Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #113. Shiner Bock at Minute Maid Park.

I didn’t get to watch much of the World Series due to conflicts in my traveling schedule. The only nights I was free to watch it, there were no games. I have been a Houston Astros fan since I was a Little Leaguer, even though I have never been to Texas.  I’ve been doing a bit of research about Houston and am planning a trip there now.  Houston has a ton of breweries, Karbach Brewing is the only one I have sampled beer from.  I would have chosen one of these brews for this painting, but I didn’t know which one to pick.  I went with a classic Spoetzl Brewery’s Shiner Bock, which I know from experience is a good choice for overall consistency, and is an easy drinker to pair with sports.  I eagerly look forward to a trip to Texas.  Maybe a birthday trip in April.

Cheers to the new World Series champions!  Houston should be proud!

The original oil painting sold. You can order limited-edition prints, or a custom beer painting at my Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #113. Spoetzl Brewery’s Shiner Bock at Minute Maid Park.
By Scott Clendaniel. 11″x14″, oil on panel.

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Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #82, July 21, 2016, Rainier BEAR

Raaaaain-Niiiier-Beeeaaar!

This week’s Thirsty Thursday beer painting was inspired by this breaking news story: Bear Downs 36 Beers, Passes Out at Campground

The funny thing is that he had options of Rainier or Busch, and the discerning palate of this thirsty bear chose the Rainier.  After sampling one Busch beer he went back for more of the Yakima hops and clean glacial water of the great Washington brew known as Rainier beer!  I’ve painted Rainier before, and when I read this story I knew it would make a great painting.  Talk about being thirsty!  But don’t be like this animal and drink yourself into a stupor.  Enjoy the brews in small doses, so you don’t get trapped by the local constabulary like this fuzzy guy.  I think I would have gone for some craft beer, but hey, when you’re camping, a good cold one right out of the chilly bin sometimes can’t be beat!

Cheers to the Rainier BEAR!  I hope he doesn’t make a habit out of this!

The original oil painting, and 52 limited-edition prints are for sale at my Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #82 by Scott Clendaniel. July 21, 2016. Rainier BEAR. 11″x14″, oil on panel.

 

 

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #67, April 7, 2016

Happy Thirsty Thursday on National Beer Day!  And, today is also my birthday!  April 7 was a great day in 1933 when beer became legal again after 13 years. Home brewing didn’t become legal until 1978, which is ironic, because home brewing is essentially the way beer was invented some 7,000 years ago.

This week’s Thirsty Thursday beer painting is a parody of Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa. This was the first of 36 paintings of Mt. Fuji that Hokusai produced from 1830-1833.  In my version I portrayed the boats as glasses of pilsner floating in a wave of dark beer I presume to be porter, or stout.  This wave of beer reminds me of a carboy incident I had while home brewing back in 2006.  Little to say, I have new bamboo flooring on the living room side of my kitchen counter as a result.  I call my version of this painting The Great Beer Wave.

I hope you spend National Beer Day home brewing, or at least pause from your busy schedule for a needed beer break!  In celebration of National Beer Day coinciding with Thirsty Thursday and my birthday I’m having a 15% sale at my Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.  Use coupon code BEER2016.  Valid today only!

The original oil painting sold. You can purchase limited-edition prints, or order a custom beer painting at my Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #67 by Scott Clendaniel. April 7, 2016. The Great Beer Wave. 14″x11″, oil on panel.

 

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #65, March 23, 2016

Henri Rousseau (1844-1910) was known for his jungle series of paintings.  Though he painted over 25 of these large paintings, the one that is most famous is The Dream, which was quite large at 9 feet by 6 feet.  It probably made a room feel tropical.  Living in Alaska, where it is white outside and everything is still in hibernation mode, I enjoyed getting lost in the jungle while painting this boozy version.  I love the lushness of the jungle and the way that Rousseau included so many animals hidden in this painting.  When I was researching famous paintings and found this one, I saw the woman with her hand empty and immediately thought that she needs a pint.  I know that when I am in the jungle I crave an ice-cold carbonated beverage.  Not only because the tropics cause perspiration, but it just fits the setting.  Unlike here in Alaska where, in the depths of winter, I would much rather have a small barleywine than a large yellow lager!  I am calling this piece The Dream Pint, because I live in Alaska and often dream of being in the jungle drinking a beer.  Hope you enjoy this one.  Cheers to exotic beers! 

