful ducks, wouldn't let him play duck games. So he's my first subject on this material - albeit a quick study. Onward and hopefully upward...

Stairway In Wells Cathedral

2011-11-05T22:11:00.000-07:00

My second European trip painting, but my first watercolor, and my first painting since I put in hardwood floors in our study (not that that really should make a difference in the painting thing!). I loved these steps (yes, they are really that worn) and the light coming in from the windows. The stairs curve sharply up to the right into a large, round room. They also climb up to a mysterious door through the archway. Can't figure out what the little steps on the left are for...to look out the windows?

Watermill In Bayeux

2011-09-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

My first painting (in pastels) of a site we saw in France on our way to Omaha Beach. It was actually kind of a fortunate stop, in that we actually had a few minutes to look around before leaving on the next leg. I liked the composition, colors, and water with buildings rarely fails to grab my attention. So here you go...I'll dedicate this to our good (French) friends, the Foucachons!

Gone With the Wind

2011-09-18T21:20:00.000-07:00

I freely admit this is kind of weird. I saw the original photo on Emma's facebook post weeks ago and liked the strange coloring and pose she and Monique had. I decided to paint it as a departure from my normal (no-people) approach. It was a fun diversion...nothing against the gals, but I think I'll stick to ships and buildings...

Kambry's Flat

2011-09-06T18:11:00.000-07:00

This is the second commissioned flat (London apartment) I've done this summer - the two families knew each other and both wanted a memory of their time in Britain, since they both moved to Dallas. A fun deal was that when Julie and I were in London (with Mark and Carolyn), the bus we were on leaving the city drove down this street! The iron railings were different in each set of row houses, too. This piece is also 16 X 21, on 180 lb Arches.

England & France Part II

2011-08-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

The Tower of London and the Tower Bridge...

On the Tower Bridge...over the Thames. Unreal.

"Tuppence the bag..." Only no pigeons in sight.

Outside of Bristol Cathedral.

Inside of Bristol Cathedral...

Looking for someone we knew in the churchyard...didn't find any relatives or even friends.

This is a piece of tram (rail) that was blown into the lawn of St. Mary Redcliff by an bomb during the Blitz (1942).

Oxford. Need we say more?

Possibly the lamp post that inspired Lewis...because right behind it...

Are fauns!

Mark's college in Oxford - we are so proud!

Why can't I take it home? It might fit in the overhead...please?!

Oh yes - us, Lewis, JRR, and Sayers - here we all are, sort of...

Since we spent a lot of time on trains, this is my artsy shot of one.

Mark and Carolyn's flat is the second floor windows. Nice spot.

Wells Cathdral - small town, huge church building!

England & France Jaunt, Part I

2011-08-18T22:19:00.000-07:00

Arriving in London - greeted by Carolyn and Mark

Waiting for the Queen, outside of Buckingham - she didn't show.

Trafalgar Square - with Lord Nelson perched high, and a large ship in a bottle...really.

A picturesque scene in France, on the way to Normandy. (Might have to do a painting...)

On Omaha Beach - very moving and sobering to be there in person, after teaching about it for 25 years.

The cliffs (now covered with vegetation) the Rangers had to climb, under fire.

This says it all.

We were going through the subways of Paris and saw this poster (Joel is a student at Logos, for those who don't know.)

A quick walk around Paris between trains - kind of a famous church...

Back in London and our first pub experience...

It's not Big Ben, it's the TOWER of Big Ben (we learned) - he's the BELL.

Westminster Abbey - whoa! They don't allow photos taken inside. Walked over Charles Dicken's grave...respectfully.

Oh yeah!

This is on the botton left front of Westminster - they borrowed the Logos School logo!

Fish and chips, of course (Mark doesn't care for fish...)

In Churchill's War Rooms, underneath White Hall. All as they were left (largely) after May 8, 1945.

Churchill on the 'hot line' to FDR. Ok, a pretty good wax likeness...

The map room - there was even a doodle of Hitler someone had sketched...

The communications room...

Art on Display at Sterling Savings

2011-07-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

A number of TRG paintings are on display at the Sterling Savings Bank this month. Swing on by and take a look! (As a side note, these pastels are now available in prints for purchase. Just send an email!)

Rita's Flat

2011-07-19T21:31:00.000-07:00

After juggling quite a few family events (fun!) and work projects this summer, I finally knocked out this commissioned piece. The above sketches (8 X 10), narrowed down to the one on the right (obviously, I hope) and the final version (16 X 21). I will be mailing this to Rita, the kind lady in Dallas, who once lived in this London flat. I hope she likes it...

London Flat

2011-07-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

I'm working on another commissioned piece - this time a bit further from the Palouse. A lady who had lived in London saw one of my other 'home' paintings, and wanted one done of her flat (apartment) since she has moved to Dallas. The photos are blown up from ones she sent me and the lower right is a small version I did to get the feel of the final work. She liked the little one, so now on to the big one!

ARTWALK Today!

2011-06-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Don't miss out on the Moscow Artwalk today! Starting at 3pm and receptions startng at 5pm. TRG paintings will be at Rex Cosgroves office on the corner of Friendship Square.

More info here.

Jim & Mary C's yard

2011-06-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

I don't usually put commissioned works on here, but this is kind of unique - doing all four pieces together. It's also been a bit of a challenge in that the original photos didn't have the composition, light or colors we wanted. Other than that, they were dandy! I'm almost done with the two on the left and have more to do on the right ones. I want to leave enough light to be interesting, but not so much that they look washed out. We'll see...

