Daily Painters of Kansas - Contemporary Fine Art International

Candy Canes by Charles Baughman

2012-01-12T15:52:00.000-08:00

Been away for too long due to technical difficulties. The key word here is technical. This piece is a collaboration with my daughter. Sorry for the candy cane/holiday theme. Again, technical difficulties. I couldn't put this up during the holidays but I didn't want to wait until next year. My daughter often works with me in my studio. She was making bookmarks that we give to people during the holidays and this design is one of her creations. I loved it so much we worked on this larger version together.

Happy Holidays a few days late.

Original Abstract Acrylic Painting on canvas by Kansas artist Luanne Marten

2011-11-15T13:33:00.000-08:00

"Hootenanny"

Original Abstract Painting, 6x6,

textured acrylic on stretched canvas, rich layered colors,

painted with a palette knife, $35.

See all my paintings at my Etsy shop.

Email me. Visit my blog. Or go to my Website

Original Abstract Acrylic Painting on canvas by Luanne Marten

2011-11-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

"Happy Place"

12x12 acrylic on canvas stretched on a hardwood frame. $69

See all my paintings at my Etsy shop . Or email me.

And, visit my blog .

Floral Cascade by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-11-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

I had some students that wanted to do some collage paintings in class. Part of teaching that process is to start by painting on many different papers while enjoying the work with color and pattern. The class reminded me of the collages that I had shown on the blog in January such as Bird of Paradise. In those pieces, I used papers that I had created for fun or were parts of past projects. In the Spring, the collage process developed into the iris pieces. In contrast, this piece was planned and begun with the end in mind. I created the papers and background specifically to produce this piece. I enjoyed creating it and I hope you enjoy it as well. Thank you for viewing my blog.

The dimension of this piece is 24"H x 18"W x 1.5" on the sides and needs no frame.

Tool Find by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-10-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

I always work on two paintings at once. I was pulling the stencils out of the other painting I was working on(most recent post) and was putting them into this one. My daughter is of the age where she is doing the Word Find puzzle books and she thought this was like a Word Find puzzle using tools instead of words.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. This painting is on wood and extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H 18" x W 24".

2011-10-17T12:35:00.001-07:00

The Gyp Hills of south central Kansas is an area that's hard to define. It has the red earth of Oklahoma, the mesas of New Mexico, and the rolling hills and prairie grasses of Kansas. This makes for interesting subject matter. This piece was created from Rock Road, a back road off the primary "Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway" which can be taken through much of the entire area. This was a crisp, late September morning. To view more work, please click HERE.

Excavation by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-10-11T04:23:00.000-07:00

I was playing with stencils and layering in paint and pulling the stencils back out of the paint. It felt like I was excavating the paint out of the space. I love the way paint pushes and pulls but I need something concrete to hang it on. The name also refers to the tools that continue to pop out as the viewer spends more time going deeper into piece.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H 24" x W 18".

Yoga Pyramid by Charles Baughman Yoga Series

2011-10-06T08:26:00.000-07:00

This is just another amazing yoga pose that shouldn't be possible, at least for us humans. With the elbow up in the air like the body creates a pyramid shape and I thought of the food pyramid that I grew up with and the Egyptian pyramids. The list is endless.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. This painting is wood and the image extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H 24" x W 24".

2011-09-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

This image came fairly easily--or as easily as any of them come. It began with a photograph I took while camping with my daughter. It was a beautiful evening: the clouds were stacked in crazy formations and the light was dancing its way over the landscape and through the trees. I cropped the photo to a square format, and then made several sketches to capitalize on the drama of the piece. I want the viewer to "feel" the evening, not just see it. For this reason I simplified the foreground and tree line and had the clouds really pop out with their intense, warm coloring. At 36 x 36, it is fairly easy to be enveloped by the painting without it taking over the room in which it hangs. For more information or to join my mailing list, please visit my website: www.robcompton.com

Work In Progress by Charles Baughman

2011-09-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

This is me doing background designs before I even know what will be going on top. When I don't know what to paint, I start with playing with color and design. I just love pattern. I want to be a complete abstract painter but I just love 'the image' too much. Sometimes I really just like to sit with the background and it will sit in the studio until I know what image will fit on top of that background. The great thing about them is that they are never so precious that I can't destroy them to try something new.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. Wood and paint extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H11" x W14" x D1 1/2".

The Wedding Announcement by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-09-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

My cousin, the doctor and Iowa farm girl, sent out a wedding shower announcement with a picture of her and her husband to be holding their favorite tool. She was holding the bolt cutters and he was holding the drill. Take from that what you will. At any rate, I decided to paint their tools for them as a wedding gift and here is the finished product.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. Prints are available as well. This painting is on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H12" x W26".

2011-09-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

Divided Sky 44 x 56 is a large image meant to envelope the viewer in the calming, meditative qualities of a wide-open landscape. This late-evening image uses warm hues to capture a sense of calm, with the cooler cloud bank breaking in for a sense of drama and uncertainty. For more information, please visit my website by clicking HERE.

