Michael Pieczonka Painting Blog

A couple of kids

2011-10-27T14:41:00.002-04:00

Here's a couple of 6x8 portrait sketches of a friend's kids, Leo and Layla. I tried this more as an experiment than anything else to see if I could infuse some life in a portrait using just photos as reference. It's not something I found easy at all, and I'm not sure about the results which I feel look overlaboured.. but here they are anyway!

Thornhill Paintout

2011-09-21T23:02:00.002-04:00

Had a great outing last Saturday at my first OPAS paintout in Thornhill. The event had about 20 artists competing in a plein air event with the finished products being voted on by the festival public. The event started at 10:00 AM sharp. Artists then had 3 hours find a spot, create and submit their art for voting. I had a somewhat mediocre attempt in the field, but tried to rework the finished product here at home. All in all it was a great day, and nice to finally a few more passionate plein air painters!

Summer's Coming

2011-05-25T18:57:00.007-04:00

An 8x10 experiment of some sort of backhoe CAT from this weekend at the Junction in Toronto.

Another 8x10 experiment from Leslie Spit, this time looking east towards Toronto Island.

Here is an 8x10 from Leslie Spit in Toronto. It was a hot one, but some great scenery down there!

A bit of a sketchy 6x8 from Adelaide and Spadina St.

A small 6x8 of an old slate roofed building.

More sketches

2011-02-06T22:34:00.024-05:00

An 8x10 of an overcast tugboat from the other day.

A bit of an overcast one of downtown Toronto skyline from the other day. 8x10 oil.

An 8x10 of a backhoe from this week.

An 8x10 still life of a copper kettle and some apples.

Another 8x10 of the tanker "Canadian Miner" from the other day.

An 8x10 of the tanker "Canadian Ranger".

A quick 6x8 of "Ruby", a Golden Retriever currently boarding with me! I plan to use this and a few photos to make a larger painting soon.

A work in progress of a Queens Quay from the other day. Most done on site, the rest at home. 8x16 oil.

Here's an 8x10 jobbie from today of my Martin D-18 knock off guitar. (ever waiting to be played!)

Here's two 2 hr 8x10 head sketches of the same model.

Fall

2010-10-18T17:40:00.003-04:00

This is a study of a lone rose that was just starting to bloom in my garden the other day. (yeah it's mid Oct!) I couldn't let it go to waste. 6x8 oil

summer

2010-07-13T18:38:00.004-04:00

Here is a painting of an old brick factory just off Bayview St. here in Toronto (Brick Works). This one 10x14 oil on board.

Spring!

2010-04-02T15:48:00.018-04:00

An 8x10 of few Albacores from St James Town Sailing Club at Cherry Beach, Toronto.

6x8 of the "Challenge" from Queens Quay West.

A waterfront fire boat from Queens Quay. 6x8.

An 8x10 of the "Challenge" from Queens Quay.

Some sort of large barn from earlier this week. 8x10

An 8x10 from yesterday of a nice farm near Stouffville, Ontario.

8x10 sketch from the other day. This a '69 ragtop Bug.

A 6x8 painting of one of those new fangled VW bugs.

An 8x10 of the "Crystal" on the north side of the ROM building in Toronto. A few touches added after.

An 8x10 sketch from today. Some sort of coach house in an alley.

Here's an 8x10 sketch of the CN Tower from the other day.

Fish & Chips

2010-01-20T23:54:00.011-05:00

An 8x10 sketch of an old victorian house.

Ah yes, forgot to post a pic of my new openM box knock off! I got the box at Curry's for $15 and did the rest at home.. saved over $200 I think! :D

Here's a bit of an experiment from the other day. Trying to go for more of an overall composition with a figure in it, something I can finish indoors. Plan to mess more with this one. 8x10 oil.

A quick 6x8 jobbie from the other day. One of the U of T buildings around the corner from me. This one just 3 colours.

Here's a painting of Harbord Fish & Chips near where I live. Finally tidied up some more of the details, and am going to stick with this. This 8x16 oil on board.

Akrose Island

2009-09-21T18:11:00.002-04:00

Here's a sketch from a recent fishing trip to Gowganda,Ontario. This done from a boat (hard to get the lines straight!). 8x10 Oil.

Summer

2009-06-17T18:25:00.008-04:00

Here is a sketch from High Park of Colbourne Lodge. 8x10 oil on masonite.

