Any Soldier

PRIVATE COLLECTION

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Two years ago I painted this watercolor after reviewing many photographs sent in letters to my family from pen-pal soldiers serving in Iraq. I fashioned this soldier’s face from the images in my mind conjured not only from the photographs, but from their letters as well.

The title of the painting, “Any Soldier”, was chosen because of the “Any Soldier” letter writing program in the United States Military. Any civilian may write a letter addressed to “Any Soldier”, and the letter will go into a bin, box, or basket for soldiers to pick from at random.

This soldier is my tribute to the brave men and women serving in our armed forces, to show my gratitude and appreciation for their selfless service and devotion to the ideals and values held precious in the hearts of generations of Americans, regardless of and held separate from political opinions.

Copyright © 2005, 2007 J.L. Fleckenstein ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Two Apples, Back-lit

SOLD

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I loved the dark moodiness of these two apples, back-lit on our stone window sill.

I painted this piece in oil on a 6″ x 8″ piece of pure eucalyptus hardboard, 1/4″ thick.

The apples are from a bushel my husband and I bought from a local farm market last October.

Click here to see the completed auction for this painting.

Copyright © 2007 J.L. Fleckenstein ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Impression of Pear

SOLD

[Note: Please click on post title to see painting.]

This is a post-card size oil painting, 6″ x 8″, on canvas panel.

I love the glow of this pear, the lighting effects that bring it to life. Painting light and shadow is the most wonderful part of painting for me. For this piece, I loved the light at the tip of the stem, on the top and sides of the pear. Also, notice the warm light on the right side and the cool light on the left.

Seeing and conveying light in this way is an exciting adventure for a painter.

Copyright © 2007 J.L. Fleckenstein ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Pear Painted on Marble Tile

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I was inspired a few days ago to try painting an oil painting directly on a tumbled Italian marble tile. I am very happy with the results. The paint lays beautifully on the marble, and as it dries I see the veins of the marble showing up as little veins in the oil paint. It is a very interesting effect. I also like the effect of painting up to the rough edges of the marble.

Painting on the marble was such a delightful experience, I intend to do more and more of these–while not abandoning the other paintings I am working on.

If intereted, please click here to see the completed auction for this painting.

Copyright © 2007 J.L. Fleckenstein ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Gramp’s Pear

SOLD

This is a post-card size oil painting I created from another of the pears from trees planted by my husband’s grandfather back in the 40′s at our cottage. The cottage has been in his family since the 1930′s, and it is a place of many treasured family memories. His childhood is rich with memories of weekends spent at the cottage, and the pears grown by his “Gramps” are among them.

I love these pears as a subject to paint, because they are old-fashioned, imperfect, and yet perfectly lovely.

This painting is 6″ x 8″, an oil on canvas panel.

Copyright © 2007 J.L. Fleckenstein ALL RIGHTS RESERVED