Moscow Hospital

2011-05-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

This is one of the many historic buildings in Moscow which I find fascinating. My understanding is that this was an early hospital (now it's used for apartments). I took this shot last winter and just got around to doing the painting in pastels. I went for a fairly rich color contrast. Thanks for checking it out!

New & Old

2011-05-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

The top painting I just completed and is from one of the photos I took at Ft. Columbia, near Astoria, a few years ago. All the buildings overlook the Pacific. We were on our way down to Cannon Beach and Hobbes (grandson #1) had to make a potty stop. So we pulled over at the next place and found these great old Army buildings. I was going for a Hopper-esque look on this one.
The bottom boat scene I did probably 25 or more years ago from a pencil study done by a watercolorist named Ted Kautsky. The sketch was in a book given to me by Grandpa Garfield. This one I am donating to the Art Auction at Logos this coming Friday. Blessings!

Haystack At Twillight

2011-04-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

Reverting to one of my family's favorite spots, Cannon Beach (Oregon), with its wonderful, distinctive Haystack Rock. I've done it in acrylics and watercolor, so now I can add pastels to the list. It wasn't until I started working on it, that I noticed the little sand castle in the mid-ground. I think I'm really enjoying this medium...and I'm constantly amazed by God's works of art He extravagantly displays every day, as I examine the photos of places we've been and loved.Reverting to one of my family's favorite spots, Cannon Beach (Oregon), with its wonderful, distinctive Haystack Rock. I've done it in acrylics and watercolor, so now I can add pastels to the list. It wasn't until I started working on it, that I noticed the little sand castle in the mid-ground. I think I'm really enjoying this medium...and I'm constantly amazed by God's works of art He extravagantly displays every day, as I examine the photos of places we've been and loved.

Floats In Two Views

2011-04-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd try the same image, doing it first in watercolor, then in pastels. Different feeling from each one. I think I'm finding that watercolor is good for some views and pastels for others - profound, right?

Pastel Practice

2011-04-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

Got a hankering for doing some pastels, after a hiatus of about 30 years! (Last time I did one was in college.) So, I bought the pastel set above and some special boards. The photo is a scene Julie and I get to see very often on the east side of Moscow, where we live. The middle photo shows the underlayers I like to put down with pastels. I will try a few more to see if I like the pastels as much as watercolor (probably not). They are messy, but fun!

Sketches, with a little help

2011-03-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a commission for a series of garden paintings, based on some photos I was given. The sketches are 5X7, half the size the final versions will be. They're all being done on one sheet for now and I've finished the first two. Then tonight, we had a small visitor who, in addition to watching The Wizard of Oz for the zillionth time (she even has the witch's lines down), was curious about my painting. So, we sat down and got out my drawing pad. She obviously took to it like a pro! When her parents came back from dinner, Amara had two paintings to take home... cuz, "there's no place like home, there's no place like home..."

Slow Sail

2011-03-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

I decided to do the larger image first. But even so, you will notice the magnifying glass that came in handy for some details. The original photo and my smaller sketch were good references. I laid in the sky and much of the water first, since they should have a similar color and tone, but very different textures. I was quite pleased with how the sky came out; when you do wet-on-wet painting, sometimes you have happy accidents and, well, sometimes you get other results. I also used a limited palette since I have no idea what the real colors were. Thanks for looking!

Works In Progress II

2011-02-26T17:41:00.000-08:00

Since these are only about 8 X 10 inch sketches, it doesn't take long to finish them. The second photo actually had some notes written in pencil by Grandpa on the back: "Flat tone sky, edge of bright cloud, sun in color." I tried to follow his ideas and made it a somber sky and sea. (The tug is towing the ship out to sea.) Now I need to decide which one to make into a larger (15 X 20) painting. Any suggestions? Thanks again for the kind comments!

Works In Progress

2011-02-23T17:12:00.000-08:00

My 'manager' (aka Kathryn Church) urged me to post more...so here 'tis. I usually like to put finished works on here, but this is what I'm up to right now. I'm doing two small studies of two different B/W photos my grandpa took in Toronto. So, from the top you can see my whole table with the small (2X3 and 3X4) photos and my sketches of each. I use blue painters tape to hold down the papers (it doesn't stick and tear like normal masking tape).
The first painting sketch is obviously (I hope) close to being done, while the second is just in the pencil and mask-it stage (I use a masking fluid, sort of like rubber cement, to protect small areas I want to keep white).
From these two studies I determine coloring, intensity, and values (lights/darks) that I will use in larger paintings of these subjects.
My grandfather, my father and I all shared a love for ships and water. I really enjoy using photos that not only did my grandpa take (perhaps close to 100 years ago), but also ones he used for paintings. You can see some of his paint drips on the photos, if you look closely.
Thanks for looking!

Northern Michigan Red Barn

2011-02-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

After doing a number of winter paintings, I am ready to start thinking about summer (which, in Moscow, means thinking for about five more months!). So, I had this barn in my files, which I borrowed from Bill Church's photos taken in the Glen Arbor, Michigan area. I love the texture of old wood, soaking up the sun, don't you? The silo makes a neat center piece, too. Hope this warms up your day!

Christmas Morning '78

2011-02-02T21:34:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is ancient history, and we are way past Christmas now. But I dug this out of the closet and hung it in our family room this year. It's an acrylic I painted while in college and the moment, yes, even the apartment, on that day meant a lot - Carolyn was due pretty soon, in fact, only about two weeks later. The Pooh Bear my mom had made for our baby was in the yellow package! So, there you go...my nostalgic post, over thirty years later.