Bonsai Orchid by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-09-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

Geraniums were the very first plant I was able to keep alive in my room as a child. They are a desert plant by nature so that explains why they survived. I love the odd quirky growth patterns and when they bloom there's a beautiful asymmetrical balance that happens. It is very similar to a bonsai tree.

This piece is on my website and has been sold. However, prints are available for purchase. For more information please contact me.

Butterfly Orchid by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-08-31T08:53:00.000-07:00

I love to draw and I try to draw every day. I also love color and paint. This is me drawing into thick wet paint. There are a few things that I always come back to like flowers and my garden. Every time a flower blooms it gives me hope. A gardener is an eternal optimist.

This piece is on my website and has been sold. However, prints are available for purchase. For more information please contact me. Dimensions are H10" x W8".

2011-08-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

Limited Edition continues the meditation I have begun on trees and how to represent them using a variety of brushwork. These new paintings differ from my more traditional landscapes in the respect that they may rely solely on the tree itself for the composition and design. Though there is a sense of a ground plain present, it is not blatantly represented. The title refers to the unique and temporary nature of a tree's character in those few days of late autumn when the coloring is electric and the fall is imminent. For more information, or to view more artwork, click HERE.

New Work

2011-08-17T17:45:00.001-07:00

Evening at Beggar's Bend is a new painting that has just been accepted into the show Visions of the Flint Hills, a benefit for the preservation of our native tall grass prairie. I will have four pieces total in the show, each depicting a scene from the Flint Hills of central Kansas. For more information, click HERE.

Kalidasope 3 by Charles Baughman with Curt Clonts Camera Series

2011-08-17T04:35:00.000-07:00

This is another piece from my Camera Series that is a collaboration with Curt Clonts. There IS a camera in this piece but it was a vehicle for playing with pattern and shape.

This painting is on my website. Dimensions are H8" X W10".

New Work by Rob Compton

2011-08-12T14:05:00.001-07:00

Immersion is an experiment in brushwork. I wanted to capture the way light dances through foliage and this scene seemed to speak to that directly. 30 x 24 Framed in a contemporary black floater frame, this piece straddles the line between representational landscape painting and abstraction. For purchase information, or to view more artwork, click HERE.

Kalidascope 4 by Charles Baughman with Curt Clonts Camera Series

2011-08-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

I love to work with other artists and I own several pieces of Curt Clonts' work. He is a Wichita artist as well. I asked Curt if he'd be willing to paint some designs on paper and then allow me to cut them up and put them into some of my work.

This painting is on my website is available for purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H8" X W10".

Spice It Up by Charles Baughman Kitchen Series

2011-08-02T04:38:00.000-07:00

I think everybody has a set of measuring spoons and this piece shows an old set that I was given by my mother when I got my first place. I wasn't trying to paint them in reality but I wanted to explore the boundaries in paint and color. I think the paint feels like frosting when I am pushing it on the surface. It can have almost a buttery quality as I layer the paint on the surface. Yum!

This painting is on my website. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14" X W11".

one quiet evening

2011-07-31T09:18:00.001-07:00

One Quiet Evening is fresh off the easel. Oil on canvas 36 x 32. This work incorporates many of the reasons I became a landscape painter: a strong sense of light, a nostalgic mood, and a meditative, calming quality. For purchase information, please click HERE. To follow my work on FACEBOOK, please click HERE.

Seasoned Openers by Charles Baughman Kitchen Series

2011-07-28T04:37:00.000-07:00

This piece shows the progression of wine openers. I really like the new one in the top center that saves the cork. I don't think of myself as a hoarder but I do collect lots of stuff and I have all three of these openers.

This painting is on my website. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14" X W11".

Celebrate by Charles Baughman Kitchen Series

2011-07-26T04:37:00.001-07:00

I think wine is worthy of it's honored place in history. There are even gods involved in wine making in the form of Dionysis/Bacchas depending on whether you read Greek or Roman mythology. Wine was and is a gift. This is the classic wine opener with the cork screw top. I feel it's a beautiful stately object in it's own right. I like some of the modern variations that have come along.

This painting is on my website. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H16" X W16".

Just Add Butter by Charles Baughman Kitchen Series

2011-07-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

Now is the time when all the fruit starts to come in so I am reminded of my love of the season and PIE. I love pie! From the time I was little and was helping my Mom making the crusts, I've always looked forward to pie season. I also love the tools that she used to make the pie. There is something traditional, simple, classic and, perhaps, unknown to a younger generation thanks to the fast food craze. I want to help people remember.

This painting is on my website. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14" X W11".

Winter Hideout

2011-07-21T05:01:00.001-07:00

Winter Hideout 12 x 12 This painting clearly was not done "plein air" as it has been over 100 degrees here for some time now. I have been playing with this image on and off for some time and finally manage to get something down in oil. In my "snow scenes" I always try to strike a balance between the stark of winter and the warmth. This scene shows the warmth of the sun on the trees but also the implied warmth of the cabins. Click HERE for more information.

The Contortionist by Charles Baughman Yoga Series

2011-07-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

I went to Cirque du Soleil performance and watching the guy put himself in a fish tank was pretty amazing, no less amazing is this woman doing yoga here. I thought if I really pushed the frame in around her it would emphasize the small space she occupies.

