Crowded

"Crowded"
7x5 Oil on Raymar Panel
Available

Reflecting

"Reflecting"

5x7 Oil on Raymar panel

Available

I've done alot of this myself lately, but not much has come of it yet! Hopefully by the time the new year rolls around there will be some progress to show for. In the meantime, I'll just keep painting and let my mind wander...

Last week I spent some down time shopping around an antique store looking for a few things to add to my growing junk pile of still life items. Tonight I finally got some time in the studio, aside from some current larger work I'm doing, to do this little setup. It was nice to work loosely and just get my brush going without nit picking over the details. There's nothing better to relax you than turning up the music and just pushing some paint around!

Here come's the Holidays...

As the Holiday's are approaching my work has turned to helping others. That is, doing a few commissions that are likely to be received as Christmas gifts from one to another. That said, I have had little time to work out anything else that I can post without ruining a surprise for someone! Soon though, I may have some time coming up this week and may just use it on myself. Stay tuned...

Rum Runner

"Rum Runner"
5X7 Oil on Raymar Panel
Available

Gathered Together

"Gathered Together"
11x14 Oil on Panel
Available

This was an old thing I had sitting around for awhile that I decided to finish while I'm waiting on some supplies to come in for some new work. Yes, I'm so far in the middle of no where I have to order everything, unless I drive pretty far to get to a decent art supply store!

You can follow me on Facebook Pages now, become a fan of J Kadtke Art and drop me a line!

Drive Thru Surf

"Drive Thru Surf"

6x8 Oil on Raymar Panel
SOLD

This is part of a new series I've begun working out of my head, through my sketchbook and onto canvas. It has alot of twists and turns ahead but I am hopeing to get a good pull from this theme which I will explain and post later on....

Three's Company

"Three's Company"
8x8 Oil on Canvas Panel
Available

Simplicity is key when it comes to getting back into the swing of things! This was a good setup to focus on while keeping away from detail. Just having brush in hand again was a comfort after being out of studio for awhile.

Gone for way to long!

I've been here the whole time, checking in on everyone else. Unfortunately for me, I've spent the last month on and off in sickness. Usually when I change climates I get ill for a week or two and then I'm over it. The change of season that I have not experienced in years has ultimately taken away the warmth and my immunity with it! Hopefully it has passed as this last week has been THE WORST. All the days in bed and well used delerium have got my head spinning with new ideas and a urge to get back into the studio and try a few things new and dust the shelves off the basics. Here's to a multivitamin and a dose of good luck! Thanks for sticking with me.

Country Shelter

"Country Shelter"

8x10

Oil on Raymar Panel

Click here to bid

Open Road

"Open Road"
9x12 Oil on Panel
Available

Open Road Enlargement of 6x8 Scenic Route

Open Road
9x12 oil on panel



This is an enlargement of a painting a did awhile ago called "Scenic Route." Opposite the smaller 6x8 version, this has less detail and more atmosphere. Although it's not complete I like the look now, and will try to keep it as light as possible.

A moment in time

"A Moment in Time"
11x14 Oil on Panel
SOLD

Close to.....

I believe it's "almost there." I'll let it sit for a day or two, probably make a few adjustments and then sign it. There is still no title for this and I've actually not even contemplated it yet. I suppose while it's sitting, waiting for judgement call I will have to come up with something! Until then, off to finish up the weekend and move into a new week of possibilities...

More for now, more to come

I'll take what I got out of the day, although I spent alot of it pushing and pulling edges, which seems tedious and in photo barely noticeable! Hopefully tomorrow or Sunday will bring a finish to this..as much fun as it is I am always anxious to start something new.

Continued Progress...

Quite a few hours put into this, and I am realizing more and more how many little subtleties there are....like in the shadows and most all of the transitions on the wall. I am working incredibly slow for some reason as well..hmm. There is alot of refining to do but overall it's heading in a direction I like.

Back to making (some) progress...

I havn't posted progress photos for awhile, so I thought to do it with this 11x14 started today. Unfortunately my schedule has changed and will change quite a bit again, but I'll still shoot for updates 2-3 times a week maybe more.

The photo I am working from is the interior of my apartment in Florida at the moment the sun starts reflecting off the lake and through the window. The quietest time of the day...

NY, State of Mind

NY, State of Mind
6x8 Oil on Raymar Panel
NFS

Max

"Max"
8x10 Oil on Raymar Panel
Available

Undercover

"Undercover"
8x10 Oil on Raymar Panel
Available

This is officially my 100th post today! (Although I have previously edited some posts, dropping me back in number) I'm so glad I got started on this blog though, and am so thankful for all the friends I've made along the way. It's been such a motivation to keep going, even on bad days, not that I EVER have a bad day....!!

I did this as a literal "warm up", as the temps are dropping here in Pennsylvannia. My tan is fading as well so I thought it fitting to pull out a beach photo from my recent vacation in Ocean City, Maryland and enjoy it as it was....

Sunset Farmhouse

"Sunset Farmhouse"
8x10 Oil on Raymar Panel
SOLD

Life is a Highway

"Life is a Highway"
6x6 Oil on Panel

I've been working on a sunset landscape that I posted a sneak peak of a few days ago, tomorrow I will post that, along with a better image of this little 6x6 I layed in tonight just for fun. On a side note I have had the worst time trying to figure out the best way to take photos of my paintings! Unless I get outside on a decent day thats not to colorful, I'm pretty much stuck with the mixed lighting situation in my basement studio. Maybe it's time for a refresher course in my photography skills, or maybe it's time to blame it on technology and invest in a camera made more recently. Either way, somethings gotta give.

Standing Strong

"Standing Strong"
6x6 Oil on Panel
SOLD

The Gathering

"Storm Field"
6x6 Oil on Panel.
SOLD

This was a quick warm up to get myself thinking before starting a new 8x10, which I'm including a small sneak peak of some of the work I did on it last night/this morning. I pulled the two photos as working the darks was relative. The light ratio is almost perfect, in my opinion. Some of my favorite paintings are on the darker side, and not speaking in tone just in contrast of light to shadow.



(Detail "Untitled", 8x10 oil on Raymar Panel)

The photo had very little to be edited about it, which is rare for me but I really like the as is look about it. As many cameras as I've ever carried, all the best snapshots have come from my 3.2 mp cell phone camera! It's more acurate with values and doesnt pick up that fuzzy grainy look when shooting towards a fiery sunset or midday shadows across a long range of sunlit fields. I've taken hundreds of photos now and am so excited to work from them. Although I've been enjoying the plein air style as of late, the winds (I'm guessing from Bill?)have been to much for my setup. Guess I picked a good time to move out of the South, although I happen to like watching Mother Nature...from a safe distance that is.

By the Breakers

(Detail)



"By the Breaker"
8x10 Oil on Raymar Panel
Available

Follow Me

"Follow Me"
5x7 Oil on Raymar Panel
Available

Swimming Hole

"Swimming Hole"
6x8Oil on Raymar Panel
Available

End of the Trail

"End of the Trail"
8x10 Oil on Raymar Panel
SOLD

Scenic Route

"Scenic Route"

6x8 Oil on Raymar Panel

SOLD

To make some room for new stuff I am getting rid of some older paintings at HUGE discounted prices!! Check them out here!

Detour

"Detour"

6X8 Oil on Raymar Panel

SOLD

This new practice of being out of the studio and far from any "extra" materials has really been a great experience for me. I could flood each post with problematic scenerios but at the end of the day it's all worth the effort.

Corner Field

"Corner Field"

6x8 Oil on Raymar panel

Available