Saturday Morning, 12 Degrees

2011-01-28T20:25:00.000-08:00

This wasn't the scene I was looking for on that very biting cold morning; I was on my way north to take some shots of Max Ryan's home. But the light was wrong at his house, so as I returned to town I saw this off to my right. In painting it, I limited my palette to mostly cool colors to try to communicate how cold it was. The light really did produce those strong, horizontal shadows. Hope you like it - barns and snow - soul warming!

Ryan's Farmhouse

2011-01-16T20:29:00.000-08:00

This is a smaller (11X14) sketch for a larger painting I may do of the Max Ryan's home on N. Mountain View. I am just one of many folks who love their farm house, which dates from early in the previous century. Once we had some decent snow in Moscow, I waited for a sunny day and took the photo later in the afternoon. The house faces west so I wanted the light falling on the front. Plus their really nifty birdhouse is on that side!

Show at the Moscow Chamber!

2011-01-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

Head on down to the Moscow Chamber of Commerce to see a bunch of TRG paintings on display (quite a few new ones!). They'll be up for a month or so - and some are for sale.

Christmas Gleanings

2011-01-01T20:49:00.000-08:00

When I first saw the original photo by Bill Church, two thoughts struck me: the colors of the leaves, berries and the robin all have similar reds and oranges; the second thought was how kind our Father is to care for robins. We are in the 'dead' of winter and He feeds His creatures faithfully and colorfully. I tried to accent the background blues and purples in the shadows to give the sense of cold, as contrasted with the warmth of the fluffed robin and his snacks. Thanks again Bill!

3rd Week Winner!

2010-12-20T11:58:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to:

JANICE SMITH!

We'll be contacting you shortly to get you your gift.

Janice Smith said...

Merry Christmas! I really like "Winter Twilight".

3rd Week of Advent Giveaways!

2010-12-13T10:16:00.000-08:00

This week - in answer to the request for something nautical - we are giving away a small set of deluxe cards with "Haystack Rock" and "Sailboat on Flathead Lake."

How to enter:

1. Head over to the TRG Prints website.

2. Come back and list what item you'd like to be given away next week.

3. Leave your email address.

4. For an extra entry - post about the giveaway on your blog or facebook and come back and leave a second comment telling us that you did so.

Merry Christmas!

2nd Week Winner!

2010-12-13T10:09:00.001-08:00

Congratulations #6!

MARK RAUCH

We'd be happy to have any of your prints. :) For next week, how about "Winter Twilight". Seems appropriate for the season. -- Thanks for hosting this advent giveaway! , The Rauch family

We'll be contacting you via email shortly.

Everyone else - keep on trying! Next giveaway will be posted later today.

North Idaho Parking Lot

2010-12-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

This is a scene I've wanted to paint for quite a while, but it didn't seem right without snow on the ground here. My friend, Bill Church snapped and named the original photo. Although I tweeked the scene a bit, I kept the name he gave it - very apropos! As with so many country scenes on the Palouse, there is a story behind each element in this composition. I love old cars and these two vehicles have more to say now than they did the day they were bought. Merry Christmas!

2nd Week of Advent Giveaways!

2010-12-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

This week we'll be giving away a small set of the "Winter Rest" in our Deluxe Cards (printed on watercolor paper stock with rough edges, 5in x 6in with watercolor paper envelope).

How to enter:

1. Visit the TRG Prints website.

2. Come back and leave a comment stating what item you'd like to be given away next week as well as your email address.

3. For an extra entry - post about the Advent Giveaway on facebook or on your blog and leave a second comment telling us where you posted.

Don't forget to visit the website for Christmas shopping!

First Advent Winner!!

2010-12-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to #5!!

ELLE SMITH

We'll be emailing you shortly.

Stop by tomorrow to enter our next giveaway!

Advent Giveaway!!

2010-11-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

The Season of Advent is here and to celebrate we'll be doing a weekly giveaway! This week we'll be giving away an 8x10in print of

"In Toronto."

How to enter:

1. Visit the TRG Prints website.

2. Come back and leave a comment stating what item you'd like to be given away next week as well as your email address.

3. For an extra entry - post about the Advent Giveaway on facebook or on your blog and leave a second comment telling us where you posted.

Don't forget to visit the website for Christmas shopping. Check back for sales and discount offers coming soon!

Against the Wind

2010-11-18T18:02:00.000-08:00

Once again I pulled from Grandpa's photos and tried my hand at capturing a moment from the distant past. This was from a very small image, about 2X3 inches, so I had to use a magnifying glass to see the details. Nevertheless, I am trying to not be too tight and go more for speed and wetter painting, particularly in sky and water. Also, especially with these B/W photos, I am limiting my palette to three or four colors. This automatically helps to tie the sky and water together, but I also wanted the boat to be part of the sea, vs a canvas sail color. Anyway, there you go...(I stole the title from a song by Bob Seger!)

Late Afternoon Tower

2010-11-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

From another photo Bill Church took - I wanted to play with the light and the colors, as well as the various textures of these great old buildings that are so much a part of our landscape here. It's hard to do them justice in their height and strength. They constantly remind of us of our past and all that we depend on from God's blessings of this land. And, they're just fun to paint!

Palouse Sky & Field

2010-10-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

Even though it's not winter yet, I wanted to try my hand at a photo Bill Church took of a view we get to see in many winters. I particularly liked the unusual light of the sunset; the sun is back there, but only its glory is seen. The variety of blues vs the reds and yellows of a summer sunset were also what I wanted to emphasize. This was done on watercolor board. Thanks Bill!