I have a yoga instructor here at the Yoga For You studio that is hyper-flexible and can do these crazy and beautiful poses without breaking a sweat. Her teacher reminded her to limit demonstrating this ability so her students won't 1) try to imitate her and hurt themselves and 2) feel bad about not pushing themselves to her level of pretzel-hood.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are 24" H x 48"W.

Dancing With Death by Charles Baughman

2011-07-14T04:49:00.000-07:00

Voila! Dustin Parker's image of the skull really pops out in this view. I was thinking of it as a mask with the figures dancing around it. The yoga poses were meant to be horizontal as seen in previous posts but this way it's almost ballet. Dustin has done the staging and I've done the choreography.

We exhibited this piece in a recent show for Wichita Public Radio Station KMUW 89.1 FM artists. The station chooses local artists to partner with them during fund raising periods. Both Dustin and I have participated.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H 48" x W 48" with both panels side by side.

Dancing With Death Part Two by Charles Baughman Yoga Series

2011-07-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

This may look similar to the previous painting and it is. After I did the first half, I thought "Oh, Eureka! I should make a mirror image!" So, again, I credit Dustin Parker as the background painter and say that this a collaboration that started when we exchanged paintings. It may not be finished because Dustin may get the final say.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H 24" x W 48".

Cheating Death by Charles Baughman Yoga Series

2011-07-07T04:47:00.000-07:00

The background of this painting is done by my good friend
Dustin Parker. We have, over the years, destroyed each others' work because we have a fun time responding to each others' painting styles. Nothing is sacred and so it allows us to attack and change a painting trying to make it our own. In this case, I put one of the yoga figures right on top of his original work.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H 24" x W 48".

The Grip of Vice by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-07-05T04:53:00.000-07:00

Again...I'm back to the vice grips that I love! When there is a bolt or nut that is out of reach or being stubborn, the vice grips come to the rescue. Problem solved.

This is another piece of scrap lumber that my late father-in-law had saved. I'm sure he had a vision for all the wood he collected. He'd mentioned making bird houses out of some of it but I'm using it now and I love the sculptural feel of it. You can see time and weather in the knot holes and the wear of the wood.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H11" x W7".

Musical Arch Installation at Botanica-The Wichita Gardens by Charles Baughman

2011-06-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

I am very excited about my latest (painted) sculpture installation. This Musical Arch is in the new Downing Children's Garden at Botanica-The Wichita Gardens. The Children's Garden has an "Over The Rainbow" - "Oz" type theme. The area I was commissioned to create this arch for is the The Muscial Maze section.

I've done paintings of jazz instruments in the past, and instead of working with paint and cut paper, here I'm working with paint and cut steel. The official opening of The Children's Garden is this weekend. I am very proud to be part of this addition to our community. Thanks to Marsha Scurfield for these wonderful photos.

Rhapsody In Blue Steel by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-06-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

I think if you know how to swing a hammer you kind of know your self worth. For me, office work has always seemed nebulous with the final outcome being hard to pin down. I can see the work I do with a hammer and, with it, I can build almost anything. It's concrete. It's visibly complete. Also, I know many people who work in offices that have no interest whatsoever in swinging a hammer or building a house. So, thankfully we all have our unique gifts and our niche in the world.

This image makes me think of the whirling dervish of activity taking me from one job to the next. In all of that, the hammer is the constant.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14" x W11".

Nail It by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-06-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

In this piece, I was trying to capture some of the repetitive movement of a hammer in use. That swinging and pounding motion that I've done over the years, building and maintaining houses, is the reason I will be having shoulder surgery this fall. On the background, I was going for the image of a repetitive 'nail in wood' pattern

One of my grandfathers was a master carpenter and cabinet maker, another was an electrician and my father built and maintains houses. They were open to me being an artist as long as I could master a trade so they taught me theirs. The hammer has served us well for generations.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H11" x W14".

Fireworks by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-06-21T04:56:00.000-07:00

I enjoy looking at Josef Albers and Johannes Itten's on color theory. This piece is an homage to them except that I find that I need more than just flat squares of color to interest me as I work on a piece. But I love the theory and application of simultaneous contrast that I've learned from them. Simultaneous contrast is the push and pull of colors...of colors on top of each other. The same color will read differently depending on what it is next to.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. It is available to purchase. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H24" x W18".

Night Bloom by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-06-16T04:43:00.000-07:00

I need a fairly recognizable image on which to hang my paint, but I'm not after perfect realism...that's why people take pictures with cameras. In my art, I am looking to create something that is interesting and thought provoking. I try to paint so as to invite you to stop, look and spend some time with the piece and feel a sense of enrichment for the time spent.

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. It is available to purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" X W16".

P.S. Thank you all for your kind comments. I have tried repeatedly to respond with a comment back to you and I'm not having any luck. I think I'll figure it out pretty soon but no promises there. Please be patient with me. Thanks again.

