The return of passion…

To my surprise, I had a magic painting yesterday! Strata was a planned painting, inspired after my experimentation on Composition 6 and Dapple earlier this year. Both of those paintings were interesting learning experiences for me, but they were by no means “magic”. Yet I knew there was something in both of those pieces that I wanted to pursue. Composition 6 was completely “evolutionary” in nature, meaning that I had no idea what was going to happen when I approached the blank paper, not even an idea of color. One thing just lead to another, and finally I had something that I liked. Dapple was a take-off from the former as I tried to recapture some of the amazing mistakes that had happened in the first piece. I even used the same color palette. From there I did a few layouts in Adobe Illustrator, and that is when I got the idea for Strata. So when I started this piece late Saturday evening, I had had a definite idea of where it was going. Even so, starting with a firm idea in my head does not insure I will have a successful painting. But from the minute I laid in the initial background glazes, I had the excitement that has eluded me for (seemingly) months. I couldn’t seem to leave the painting alone. I took several breaks throughout the day to run errands, and yet I wanted to get back to work on it. I even wired it last night at 10:00pm and hung it up!

Strata, 2008, 24" x 24", acrylic on canvas


Inspirations: Composition 6 and Dapple


The layout for Strata (Adobe Illustrator)

Studio Sale at the Guild

The Guild.com (The Artful Home) is having a Studio Sale. They've asked their artists to go through their studios, find works of art that they are not currently selling on the Guild.com and for a limited time, offer them at a significant discount. I have eleven pieces in the Studio Sale which starts today and ends July 15.

Hot off the easel…

Finally, I have finished this one! Nearly a week because there are many layers of paint overlaid very thinly and each layer had to dry before application of the next. My painting relationship with this piece was a mix of excitement and disappointment. All started out fine. It was looking good, just a little flat… then at one point, in trying to create some contrast, I ruined it (hating that), but got back in the studio the next evening and after some more scumbling and glazing, brought the piece back to where I liked it for the most part.

What I would change about this painting if I could: the color scheme would have felt more natural for me as a monochromatic piece (eliminate the blue tones).

What I love about this painting: the branch in the lower left corner is the result of a dramatic mistake. Using GAC 100 instead of glazing medium to thin the white wash made it dry too fast and I almost couldn’t remove any of it. That removal process left a stark contrast between the black base and the white wash overlay which disturbed me at first, but as I worked on other parts of the painting, my eyes kept being drawn back to that amazing little mistake.

Flora, 2008, acrylic on canvas—24” x 24”

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!