How I Painted Abstract Using Valspar paint samples

This painting was fun and I used a non-typical approach to color choices. My thinking was based on the fact that "most" people who buy art are thinking about where they will put it in their home or office. Wall color, size, lighting, location, they all come to mind for the art admirer. In fact, I was recently at an art festival in Tampa and overheard a potential customer telling the artist they had just finished remodeling their home and the painting they liked matched the interior design and colors. 

So off to Lowe's I went and snatched up about 50 little paint chips and combo booklets. You'll see what I did with some of those in this video.

Abstract Painting- Kick it into gear

 Over the past several weeks I've been on a abstract kick. I've completed four paintings in two months. That's pretty good for me, as I usually only end up with about six to ten every year. I just lack daily motivation. But my brain has provided a couple of ideas lately so I opened up some acrylics and here are the results.

Most are available to watch the creative process on my YouTube channel @Paintings by Pintar

March Madness 24 x 48"

Black Scissors 9 x 12"

Parrots on Black 24 x 36"

Flamingo Flight 24 x 36"

Nocturne Oil Painting Demo with Michael Pintar

Images from the past

I came across a bunch of digital images from art that I've sold or given away over the years.

 Big Bend Plein Air- SOLD

 Red Sky at Night- SOLD

 Fall on the River- Oil

 Nala- RIP. A commission for my Uncle Tom

 Mid Summer- Pastel

 15 Minutes to Sundown- Oil (all palette knife)

 Bridge at Kettle Moraine Park- Oil

Winner- Downer Avenue Plein Air Event, 2007- Oil

139 and Counting

For some dumb reason I walked into a closet I have downstairs and wondered how many paintings I had in there. So I started counting. These are paintings/drawings I've completed over the last 12 years.

10 years is about the amount of time I got "back into" my art. During 2000 when I lived in Grand Rapids, MI I took a class on figure drawing. It was fun. Then I found a local arts group called Grand Valley Artists, GVA. This was more fun, and I met some very well known national artists; Jim Markel PSA, Larry Blovets, and a few more. It got me back into art, something I had given up during the previous 10 years as I pursued a career and got married.

So around the house I went. And in the end...not counting a drawer full of smaller canvases and my "paper" box of sketches and pastel works: 139 pieces. I was kind of shocked. I've also got, without going to my inventory list, another 40 pieces at galleries and two dentist offices.

139 and still counting. I need to have a show, even if it's my own private show just to look at how far I've come as an artist. Maybe I'll do that. Stay tuned.

Images from the Door County Paint Out

The two hour painting frenzy was only topped by how many sold via auction while the paint was still wet! Everybody was crowding around the tent but I managed to snap a few photos of my favorites.

From what I saw, every painting sold, with a minimum of $500 being bid up to $2000. It was quite impressive and gives us artists hope that people are still buying art. What a great event!

Plein Air on Father's Day

So my daughter Adrianne, mom and I went to Pewaukee Lake today. She agreed to paint with me. It was a beautiful summer day and lots of people were mingling around the downtown and beach area. Keeping it simple, I decided we should set up and just paint the lake area looking west. Here we are doing our thing, just me and my daughter. It was great...and I needed to get out and paint!

Original Acrylic Artwork- Sea Churn

This painting was inspired by my trip to Hawaii last year. I took several photos from the ship as we skimmed along the ocean. The foam along with the aquamarine color of the ocean was awesome. So I took a fragment of the water and created this painting.

16x20- Acrylic.