Double-Stack Steamer

2010-10-13T22:10:00.000-07:00

This was quite a stretch, to be honest. The original sepia-toned photograph is about 2X3 inches, so I blew it up on the copier to get a better image. Once again, it's from the collection of Grandpa's photos. I don't know if he did a painting of it, but if he did I'd love to know the colors he chose to use. I thought I'd keep them rather simple, but it had to have red stacks! Notice the side wheel. Just can't get enough of ships and water right now, I guess!

My Two Cents On Doing Art As a Christian

2010-10-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

Why Do We Make ‘Art’?

Even non-Christian artists admit that they are trying to “say something” with their art. Often viewers may have a hard time knowing what’s being “said” without an owner’s manual. Other times it’s pretty obvious what’s being said and we may be attracted or repelled by the message. But if we make any kind of visual art, we are anticipating someone else could and should see it and derive some sort of statement from it.

Why are men compelled to do this? In Genesis, God gave not only a command but the authority and creativity to Adam to name all the animals. In a very real sense, Adam was the first human artist. He was imitating his Creator by naming elements of the Creation. What Adam named each animal is still what defines that creature and its nature down to our time. Horses were not called lizards by men of William Wallace’s day, nor are turtles called elephants in China. Adam’s naming has lasted through generations and across cultures. And, even in spite of the Fall, men are still compelled to name, and thereby express dominion over, Creation. The most pagan, God-hating artist still responds to and seeks to say something about Creation. What he says may be a lie or “said” poorly, but he can’t avoid his Adamic nature and urge to express some kind of authority. Great artists have always, knowingly or not, made creative expressions about the Creation (this includes depictions of man’s creations - cities, technology, etc.).

Christian artists should, in their poor attempt to imitate their Creator, seek to say something true, good, and beautiful about Creation. This does not mean every painting should seek to be photo-realistic. A camera, especially in the hands of a skilled photographer, produces a certain statement about what it pictures. A painter says and uses quite different means and purposes. For instance, I love to use watercolor paints. In my painting, I am trying, by manipulating the paint’s particular characteristics, to emphasize certain colors, lighting, or textures in the subject. I am hoping to help the viewer see and, yes, even feel, what I saw and felt from the subject. I am trying to “say”, “Do you see the way our Creator made even the ruddy color and texture of rust on a sunlit metal roof proclaim His glory?”

A word about originality: Artists can get a little foamy at the mouth if their work is compared (as in, ‘it’s not original’) to another artist’s work. Saying something “no one else has said” is pretty much a sacrament in the art world. In my opinion, these folks generally need to breathe deeply through a paper bag and get over themselves. True, a copy of someone else’s work usually falls flat and is best done for learning purposes. But this “uniqueness” anxiety is sort of like the population boom myth: contrary to popular opinion, there is still plenty of Creation to go around! Everything that can be said has hardly been said - much remains to be proclaimed about and to the glory of God.

What Makes Great Art Great?

I readily admit I may be going out on the skinny branches here, but if you are game, so am I. Having viewed a fair number of historical and contemporary art pieces, as well as seeking to do something worthwhile myself, I have tried to figure out what is so appealing about “timeless” art? And why, by contrast, do motel “art” prints often trigger the gag reflex?

The Preacher said that God put eternity in our hearts. All of our hearts, Christian or not. St. Paul said that all Creation groans, awaiting the redemption of the sons of men. David the Psalmist said that even the heavens declare the glory of God and their (the skies and stars) voice is heard universally. Stay with me here. A day is coming when ALL of Creation will be redeemed and resurrected to become a “new heavens and a new earth.” Like men, all Creation has an eternal destiny.

Let’s go a bit further: If all of Creation will be resurrected to a glorious state and even pagans have a sense of the eternal, could it be that, somehow, we ALL recognize the eternal nature of Nature? What if great artists (Christian or not) were able to paint an image, albeit flawed (so maybe just a glimpse), of a resurrected Creation? What would an eternal mountain range look like? Or a sun-dappled eternal tree? Could there be something of the eternal captured by Vermeer in the way he caught endless light coming through a window and falling on a ageless young girl pouring never-spoiling milk?

As Christians, wouldn’t and shouldn’t we be attracted to even poor glimpses of what might make up the new heavens and the new earth? Imagine a prisoner kept from the sun for years, what would his reaction be to a shaft of sunlight suddenly coming through a crack in the dungeon wall? Wouldn’t he leap to somehow capture it, feel it? Wouldn’t he cherish it for as long as it lasted?

So, what if great art, that is art that crosses eras and cultures, was a teasing bit of the eternal? I think that might not only explain the timelessness of such art, but why we are drawn to it and seek to emulate it somehow. It also might explain why motel or any other poorly done, cheesy, or ugly “art” repels us (or should). Back to the prisoner for a moment - what if, after seeing the shaft of real sunlight, some lunkhead guard offered him a 60-watt bulb lamp instead? Right. You get the idea.

In seeking to love and pass on the love of great art to our children, I hope we don’t ever settle for less than what speaks of truth, goodness, and beauty, and maybe, just maybe, gives us a little glimpse of the glorious resurrection awaiting all Creation.

Tom

More of Grandpa's Photos (In Ink)

2010-10-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

During my infrequent booth times at our local Saturday Famers' Market, I find myself with a choice of how to spend my time: people- watching, or doing something productive, perhaps even artisitic. So I brought along my 5 X 7 sketch pad and a variety of pens (.01-.07) and a few old photos from my collection of Grandpa's materials. The above is a result of two such outings. The only problem is that I get into drawing and look up to see people standing in front of me...kind of disconcerting. Anyway, they're easy and fun (the sketches, not the people) and I may paint some of them in the future.

