Water Color Nectarine

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Nectarine" Water Color

9" by 11" 100lb. paper

This is my water color study of the nectarine still life. I was fairly pleased with the result. I was happy with the terry cloth dish towel in the back ground. The colored pencil study was over worked i think but I stopped in time with the water color.

Colored Pencil Nectarine

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

:Nectarine" Colored Pencil

9" by 11" 100 Lb paper

My study of the nectarine still life in colored pencil. This was the first time I tried to depict cloth with colored pencils. I was fairly pleased with the results. I need to work on how to depict folds and shadows in materiel.

Pen and Ink Nectarine

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Nectarine" Pen and Ink

9"12" 100 Lb. paper

My study of the nectarine still life in pen and ink. A nectarine has a mottled skin, it is not fuzzy like a peach and it is not shiny like an apple or pear. Just like with the pencil the pit and the hole were the pit was were the most challenging.

Nectarine Pencil sketch

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Nectarine" Pencil Drawing

9" by 11" 100 lb. paper

My study of a cut nectarine. I found depicting the pit was more difficult that I had imagined. Working on the texture of the dish towel in the background was fun. Even using Adobe it is hard to get the pencil drawing to get rid of that reddish orange cast so having a true picture of the work is complicated.

Water color Garlic

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Garlic clove" Water color

7'' by 9" 100 lb. paper

My water color study of a clove of garlic. Once again I chose a smaller paper for this garlic study. Looking at it makes me want to make a pot of sauce.

Garlic Clove Colored pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Garlic" Colored Pencil

5" by 7" 250 GSM paper

My study of a garlic clove in colored pencil. The smaller size of this series made it quicker to finish. I am very behind on the blog and will try and get more current.

Garlic Pen and Ink

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Garlic" Pen and Ink

5"by 7" 100lb paper

My pen and Ink study or a garlic bulb. the papery skin of a garlic bulb was hard to represent with pen and ink. I think I did a better job of it with the other media I used. I do like how the pen and ink forces you to depict things with a line.

Garlic Study

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Garlic" Pencil drawing

5" by 7" 100lb paper

This is my pencil study of garlic. I worked on a much smaller scale with this study. I was able to finish the study much quicker because of the size. I was able to complete the 4 different media studies very close to each other because of it. There is nothing like the smell of cooking garlic to get me hungry.

Wine with Friends

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Wine with Friends" Water Color

11" by 15" 140lb paper

My water color study of a wine bottle and a wine glass . Painting the green wine bottle with red wine in it was a challenge for me. I will have to do more studies of glass objects to improve my skills. any time I try a new surface depiction I find how much I have to learn.

Wine Bottle Colored Pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Wine with Friends" Colored Pencil

9" by 12" 100 lb paper

This is my colored pencil study of a wine bottle still life using colored pencil. I felt fairly good about this first attempt at a glass bottle an wine glass with colored pencil, I still have a lot of techniques to learn but at least it is recognizable as a bottle of wine.

Wine bottle Pen Ink

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Wine with Friends" Pen and Ink

9" by 11" 100lb paper

My pen and ink study of wine bottle , wine glass and wine opener. Went with more of a line effect on this study and now I am wondering if it would have been better with a pointillism effect. I may do a second study on this and then compare the two drawings.

Glass of Wine

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Wine with Friends" Pencil Drawing

9" by 11" 100 lb. paper

My pencil study of a wine bottle and glass of wine. This study presented me with the task of representing glass with liquid inside and the shinny metal cork screw. It was very challenging but fun., and the fact I had to drink the still life later made it more so.

Red Bell Pepper Colored Pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Bell Pepper" Colored Pencil

9" by 12" 100 lb.Paper

This is my colored pencil drawing of the red bell pepper still life. When I first started using colored pencil I was using them more to plan colored for a water color of the same subject but them have become much more then that now. I fell lie they stand on the own now.

Red Pepper Pen And Ink

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Red Bell Pepper" Pen and Ink

9" by 12" 100lb. paper

This is my pen and ink study of a red bell pepper still life. I am finding my work with pen and ink the most interesting. Since ink is always the same value you have to learn how to get contrast with using line direction and placement. Each media presents it's own problems and elements to learn how to control each study has taught me something.

Red Bell Pepper Drawing

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Red Bell Pepper" Pencil Drawing

9" by 12" 100 lb. Paper

A still life study of a red bell pepper. I was interested in showing how the seeds look inside a pepper and how different the texture is form the outside of the pepper to the inside of the pepper.

Tomato Water Color

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Tomato" Water Color

11" by 15" 140lbs.

My watercolor of the tomato still life. I have not posted as regularly as I would like. I have been working but also some travel so that has slowed me down, plus I was cutting mats for my other work. I will try and do better.

Tomato Colored Pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Tomato" Colored Pencil

9" by 12" 100 lb. paper

This is my colored pencil study of the tomato still life. I used the orderless mineral spirits and the colorless blender with this study. Who knew that colored pencils were so much fun, way past coloring maps in social studies.