Iris Aflame by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-06-14T04:27:00.000-07:00

This is, truly, one of those 'Create And Destroy' pieces. I have painted on the background, didn't like it and sanded it off part way then cut up shapes and pieces out of other paintings that I didn't think were working...and put it all together. Voila! Nothing is wasted. Out of the chaos comes creation.

Blue Eyes by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-06-09T04:27:00.000-07:00

My daughter titled this painting as well as a few more that you'll see very soon on this blog. In this painting, I'm just trying to find ways to play with the pattern and the paint. If you look really close, you can see that each layer has it's own texture.

I've been reading about Monet, lately, and saw one of his large water lily paintings at Nelson-Atkins Art Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. I don't know why people don't take flower paintings seriously, today. I paint what I love. I try to bring something new to it. I think it's honest, beautiful and passionate. I hope in one hundred years that people go back to my paintings and say "Yes...I feel it."

This painting is not on my website but will be up soon. It is available to purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" X W16".

Palette Iris by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-06-07T04:40:00.000-07:00

I brought this in to the gallery this morning and I didn't get it on the wall because a person bought it out of my hands. I also have an order from another person who wants a print. But I wanted to put this on my blog because I really like the painting.

This truly is the palette that I was working with to mix paint for other works. And I liked it so much that I thought a clump/Siberian Iris would really pop on the surface. This is, as I tell my students, the "Happy Accident" creating even when your focus is elsewhere. Creating from chaos.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are 24"H x 18"W x 1 3/4"D. There's no need for a frame because I paint around the edges.

The Fighting Iris by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-06-02T04:32:00.000-07:00

The fighting referenced here speaks to the iris fighting for position in an abundant garden. But also the process of building up the painting by layering in different patterns and designs one on top of each other and trying to get them all to get along. I must 'Destroy To Create'.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are 20"H x 16"W x 1 3/4"D. There's no need for a frame because I paint around the edges.

Iris Symmetry by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-05-31T04:16:00.000-07:00

My MFA is in both Sculpture and Painting. People ask me if I'm more a painter or a sculptor. I think like a sculptor but work with color. I know this is a sculpture. I paint on paper and then cut out my designs. I'm always thinking in terms of shape and surface texture. There needs to be some tension and contrast between the shapes and I use color and pattern to do this. I build up layers like a low relief sculpture. In the end, I glue it all together and then I have to clamp it all down in place until it dries. But back to the sculptor verses painter question...I'll just tell people I'm an Artist.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are 16"H x 20"W x 1 3/4"D. There's no need for a frame because I paint around the edges.

Seeing Double by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-05-26T04:53:00.000-07:00

My clump Iris (Siberian Iris) is blooming and I had never painted them before. So...here they are! It seems they are more about the foliage as a bouquet or fireworks trailers with a burst of color on top. This is another one of those paintings that has some failed starts underneath but that just adds great surface texture to the finished painting.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions of this painting are 49"H x 20"W. No frame is required.

Faded Glory by Charles Baughman

2011-05-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" x W16".

Orange And Purple Iris by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-05-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

I love to paint flowers but I'm not interested in realism. The challenge for me is to create something interesting whether it be a tactile surface, intricate design within the paint or colors that push each and the piece in unexpected directions. I have to take chances and part of that is destroying what I've created to find more knowledge. In this painting, you can see the ghost of two previous iris paintings that have been sanded over with a belt sander. And I think they add to the whole image.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" x W16".

Iris In My Dreams by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-05-20T04:24:00.000-07:00

I wish I was a better photographer because there is more pattern and detail on the piece than what is showing on the image. So I've added the close up detail on the right. It seems like a fairly straight forward image and I'm hoping that the different patterns and layers can work together to surprise and maintain interest.

There are several layers of paint and pattern that work their way to the surface from the background image that I hope support the iris. This is another example of cutting apart something I liked to create something new.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. This painting is on wood and paint and pattern extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" x W16".

Iris Pattern and Study by Charles Baughman Flower Series

2011-05-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

Iris are in bloom. I planted three hundred plants two years ago and they are finally having a show. So I had to paint them. This is one of several that will be showing in the next few weeks.

The whole piece is the top image and the right side detail is down below. I've discovered I love color and pattern. I've always loved Matisse's work. And have been working through various phases of his body of work. I have been finding inspiration for my own work for years. He was the leader in combining bright colors, pattern, flat surfaces and paper cut-outs all of which I love and try to incorporate. This painting is a combination of nineteen different painted patterns on paper which I have cut out in the shape of irises. I'm excited!

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H21" x W60".

2011-05-15T19:31:00.001-07:00

I spend so much time focusing on skies, I felt it would be a good exercise to eliminate the sky completely in this piece and rely solely on the land for the composition. This was a hazy day and the colors were very muted, subtle. More than anything it was the incredible sense of utility that drew me to this scene. The way we pull from the land and shape it, and the way it in turn shapes us and our lives. I plan to make a larger piece from this composition soon. To view more artwork, click HERE.