Twin Sails From Toronto

2010-09-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

I've been going through the old photos my grandfather took when he lived in Toronto (sent to me by my Uncle Dag). Since they are black and white, it's a bit of a challenge to color them appropriately (and not too much). This picture grabbed my interest since I've never seen old sailboats like this, plus they look very similar, but they're different. I hope this captures a time long ago, that was my intent.

Fall Jolly Saturday

2010-09-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

We'll be selling prints, cards, and originals at the Fall Jolly! Some discounted cards and new works available - come take a look!

9am-12pm at the Logos Fieldhouse (off of A St.)

Ann Young On the Hard

2010-09-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

My favorite (if only) daughter-in-law, Naphtali, commissioned me to paint her grandfather's boat, based on an old b/w photo she had. It was a bit of a challenge, not only having to come up with the coloring, but the stupid paper decided to buckle to beat the band! I re-wet the whole thing (a bit dicey when you've already started painting), re-taped it down and, lo and behold, it flattened out again. Thank God for small blessings. Naphtali seems to like it and explained to me that the Ann Young (the white/red boat) was on an English beach, and when the tide goes out, the boats are left 'on the hard' ground. (That gull on the mast was actually there - not one of my tweeks!)

Feeding the Gulls

2010-08-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

Since we didn't get over to Cannon Beach this summer (bummer!), I had to make another painting of it. This one comes from a photo that is 13 years old. I believe that is my nephew Jordan Anderson feeding the gulls. It was November and the tides were very high. I wanted to get across the low clouds, cooler appearance and the mass of gulls - and of course, the beloved Rock!

Coffee with Tom Garfield Cover Artist from Artwalk 2010

2010-08-11T09:31:00.001-07:00

Don’t miss this great opportunity to have coffee with and meet Tom Garfield the cover artist from Artwalk 2010, August 18^th at 8:30am in City Hall. Tom will talk about his interest in painting, how long he’s been painting, his painting process, and so much more!

While there, take time to enjoy the Idaho Watercolor Society exhibit now showing at the Third Street Gallery on the 2^nd and 3^rdfloors of City Hall.

DJ Scallorn

Arts Assistant

City of Moscow

Oaksdale Flour Mill

2010-08-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

We've passed this Flour Mill countless times on the 'back' way to Spokane, cruising slowly through Oaksdale. I finally stopped and took a picture since Julie has commented on its unique aspect each time we go by. I tried to convey its texture and varied colors of weathered wood siding.

Old & Sort of Old

2010-07-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

My business manager, Kathryn, encouraged me to inventory all my paintings. In so doing, I came across this acrylic from, oh, about 30 odd years ago. I was in art at the Univ. of Idaho and was told to make a still-life. This one's a bit painful to recall, since I broke the pewter candle holder not long after painting this - I comforted Julie by letting her keep the painting of it.

Among the photos and prints of my grandfather's that Uncle Dag sent me was a small print of this scene. Grandpa had obviously copied it at one time, too, since it had some watercolor paint splatters on it. So, I tried my hand at it. (I've never seen Grandpa's version, but I hope I came close!)

Summer Pieces (Some are not?)

2010-07-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

Julie and I were returning from my nephew's wedding and driving through the Columbia Gorge when I spotted (as we often do) a tug with a barge going downriver. The day was windy (normal) and very sunny (not so normal). I love these tugs and the landscape, so I pulled over and took the shot. (The barge had a large 'happy face' sign that I left out - hope you agree!)

This work was a bit of a departure in some ways. First, the image is based on a photo that my Grandpa Garfield took (which was included in a pack of material Grandpa owned and was recently sent to me by my Uncle Dag). So it's from Toronto, not the Palouse! Next, it was black and white so I had to insert colors I thought would work. (I did a couple studies first.) Then, I painted it using a watercolor board (vs just paper) that my daughter Carolyn gave me. To be honest, I'm not crazy about the result - I think I like paper better, but I will try another board just to be fair.
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Moscow Alleys II

2010-06-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

So here is the last of the four alleys-this one's looking south, out onto 5th street. I was drawn to the tile in the sunlight and shade on the left hand building. Also, how about the major poles and cross-bars used for utilities? Even in the age of wireless internet! Hope you enjoyed looking at the 'back stage' of Moscow.

Moscow Alleys

2010-06-07T21:06:00.000-07:00

Not long ago I went downtown Moscow on a lovely spring evening. The light was great and I wanted to take some shots of Moscow's back streets and alleys. I've started a series of four alley paintings. The top one is behind NSA and the Chamber of Commerce. The middle one (which I did a while back) is between 3rd and 5th streets, and the bottom one is behind Bucer's. I'm working on one more... Why alleys, one might ask? I like the rich variety of colors, textures and shapes - really. Plus they say a lot about a town.

Still Life III hung

2010-05-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's how the finished works look, in their old white frames, hanging in our kitchen. I'm pleased that Julie's pleased that we found a way to use those frames from her mom's collection of older items.

Can you spot a difference?

2010-05-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

These are two separate paintings of the same subject. The top one is close to a 16x20 and the bottom 8x10. Which do you prefer and why?

Lighting Question

2010-05-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

Lighting is called into question whenever we get digital images made of the paintings. Is natural lighting best? Flash? Overhead? So we need your opinion. Which one do you like the best?

First Farmer's Market Appearance

2010-05-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

We'll be having our first booth at Farmer's Market tomorrow. We'll see you there!

Art Walk Cover

2010-05-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

"Tom Garfield 2010 Artwalk Cover Artist
The city of Moscow is pleased to announce this year’s 2010 Artwalk Cover Art artist Tom Garfield! Tom’s painting titled Pea Mill 1 was selected by a group of 7 jurors to be this year’s cover art.