What can only be described as "Graffiti Truck". 6x8 oil jobbie from today.

An 8x10 of a bug with employing somewhat invented colour.

Always wanted to paint on of these way cool Vespas! This one 8x10 oil.

8x10 of The Playfair, a brigantine parked down at Queens Quay.

an 8x10 of some ripping sun and patio activity in Kensington Market.

6x8 done in Kensington Market.

April

2009-04-02T12:56:00.009-04:00

A 12x16 sketch of Captain John's Restaurant at Queen's Quay.

A 6x8 of an old College St. building.

An 8x10 of a broken "mini excavator".

An 8x10 of some trains by the Junction.

This is an 8x10 of an Edward VII Equestrian Statue in Queen's Park.

small 6x8 of a church on College.

March

2009-03-09T21:00:00.008-04:00

Very Happy to report my painting "Spring Ice Break-Up" (oil on linen 10x12) was accepted into The Art Gallery of Peel's 36th Annual Juried Show. Opening Reception and Awards go down April 8 from 8-10 at the Peel Heritage Complex in Brampton.

Portrait Sketches

2009-02-27T17:39:00.005-05:00

Here are a couple of portait sketches from the last couple of weeks. It's been a while since I have attempted these (2 hr sketch), and I'm glad my drawing skills haven't completely abandoned me!

Femi 6x8 oil on canvas.

Susan 10x12 oil on masonite.

January

2009-01-02T16:23:00.010-05:00

November

2008-11-05T11:57:00.005-05:00

A retouch of a store front in Kensington Market.

An overcast street scene from College St.

A quick sketch of the old train station (now LCBO) on Yonge St.

September

2008-09-12T14:58:00.008-04:00

A touch-up in studio of a PA of Harbord Variety.

Kilgour's Fish & Chips on Augusta Ave.

Queen's Quay fare.

A sketch from the rock garden in High Park.

One of many painting distractions encountered at the French River.

late aft looking east on Wolsley Bay on the French River.

small fishing boat at Wolsley Bay on the French River.

A cool old VW bug in for repairs just down the street from me. 6x8 oil/cb

Aug

2008-08-13T20:29:00.021-04:00

A barn just south of Elmvale from last weekend. 6x8 oil/cb.

"Chopin" restaurant on Roncesvalles. 6x8 oil/cb.

The Lettieri building at the corner of Spadina and Queens St. W basking in some late day sun. 6x8 oil/cb.

Another 6x8 PA of The "Pathfinder", a beautiful old boat parked down at Queens Quay.

6x8 "Garden Foods" corner store on Bloor St.

China Town 6x8 oil on canvas board.

Cherry Beach 6x8 oil on canvas board.

square ft show

2008-08-02T21:32:00.010-04:00

"205 Augusta Ave" 12x12 plein air oil on birch panel. Will be entered into Toronto's largest annual group show.. The AWOL Gallery's Square Foot Show. All pieces go for the rock bottom pricw of $200 bucks. Show goes down Aug 16 here... AWOL

2008-07-17T12:41:00.003-04:00

Linux Cafe 6x8 oil on canvas board.

Park Bench 6x8 oil on canvas board.

Midday scene from within a park.

2008-07-02T18:21:00.005-04:00

The "Sea Spell". 6x8 oil on canvas board.

Sharpening up on the car skills. 6x8 oil on canvas board.

A new tall ship from Queens Quay. 6x8 oil on canvas board.

this week

2008-06-14T14:08:00.017-04:00

A few pieces from this week

A Komatsu tractor around the corner from where I live. 6x8 oil on canvas board.

A street scene from Bloor St. 6x8 oil on canvas board.

Another view of the "F. Mack" from Queeens Quay.

F Mack 2 - 6x8 oil on canvas board. $150

thurs and a sketch

2008-06-09T19:57:00.007-04:00

A figurative painting from a Thurs session and a small PA from High Park.

harbour tugs

2008-06-03T22:54:00.040-04:00

A PA of the "Ned Hanlon II" (Toronto Police harbour tug), and another work boat.. the "F.Mack".

The "F. Mack" - 6x8 oil on canvas board. $125

The "Ned Hanlon II" - 6x8 oil on canvas board. $125

queens quay

2008-05-21T14:46:00.019-04:00

A few paintings of the "Empire Sandy" and the "Pajama", two tall ships parked at Queens Quay here in downtown Toronto.