Phillips by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-05-14T04:02:00.000-07:00

The Phillips screwdriver was a fabulous idea. It cut down on slippage and made driving a screw so much faster. When someone makes something that becomes ubiquitous, it sets the standard. (Think Jello.) So no matter who manufactures the tool, the name stays consistent. This is one of the first tools my Dad gave to me and one of the first tools I gave to my kids.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H11" x W3".

Color Wheel of Pliers by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-05-10T04:49:00.000-07:00

I just love playing with color and shape. I thought it would be fun to outline color the way Wayne Thiebaud does. It helps to pop the images. Usually, I do that with just the primary and secondary colors but here I was seeing if it would work with the tertiary colors. On pieces like this, I spend a lot more time painting the surface over and over to get the intensity just right as opposed to pieces that are more realistic.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H8" x W10".

The Golden Rule by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-05-08T04:33:00.000-07:00

The Golden Rule in construction is "measure twice cut once". Sometimes, I even have to measure three times. Materials are expensive and if you screw it up it costs time and money. The square depicted above is actually twelve inches long. I love this particular piece of wood because there's nothing square about it.

I wish high school geometry class would have incorporated the construction square in relation to the Pythagorean theorem. I learn how to apply the theorem building stairs and eaves on roofs. Remarkably, that which I thought was useless in high school became very practical and useful in later life.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H6" x W18".

Pipe Wrench by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-05-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

The first time you have a water pipe burst you understand why the pipe wrench is an important tool. It is probably one of the heaviest, most sturdy tools out there. I love that the pipe wrench is one of the truly colorful tools - EMERGENCY RED! And the background on this piece is Slimy Green so it's a perfect contrast using plumbing colors.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H24" x W7".

Dancing Channel Locks by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-05-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

Most of the time after I've painted something representationally, I start to paint it in a more abstract way. I'm more interested in the shapes and playing with color. I've done an earlier channel lock painting and I just like the shape of tool. I was kind of thinking of Stuart Davis and his abstractions. I spend a lot more time working on these than the realistic paintings. I find them more challenging to do. Hope you like it! I think it's fun.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H11" x W14".

Hammer And Square by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-05-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

Another shaped canvas. I'm liking these pieces of wood. This is the original hammer & square my Father gave to me to use to build stretchers for canvas and painting. I also used these to work with him maintaining our home as well as those of others. There's nothing square about this piece of wood and that's why I thought it was appropriate.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H6" x W23".

2011-04-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

This 36 x 36 oil on canvas depicts a massive storm cloud that stretched across much of the smoke valley in central Kansas. There was a dense energy in the air that day and rain was not far off. To view more work or for purchase information, click HERE.

Screwdriver by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-04-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

It's the simplest tools that we use most often. The straight slot screwdriver was a great advancement. Although, now I think the Phillips head, hex head and other newer models make it easier to drive a screw because you don't slip out of the slot.
My little girls are learning how to use these tools at this point in their young lives and feel a great sense of accomplishment when they can attach two things together. There is something noble about these tools that get overlooked and thrown into drawers and boxes; forgotten about until needed.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H10" X W4".

Grasping At Air by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-04-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

Channel locks (my assistant doesn't know what that is) are giant pliers or wrench. You can adjust the size of the grip on a channel - hence the name. Channel locks are another essential tool. The blue handled tool by Channel Lock above is the 'original'. Knock offs have different color handles. I have several of these tools in different sizes and in multiple places because I can use these to change a tire, fix plumbing or tighten loose bolts.

These are paintings on scrap wood that were bequeathed to me by my late Father-in-law. I'm still trying to figure out why he saved these worthless scraps. The hole in the wood above seemed to epitomize this question. Hence, the title Grasping At Air. Although, I must say the wood has beautiful shape and texture and I am enjoying the sculptural aspect of it.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. Dimensions are H16" x W6".

Get A Grip by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-04-21T04:58:00.000-07:00

In honor of my Father-in-law who passed in February, I am painting on scraps of wood that he had saved. What's funny is...they are so rotten, I can't imagine why he saved them. I've hauled a dump truck load away from his shop. But I had to save a few pieces to paint on or he might come back to haunt me. I love painting on wood and have a long history of doing so. I really love the wood grain and how it affects the paint but these are SO rotten I had to dip them in polyurethane to keep them together. I think that's a part of their beauty...the decay, the holes...the process of aging.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H11" x W7".

He Weilded the Hammer Like A Finely Tuned Instrument by Charles Baughman Tool Series

2011-04-19T04:08:00.000-07:00

I have been planning a series of tool paintings for, at least, three years but other stuff always comes up. My Father-In-Law passed away this year. He was a Master Craftsman. Now I am really compelled to start the series and this is the first piece!

The hammer has always been my favorite tool (toy). With it, we can demolish and create. It just depends on the job. I have made my living as a handy man for years and there are many different hammers for many different jobs. This is the most basic homeowner, picture hanging, nail pulling, shoe fixing, bug smashing (the kids do this) model.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14" x W8

2011-04-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

Old Matfield Green--Oil on Raymar Panel, 6 x 8. This painting depicts a small stretch of Kansas Highway that barely exists any longer--A large chunk of the ranch land surrounding this area has been purchased and re-landscaped. This piece of the road always reminded me of old-time America. William Least Heat Moon chronicled this part of Kansas--Chase County--in his book Prairie Erth. To purchase this painting, or to view others, please click HERE.

