David R Becker

Twenty Seventh

2006-01-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

Twenty Sixth

2006-01-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

I've come to the realization that I can't keep up blogging and Ebaying every week day. With so many things going on it just isn't physically possible. But I will try my best to post as much as possible.

This Sunday I went to a wake for a dear friend/student.
Donna has been in my class for as long as I can remember. Her paintings were stunning and she really didn't need to take my class anymore but for Donna and many of my students they come for the camaraderie and to make sure they at least paint once a week.

Here is a painting I did of Donna and Alison, many years ago.

Twenty Fifth

2006-01-19T14:30:00.000-08:00

It's been a bit since I last posted and that's only because of a long weekend and a lot of work.

Then I also had a good friend and student of mine passed away last night. She will be missed.

I hope to get a few paintings up of hers to show you how wonderful of an artist she was.

Twenty Fourth

2006-01-13T17:50:00.000-08:00

It would be so nice to have snow like in this painting, instead it is raining.

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Twenty Third

2006-01-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

Yes! The sun is shining today. I think it has been about a month since we here in Chicago have seen the sunshine. I got so excited that while I was waiting for my train I had to take a picture of the sky. The sun and clouds looked so beautiful. I'm sure the lady by the station wondered what the hell I was taking a picture of.

Twenty Second

2006-01-11T21:34:00.000-08:00

Today I am giving someone the chance to own one of the paintings that is published in my first book "Watercolor Composition Made Easy"
The painting is on page 104 along with the photo that it was painted from. I've decided it's time to let go of the past and not hold on to so many of my paintings, even if I like them so much. It's hard because I don't what to let go of these because they mean a bit more to me because of the book and all. But if they start to go it will make me want to paint a whole lot more and paint even better paintings. So here is your chance, take it off my hands but please give it a good home. I almost forgot, if you win this painting in my Ebay auction you will also receive a signed copy of my first book.

Twenty First

2006-01-10T12:03:00.000-08:00

Everything is getting so expensive, and everything is going up in price. But I want to thank the CTA for upping the price of their bus ride from $1.00 to $2.00 for the express bus ride I take every day. Why am I thanking them, because now I am walking and getting the exercise I so desperately need. I walk 30 minutes to the train and walk from the north side of Chicago across to the southwest side, and it feels so good. Thank you CTA!
Now what can I do about the gas company, hmmm?

Here is a nice little gem of a house from somewhere in Europe. It is a watercolor, 11" x 14" painted as a demo for my class at the Palette & Chisel Academy

Twentieth

2006-01-09T20:02:00.000-08:00

I have become an organizing freak. I'm starting to organize all my paintings, my dvd movies, and today I even downloaded all my Zip diskette onto my computer so I can burn everything onto a DVD. I am organizing all my files and hopefully soon I will be displaying as much of my work as I can possibly fit on my website. I will have my fine art work out there along with all my commercial work. This blog has helped a lot in getting me to stick to my guns and get it done.
So I guess that is my new years resolution, to organize.

This painting is from a lake in Quebec, Canada, named Otter Lake.

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Nineteenth

2006-01-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

Some day the sun will shine again in Chicago. Man it has been forever since I saw the sun. I was told in class on Wednesday that one should take 1000m of VitaminD a day. He read that they did a study and it's real good for a lot of things. Well I'm heading over to Walgreens today to pick some up. Here is to a healthy new year!

This watercolor was a combination of a few pictures and a little make believe. It's done on Arches 300lb watercolor paper. This painting is 13.5" x 10.5"

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Eighteenth

2006-01-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

Had a great class yesterday and we all had some great discussions.
One of the discussions was about Ebay and my sales of my paintings at a price that seems way to low. I informed them that I started them at these prices because this whole experience with Ebay is new and I am handling this whole thing as an experiment and in time will have my prices back to retail but for now I'm still experimenting and having a ball doing it.
Hey it's fun selling and sending my paintings all over the world to people that like my work, even if it is only one third the price I usually charge.
So for now, you have got a chance to buy my work at a price that is pretty darn good.

Sold

Seventeenth

2006-01-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

Darn I missed a day of blogging. Yesterday was the first day back at work and it was busy. I think I'm back on track.

Tonight class starts up again and I'm excited about it. It's been 3 weeks and no class, I hope they all have been painting while away from class.

Here is another Demonstration of the lovely coast line of California. Man what I wouldn't give to be there right now!

Buy the way(pun intended), these prices are the lowest I've ever gone and in time I will be increasing the prices, so get them now while I am feeling generous and having fun.

SOLD

Sixteenth

2006-01-02T14:13:00.000-08:00

Took my parents to the airport today. They will be in Germany for 3 weeks. How great would that be!

One day my dream as an artist is to go to Venice. I have many photographs of Venice that have been given to me by friends, but one day I want to see it in person.

This Demonstration was one I truely enjoyed.

Purchase this Painting on Ebay

Fifteenth

2006-01-01T22:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
My vacation is almost over and it will be back to the grind. I may not have gotten much done in the last week and I didn't was a little slack on this Blog and Ebay, but come Tuesday I hope to get full time back into the swing.

Today my brother and I built (mostly my brother) built a new computer. Man this machine is going to be fast and look pretty cool too.

