The "Ike" Sun Flowers

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2008

"Sun Flower Bud"

Colored Pencil Drawing 11" by 14" 80lb paper

A colored pencil study of the sun flower bud .

Sun Flower Pencil Study

Copyright S. Ciaccio December .2008

"Sun Flower Bud"

Pencil Drawing on 80lb paper 11" by 14"

When hurricane Ike hit I had bird seed stored outside in a storage container. The container was turned over and bird seed was spread all over the back yard. The sunflowers started to sprout soon after. I made several studies of these "Ike" sun flowers.

Must Have Coffee ( Water Color)

Copyright S. Ciaccio December .2008

"Must have Coffee"

Water Color on 140lb. cold press paper 11" by 15"

A water color study of coffee grinder, and French Press. I finished this in November but I am just getting around to posting my work. I have a lot to learn on how to paint glass and the copper of the French press was also an interesting problem. I have a lot of study and work ahead of me in learning how to illustrate different textures.

Colored Pencil Study

Copyright S. Ciaccio Nov.2008

"Must Have Coffee "

Colored Pencil Nov 2008 14" by 17"

I find that I like to work on the design with pencils first, then complete a color study with colored pencil before I start to paint. The layering of color with the colored pencils was fun

Storage Shed

Copyright S. Ciaccio 2008

"Storage Shed"

Watercolor 11"by 15" on 140lb cold press paper October 2008

Completed this in October 2008, I had started it in September but Hurricane Ike slowed my work down. I am learning or relearning how to work with water color. I am not happy with the trees and realize I need to complete some studies of trees.

Must Have Coffee

Copyright 2008 S. Ciaccio

Must Have Coffee Pencil Drawing 10/2008 11' BY 14"80lb paper

This is a pencil drawing of a toy coffee grinder my great Aunt had when I was small. I remember playing with it and grinding up soda crackers. I included a copper french press and one of my favorite coffee cups.

Cabin Drawing

A detailed drawing of the storage shed. Pencils 11" by 14" 80lb. paper. October 8th 2008. The seat in front is a chair made from an old milk can with an antique tractor seat welded on top.

Copyright S. Ciaccio 2008

More detailed work.

A color study of the storage shed. Colored Pencil 14" X 17" on 60lb. paper. September 2008
Colored pencils are intersting to work with. I enjoyed the layering of colors to produce the cobble stones and the shaded areas.

Copyright 2008 S. Ciaccio

First drawings.

The first planning drawings were done in September 2008. This is a pencil detail of the small storage shed. Measures 8" X 10" on 80lb. drawing paper.

Copyright 2008 S. Ciaccio

Detailed drawing of the cabin window. 8" by 10" 80lb. drawing paper

Copyright 2008 S. Ciaccio

Detailed drawing of the cabin window. 8 "by 10" 80lb drawing paper.

Cabin study

I took pictures of the cabin, and some on-site sketches. The cabin site includes a small storage shed that uses the same red cobble stones and green trim as the main cabin.







A detail photo of the cobble stones

Back to Art

Here I am restarting, after 20 years in education, a new career with creating art. For now I think I will start with pencils and water colors. I will post my attempts here. Lets see how I progress.

I will start with pictures of a cabin in Nebraska on the Platte river. The color of the bricks, the cottonwood trees that surround it have always made it an image that sticks in my mind, so I have attempted to draw and paint it.