The Pajama

The Empire Sandy

copies

2008-05-08T16:40:00.002-04:00

A copy of a Kevin McPherson landscape and a copy of a Calvin Liang marine painting. Trying to learn their shorthand.

Good week

2008-04-25T14:03:00.010-04:00

Two from this week, and one from last month that I reworked a bit.

Also this week, I've entered the piece below to The Art Gallery of Peel’s Annual Juried Show. Juried results revealed Wed April 30 at 8 pm!

odds and ends

2008-04-14T12:43:00.002-04:00

A few PA 6x8 odds and ends from the last couple of weeks.

Three from this week

2008-03-30T20:07:00.002-04:00

A 6x8 of a Mini Cooper down near College St.

A 6x8 of a Tractor by harbourfront from Sunday.

A quickie of some late aft sun hitting a building on Dupont.

The Revival

2008-03-19T17:00:00.001-04:00

The Revival building on College St.

a couple from last week

2008-03-13T14:08:00.003-04:00

A couple od 6x8s of some of the some of the last days of winter.

A quick head study from life.

jeep country

2008-03-03T21:56:00.003-05:00

A small 6x8 from today of a Jeep YJ and some melting snowbanks (yay!). This one prob 2 hrs.

portrait sketches

2008-01-28T19:21:00.000-05:00

Here are a few portrait sketches from the last cuppa weeks yo! Two lifesketches from a Thurs session, and a J.S.Sargent copy to keep da chops up. Each around 2 hours.

2008-01-16T19:30:00.000-05:00

5x7 study of a David Curtis painting.

church sketch

2007-11-01T15:50:00.000-04:00

A 6x8 PA of a local church.

Medieval Times and others

2007-10-07T01:44:00.000-04:00

A 5x7 PA sketch.

A 5x7 PA sketch.

A 12x6 PA of the "Medieval Times" building at the C.N.E.

An 8x10 copy experiment of a Richard Scmid PA. Trying to get that overcast light feeling.

A 6x8 from around the corner. Tree = OK, mailbox = not so OK.

A 1hr 6x8 PA of some corner store. Had some interesting light effects that day. I think the light side of the building is ok, but the side in shadow is a little bit soft (oh well...can only get so much done in 1hr :D ) I'll prob rework this at home.

harbour PA

2007-09-21T21:53:00.000-04:00

A 12x16 PA from Toronto harbour.

under my Umbr... ella... ella... ella... ella

2007-09-13T16:56:00.000-04:00

A 5x7 PA of of some umbrella eye candy in da 'hood.

Boulevard Cafe

2007-09-08T15:26:00.000-04:00

A 5x7 PA of of the Boulevard Cafe on Harbord St. This one prob 2 hr.

beach

2007-09-03T18:05:00.000-04:00

A 6x12 PA of done of the beach from last weekend. PA people marks a milestone for me! (They weren't moving very fast). This prob 2 hrs.

two from this week

2007-08-31T15:25:00.000-04:00

A 5x7 PA of a local Variety Store.

A 12x14 PA attempt of a nearby church. I prob spent as much time mucking around in the studio as I did on site with this one.

Elmvale barn

2007-08-09T17:46:00.000-04:00

A 5x7 PA of a barn near Elmvale Ontario.

waiting....

2007-08-01T15:24:00.000-04:00

Another 8x10 PA of some parked sailboats done down at the Toronto Sailing Club.

street work

2007-07-30T13:02:00.000-04:00

An 5x7 PA of some type of forklift/tractor hanging around a nearby street. This prob 1 hr.

dundas escarpment

2007-07-29T14:41:00.000-04:00

An 8x10 PA from this Sat of some of the Dundas countryside.

toronto sailing club

2007-07-20T14:45:00.000-04:00

An 8x10 PA from this week done down at the Toronto Sailing Club. These are a few parked Albacores they use for teaching kids to sail.

Two from the weekend

2007-07-03T21:47:00.000-04:00

A 6x9 sketch of Wymbolwood Beach.. near Midland, Ontario from Saturday.

A small 1hr jobbie of a couple of interesting barns off the highway from Sunday. 6x8

High Park

2007-06-29T10:53:00.000-04:00

A PA sketch from High Park.

