Hettinger Studio

[davidphettinger]

They Are All Fond Memories A broken doll, marbles in a tin box next to an old pocket knife with it's broken blade begins a story.

[davidphettinger]

Strangers Into Friends

The young ladies who pose for me never know what to expect when they first walk into the studio. Some are quite nervous while other are so laid back they fall asleep while posing. A few even set boundaries as how close I can come to them. Others tell me to arrange the folds in their skirts myself. I always begin with doing a nude. If they stay through a nude session and return I know they will…

View On WordPress

[davidphettinger]

My Dad Was Smart

My Dad Was Smart

My dad was a very smart man. Though, at the time, I had my doubts. He wasn’t too pleased when I told him I wanted to be an artist. We didn’t talk about what might be a better profession for me, or why was it that I wanted to be an artist. My high school guidance councilor washed his hands of me. Several teachers told me without a college education I wouldn’t amount to much. Told you my dad was…

View On WordPress

[davidphettinger]

An Army of Hope on the Move

An Army of Hope on the Move

Apple season; roadside stands selling the best apple cider, fields of gold and artists looking for those hidden places to capture on canvas. Autumn is closing in, inspiring artists to get out of their messy dusty studios to create prose with color and brushes. Fingerless gloves, worn hats, paint spattered pants and smocks – an army of hope is on the move. Art exhibitions are in the making. I…

View On WordPress

[davidphettinger]

A God Creating For Our Enjoyment

A God Creating For Our Enjoyment

Forty tubs of paint, four dozen brushes, mineral spirits, paper towels, trash bag, extra large diet coke, one 12×16 canvas, one 20×24 canvas, one umbrella, one kitchen step stool, can of Deep Woods OFF – I think I have everything I need. Oh yes, my Julian French easel and my Molly, my protector from passerby’s.  Nothing like a good barking dog hiding under my easel to keep people moving. I…

View On WordPress

[davidphettinger]

Painting is Team Work

Painting is Team Work

Coffee and a bagel from Jake’s is how I start my day. Some mornings I have them at Jake’s and bug other patrons with my stare, trying to see if they will spark a possible painting. Other mornings I have my coffee in my studio at my computer checking out the art people post. Butter all over my key board, I type in comments and press the “like” button a few times, and when I really like something I…

View On WordPress

[davidphettinger]

Subjects That Are Fairly Simple Telling a story through my art is important to me, but I'm not always able to do so...

[davidphettinger]

Enjoying My Imperfections

Beauty is what most artists I know look for when looking for something to paint; beautiful women, beautiful landscapes, beautiful flowers. I’m talking and thinking about artists whose style runs along realistic, not abstract lines. Artists who paint for a living or are serious amateurs who do not need to rely on a sale. How important is beauty?  How do such artists define the concept of beauty?…

View On WordPress

[davidphettinger]

My First Painting Trip           Whether working from life or from a photo one needs to know their subject. I remember my first painting trip.

[davidphettinger]

Don’t Dilly Dally Around With Flowers Greenhouses fill my head with visions of paintings. Colors of all hues call out to me filling my head with possibilities.

[davidphettinger]

With More Life Behind Me           Got my Portrait Society of America newsletter the other day. It's a real treat to see all the fine creative works by such talented artists.

[davidphettinger]

Painting the Life Around You          Setting up a still-life, picking the props, figuring out the best lighting, the best angle to view it from are all part of what goes into a painting.

[davidphettinger]

Full Moon Over St. Mick’s Church Putting that little touch of oneself into a work of art is what raises the bar. Whether it be a portrait, landscape or a still-life, that touch can put a good painting over the top.

[davidphettinger]

All My Paintings Have Stories Been thinking a lot about my garden these days. Zinnias, daylilies, and my roses are on my list of flowers I hope to have for painting.

[davidphettinger]

Keeping My Mind In A Good Place Paintings don't always come about without a struggle and some self-doubt. Sometimes the struggle can affect life outside the studio.

[davidphettinger]

Capturing the Light   Every morning he rises at dawn, packs a lunch, and heads out I-80 to scout locations. The strange thing is he takes no camera -just a compass.

[davidphettinger]

The Ladies & The Roses Working on a 30 x 40 painting of three ladies enjoying some shade on a hot summer day.