Tom Garfield has been a Moscow, ID resident for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Idaho with a degree in art, he is now the superintendent of Logos School and pursues painting in his spare time. His works focus on the Palouse and Pacific Northwest; landscapes and still life’s. Tom first started painting with his grandfather, Hubert Garfield who painted for GM. He now paints on the same easel and desk that Hubert used. His wife Julie is a constant inspiration. He has 4 children and now 4 grandchildren.

Tom’s Pea Mill 1 and other works will be displayed at the Nuart for Moscow Artwalk 2010. Artwalk will be taking place on Friday June, 18 2010 with Chalk Art starting at noon in downtown Friendship Square, so please mark your calendars for this art, food, spirit, and fun filled event!

For more information e-mail us at kburns@ci.moscow.id.us or kgarrity@ci.moscow.id.us. Check out our webpage at http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/Art/index.asp"

Still Life III

2010-05-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

These had an unusual inception: Julie had four, 9X12 white-painted wood frames from her mom's house. We've had them for years, but I dug them out recently. She suggested I do a series of small paintings for the frames (you see, usually frames are not the inspiration for a painting). Then Kathryn suggested using old items to match the old frames, and these are what I grabbed. The sunlight was great and I made some random pairings, based on textures, colors, and shapes. You may notice there are only three - the fourth is coming, and I'll take a picture of the set in their frames. Comments are always welcome!

TRG Prints at Nuart for Moscow Art Walk

2010-05-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

TRGarfield's works will be displayed at the Nuart for the Moscow Art Walk on June 18th.

TRG Prints to be Featured on Moscow Art Walk Brochure!

2010-04-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

TRGarfield was picked to be the artist featured on the Moscow Art Walk Brochure for 2010! Make sure to stop by the Art Walk, Friday, June 18th from 5pm - 10pm.

"2010 Artwalk Brochure Cover Search
Moscow Art Walk 2010 will celebrate the work of a local artist in the cover design for the events brochure. A jury panel will select one artist to be commissioned by the City of Moscow to create an original work of art for the cover of the Art Walk 2010 brochure."

The Big Train

2010-04-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

Hobbes and trains - from Thomas to Lionel, he loves them all! This particular train was given to me by my parents when I was actually pretty close to Hobbes' age, around four-five. Hobbes loves it and when he comes I take it down from its shelf in my study and we "drive" it on some track on a rug. I took quite a few shots of his enjoyment (I am a grandfather, after all), but really liked this image. His intense concentration and posture made it work. The colors worked, too; the reds and blues are nicely balanced. I really miss my train pal!

Ft. Columbia No. 1

2010-04-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

This actually could be titled - "Hobbes Picks a Great Potty Stop" - because that's how we found this site. Julie and I were taking Kajsa and her kids from Seattle down to...yay!...Cannon Beach for a few days. We had just gone through a town when Hobbes let us know it was time to take a break. I saw a sign that said "State Park Entrance". We pulled in and, lo and behold, it was a World War II era Army base, complete with the lovliest buildings I've ever seen on a military site! They all face out to the Pacific and the sun was in the west. I may do some more of the buildings, hence the number one. Go visit there if you have a chance! (Hobbes liked the bathrooms, too.)

Chief's Beach, Lake Michigan

2010-04-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

Hardly a unique composition, I know - Adirondack chairs on the beach - but these happened to be in front of Chief's (Bill Church's dad) lakeside home in northern Michigan. During the last Garfield family reunion (2008), we were also able to visit Chief and the Church family, since the reunion spot was right next to Chief's home. This spot has an extra special memory for us - it was here Mike and Kathryn let us know young Asa was on the way!

Blue Braided Rug & The Needles, Cannon Beach

2010-04-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

I hope you don't think I only paint our living room, but I really love the light that comes in especially in the spring, after not much light in the winter. That's my dad's desk against the wall. I played a bit with the composition to focus on the rug, though. Hope it conveys the warmth of the sun on our floor.

Our family loves Cannon Beach very much and we never tire of visiting it! We were blessed with the chance to take some days there during our Spring Break. I've done several paintings of Haystack Rock there, so I thought it'd be good to do the "Needles", the two large rocks near Haystack (get it? - think about it). The waves weren't just like this in the photos I took, but, hey, I love waves. The gulls were also an insert to make it a bit more interesting.

Cards for Sale at Moscow Coop

2010-03-21T21:38:00.001-07:00

The Industrial Moscow cards are now for sale at the Moscow Food Coop. So stop on by and pick some up!

Coastal House, Glen Arbor, MI

2010-03-11T20:28:00.000-08:00

Brushes are to a painter what hand tools are to a carpenter. Each one has a unique function and it pays to use the right tool for the right job. For instance, in this painting, I did the sky using the large, round tipped brush at the top. It holds a lot of water (and pigment), with a bit of a tip so I can 'draw' the edges of clouds. By contrast the red-handled brush has a very thin, sharp tip for doing fine lines, but it doesn't hold much water. The large flat tipped brush on the right is great for 'dry brush' technique; essentially using very little water, a bit of pigment and lightly draw the brush across the rough paper, leaving bits of white behind. This is good for indicating texture, like a shingled roof. Finally in this shot you see the angled tip brush in the lower right. It's great for sharp edges and rectangles, such as windows or doors.

The flat tipped brush in the upper left isn't as large as the one above so I use it for smaller areas. It holds a good deal of water though so I use it for light washes, adding layer to layer, allowing the color underneath to show through, as on a wall. The small tipped brush (with the painter's tape showing!) is another angled brush, but it's even smaller so I use it for doing window panes and other small squares.

