Today we will look at a few new art pieces that I created recently. For the most part they were created while experimenting with texture and other elements in mind.
Neon Cheke – Modeled & Rendered by Don Cheke
I am an occasional participant in the Rebelle user painting forum, but mostly I check it out to see what people are asking about. Since the release of version 8, there has been more than the usual number of discussions. One of the topics was about creating fluorescent paint, like one might see in neon signage, or other such things. Thinking that this was something worth thinking about I decided to give it a try. Technically, it is not that hard to achieve, since it’s just a color selection for the most part, and then adding a bit of a glow, and a drop shadow of sorts if desired. Because I wanted my Cheke neon to look more like a neon sign, I decided to model the neon tubing in TurboCAD and rendered it in KeyShot. Doing so made the tube more realistic with highlights and a tube-like look.
Neon Cheke – Modeled & Rendered by Don Cheke
Once the tube was complete, I brought the 3D rendered text into Rebelle and placed it over a dark textured background I had created for this occasion. I like the look and hope that you do too.
It is kind of fun trying to achieve lighting effects when one is painting, or 3D modeling and rendering, or even taking photos.
Below is an Esso sign that I created at one time while trying to achieve a night-time luminescent look. I was, and still am, pleased with the results.
Esso Sign – Modeled & Rendered by Don Cheke
Below is a photo I took the other day when I woke before dawn and noticed the fog-diffused glow of the streetlight outside my bedroom window. Yes, I am on the 4th floor of an apartment building. I’ve always enjoyed the ethereal look that such images offer as they evoke solitude and quiet wonder. In my opinion, the fog acts like a veil, transforming ordinary light into something transcendent. For a moment, when I first noticed the outside scene, I had thoughts of the famous Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks painting of the nighttime lit dinner. Having just looked up the painting, I see it is not the same, lighting/scene-wise, but it offered a similar feeling.
Fog Diffused Street Light – Photo by Don Cheke
After creating the neon sign, I decided to play a bit with the three colors that, in my mind, are typical neon colors.
Neon Texture – Created by Don Cheke
Using the same background that I used for Neon Cheke, I applied the three neon colors with my favorite brush. Once laid down, I blended the meeting edges with a scattering brush. I thought about adding something more to the image, but everything I tried just distracted from the textured look that I like so much in this piece.
It is interesting to note that I tried to recreate this image anew, to try other patterns, but I could never get something that showed as well. That made me think how art is like that – it seems to have a mind of its own, and once it is laid down, it cannot be repeated – it has said all that it needs to say. Does that make sense? Strangely, it does to me.
The next two pieces started as experiments with color and texture – moving away from neon as you can see.
Release of the Spirit Texture – Created by Don Cheke
I started this piece by laying down about six horizontal strips of paint. I started with a dark band at the bottom, moving up to some earth tones in the middle, and a daytime sky tone on top. I blended in a photo of a stone wall I had taken at one time and used the blend modes to find a look that popped. To add to the painting, I added a photo of my Release of the Spirit wire sculpture and used a blend mode on it as well. Because the background of the wire sculpture photo was charcoal gray, it darkened the overall look and made the colors pop even more.
Creation Texture – Created by Don Cheke
While experimenting with different wire sculptures, I found that my Creation wire sculpture also worked well. Even with the same charcoal background and blend mode, the results seemed a bit lighter, but just as pleasing, in my opinion. I decided that I could show both as separate pieces. Do you have a favorite?
Abstract 102025 started as a patchwork of flat painted rectangular shapes that was inspired by a rug-like image I had seen while surfing the net one day.
Abstract 102025 – Created by Don Cheke
Once the colors were laid down, I used a smugger to drag and blend the colors along the meeting edges and beyond. I added the circles for a bit of something more and then added a rough texture. I then used a blend mode on the texture layer to make the colors more vivid. Again, I tried to add additional elements but they failed to enhance the piece, so I stepped back to what you see here. I like how this piece works color-wise and draws the viewer in.
This concludes my 90th blog post. I never imagined when I started the blog that it would provide such a long-lasting adventure. I guess as long as I continue to make art, and to think about life, I will continue to produce the blog. Special thanks to those who have taken time to let me know that they follow along – that is always encouraging!
Donald B. Cheke – Saskatoon, SK
Congrats on 90! More very nice art work..
Thanks Michael!