Gratitude by Charles Baughman Yoga Series

2011-04-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

This is one of those paintings that I've struggled with, beat up, painted on, sanded back off and sat with...for a while. I guess it's done 'cuz I don't know what else to do. There's a lot of fun surface stuff going on here.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" x W16".

Testing Colors by Charles Baughman

2011-04-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

I've made my living painting a LOT of houses. This is one of paint those brushes that I've had for years. I use the leftover paint from the houses to fill in the box and then dropped my brush in for the impression. Then I came back and added design and other colors to complete the image. Sometimes it's fun just to get your hands dirty! And other times it's a pain when you drop the brush into a five gallon bucket of paint and have to reach into the color to get it.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14"x W8".

2011-04-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to infuse a little more narrative into my paintings lately. Sure, they continue to be about land, light and space, but lately I have wanted to include details which capture a different part of our imagination. Instead of just feeling the air and admiring the light, many of my newer works have include other aspects of a landscape. Three cows in this example; a freight train in another recent work. These tiny additions alude to the outer world, but also to a quiet presence and the knowledge that we share this planet, and its great wonder. For purchase information, or to contact me, please click HERE. To sign up for my email newsletter, click HERE.

Getting A Grip by Charles Baughman

2011-04-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

I took a couple of the boxes that I normally paint on and turned them upside down, filled them with paint and dropped my channel locks (big pliers for plumbing & large bolts) into the wet muck. As it dried, I got this great impression. Then I painted back over that. Without experimenting creativity dies. This is my latest experiment.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14" x W8".

2011-04-02T06:22:00.000-07:00

Smokey Valley Storm Cloud is a 12 x 12 plein air study from a tumultuous afternoon in central Kansas. I am currently working on a 36 x 36 painting of the same scene. For more information, please click HERE.

Lost In The Batter by Charles Baughman

2011-03-31T16:32:00.000-07:00

I tried something different in the studio. I love thick deep paint and wanted to try to push some different objects into the surface. So, here 'tis.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon.

Jazz Expressions by Charles Baughman Jazz Series

2011-03-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

This painting is on my website and available for purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H 36" X W 48".

Don't Push My Buttons by Charles Baughman Jazz Series

2011-03-24T05:24:00.000-07:00

This painting is on my website and is available to purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H 16" X W 20".

2011-03-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

Evening at the Eastern Windbreak. oil on canvas. 32 x 32. I feel really strongly about this painting and had a wonderful time composing it. It was just one of those pieces where all the components fell together. Hopefully it speaks for itself. For purchase information, or to view other artwork, click HERE. To view Landscape Artists International, click HERE. To join my free email newsletter, where I share news and offer promotions, click HERE.

Rocking Horse by Charles Baughman Toy Series

2011-03-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

I think every kid loves their rocking horse. You can tell their comfort level by how often they rock so far they pull it over. The runners on the actual rocking horse have been replaced and/or repaired a couple of times. I love it when the paint is worn off and the wood is smooth from lots of attention.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H12" x W12".

Toy Soldier by Charles Baughman Toy Series

2011-03-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

This soldier was commissioned by the same family along with the truck posted on 3/16/2011 and the Rocking Horse which I will post on 3/20/2011. This soldier has only one arm because he has seen lots of battles.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14" x W8".

2011-03-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

The heart beating at the center of the Impressionist movement was industrialization. The newly industrialized Europe created everything from leisure time, to tube paint, to smog. All of these merged into the most famous artistic movement in history. I couldn't help thinking of those trailblazers as I was painting this sketch. 12 x 9 inches, oil on Raymar panel. For purchase information, or to view more works, click HERE. To sign up for my email newsletter, which I publish every two months or so, click HERE.

Red Truck by Charles Baughman Toy Series

2011-03-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

This truck was brought to me to paint as a commission. It's been in their family for many years. It's truly beat up and has lots of character from being well loved. It's honest abuse from love. Think Toy Story. This is going to be placed in a child's room but it was the grandfather's and mother's toy when they were kids.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H16" x 20".

2011-03-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

Main Street--Creede Colorado. I have been working really small the last couple of weeks. Here is a 6 x 8 inch sketch of Creede Colorado on a overcast day. For purchase information, or to view more works, click HERE.

Blue Infusion Orange Confusion by Charles Baughman Flowers Series

2011-03-13T05:03:00.000-07:00

I really like to draw and this is simply a drawing in paint. Spring is almost here and I'm ready for for my plants to go back outside. This is a geranium that I wintered over. I think that line drawings are probably the best way to recognize an artists' style. It's an easy way to see the thought process in their "signature".

This painting plus more in the same style are on my website and available for purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H8" X W10".

Waiting For You by Charles Baughman Figures Series

2011-03-10T05:01:00.000-08:00

This is more of a quick study in wet paint. It's really a continuous line drawing done on a fun and colorful surface. Sometimes I think elegance is just simplicity.

This painting is on my website. It is available to purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H11" X W14".