The original oil painting sold, but you can purchase a limited-edition print, or order a custom beer painting at my Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #65 by Scott Clendaniel. March 23, 2016. The Dream Pint, inspired by Henri Rousseau. 14″x11″, oil on panel.

Close up of pint.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #56, January 21, 2016, Parabola Imperial Stout by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Deep black mahogany, as black as soot, with a flavor that won’t quit, but makes you want to come back for more. Barrel aged in whiskey barrels, nothing has quite the same flavor as a whiskey barrel-aged imperial stout. Firestone Walker’s Parabola is not one to be missed if you get lucky enough to find one. I was at Brown Jug Liquor Store in Anchorage, Alaska and I saw the fancy FW box being handed over to a gentleman. I inquired where I might also find the special liquid from the back basement cellar storage room. He went and brought me up a special bottle and I was surprised to find that the FW barrel aged ales were only $15 a bottle! For 14% beer that has been barrel-aged, that’s a good deal! Especially when it tastes as good as this one does! I opened this bottle on New Year’s Eve, and I believe it was a good choice.

I painted it with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, because the landmark is between Firestone Walker’s two restaurants and tasting rooms. The Golden Gate Bridge is also the largest parabola that I have ever seen. The Eiffel Tower also has a sweet parabola at the base of it, but I figured it wasn’t Californian enough, and also much smaller. If you ever get a chance to buy a bottle of Parabola, I would highly recommend enjoying it as a picnic item on the rocks overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Cheers to Firestone Walker! An award winning, stellar brewery that distributes to Alaska!

The original oil painting sold. Limited-edition prints are available at my Etsy shop, RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #56 by Scott Clendaniel. January 21, 2016. Parabola Imperial Stout by Firestone Walker Brewing Co. 11″x14″, oil on panel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #48, November 26, 2015

When I started the Thirsty Thursday beer paintings project, I forgot that Thanksgiving would be one of the days I would get to release a painting. Unlike last year, when I released a new beer painting every day, this year I hardly had to post on a holiday, and I kind of miss it! This week’s painting is of Peak 3 Pale Ale from Resolution Brewing. I have an art show hanging on the walls of the taproom, so I painted live there last Saturday during a decent snowstorm. This pale ale is named for a local recreational spot, which I believe is about the closest place I know where to make turns in the freshest snow close to Anchorage. Resolution Brewing is Anchorage’s smallest operating brewery. The brewers have to keep a robust brewing schedule, working with a 3 BBL system. Hard work pays off, and this small oasis is proving to be a new hot meeting spot in the up and coming neighborhood of Mountain View. The brewery is Belgian-style, but as batches are so “micro,” I think they are willing to take a stab at whatever they decide to be the flavor of the week. The brewers at this tiny facility are artfully brewing unique beers. Some of the other lovely beers I have tasted at Resolution are Tent City dry-hopped Belgian ale, Black Cup Coffee Porter, Madam sour beer blended with cherries, Lost Anchor IPA, and First Chair Amber Saison. Step up to the bar at Resolution, sometime in the near future, where you are sure to see someone you know, or make a new friend before you leave.

This original oil painting, and limited-edition prints are for sale at my Etsy shop.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #48 by Scott Clendaniel. November 26, 2015. Peak 3 Pale Ale by Resolution Brewing Co. 8″x10″, oil on panel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #47, November 19, 2015

Delirium Tremens, not only a delicious Belgian ale brewed by the Huyghe family brewery, but also a physical condition caused by alcohol withdrawal. The medical condition is not pleasurable at all with seizures, hallucinations and even a 5% chance of possible death! The beer on the other hand is one of the most delicious beverages known to man.

The Delirium brand has pink elephants on the label and the pub in Brussels has a pink elephant above the door, as well as on the fancy snifter goblet glasses. Pink elephants make me think of Walt Disney’s 1941 classic Dumbo, specifically the musical number in the scene when Dumbo is drinking the brew from a big barrel and Pink Elephants on Parade starts to play. I did my best to capture the song with this image of pink elephants marching down stairs.

If you get to the Delirium pub in Brussels make sure you peek around the corner to see the statue of a peeing girl, which is not as world famous as the one of the peeing boy, but worth a visit nonetheless. Don’t know why the Belgians find potty humor so hilarious but, hey, if you drink a lot of beer… you will have to pee, and if you drink way too much you might get the Delirium Tremens (not the beer).

