New Direction

As I said in my last post, my latest attempt is to take the Sticks & Stones series into a looser, more ethereal direction, similar to my recent botanical explorations. Sticks & Stones #39 does that, although I am not sure this is a better way to go or not. There is a flatness that I am not completely happy with. It seems to me it needs more contrast. Also, because the composition evolved (unlike all other Sticks paintings which are figured out prior to painting), the balance is a bit off. But for all it's worth, here it is.

Sticks & Stones #39, 2008, 30" x 15", acrylic on canvas

Practice, continued…

I am still feeling inspired to continue with these botanical-themed practice panels. In fact I have started a larger 24" square canvas in this theme and I am also starting a new 15" x 30" Sticks & Stones in this style, much looser and evolutionary than my previous Sticks & Stones paintings. We'll see how that turns out. I'd like to have something new in the Sticks & Stones for the upcoming ad I will be running in next year's Guild Sourcebook along with a Reclamation piece. I have a couple of weeks to get them together. And despite my creative block, I still get in the studio almost daily and sling a bit of paint, even though it may only be for a half an hour. I keep trying… I haven't given it up yet…

Small Botanical Study 2, 12" x 12", 2008, acrylic on canvas panel

Now, when I see the two pieces together, I am more pleased than with just the single piece alone. Somehow they make more sense when they are together:

Bed Bath & Beyond

Image Conscious is the publisher that recreates my artwork as posters. It is a rare thing to actually see my work in a home store, although I once saw Sticks & Stones #10's image hanging in Z Gallerie. But I have always wanted something to go into Bed Bath & Beyond. Don't know why, but every time I go in there and visit their artwork section, I think "my art should be here". So now it turns out that Bed Bath & Beyond has placed a major order (nationwide – all stores) for two of my small Sticks & Stones repros! Finally, I will be in Bed Bath & Beyond!

Sticks & Stones #37: 2007, 48" x 12", acrylic on paper


Below, the areas of the reproduction on order for Bed Bath & Beyond, outlined in magenta:


So there will be two small square-formatted prints available for purchase at Bed Bath & Beyond later this summer.

Just sold from the Guild.com

Dapple, 2008 and Whim, 2007 both measuring 24" square.

The wonderful thing is, this is a customer who has purchased my art from the Guild before. It's always great when a collector comes back for another piece of art!

Practice Makes Imperfect

I experimented with a different textural base on this piece, overlaying self-leveling clear gel on top of light molding paste, which created a slicker surface texture than the light molding paste alone. It allowed the paint to be easliy pushed across the surface and yet it offered better resistance than "regular" weight or "heavy" molding paste. This is not a theme that I would normally pursue, but I had seen some work by a wonderful artist who does beautiful, ethereal paintings in encaustic and oils and I felt inspired to try my own version in acrylic. I utilized some older techniques that I don't use much now and was excited by some of the accidents that happened. I just wish I had better control over the accidents, resulting in a better composition.



Small Botanical Study, 12" x 12", acrylic on canvas, 2008

More photos from the Pierre Paul Art Gallery

Reclamation #15 and Industria #11 are on the right.



Other artists' work at the gallery:

Fond Memory

Just sold from the Guild.com, Rapport is one of my favorite paintings. Not only did it turn out to my liking, but it is what I call a "magic painting." I remember its creation fondly. It was effortless, almost painting itself. It was spontaneous, there was no hesitation, no conflict, no wondering "where to take it." One minute it was a blank canvas and seemingly the next it was a completed painting. Like magic.



Unfortunately, magic paintings are rare. Right now I find myself fighting with tiny canvas panels during practice. I am spending more time preparing canvases than actually painting them. Sometimes I think I should do something else completely. Maybe I wasn't really born to do this. Some say I just need a break (from what? I'm not actually painting), others say it's just a block, it will pass or I have to work through it or whatever. Frankly, I am starting to doubt that it will pass even if I work on it. But I keep trying, painting really bad paintings and attempting to resolve the frustration that results.

Rapport was painted back in 2005, during a time when I was good. Right now it is on its way to Florida. Meanwhile, I have to get back to the studio.