Back Bend by Charles Baughman Figures Series

2011-03-08T10:23:00.000-08:00

Another amazing yoga feat! The people that can do this are absolutely amazing. I hope that my colors and backgrounds are as exciting as the pose.

This painting is on my website. It is available to purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H18" X W24".

Overexposed by Charles Baughman Camera Series

2011-03-06T07:03:00.000-08:00

This piece is of a Pentax camera. Most art or college students start with this camera. If they are anything like me, they have lots of problems in dark room. Ooops! Showing my age...there ARE no dark rooms any more. Digital...digital...Photoshop is the new dark room. I'll stick with painting.

This painting is on my website. It is available to purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H18" X W24".

Party Pics by Charles Baughman Camera Series

2011-03-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

This is an abstract of the Rolleiflex camera. I just took a couple of paintings on paper and tore them apart and reassembled it on to wood. It's the design of the camera that is so fun to take apart. The lenses, the gadgets and the cranks are all here. They are disassembled and reassembled to create a piece that, I hope, causes people to stop...look...look again and figure out the puzzle.

This painting is on my website. It is available to purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H41" X W20".

Viewfinder by Charles Baughman Camera Series

2011-03-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

I like the iconic Hasselblad camera. This was a high quality camera that the professionals used in the 60's and is the only camera, according to my wife-the camera pro, that will shoot a square image. I'm much better at painting the camera than using it for capturing images. They are so well designed and have such wonderful shapes.

This painting is on my website and is available for purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H36" X W24".

Add Two Eggs by Charles Baughman Kitchen Series

2011-02-27T04:30:00.001-08:00

Again...an older egg beater from my collection. You can tell how old they are by their handle. Old egg beaters have the wooden handles that are red, green or yellow. After the 1940's, manufacturers used a lot of different colors and designs. I love this egg beater because it's my daughter's favorite. It's easy for her to mix the batter using this type of whisk. I'm hoping to create another foodie.

This painting is on my website and is for sale. This piece is painted on a wooden kitchen cabinet door and needs no frame. Dimensions are H15" x W30"

2011-02-26T10:33:00.000-08:00

It has been extremely gray here in the Midwest the past few days, so I couldn't help but try and capture the cold, late winter feel. On an aesthetic note, I have been fascinated lately by variations of grays and this painting holds everything from blue-gray to brown-gray to rose.

12 x 12 oil on birch. For purchase information, or to view more paintings, click HERE.

Just Beat It By Charles Baughman Kitchen Series

2011-02-25T04:30:00.000-08:00

I have a collection of egg beaters...I really do. I think their fascinating. I always loved Stuart Davis' Egg Beater Series. I've learned a lot about abstraction from him. And, of course, music in the kitchen is essential. Today, it was either Michael Jackson's Beat It or Weird Al Yankovic's parody Eat It.

This painting is on my website and is for sale. It is painted on a kitchen cabinet door to extend the kitchen theme. No frame is required. Dimensions are H12" X W34".

A Tender Touch by Charles Baughman Kitchen Series

2011-02-23T13:32:00.000-08:00

I've never actually used this type of meat tenderizer for my cooking. I prefer the big hammer type. I thought it would be a wicked tool to use for a back rub on my wife. Needless to say, it never happened.

This painting is on my website. It is available to purchase. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H8" X W10".

2011-02-20T17:47:00.000-08:00

Keeper of the Plains 20 x 16 Oil on Canvas. This image was captured in Wichita at our beloved Blackbear Bosin sculpture that towers over the junction of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers. I have been looking at this sculpture my entire life, but this is the first time that I have attempted to paint it. It was a very cold evening when I was out and parts of the river were frozen. A beautiful night.

Baby Rabbit by Charles Baughman Toy Series

2011-02-20T05:42:00.000-08:00

Another toy around our house.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14" x W8".

Mama Eee-eee by Charles Baughman Toy Series

2011-02-17T05:40:00.000-08:00

I was told by my daughters that there would be no more painting until I painted their favorite toys and, of course, I complied. Baby Rabbit will be appearing in Sunday's post.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. I should note that all my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H14" x W8".

Cruisin' by Charles Baughman Toy Series

2011-02-15T09:33:00.000-08:00

All of my kids learned to walk and run behind this thing. It's just one of our favorite toys. They can dial the phone, spin the whirligigs and open the door to carry Lovies inside. They crash into the walls a lot and you have to repaint but the noise is minimal which is why it is one of my favorites.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. All my paintings are on wood and paint extends around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" x W16".

Breakfast Nook by Charles Baughman Interiors Series

2011-02-12T05:05:00.000-08:00

I sit and draw all the time. And sometimes I do studies on plywood because I love the way the wood grain comes thru the paint. It's the simple pleasures in life that we enjoy the most. The piece above is a study of my old kitchen table. My table has gotten bigger now that I have kids. When it's snowing outside, I paint those very real things around me that I love.

This painting is on my website. All my paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H13" X W16".

