Arleen 16x20 Acrylic

From life drawing class last night in Davenport, Iowa.

Trish 16x20 Acrylic

Every once in a while, a painting comes along that, when upon completion, makes one stop and wonder how each step came in line to bring about the finished work. This is such a painting for me. It was painted in a 3 hour life drawing session. It approaches what I want to accomplish in my art.

Mary 16x20 Acrylic

Mary sat before a group of students during a painting demostration.

Nancy's Rose 36x48 Acrylic

This month, I have been working really big. This painting was a battle in the making, but it was still fun. Not for Sale

Hallie's Rose 36x48 Acrylic

This painting is a far cry from my usual paintings in both subject and size. But it was a lot of fun to paint. I loved working so big after working relatively small for a long time. Not for sale.

Natalie 16x20 Acrylic

This is from life drawing last night at Bucktown.

Brown Dress 16x20 Acrylic

I love working before the live model. You have to stay focused. Color and brushes moving rapidly to cover the canvas because time is running, and soon the moment will be ending.

The Poet 8x10 Acrylic

The model for this painting is a literature professor at a local college. She is also a poet. It suits her. The poetry is evident in her expressions.

View From My Studio 6x8 Acrylic

Black Dress 6x8 Acrylic

What I love most about painting the figure are the beautiful lines and subtle detail. There are minor changes in the contour of the figure that add nobility to the form. When missed, the figure really has an incomplete quality.

Thoughtful Moment 16x20 Acrylic

This young lady posed during the Tuesday evening class at Bucktown Galleries.

Country Lane 8x10 Acrylic

In The Studio 16x20 Acrylic

I have had a hankering to work on a larger scale. So I am feeding my hankering.

Max 18x24 Acrylic

Sold

This is the finished version of the preliminary study posted earlier.

Out Of The Darkness 11x14 Acrylic

SOLD

When I was seventeen 22x28 Oil

As I was going through my mother's belongings, I found this painting tucked away. I painted it when I was seventeen, in the infancy stages of my painting. I think all artists evolve pretty much the same. We begin as cameras, reproducing every leaf, every rock, every tiny detail. As we progress, we realize we are not cameras, but poets. Then the artistic journey really begins.

Funny, I remember exactly where I painted this and the silly high school tramas that were going on at the time. I was painting with oils here. The allergies didn't hit me until years later.

Peace 8x10 Acrylic

Sold

I was driving through the small town of Port Byron, when, there they were, in public, on top of a fountain a few steps from the Mississippi River, kissing each other right on the lips. Shocking! Seriously, it was a gray day, so I added some notes of pure color here and there.

Afternoon Nap 11x14 Acrylic

This is a quick study from life.

Sand Bar 8x10 Acrylic

SOLD

I traveled upriver yesterday and stood on the banks of the Mississippi River. There was this strange looking sand bar just off the pier. I don't know what caused this design, but I was taken by the abstract quality. Nature is a great teacher.

Fields Of Gold 9x12 Acrylic

Sold

I want to continue to explore landscape painting. Many, many paintings are required in any particular genre to discover your likes and dislikes. All painting is an exploration, a search to find what is meaningful on the painting surface.

Andy 11x14 Acrylic

SOLD

This is the final painting. After blocking in the color, I work throughout the painting refining drawing, values, color and edges. There is a lot going on in the background here, so the challenge was to make sure the figure was not overpowered. I think it works because of a few strong horizontals and the kind of an X composition.

Sunset Marina 8x10 Acrylic

I was drawn to this scene because of the overall abstract design. When painting plein-aire, there is so much to take in. It can be dizzying. But that is the challenge of painting. To make comprehensible all that we see before us. Actually, this is the purpose of painting for me.

Approaching Storm 11x14 Acrylic

 As I was painting this view, the Mississippi River was just a few feet behind me. I was so intent on working, I was startled three times by people looking over my shoulder. Maybe people should wear bells so they can't sneak up on you.

Dusk 8x10 Acrylic

SOLD

I really enjoyed working quickly in the challenge of the changing light as the sun was going down. The necessity of simplicity and sponaneity. The energy is embedded into the canvas.

Michelle 2 (Sketch) Acrylic 16 x 20

Another quick study of Michelle.

Charity

Charity has been my beloved companion for the last 15 years. Last night, she passed away in my arms after a short illness. My brother always said she acts more like a dog than a cat. Always running to greet me when I came in the door. Never far when working in the studio. I don't believe we know one half of one per cent about anything, but I know God is love and He loves His creation. In the end, I think that is really all we need to know.

Michelle (Sketch) Acrylic 16 x 20

I did this sketch of Michelle during an hour pose at an acrylic class I teach at Bucktown in Davenport, Iowa. I like the spontanaity of having to complete a painting so rapidly, especially when working on a larger canvas. Just let go and paint.

Jennifer 9x12 Acrylic

This is from a portrait workshop I recently began teaching at Bucktown, an old turn of the century saloon that is now home to many artist galleries in Davenport, Iowa. Jennifer is a wonderful model who wears colorful Indian type clothing. 

Roberta 16x20 Acrylic

Life is a series of expectations. Many are fulfilled. Many are not. I recently read where we have very selective memories of past events. And we have very inadequate visions of our future circumstances. When the future circumstances showed up for me, it was entirely different than I expected it to be. Of course, some circumstances you can see coming, others you just don't see coming at all.

I owe many Thank You's to so many of you who wrote and offered you heartfelt condolences and support earlier this year. I cannot say in words how much each note means to me. Thank you all so much. I am honored to be in the company of the Daily Painters. Simply the best! I haven't posted since last March because of the circumstances I didn't see coming. My apologies for dropping out of sight for so long. Please note: My address has never changed, but my email address has. Please contact me at bradbisbey@yahoo.com.

This is Roberta, a very beautiful lady who also happens to be a 5 degree blackbelt. I asked to paint her portrait to get myself back to the painting process. She graciously agreed. This painting also brought several commissions from others who saw it. 'Roberta' is painted on 16x20 stretched canvas. Not For Sale.

Peace 12x16 Acrylic

For all the outpouring of care and support from so many during this time, words cannot express how deeply grateful I am to each and every one of you. I will reach you all individually, but until then, please accept my heartfelt Thank You at this time. A finer group of people I have never met. Daily Painters are simply the best.

I was just beginning to adjust to living in this big house by myself. Then. My brother called at 10pm 2 evenings ago to say his house was flooded. He lives along the banks of the Rock River in Illinois and found himself in the middle of a record flood. He waded out with a few clothes and the rest is a total loss. What a terrible winter! Now I am adjusting to living in this big house with my new roommate. My brother calls us a couple of old maids. I am at long last taking refuge in my art!

I did a smaller painting last year using this same photo as a reference. I wanted to paint it larger with a more finished quality. It is painted on Windberg Art Panel. Available on ebay.