Tomato Pen and Ink

Copyright by S. Ciaccio

"Tomato" Pen Ink

9" by 12 " 100lb Paper

This is my pen and ink study of the tomato still life. BLT anyone? I found cutting the tomato open and drawing the a interesting challenge. The different textures were fun to try and depict with the various media I used.

Tomato Drawing

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Tomato" Pencil Drawing

9" by 12" 100lb. paper

This is my drawing of a tomato still life. I am fairly happy with this piece. I feel like my drawing ablity has increased with these studies, I am glad I am learning something. Slow but sure.

Bing Cherry Water color

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

" Bing Cherry" watercolor

11" by 15"

My water color study of Bing cherry still life. This is the 4Th in the Bing cherry series, I am fairly happy with the results. I am still trying to figure out how to illustrate highlights on textures like a Bing cherry skin.

Pen and Ink Bing Cherries

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Bing Cherries" Pen and Ink

9" by 12" 100 lb paper

My pen and ink study of a Bing cherry still life. I found depicting the texture of Bing cherries a challenge. I decided the a pointillism approach was better then crosshatching. I may have to go back and redo some of these pen and ink still life's and try a line approach with cross hatching instead of the dotting approach of pointillism.

Bing Cherries

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Bing Cherries" Pencil Drawing

9" by 12" 100lb paper

My attempt at a still life with Bing cherries. I love Bing cherries, I wait for them every year, of course you can get them year round now if you want to pay an arm and a leg.

Apple Water Color

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Apple" Water Color

!!" by 15" 140 lb paper

My water color study of the apple still life. I used some of the knowledge I gained with the colored pencil exercises to help with the color on this piece. I was happy with the results. My problem is the photography . the green frame around the apple is not crooked in real life the photo makes it look lopsided. something about the way I have the camera set is creating this optic effect. A mystery that needs to be solved.

Apple Colored Pencil

Copyright by S Ciaccio 2009

"Apple" Colored Pencil

9" by 12" 100 lb paper

I used the techniques from colored pencil panting bible for this study. It has been a excellent reference and practice source. Learning how to layer the colored pencils has really helped me with not only colored pencil but with water colors. I am pleased with the results here. I plan on seeking some expert advice on photographing art work soon.

Apple Pen and Ink

Copyright by S. Caiccio 2009

"Apple" Pen and Ink Drawing

9" x12" 100lb. paper

This is my pen and ink study of an apple still life. I notice that my pen and ink work has a different quality from the other three studies i do. the pencil, colored pencil and water color are more concerned with realism, while the pen and ink tends to be more stylistic. I am not sure why, it seems to me something that the media I chose dictates.

Apple Drawing

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Apple" Pencil Drawing

9" by 12 " 100lb. paper

I continue my study of supposed "simple" still life with a study of an apple. You can get lost in the details of the apple skin. I am trying to learn how to render the highlights on the apple.

Water Color Pear

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Pear" Water Color

My watercolor version of the pear still life. I was pleased with the coloring of the pear but not the beads of water. Need to work on that , some times you learn more from your mistakes then your successes. Planning on finding some water color workshops to go to so I can increase my technical skill.

Pear colored Pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Pear" Colored Pencil

9" by 12" 100 Lb paper

I use the "Colored Pencil Painting Bible" by Alyona Nickeson, for these exercises. I was pleased with the results. The color layering in these exercises is a very good way to review color theory. Remembering that you should go back to the primary colors to create various colors you see. I find it helps to remember breaking down the complex to the simple parts.

Pen and Ink Pear

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Pear" Pen and Ink drawing

9" by 12" 100lb paper

The pear still life in pen and ink. I really struggled with the water drops on this one. I need to keep working at it. I start with a pencil drawing first to work on size and values, second I usually work on a pen and ink. Pen and Ink is unforgiving, no correcting mistakes or do overs. You can not erase ink.

Pear

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Pear" Pencil Drawing

9" by 12" 100lb. paper

I started thinking about going back to basics. I set up a very simple still life. I wanted to concentrate on simple shapes. I wanted to really practice basic skills with various media. What you find when you do this is how complicated this can be. Once you really concentrate on one object and try to capture it's form, texture and color you find out what a learning exercise this is.

Petunia Water Color

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Petunia" Watercolor

11" by 15" 140lb cold press paper

The last of this petunia series, the poor petunias have been finished by the Texas heat. Hanging baskets quickly dry up in July and August down here. I would like to work a little more realistically. Time to search for some workshops either to go to get some video demonstrations.

Maple leaf Colored Pencil

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Maple Leaf" Colored Pencil

This is the second drawing I have used mineral spirits. I plan on practicing more and more with this technique. I need to find some heavier weight paper, then I used on this piece.

Colored Pencil Petunias

Copyright by S. Ciaccio July 2009

"Petunia Basket" Colored Pencil
11" by 14" 80 lb paper

I used a different technique with this drawing. I have been reading "Colored Pencil Painting Bible" by Alyona Nickelsen. She suggests using a solvent to mix the layers of colored pencil together. This was my first attempt at using a solvent . It really helps blend the various layers of colors together. I plan to practice this technique more.

