Three Antique Kid's Blocks

Three Antique Kid's Blocks
SOLD

6 in X 8 in (15.2 cm X 20.3 cm) original acrylic painting on hand primed board $125. w/free shipping in US & Canada

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The three blocks shown in this painting are from three different sets of antique toy blocks. Over the years of searching for still life objects I've done some research on the different objects used from the toy box.

The large block on the left is from a set produced by The Embossing Company of Albany, NY., and were probably made around 1900. The Embossing Co. is considered the originator of ABC blocks in America. Today this set is referred to as “Uncle Goose Blocks” and came in a cloth bag. The design for these blocks may have originated in Europe.

The red “A” block next to it was also first manufactured by The Embossing Company and were made in a set 30 and each block measured 1 3/4” square. These date from around 1915 and were call “harmless” because of the rounded corners. The slogan on the box said “Toys That Teach” because of the alphabet, pictures of many kinds of objects and the stories that were shown such as “The Three Bears” with a three on this block.

The third block on the top is from a set of Walt Disney blocks made in late 1920's or early 1930's. The box for this set calls them “Saf ety blocks and was made by Halsam Products Co. founded in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois. Halsam later took over The Embossing Company and made a smaller version of their ABC blocks.

© Copyright by Paul Wolber

Fields of Wild Heather on the Highlands

Fields of Wild Heather on the Highlands
7" x 10" (17.78 cm x 25.4 cm) original acrylic painting on hand primed board
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To see past work in my daily painters gallery click HERE 

Driving through heaths and highlands bring many surprises when fields of heather burst into view. Here the subtle beauty of wild heather in the foreground is a beautiful contrast to woods and cottage in the background.

I've been looking at the sketch of this image from last spring and finally needed to complete this painting to share with those who have enjoyed the feelings and memory of heather fields from long ago.

© Copyright by Paul Wolber

Through the Woods

Through the Woods
SOLD

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) original acrylic painting on hand primed board

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To see past work in my daily painters gallery click HERE 

Walking through the woods on a snowy day reminded me of all those past years of traveling to visit family on Thanksgiving and Christmas and the wonderful dinners that would greet us. The woods had a special depth and glow created by the crisp, cold winter day that brought to mind all the winters of years past. These were the thoughts and memories that inspired this painting.

© Copyright by Paul Wolber

About Paul

Paul has traveled as an artist in many countries of the world including China and Western Europe. He is Professor Emeritus of Spring Arbor University in Michigan where he taught painting and design for many years and conducted cross-cultural studies and art classes in Italy and Western Europe since 1976. From 1998-2003 he was visiting professor at Sichuan Education College, Chengdu, China; Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Chongqing, China: and Guangxi Branch of Beijing Art and Design Institute, Beihai, China.

He has taught oil and acrylic painting for over 30 years, however his current painting is primarily in acrylic.
His paintings have been included in well over 100 local, regional and national exhibitions and he has received many awards for his work. His paintings are included in museum and private collections around the world. Subject matter includes Midwest landscapes, European subject matter, many parts of China, and currently nature and wildlife.

Art has been his lifelong passion and his artistic vision is based on the concept of art as form. Although he has studied and taught design and abstract form elements, his current work demonstrates striking realism, light and color. Color has always been an important element in his work and he has taught classes in color for many years.

Since 2006 Paul has participated in the daily painting movement with the purpose of making small original works of art available to private collectors who would not be able or choose to own large expensive works of art.

Paul currently is living and painting in Michigan with his wife, Li Qin who he met during his years of teaching in China. Qin’s interest in photography complements Paul’s work in painting and they are both avid travelers searching out art and photo interests in Europe, Canada and Asia. Recent travel was September 2009 in Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Glacier National Park. In May/June 2010 travel was in United Kingdom and Scotland. Some reflections of these recent travels can be seen posted on Paul's blog.

© Copyright by Paul Wolber
All Rights Reserved

Exhibition at Bear's Mill

This Friday, November 26 I will open a show of 23 paintings

at Bear's Mill, Greenville, Ohio.

Visitor information can be found at www.bearsmill.com

Reception Friday november 26, 6-9 pm is open to the public

A new feature of this show will be the introduction of four Giclée prints of my paintings. This is the first group of limited edition prints I've made available.

The prints will include

“Karst Mountains”,

“Three Dong Houses”,

“Wall 1”, and

“Cherries on Linen Cloth”.

I'm working on a new blog that will present info on prints, why I finally chose to issue these limited edition prints and information on the Giclée printing process.

© Copyright by Paul Wolber

All Rights Reserved

Siberian Tiger: Earths Largest Cat

Year of the Tiger: Siberian Tiger

10.5 inch x 14 (26.67 cm x 35.6 cm) acrylic on hand primed board $975.00
free shipping in US & Canada.
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To see past work click HERE 

Since this is the year of the Tiger in the Chinese astrological calendar, I've wanted for some time to do a painting of a Siberian Tiger. Siberian tigers live in eastern Russia with perhaps as few as several dozen still living in China and North Korea. They are an endangered species with probably only 400-500 still living in the wild.  Even though they live in the harsh northern climate of Siberia and northern Manchuria (China and Korea), they do have the advantage of living in an environment with a very low human density.

It is very difficult, if not impossible now to see a Siberian Tiger in the wild in China. The best place to see them up close is in Harbin's Siberian Tiger Park. They are sometimes referred to as the “Amur” tiger or "Manchurian" tiger because of the location of their environment. Seeing one of these great tigers for the  first time can be an awe inspiring event.

© Copyright 2010 by Paul Wolber

Toy Antique Horse Drawn Fire Engine

Antique Horse Drawn Fire Engine
5 in X 7 in (12.7 cm X 17.8 cm)
acrylic on hand primed board unframed $125
Free shipping in USA and Canada.
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To see past work click HERE

Around 1900 many children's toys were made of cast iron. While rummaging through an antique shop recently I found this cast iron fire engine. The sturdy construction and beauty of the the painted images made me want to do this painting. It also reminded me that I had some old cast iron toy horses that my father must have had as a child so I dug them out of the closet to compare them.

© Copyright 2010 by Paul Wolber
All Rights Reserved