Here is a painting to get you in the spirit of winter.

SOLD

Fourteenth

2005-12-29T22:21:00.000-08:00

Time off of work just flies by way to quick, I can't believe it is already Thursday, and to boot I am up late and it is really Friday.

Here is a painting that is a bit different, but I was asked by one of my students to paint an owl, so I did this painting demonstration. It's different but was very fun to do.

SOLD

Thirteenth

2005-12-28T21:34:00.000-08:00

It was actually a nice day outside today and because of that I took down all the outside holiday lights and decorations. I figure I get a jump on it while it was nice weather. The only thing is, now our house looks so unfestive. Oh well.

This painting is of the Villa Royale in Palm Springs. I gave 2 workshops there and have now heard that the whole place has changed and it is so expensive that only the rich and famous stay there. For artists this place was a gem. You never had to leave the grounds becuse you could find hundreds of paintings every where you looked at the Villa Royale.

SOLD

Twelfth

2005-12-27T22:05:00.000-08:00

I'm back! I know I wanted to post every day but the holidays were just way to busy this year.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

The holidays have been great and I can't believe how many people are interested in my work and purchasing so many of my pieces on Ebay. At first I was real skeptical but the response has been so wonderful that I really have to keep this going. I think in time I may raise my rates on the paintings, but for now it's great having people interested and my name is getting out there.

I'm glad to be back blogging and I wish everyone Happy Holidays!

SOLD

Eleventh

2005-12-21T16:58:00.000-08:00

This is the first year that I have been at work around the holidays when it was so busy with work needing to be done. Usually it's nice and slow and you can get some personal shopping done. Well I guess it's good to know one has a job and won't be loosing it.

This watercolor is done on Arches 300 lb rough paper and was done in my class at the Palette & Chisel Academy.

Sold and purchased on Ebay

Tenth

2005-12-20T12:27:00.001-08:00

Man is it cold in Chicago. We usually don't get this kind of weather until mid January or February. What's the deal!
These swans have the right idea, go south and swim in warm water.

Ninth

2005-12-19T21:12:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a busy week, it's just non-stop with work. Looks like everyone is getting things done before the big holiday weekend.

Still wanting to post every day so I had to hurry with this one. This Demo was of a farmers market done in a very loose style that I find many people like. The painting is 10" x 14" and done on Arches Bright white cold press 300lb paper.

SOLD

Eighth

2005-12-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

This painting is a tribute to my mentor Irving Shapiro. Mr Shapiro was one of the greatest watercolor painters I ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was also the best at negative painting in watercolor. If you have his Watson Guptill, How to Make a Painting book you'd see how many wonderful waterfalls he had painted.

This painting was done on a hot press type surface called Strathmore 5ply bristol board. Shapiro used watercolor board but it was a hot press type surface with little or no texture.

SOLD

Seventh

2005-12-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I canceled everything because of a snow storm that never came. Boy these weathermen, I tell-ya. So no class party but I got a few things done at home, like frame 2 pieces that I will bring over to the Palette & Chisel today to hang in their Gold medal show. I'm not sure if they only allow 1 or more paintings, oh well I'll find out when I get there.

This painting today is a 2 for 1 painting. The "Windmills" are on the front and on the back is "Farm". I probably ran out of paper one day in class and decided to do a demonstration on the back of a painting I already did. So the person who buys this one should frame it with glass and mats on both sides and can change scenes as they like.

Sixth

2005-12-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

Due to a snow storm that will be coming through our way I had to cancel our annual class Holiday Party. This is a real bummer because it always is the best time. I hope we will re-schedule in January.

Today's painting is one that I did on a trip to Arizona. It is Hawley Lake near Pinetop Arizona. A group of us went out there for a week to paint.
What a great time. This is also an oil, which I did a lot of while in Arizona. It was so nice getting back into the oils.

SOLD

Fifth

2005-12-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

This week is looking to be the Holiday Season party week. Tomorrow I have the party for my watercolor class at the Palette and Chisel.
Thursday the work party and Saturday a party from Silvershooters.

Today's painting is a demonstration I did of a boat from Port Clyde Maine. I did three workshops in Maine that started in Rockland but we ventured out to many of the other towns surrounding Rockland.

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Fourth

2005-12-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Snow, snow and snow this weekend really made it fun. I love when it really comes down and leaves about 2 feet of snow. It seems so quiet and peaceful when the snow is falling.

This painting is a bit bigger then the last three, it's 10" x 13.5" This painting is called "Snowy Sun River"

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Third

2005-12-09T10:50:00.000-08:00

Into my third day and still going strong. Putting up paintings, adding them to my Ebay listing, filing everything for the record, and I'm still excited about it. Hope this excitement lasts. Most be like working out, once you get past a month you know your home free. That reminds me that I really should start working out at the gym again.

Second

2005-12-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

Really getting things accomplished these days and it feels good.
I hope you enjoy this second painting I've posted, named "California Coastline".
This little gem is 8.5" x 11" and was done on Arches 300lb watercolor paper.
Arches has always been my favorite paper.

SOLD

First

2005-12-07T13:45:00.000-08:00

Looking to get a painting a day posted.
A goal that many artists have and I just caught the bug.
Here is my first painting "Acadia Light House"

SOLD