Pen and Ink Petunia

Copyright by S. Ciaccio June 2009

"Petunia Basket" Pen and Ink Drawing

11"by 14" 80 lb paper

Pen and In k drawing of the petunia basket in my back yard.

Back yard Petunia

Copyright by S. Ciaccio June 2009

"Backyard Petunia" Pencil Drawing

11" by 14" 80 lb paper

Drawing of a petunia basket i have hanging in the back yard from my china berry tree. They were really beautiful this spring but now Texas is in a major heat wave and the petunia's are getting leggy and. the heat is really effecting all my plants now.

Bird House Water Color

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Is Anybody Home?"

watercolor

11" by 14" 100lb. paper

A watercolor painting of a birdhouse on a cotton wood tree. The birdhouse is a wren house with a very small entry hole for the birds. When you get up close and look in you can see it has been stuffed with nesting material over the years. You wonder how many generations of wrens have been raised there.

Bird House Colored Pencil Drawing

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Is Any Body Home?" Colored Pencil Drawing

11" by 14" 80 lb. paper

My colored pencil drawing of the bird house on a cottonwood tree in Nebraska. this drawing is from a sketch I did April. The only green that was showing was the moss on the side of the tree. I really like to do these images in sets of four, using different media on each rendering. They are the same yet not the same. I am trying to decide if they should be displayed as a set of 4 drawings and painting or viewed individually.

Pen and Ink Bird House

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Is Anybody Home?" Pen and Ink Drawing

11" by 14" 80 lb. paper

I have been working on my art, I just have not been posting as I should. I finished the backyard fence repair from Hurricane Ike just in time for the next hurricane season. The heat is on in Texas so going outside for journal drawing has had it draw backs. I have not kept up that habit as I should.

Two Journal Sketches

Copyrght by S. Ciaccio 2009

Petunia Sketch

Copyright by S. Ciaccio

Hibiscus Sketch

These are are two journal sketches I worked on this week. As I promised myself I tried to get out more and work on some quick sketches. Playing with the water color, in an an effort to have fun with my art wok instead of being concerned about how it will look.

Cactus Water Color Sketch

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Cactus Water Color Sketch"

I took my water colors outside and painted the same cactus. I enjoyed the process. I promise myself that I will make time to do this more often. I found myself thinking back to my water color classes in college, most of the time my work resembled the bottom of the Platte River, nice brown muddy water. It wasn't till the last 3 weeks I finally discovered not to overwork or over think my work. Just go out and play with it!

Sketching

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Cactus sketch"

I am trying to get in the habit of sketching more. I am finding it hard to get back into to practice of just drawing for the fun of it. Sometimes the fear of "creating" something profound gets in the way of just going out and drawing. I get too wrapped up in making "ART" and forget just to have fun with it. We need to paint like children when all we wanted was to have something to put on the refrigerator door, stop worrying about a larger audience .

Bird House Pencil Drawing

Copyright by S Ciaccio 2009

"Is Anybody home" pencil drawing

A drawing of a bird house on a large old cotton wood tree in Nebraska. Cotton wood trees have a very rough bark, that is very intesting It was April so the trees did not have leaves yet.

Sketch done in Nebraska

Copyright @ S Ciaccio 2009

Sketch of Bird house done on visit to Nebraska. April 2009

My Lucky Dog

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

My Lucky Dog"

My Pencil Drawing 11" by 14" 80lb paper

A drawing of my son with Lucky. Lucky was a golden retriever an excellent dog for a young boy. Lucky played a great game of baseball. My son would spend his summers with Lucky on the farm in Nebraska. They had a great time. Probably not my best drawing but its from a photo I have always loved of the two.

Hill Vew

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"View from the Hill"
water color

This is the last of the pictures I wanted to post of my old work. It of the farm from the hill north of it. What you see is the great Platte Valley. The Oregon Trail went throught this Valley going west. My family homestead this farm .

Farm landscape

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Moss Roses and Wind Mill"

Water Color

This is a view from the the farm house to the east. In front are some moss roses. In the middle grown is the edge of an old wind mill, a corn crib and a small granary. I painted these pictures of the farm I grew up on several years ago.

The Lane Home

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Country Lane"

Water color

This is the 1/2 mile lane to the farm I grew up on. I painted this several years ago. The corn is just starting to tassel on the side of the road. You can see the house and the farm buildings off in the distance.

Nebraska Wood Shed

Copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Wood Shed"

water color

I painted this a long time ago. It is a painting of the wood shed on the farm I grew up on. It is a spring day in Nebraska. You can see the chicken house in the back ground. The big saw we used to cut logs on the right side.

Maple Leaf Water Color

copyright by S. Ciaccio 2009

"Maple Leaf"

Water Color 12" by 16" 140 lb. paper

This is the first time I used a salt technique with water color. I enjoyed the process but I am sure you have to be careful not to over do it. As a potter I used salt in the kiln and it produces a orange peel look on glaze. Learned a lot on this piece.