"Jason"

"Jason" SOLD

Ah, Jason. Well he modeled for us on a Monday night and as you can see, he works out at the gym. I did 25 years ago and now have begun again on his inspiration.

I thought, "Am I a mouse or a man." So now I have been working out again since October. Slow but steady progress. Feels good. A little less fat and a little more muscle and general feeling of well being. Wish me luck in continuing.

This little painting measures 8 1/8" x 10 3/8" and can easily be cropped to 8 x 10 for a standard frame. Painted oil on canvas and also signed and dated upper right.





"Blood City", by Gordon van Vliet
coyright November 2005 all rights reserved
This piece was displayed in an art show during the spring of 2006. It is signed, dated and titled at the bottom. The work measures 5"w x 14"H inches oil on 1/4" hardboard. Available framed as shown with my own hand crafted solid mahogany frame.

$129.00 + $8.00 shipping to the USA. Foreign Buyers contact us for shipping and payment options.

Thank you for looking. Artist retains all copyrights of the artwork.

Blood is a metaphor of life flowing through our veins. Likewise, the life blood of the city are the individuals who inhabit it and are the city's motive force. First works are for survival, when secured, time and energy are spent on larger , more complex ideas. These ideas are represented as buildings and towers, finally a pinnacle soaring upward. As the towers are illuminated in the sun so too may an Individual reach great heights. All people are benefited from the such success.

Also represent here is the idea of the city as the center or natural result of separate individuals need of fellowship, society. This is a mix from those just surviving to those able to achieve further goals. I have always viewed the tower as an inspiration of what can be accomplished through productive thought and work.


SOLD "Wisdom of the Northwest"

This is a painting of a mask used in tribal ceremonies of the Indians along the upper Pacific coast of North America. This particular mask was once worn by a "medicine man" or "man of wisdom". In the old legends the bird was a symbol of hidden knowledge and mystery. The image is set against a dark background made with Raw Sienna, Black, and Ultramarine Blue.

Painted sold is on 16"w x 20"H triple primed canvas with 3/4" hardwood stretchers. The edges are stapled but painted like the background. It could be hung the way it is. I have also shown the framed example to give you an idea of how it could appear in a frame. I think a gold or dark gold "plein-air" type frame would suit it best.

I am considering additional works with this motif. Perhaps a triple canvas with multiple bird images that intersect for a nice 48" x 20" image or mounted separately as 3 distinct 16" x 20" images. Also a background with an abstract but geographically appropriate imagery.

Now Showing:
"Angelina" oil on canvas 16"W x 20"H. At the show.

This painting is available for $400.00. Contact me.

I will be at the opening reception of the Student Art Show at:
Steve Carpenter's Studio
176 Anderson Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
585-758-1410

on Friday, March 28, 7 to 10 p.m.
The show runs March 28 – April 4, 2008 Gallery Hours: 1- 4 p.m. (closed Tuesdays)
There will be works by over 60 artists will be displayed.

Gallery directions on mapquest.

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A painting in the works coming on strong

A few months ago I crashed the hard drive of my computer and lost all my saved images. So today I was re-photographing many of them and I ran across this one.

This painting is one of my favorites. I painted it some time ago and have retouched it and cropped the original to improve the image. So far this is the result. I may do a little more yet before I consider it finished and then show it again.

The atmosphere and glow I find truly captivating. You can see the firelight on her arm and face. A woman reclining on a chaise lounge with her feet up. One hand under her head and one rest on her abdomen. She gazes into the glow of a fire on the hearth and lets her tension and concerns melt away for the evening. She thinks with pleasure about how far she has come and what path she will take next in life.

Oil on canvas. I have not yet titled or finalized the image size.

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Today's Painting, "Great Blue Morning" Gordon van Vliet

Today's painting is newly titled "Great Blue Morning". The original title was "Summer Thoughts". SOLD

This was painted in July of 1992. After viewing some painting shows on television I was inspired to create three paintings from my imagination. The world inside of me, no photo or visual reference. So today I share this one with you. My thoughts were features from a midland beaver pond in the Rocky Mountain range of the United States.

If I were to do this oil painting today I would consider a lighter value background to give the allusion of distance and lighter shadows in the two main trees to de-emphasis the foreground. I would aso create midrange light at the heron.

All in all I like this painting. It is oil on canvas board and measures 18"W x 14"H.

I just figured out today how to turn of the date stamp on my camera so you will not see the date in the future images.

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Today's Painting "Eldorado" by Gordon van Vliet

Today's Painting is one I created on a carved sugar pine panel back in 1979. Originally this piece was constructed as a pair of carved doors on a cabinet featuring dovetail construction, zebrawood shelving and a velvet lined interior. After a house fire in the early 1980's the doors were fastened together, then a small amount of re-carving and re-painting were also accomplished.

The image represents the fabled city of "Eldorado" which the Europeans were sure existed in South America as the source of the natives gold. It was never found, but its legend continued. In the center of the image, below the waterfall, can be seen the mist of the rising from the powerful falls, like a ghost of the past. Like a ghost some believe the legend is true. And the treasure hunt continues.

The sugar pine panel measures 1-1/8"T x 27-1/2"W x 35-1/2"H. It was hand carved and painted with fine oil paints and stains. Varnish protection. There is about 1" at the bottom of the panel with additional tree roots that is not visible in this image due to cropping. About forty hours work.

Eldorado by: Edgar Allen Poe

Gayly bedight, A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado. But he grew old, This knight so bold, And o'er his heart a shadow Fell as he found No spot of ground That looked like Eldorado. And, as his strength Failed him at length, He met a pilgrim shadow: ``Shadow,'' says he, ``Where can it be, This land of Eldorado?'' Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow, Ride, boldly ride,'' The shade replied, ``If you seek for Eldorado!''

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