iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

My 6th gouache work. This time a small (4”x6”) spring landscape inspired by a hodgepodge of photos. It’s just ok. I am unaccustomed to painting small. And I am seeking more abstraction and failing at it. At some point I will move to gouache portraiture.

A small gouache spring landscape painting.

0131

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

My 5th gouache painting. This time a Great Blue Heron as seen on the Allegheny River outside of Franklin, PA, months ago. I have to force myself to paint abstractly and loosely because my dense brain seems to want realism.

050

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Continuing my goal to learn how to paint with gouache as part of an effort to move from watercolors to a combination of both mediums. This is my 4th attempt: A portrait of Marina Callas from a photo. I am not happy about it. Too many stupid mistakes. On a more + note, I am a bigger fan of Callas!

Portrait of Marina Callas using gouache on 300 lb watercolor paper

0131

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 12/10/2024

My artistic contribution to the fall weather using gouache and colored pencils. This is my 3rd composition using gouache and it’s so much more “forgiving” compared to watercolor painting. I make lots of mistakes and need lots of forgiveness!

Painting of acorns using gouache and colored pencils.

1113

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 11/09/2024

We are west of Pittsburgh and pretty close to Ohio. This one most likely escaped the horrors of the Buckeye state.

110

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 08/09/2024

An interesting picture of downtown Pittsburgh under menacing-looking clouds last evening.

121

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 12/08/2024

Sure, here is a not-so-recent portrait using Conte crayons and a white-colored pencil of my granddaughter.

Portrait of Cathryn using Conte crayons on pastel paper.

130

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 11/05/2024

I don’t post a lot, but occasionally I get a picture (double rainbow) like this that needs to be seen by a few others. It was taken by my son, Andrew, on Neville Island on the Ohio River earlier this evening right after a brief rain.

Picture of a double rainbow on Neville Island, Pennsylvania.

042

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 08/04/2024

Tonight I decided to copy your very nice bird watercolor using colored Conte crayons. I have been drawing with classic tri-color Conte for many decades - mostly monotone portraits. This is the first time I tried colored Conte after I “discovered” them on Amazon and was inspired by your work.

Bird (a copy exercise) drawn using color Conte on pastel sand paper (800 grid)

130

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 30/03/2024

It must be spring in Pittsburgh because it’s cold and raining!

The Beast (her name has real meaning) looks at the pink blooms in the rain.

040

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 13/03/2024

The Allegheny River this evening just a few miles downstream from Franklin, Pennsylvania. I need to find out if the Walleye are running.

The Allegheny River just downstream from Franklin, PA

040

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 26/02/2024

And 2 Bald Eagles arrived to enhance the view of the Allegheny River.

2 Bald Eagles high above the Allegheny River in Forest County.

041

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 26/02/2024

Allegheny River this morning in Forest County, PA. (Where the 5 Forks was for local folks)

View this very moment of the Allegheny River near Tionesta. PA.

030

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 29/01/2024

JtheT, I understand your being compelled about documenting everything, including when it was made, about works of art. I am compelled to do that when I come across an original work. It’s my “Antique Road Show” moment. Here is a piece obtained in Etsy. The signature was very difficult to read.

121

Joe S Solecki @joessolecki.bsky.social · 10/01/2024

Chicken Cacciatore… I mentioned to my wife that I have not had CC for many years, and she took pity on me and made it today! I normally refrain from posting mundane stuff, especially food and cat pics, but today I lack discipline. Odds are I will lose half of my many (5) followers.

280