You may not know this about me, but I have been silently collecting the art of other living artists. Why, you ask?
Well, it's for several reasons..
1. I put my money where my mouth is. If I ask collectors to buy my paintings, why not also support those who are working artists like me.
< Charles Pompilius
Kristen
2009, Oil on Linen Panel, 7.75 x 5.75
2. I'm inspired by the artists I collect. Having a piece of fine art from a modern day master inspires me to create masterpieces of my own.
3. Fine art is an asset. My art collection is on my balance sheet and I know that the art I collect will continue to increase in value.
< Jeremy Lipking
Angela Sleeping
2007, Graphite on Paper, 24 x 18"
Introducing a new series of paintings for the seashore lover in all of us. Two new paintings and more to come.
They say practice makes perfect so I've been quietly perfecting the art of beach-themed floral still lifes.
Spring Break
2010, Oil on Linen, 14 x 11"Available at my Daily Paintworks Gallery
Buy at my Daily Paintworks
Beach Bums
2010, Oil on Linen, 12 x 12"
SOLD
Thanks to everyone who joined me at my first Open Studio held on December 5th, 2009. It was an intimate group of friends and acquaintances talking about art and life and eating, drinking, and laughing.
Inviting people into the space where I create my original works allows people to get a better sense of the history behind my paintings and have a more meaningful experience with the artist.
Fall Pumphouse @ Morris Arboretum
2009, Oil on Canvas on Board, 9 x 12"
SOLD
It was also a great time for attendees to purchase art for the upcoming holidays. In fact, the two paintings featured in this post were purchased for this very reason.
I plan on having at least two open studios in 2010, so if you would like to be notified, just sign up for my eNewsletter.
Best wishes to everyone for a Happy Holiday!
Conched Out
2009, Oil on Canvas on Board, 12 x 12"
SOLD
Montauk Daisies
2009, Oil on Canvas on Board, 16 x 12"(SOLD)
Signed lower left. Harding 09'For clients who want to own an original Harding painting, yet want a specific subject portrayed, I offer a commission service.
Montauk Daisies is a good example of this. The client loved what they saw in another painting I did of Roses, yet their favorite flowers were Daisies.
So much so, they even have daisies painted on their fingernails. Since the fall was coming I found Montauk Daisies, which typically bloom in October. The name of these daisies conjured up images of fresh-picked flowers at a seashore beach house. So I placed the setup on a windowsill, poured sand in the bottom of the vase, and put two seashells in the foreground. Sun, streaming in through the window, completed the feeling of warmth I wanted to convey.
Currently, I am also working on commissioned paintings of a young gymnastic star and a cityscape painting of the Philadelphia sports complexes.
Have you always wanted an original painting of a family member, pet, or favorite vacation spot? Challenge me to paint what you have in mind today.
I'm back in class again with Jafang Lu for another intensive workshop on studying the effects of light on subjects. The intimate class, made up of 4 students and the teacher, is a great way to supercharge learning and practice techniques that will find their way into my more involved paintings. I was happy to learn that we will be doing some longer studies, even one up to 4 weeks. So, I will have some very finished pieces and some of these will be available at my online Etsy store.
Class 1
The first night we warmed up with two 45-minute studies, one of a ceramic milk jug, and the other of a blue coffee cup and pear.
Jafang chose my next study of a blue bottle and lemon to paint over and demonstrate to the class how to simplify areas before adding more detail. Notice how elegant the shapes of color on the bottle culminate into depictions of reflections and transparency. My inclination is to start adding detail too soon which can be burdensome later on in the process.
Tune in next Wednesday. I'll be posting a study of a beautiful Conch shell!
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Class 2
Conched Out
2009, Oil on Canvas on Board, 12 x 12"
(Signed lower right - Harding 09')
Tune in next week. I'll be posting a study of a brown bag lunch!
Sold
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Class 3
Brown Bag Lunch2009, Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20"
(Signed lower left - Harding 09')
Tune in next week. I'll be posting a painting of some Halloween gourds.
Sold
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Class 4
October Still
2009, Oil on Canvas, 12 x 12"
(Signed lower left - Harding 09')
Tune in next week. I'll be posting a painting of some Stone Harbor memories.
Bid on this painting!
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Class 5,6,7
Stone Harbor Memories2009, Oil on Canvas, 11 x 11"
(Signed lower right - Harding 09')
(C) 2009 JT Harding
This painting was worked up in three classes. The first class, we did a color study and the next two classes, we worked up the finished painting. Next, I'll be working on a 5 session still life. Ugh!
Sold
In early August, my friend Zack and his Mother, told me they were out painting a bridge over the Schuylkill River, so I joined them the following day.
The view from the West River Drive side of the Schuylkill was exceptional for a great composition, and in fact was painted from this very view by several artist's in the past.
Buy NOW!
Rather than trying to capture the entire span of the bridge, I chose to focus on the interesting convergence of the bridge, land, and trees on the other side of the river. In particular, I found the sun-lit patch of grass near the bridge to be a great focal point. After two Plein Air sessions, to establish the composition and color relationships, I finished this in my studio on September, 10th.
A little history on the Bridge.
The graceful concrete arches of the Columbia Bridge carry the main stem of the former Reading Railroad over the Schuylkill River into Philadelphia. Built between 1917 and 1921, the bridge was a critical link between the Reading's passenger terminal in Philadelphia and the shops and freight yards in the City of Reading in Berks County. The current bridge is the third bridge on its site and crosses the Schuylkill just below the famed Regatta Course along Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park.
This was my first finished Landscape painting since 2007 and I hope to do more, although my next focus will be on people within the Landscape. So, keep your eyes peeled ...
I painted this from life on a Monday and Tuesday, posted it on facebook on Wednesday and it sold on Friday. This was my first floral painting. Hmmm, maybe I should do more like this?
Summer's Finale
2009 Oil, On Canvas, 16 x 12"
Sold