At the bottom of the painting, where you often find brush, trees, or grass, I call on one of my favorite brushes (oh yes, I even talk to them!) to do the job. This one is even more special since it's one my grandfather used and I inherited. I believe he trimmed it a bit so it would make rougher edges, such as grass in shadow, but it holds a lot of water so I can cover a large area quickly.

Here is the whole view of the painting. I am pleased by how the light turned out particularly. I've always admired Edward Hopper's work and the way he handled light on buildings. (Grandpa Garfield copied a number of Hopper's works, so he must've liked Hopper, too.) This house we saw during a family reunion in upper Michigan. I think it was used for Coast Guard members, but that's a guess. Lake Michigan is only a few hundred yards from the front of the house. Thanks for looking! Your comments are always welcome!

South Grain Elevators II (Start with one below)

2010-02-27T18:56:00.000-08:00

Now I've largely finished the right hand side and will work from the center out to the left. There is no rhyme or reason for this other than I like to establish the center first, it sort of anchors the painting for me.

Speaking of the center, this is a close-up to show you the way I put on the paint - watercolors generally are not meant to be viewed this up-close and personal; they do better from a distance, sort of like the Impressionists' work. But by way of illustration it shows the layering and coloring of the washes. As I've said before, this is not meant to be architecturally accurate - rather to evoke a feeling with just enough description.

As I move left, I did up some values on the foliage out front. I really like the juxtaposition of creation with man's works. Not to mention I just wanted more green in the painting!

Ta-da! The end result. I feel pretty good about it - I think it balances well. The white shed and semi-trailer are similar in light and value to the two grain storage units on the right. Perhaps some day one of the guys who used to work here would look at this and say, "Good grief! That pipe never went that way!" But I don't think that's going to happen - if it did, I'd just say, "Now it does!" Thanks for looking! God bless!

South Grain Elevators (Part I)

2010-02-27T18:40:00.000-08:00

When I saw this black/white photo on Bill Church's blog, I was very excited! These grain elevators used to be on the south side of Moscow and were torn down a few years back. I had always wanted to paint them, but didn't take the time to take a photo. However, I wanted them in color and with more light. So I took some liberties (they call it 'artistic license', I guess) and used the colors from the pea mill paintings. I hope you enjoy seeing the progress.

Sorry about the quality of the photos here - but anyway this is the rough sketch on Arches 140 lb paper. It's about 20 X 22. You might be able to see where I've put the Mask-It, a kind of thick liquid which protects the areas I want to keep white.

This is after an hour or so - the initial washes are in and I've started to focus in on the highest tower. As you can see, I amped up the light coming from the right.

A another hour or more and I've worked from the center out mostly to the right. These buildings had so many different textures of metal and wood, even varying on the same building! Then all those great exhaust ports (I think) like so many nostrils, helping the buildings breathe. And check out those little sheds on the very top!

Lewiston RR Bridge

2010-02-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

Kathryn, my business manager, said I should post a work in progress...so here 'tis. This is the original photo of the RR bridge in Lewiston. (Julie and I saw it a lot since we passed it every day on our way to her radiation treatments.) I liked the strength, colors and patterns in the structure.

This is after a couple of hours of work: I use painters' tape (of course!) to tack down the edges of the watercolor paper (Arches 140 lb. rough). Then after sketching it in, I used masking fluid to save the areas I want to keep white. The sky and background washes were put in next (the Lewiston hills are just starting to get the only green they will have during the year). The bridge is very complicated, so I tried to get just the basic lines in. I never try to do an architectural rendering - I leave that to the pros. The original sky color was depressing, so I decided to make it mostly sunny, with high, thin clouds, moving at an opposite diagonal to the bridge.

Getting down to the detail work at this point - putting in the strong cross bracing of the bridge. I really liked the high control rooms with the windows - imagine the view from up there! The two white curves are suspended walkways - very cool! When the bridge is lowered, they form a pedestrian walkway across the river. (I masked them in earlier.)

After finishing the raised bridge, I did the blue metal ends on each side of the river, being sure to make the further one a bit more unfocused with less intense color. I wanted to keep the viewer at street level, so the dike (grassy slope), the street lamp and the sign were put in last. I purposely shrank the sign since I didn't want it to pull too much attention, so it serves as a visual anchor on that corner. And now it's done - thanks for reading and looking, feel free to let me know your comments. Blessings!

Schlect Home

2010-02-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

The Schlects' home is in that 'core' of the Ft. Russell neighborhood, where many classic, old Moscow homes were built. It has a lot of unique features including some great Ionic (?) columns! Oh yes, and the wonderful Schlect family lives there, too. This was fun to paint, but if I did it again, I'd probably pull back even more on the foliage, which would probably make it look like it did 75 years ago, or so.

Three Tugs On the St. Joe

2010-02-06T17:10:00.000-08:00

Once again I am indebted to my friend, Bill Church, for taking a photo of these tugs. I did some alterations, as always, but mostly I was trying to capture the beauty and serenity of the place and moment.

Girl at Piano

2010-01-30T21:51:00.000-08:00

This work was done by H.L. Garfield (my great-grandfather) and is one of my, and my siblings, favorite. I unfortunately do not know what technique he did on this and, if you want to know, leave a comment and my dad will, I'm sure, give you the answer!

Auction Open!