Evil Knievel Falls Again by Charles Baughman Bikes and Trikes Series

2011-02-10T04:54:00.000-08:00

I don't know if other people were as fascinated by Evil Knievel as I was. His influence on me went past jumping curbs to jumping garbage cans and the creek. This was before stunt bikes. But if we'd had hand held video cameras back then I'm sure I could have made it on the equivalent of Jackass or America's Funniest Home Videos. I've gotten a little bit smarter since then. Having kids will do that to you.

This painting is on my website. All my paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H18" X W24".

2011-02-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

"Moundridge Farm" oil on canvas 32 x 64. This is one of my new, larger works to come out of the new year. I spent much of 2010 working relatively small and it has felt so good to get back to the larger canvases. This painting speaks particularly to the Midwestern experience and the endless sky that surrounds us. To view more paintings, click HERE

Daredevil by Charles Baughman Bikes and Trikes Series

2011-02-08T13:06:00.000-08:00

This is the bike I learned on and I still have it. It weighs forty-two pounds and is made of solid steel with solid rubber tires. I'm amazed I was able to ride up any hills at all. But by the time I was able to move up to my next bike everything was easy by comparison. My current bike is a ten speed and weighs ten pounds. I think bikes represent independence to kids and provide the thrill of getting away from parents.

This painting is on my website. All paintings are on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" X W16".

Green Machine by Charles Baughman Bikes and Trikes Series

2011-02-06T05:24:00.000-08:00

This painting is listed as sold on my website and it was a commision.
I'm starting another version of it as a commission for someone else.

Back in the day, Andy Wetjen, Shawn McCormick and I loved racing around on this thing. The Green Machine! Our Big Wheels just couldn't compete!

All my paintings are painted on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H30" X W40".

2011-02-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

Good News! I recently had one of my blogs published on Fine Art Views. To read the blog, click HERE. "Heat" is a 26 x 24 Oil on Canvas which I consider a highly stylized landscape, one that borders on pure abstraction, but clearly evokes the "feel" of a hot Kansas (or any other mightily flat place) day! To view more of my work, click HERE.

Breaking Wind by Charles Baughman Jazz Series

2011-02-03T05:16:00.000-08:00

I love music and I can't paint without it. My choice of music changes depending on my mood. Some days I listen to jazz. Some days it's rock or alternative or a mix of all of them. I love the improvisation of jazz and I think it's the closest thing to painting. My painting is like jazz because I know how the end product will look but I don't know how I will get there. And I love the horn section!

This painting is on my website. It's the first painting when you click on the Jazz collection tab. Just look for the French Horn. I should note that all my paintings are painted on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H12" x W20".

Sunflower and Blue Skies by Charles Baughman Collage Series

2011-02-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

I don't know if people realize it but I am using some of my old drawings and paintings cut up into new shapes for these collages. Again, sometimes you have destroy to create.

I'm doing the Sunflower because I live in Kansas. So, there it is.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. I should note that all my paintings are painted on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" x W14".

2011-01-31T17:34:00.000-08:00

"Evening Cloud Bank" is an experiment in texture. This work is oil and plaster on panel. Still, my overarching motifs are present: great light and wide open space. To view this and more paintings, please click HERE.

Paradise Found by Charles Baughman Collage Series

2011-01-30T05:02:00.000-08:00

Again, a combination of plants and flowers. I've been learning Chinese Watercolor techniques from my wife, Kate Pepper, and this is one of the few butterflies I liked. It was perfect for collage because I could cut away everything I didn't like. Create and Destroy...that's my motto!

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. I should note that all my paintings are painted on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" x W14".

Balmy Afternoon by Charles Baughman Collage Series

2011-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Bee Balm is the focus of this image. Be Balm is a great perennial that attracts butterflies and is very hardy. We grow this plant at The Art Park and in our home garden. I just thought it is was a great shape to cut out for a collage.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. I should note that all my paintings are painted on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" x W14".

The Philharmonic by Charles Baughman Collage Series

2011-01-25T09:54:00.000-08:00

Philodendrons are a favorite plant in our house. They take on such fun, odd shapes and remind me of the tropics. Or, at least, someplace warmer than here. Again, these are just fun exercises I was doing with my students in our classes at The Art Park.

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. I should note that all my paintings are painted on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required. Dimensions are H20" x W14".

Bird of Paradise by Charles Baughman Collage Series

2011-01-20T05:01:00.000-08:00

Seed catalogs arrived and I can't go out and garden in the snow. So it's time to paint flowers! The process for this collage is kind of fun and a project I do with my students in class. It allows us to play with color, texture and pattern. We cut and paste organic shapes to a surface and the results are always whimsical and surprising.

Bending Light by Charles Baughman H24" x W48" Yoga Series

2011-01-18T10:53:00.000-08:00

I have always been enamoured with painting the human figure. When I see an image of someone capable of doing something this beautiful, it makes me want to paint. So often, I'm about surface and paint quality and the images are simply something on which to hang the paint. A pose like this gives me the chance to stop you in your tracks! Hopefully, you'll look at both the image and the paint and WOW!

This painting is not yet on my website but will be up soon. I should note that all my paintings are painted on wood and extend around the outside edges so no frame is required.