My New Blog for (Very) Small Works

I'm pleased to announce my new blog, Mini Fine Art by Mark D. Johnson, which will feature my new small works - original oil paintings on gessoed business cards, mounted on flat magnets. It may be a novelty or gimmick, but to me, they're just fun! These are available for sale at just $35.

Summer Shade

Summer Shade, Oil on Canvas, 16x28

Fleeting Sunlight

Another one from Idaho, north of Sun Valley. Cooler grays this time.

Fleeting Sunlight, oil on panel, 8x10

Sun Before Snow

A small studio piece from a trip to Idaho last March.

Sun Before Snow, oil on panel, 8x10

South Street Shops

Another one from class. I wish the brushwork were looser, but that's almost always the case for me. The scene is from South Street Seaport in New York City.  (Note: I think there's some camera distortion in this photo.)

South Street Shops, oil on canvas, 20x16

Detail

Cardinal in Snow

I hear some parts of the country are getting snow already. We generally only have a few small snowfalls a year here in central Virginia. We had a rare good one last March, and the roads were good enough to go out to take some pictures, from which I painted this scene.

Cardinal in Snow, oil on panel, 8x10

Irises

This is something a little different for me. I don't do flowers too often, but I've never done this kind of abstracted background before. I painted this over a older painting I didn't care for, and the underlying brushstrokes give it an interesting texture. It's not likely to become my typical style, but it did generate several compliments at the recent Lynchburg Art Festival. Fun fact: it's also the first time I've signed a painting at the top.

Irises, Oil on Panel, 14x11

Prior to the painting, I actually made a digital study using ArtRage (and a Wacom tablet), which is a fun and quick way to work out some ideas.

Irises (Digital Study)

Oakwood Path (Sold)

This is another piece done for the class I'm taking. The scene is from the now-defunct Oakwood Country Club golf course in Lynchburg, soon to be converted into a luxury home development. The brushwork here isn't as loose as I was hoping to achieve, but I could say that about all of my paintings.

Oakwood Path, Oil on Panel, 16x20, Sold

Summer Fog

Here's one I did a few weeks ago in the landscape class I'm taking. The assignment was to paint something with hills and trees, and I was in the mood for something with lots of atmosphere. I'd taken some photos in a rare fog back in July at a park near my house. The instructor really liked it and suggested I could still soften some edges on the farthest line of trees, and I agree.

I'm terrible at coming up with good titles for my paintings, and this is another boring title. If anyone wants to suggest another one, please post it in the comments!

Summer Fog, Oil on Panel, 16x20

Lake Cayuga Shore (Sold)

Here's a plein air I did over Labor Day Weekend near Ithaca, New York from the dock of the house we stayed at. You can see the top of Cornell University's McGraw Tower on the left between the trees.

Lake Cayuga Shore, Oil on Panel, 8x10

My nephew took a cool snapshot:

Photo: Andy Locascio