2010-01-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

Bidding is now open on the painting, After the Rain. This work is also a composite image, which I designed because I have seen similar views many times on the Palouse. The towers are north of Moscow.
140lb Arches paper.
15.25in x 22.5in

Weekly Auction

2010-01-22T08:20:00.000-08:00

Bidding for the Grain Silos in Sunlight will begin Monday, 25th. So make sure to swing by the website.

And here's a preview for what will be coming up:

Auction Preview

2010-01-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

The original of the 1958 Ford Edsel is up for auction! Visit the website to place a bid. Auction closes Friday, January 22nd, at 6am PST. Good luck!

Up for auction next Monday:

Select Originals for Sale Jan 20th

2010-01-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

On January 20th we'll be putting up some select originals for sale! Check back for more details and previews of some of the works.

Cards on Sale!

2010-01-05T15:11:00.000-08:00

If you missed out on our Giveaway here's a chance to get The Winter Scene Collection of cards on sale! Head on over to the website to purchase.

God's Ornaments

2010-01-02T18:02:00.000-08:00

I finally finished this Christmas-ish painting- my largest watercolor to date: 22 X 19. (Julie wanted a large one for over the fireplace mantel). The subject is from a Bill Church photo - I thought, if I'm going to paint a really big painting, why not do it of very small things? So, as your side mirror says, "Some objects are closer than they appear." No, that really didn't make sense...

Final Advent Winner

2009-12-21T16:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry for being a day late.... we attended The Messiah yesterday afternoon and neglected to draw a winner! But our final set of cards goes to:
Deborah Beauchamp!

Congratulations!

We'll be emailing you shortly.

Thanks to everyone who participated. Continue to check back for our upcoming events and giveaways!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lonely Haven

2009-12-15T22:00:00.001-08:00

Just for fun, and because winter has set in , I thought I'd post my latest shed painting. Once again I need to give credit to Bill Church for finding and shooting this great old structure last summer. Notice the magpie (I think) sitting inside.

Final Advent Giveaway!

2009-12-13T19:09:00.000-08:00

Here's your last chance to enter the Advent Giveaway. If you want to double your chances, post a link to our giveaway and send us the link site.

Make sure to leave a valid email address so we can contact you when you win!

Advent Winner Week 3

2009-12-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Natali Monnette! We'll be contacting you via email and send you your cards asap.

Our last Advent Giveaway starts now! So if you haven't won yet, come back and enter!

Advent Giveaway Week 3

2009-12-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

To mix things up a bit, we've decided to give away a sample set of the Classic Car Collection! (To see the whole collection go here.)
So leave a comment and a valid email address and try your chances!

Week 2 Advent Winner!

2009-12-07T07:52:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Sarah Mortimore! We'll be contacting you via email and get your cards to you asap!

Keep on trying - we've still got two weeks to go!

Advent Giveaway Week 2

2009-11-29T19:38:00.000-08:00

You've got another chance to win a sample set of the Winter Scene Collection! Just leave a comment by Saturday, Dec. 5th to enter. (One comment per person and please include a valid email address.)

Merry Christmas!

1st Advent Winner!

2009-11-29T11:50:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Jodi, our first Advent winner!! You should receive an email and your sample set of the Winter Collection.

Come back tomorrow to enter for the Dec. 5th drawing!

Fond Memories

2009-11-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

A couple favorite and fond memories: My beagle buddy, Heidi, sitting in my (tarp-covered) Willy's Jeep during my high school days. She loved to ride shotgun, even without any doors or roof!

The porch is on a home my folks had in Boring (really), Oregon, for a number of great years. Our kids loved the wooded lot. My folks spent many hours enjoying the haven of their big back deck area. I painted this particularly for my mom to have for this Christmas.

Advent Giveaway

2009-11-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

In celebration of the Christmas Season and the Grand Opening of TRG Prints we'll be holding an Advent Giveaway! For the four weeks of Advent we'll be giving away sample sets of the Winter Scene Collection. Just leave a comment with a valid email address and we'll randomly draw a winner every Saturday, starting Nov. 28th.
Only 1 comment per week, but come back every week to re-enter.

Merry Christmas!

TRG Prints Website

2009-11-18T15:01:00.000-08:00

The TRG Prints website is officially up and running so take it for a spin! We're still working out a few details, but you can now get your TRG Prints cards in time for Christmas!

Our House (Is a Very, Very Fine House)

2009-11-17T20:57:00.000-08:00

This was my attempt to make use of the second major winter we've had in Moscow. I wanted to show how I felt about our snug little house in lots of snow. The light was great and the colors make it feel pretty cold! Don't you want to come in?

Which do you like better?

2009-11-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

The lighting was altered while we were shooting these paintings. Which do you prefer?

In case you're curious, the "A's" carried the day - not much competition actually. Thanks to the folks who voted - you "shed" some light on the question!

Winter Card Sets for Sale Soon

2009-10-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

Winter Card Sets will be ready and available in just a couple weeks!

New Business Card

2009-10-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

"The Studio"

2009-10-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

This is where TRG paints. The painting of the horse was done by Hubert Garfield (TRG's grandfather who painted covers for GM). The chair is a replica of the chair designed by Theodore Roosevelt (hence the pillow with TR's face on it made by Tom's sister). And the table and desk were the same ones that Hubert Garfield used when he painted.

Blue Chair

2009-09-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

At the risk of putting too many home images on here, I thought I'd put this one in. Again, I have to give my wife credit for pointing out the sun light pouring into our family room. The chair is one from Julie's mom's home that we painted. In case it's not obvious, I love to paint objects, scenes and places I love. Not a very unique approach, but so what?

Fall Jolly

2009-09-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

Amara having fun with her Grandpa at the Fall Jolly!