extras...

Sketchbook pages (pocket size) with thumbnails for #28 & #42.

#53 - 36th & Nicollet (#1)

#53 - 36th & Nicollet (#1)
30"x40" oil on canvas, 8-26-2014

 This is the largest of the alley paintings so far.
A gouache sketch was the main reference.

#52 - 2nd Ave. North, East of 4th St. North

#52 - 2nd Ave. North, East of 4th St. North
9" x 12" oil on panel  08-14-2014  (sold)

#51 - Lake St. near Hennepin Ave. S.

#51 - Lake St. near Hennepin Ave. S. (looking North)
9" x 12" oil on panel 08-10-2014

I used to spend more time in the Uptown area of Mpls.
It's changed so much since then. There are still a few old bits left
here and there, but you get the feeling that even those aren't going
to be there long.

#50 - 3rd Ave. North near Washington

 

#50 - 3rd Ave. North near Washington 

8" x 10" oil on panel, 08-07-2014

#49 - West 43rd St. & Garfield Ave. S.

#49 - West 43rd St. & Garfield Ave. S. (looking South)
8" x 10" oil on Panel  08-04-2014
(sold)

The crooked little garage at the end of this alley was irresistible.

#48 - 35th & Lyndale Ave. S. (looking North)

#48 - 35th & Lyndale Ave. S., looking North
Oil on panel, 07-10-2014  - (sold)

This one is directly across the street from the last post (#47).
I couldn't decide which to paint, so I did both.

#47 - 35th & Lyndale Ave. S. (looking South)

47 - 35th & Lyndale Ave. S. (West side - looking South)
 8x10, oil on panel, 07-08-2014  (sold)

The old stomping ground.  I shared the house next to the green and white one with
friends (and band mates at the time) and walked past this alley every day for a couple years.

#46 - 2nd Ave. S. between 5th and 6th St.

#46 - 2nd Ave. S. between 5th and 6th St.
24" x 36" oil on canvas.

#45 - Lake Near Lyndale #3

#45 - Lake Near Lyndale #3
12" x 30" Oil On Canvas, 05-10-2014

This is the 3rd version of this scene.  The 1st was a watercolor sketch, the second was
a smaller oil painting.  The goal this time was to simplify shapes, details, and edges.
I've been (slowly) moving toward a goal of achieving a looser style.

Extras...

The thumbnails and color sketch for last week's post, #44 - Spring & Van Buren NE.

#44 - Spring & Van Buren NE

#44 - Spring & Van Buren NE
18" x 36" oil on canvas.
(sold)

I've fallen behind on posting lately.  I've been so busy making
new ones that I forgot to keep up the main reason I'm doing
all these alleys....this blog!

I recently got to see this one again.
It always surprises me to look at a painting
after an extended time. I often think to myself,  "How did
that happen?!"  It's a nice feeling to get away from a picture,
forget about everything that went into it, and
just enjoy it as if it were new to me.

#43 - East 24th St. & Minnehaha

#43 - East 24th St. & Minnehaha
24" x 30" oil on canvas.  4-20-2014

This alley is off 24th St. facing North.
The blue building is Coastal Seafoods.
A hot, dusty and quiet early afternoon.

Extras...

While I'm working on new alleys to post, here are sketchbook pages with thumbnails and color tests for a couple of the paintings.  I'll often sort out basics like this and then jump in with hopes of keeping an amount of spontaneity in the final.

Edit (7/29/14):  Oh and happy news....
I just got a nice write up from the Southwest Journal about 100 Alleys:
http://www.southwestjournal.com/news/news/kingfield-artist-finds-inspiration-in-alleys

#42 - East 22nd St. & Clinton Ave.

#42 - East 22nd St. & Clinton Ave. 4-9-2014
24" x 30" oil on canvas.    (sold)

Big back lit buildings never fail pull my attention down an alley.
In my imagination,  there's always something interesting going on back there
...you just never know.

Nothing much in reality...parking for the church and businesses.