Ashbridge's Bay

2007-06-17T11:52:00.000-04:00

A PA from the marina down at Ashbridge's Bay.

Todmorden Mills

2007-05-28T19:19:00.000-04:00

A PA of an old train station located in Todmorden Mills.

2007-05-07T19:01:00.000-04:00

Sat sketches

2007-04-22T20:51:00.000-04:00

A few 2 hr sketches from Sat.

sketches

2007-04-12T18:06:00.001-04:00

A few PAs from this week.

TaktoR

2007-03-29T17:20:00.000-04:00

A PA sketch of a Tractor.

Variety

2007-03-23T18:01:00.000-04:00

A PA sketch of a corner Variety Store.

Hare Hare

2007-03-22T16:02:00.000-04:00

A PA sketch of "The Church of Hare Krishna" on Avenue Rd (I never thought the guys at the airports collected!).

Train Station

2007-03-20T18:03:00.000-04:00

A PA of a local train station that has been converted to a commercial building. 8x10

last of winter

2007-03-19T12:07:00.000-04:00

A couple of sketches from the some recent dreary winter days. Both 6x8, 3 col.

last of the snow

2007-03-12T23:47:00.000-04:00

A PA from Sunday of a shimmering local tree that would not give up it's leaves.

A colour sketch of a David Curtis beach scene using a three colour palette. I find doing copies like this great for helping to think form and colour.

bright and cold

2007-03-06T20:42:00.000-05:00

Here's a PA from a cold day on UofT campus.

PA > studio

2007-02-28T16:43:00.000-05:00

This is a studio piece done from a recent PA.

cold day

2007-02-18T20:20:00.000-05:00

A sketch of some downtown Toronto Vic houses.

creek

2007-02-15T16:34:00.000-05:00

A sketch of a local creek.

Finally..... some snow!

2007-01-23T14:09:00.000-05:00

It was a freak of nature the other day when a few inches of snow accumulated at the nearby park. Who would have thought.. snow in Jan? This one 6x8 prob around 2 hr.

convocation hall

2007-01-09T13:47:00.001-05:00

I went out Sunday and pulled off this quick sketch of the convocation hall at UofT.

A street scene sketch from before the holidays.. testing out a 3 colour palette.

kirche

2007-01-02T15:49:00.000-05:00

An interesting church from downtown TO.

more rain....

2006-12-26T15:57:00.000-05:00

Here is a sketch from a dreary day a few weeks ago.

Also an interesting house in 'da hood. A little on the "Kinkadish" side maybe.

smore sketches

2006-12-04T22:24:00.000-05:00

a week of PAs

2006-11-14T17:39:00.000-05:00

2006-10-30T17:13:00.000-05:00

cool afternoon

2006-10-25T14:01:00.000-04:00

A cool afternoon near Toronto Island.

fall

2006-10-22T22:44:00.000-04:00

A couple of PAs from this week.

mid day

2006-10-15T21:43:00.000-04:00

A couple of PAs from Sun.

the Algobay

2006-08-28T18:42:00.000-04:00

A PA sketch of the tanker "Algobay".. captured under hazy and overcast light.

UofT

2006-08-23T21:44:00.000-04:00

A PA sketch of a building on UofT campus.

toronto island

2006-08-18T12:37:00.000-04:00

A PA sketch of a few sailboats cruising near Toronto Island enjoying the fleeting days of summer.

Sun day

2006-08-14T20:13:00.000-04:00

Sun was a great day.. managed get out and do an 8 x 10 PA of a farm near Perkinsfield, Ont.

birch tree

2006-08-08T18:06:00.000-04:00

An 8 x 10 PA of a birch from a local park.

marshy

2006-08-05T15:53:00.000-04:00

A small studio sketch of the Holland Marsh from this week.

dune

2006-07-31T20:25:00.000-04:00

A painting of some sand dunes done this Sun near Georgian Bay.

wipeout!!!

2006-07-26T14:34:00.000-04:00

Found this the other day and just thought I'd throw it up here. This is a 5 hr sketch from life using limited palette. Now that I look at it again.. I think it needs a surfboard in the BG.

da Blue Mountain

2006-07-19T19:41:00.000-04:00

Was out this Sun and managed to pull out this PA of a few fields near Perkinsfield Ont that dipped near the horizon to reveal Blue Mountain way off.