The original oil painting sold. You can purchase limited-edition prints, or order a custom beer painting at my Etsy shop.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #47 by Scott Clendaniel. November 19, 2015. Delirium Tremens. 8″x10″, oil on panel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #43, October 22, 2015

Whistler’s Mother, or Arrangement in Gray and Black was originally painted by James McNeill Whistler in 1871. The original painting is quite large at 56 x 64 inches. My parody with beer is 11 x 14 inches. The original painting is considered one of the best examples of American Victorian paintings done outside the USA. Whistler’s original painting is displayed and held in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, France where it has lived since its purchase in 1891. This painting has been described as an American icon, as well as a Victorian Mona Lisa.

Whistler describes it as a composition of grays and form. He mentioned, of course, that since it is a painting of his mother, he has different emotions about it considering the content, but due to his formalist outlook on his painting he figured that other people would only be able to view it as a painting of grays and shapes. Ironically this image is looked at as an important icon for the adoration of parents, which is far from what the artist expected. It is such a strong icon that Americans have recreated it hundreds of times. It has been in three Simpsons episodes, as well as made into a postage stamp, and is also a larger than life sculpture at the Mother’s Memorial in Ashland, PA. I hope you find it humorous to see Whistler’s mother enjoying a pint while she rests. Obviously she is a huge fan of beer in my interpretation, as she also is the proud owner of a beer painting hanging on her wall.

Cheers to mothers everywhere! I think she’s drinking a glass of Mother Ale from Denali Brewing, or perhaps Mama’s Little Yella Pils from Oscar Blues. Or you can imagine it to be your mother’s favorite brew.

The original oil painting, and limited-edition prints are available for sale at my Etsy shop.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #43 by Scott Clendaniel. October 22, 2015. Whistler’s Mother with Beer. 11″x14″, oil on panel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #41, October 8, 2015

This week’s Thirsty Thursday painting is a parody of Gustav Klimt’s world-famous painting The Kiss. I have always been drawn to the work of Klimt, but I had problems emulating it before. He used a large amount of gold paint, which I was forbidden to use in college classrooms until I went to UAA, where it was encouraged. Now I use gold paint in every painting as an under-layer, and you can see it when light hits my paintings at a certain angle.

Klimt painted The Kiss between 1908-1909, during the height of what art history calls his “Golden” period. Austrian, Klimt painted in an Art Nouveau style and was considered a Symbolist. The Kiss is considered his most popular painting, and is now on display in Vienna at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere museum. It is much larger than my interpretation, which I am dubbing The Sip. Mine is 11 x 14 inches, while the original is 5‘11’’ square. I hope you find this to be humorous and light.

The original oil painting, and limited-edition prints are for sale at my Etsy shop.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #41 by Scott Clendaniel. October 8, 2015. The Sip. 11″x14″, oil on panel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #37, September 10, 2015

Paul Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) is most famous for his legendary drip paintings. Born in Wyoming, Pollock created his masterpieces in his studio in upstate New York. Jackson Pollock worked differently than traditional Western artists, stretching the boundaries of what people considered to be art. He used non-traditional mediums – paint that was more fluid-based, and engineered for building application. He would dance around an un-stretched canvas on the floor of his studio, applying paint with sticks, stiff brushes, and even used a turkey baster from time to time.

“I continue to get further away from the usual painter’s tools such as easel, palette, brushes, etc.” – Jackson Pollock.

Notorious for his alcoholism, and known to drink a quart of whiskey a day, the artist died in November of 1956 in a drunken driving accident. A true shame, as he was only 44 years old. At least he really got to live for the short time he was productive on this planet. For this reason, I admit that a beer painting in his style could be considered inappropriate, but I couldn’t resist making a painting using Pollock’s technique.

I had fun channeling this artist, and really made a mess. Normally I work in oil paint, but had to buy acrylic and latex paint for this painting. I set the painting support on a larger piece of plywood outside in a large open area on my lot in McCarthy, and just started throwing paint with a big brush. No, I did not consume a quart of whiskey while working on this piece. I waited until evening before drinking a beer, although I feel it would not have hindered my ability to paint in this way. I just had to climb on ladders while working on my cabin during the afternoon. I should have done this painting in the evening so I could drink beer while applying the drips of paint. Well, hindsight is 20-20.

“It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess. Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well.” – Jackson Pollock.

The original painting, and limited-edition prints are for sale at my Etsy shop.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #37 by Scott Clendaniel. September 10, 2015. Inspired by Jackson Pollock. 18″x26″, mixed media on panel.