Hangin' with the Govna'

I picked up my paintings from the Governors mansion tonight and they gave me this photo from the reception of the show. I didn't paint tonight but thought this would be fun to post. This is a group I paint with called the seven lively artists(none of us can count). The show ran all summer and fall and winter......the reception was wonderful and the Govna' is quite cool. Perhaps you've seen him portayed on the news(60 minutes) as a crazed looney lately. A gambling addict. They photoshop all that crap. He's a good dude. He lets his dogs run all over the mansion. Big labs and retrievers as I recall. And he gave us this show.

This is an eclectic group eh? I'm 4th from the left in the back(currently have much more hair and scruff, it's winter) and the Govna' is 5th from right. It's snowing heavily right now and I'm content staring out the window............

back in the clouds

20"x24" oil/ canvas

So, I guess my head is back in the clouds. Driving home from Madison a few weeks ago at sunset the sky became incredible. The storms we had at teardown blew through and left these great sky scenes. Liz was shooting photos left and right. Actually west was best. Lightning was flashing east, still, but west was out of it.

This foreground is reading blue....like water...it's not in reality. But I like it just the same.

Last weekend on Long beach island was shall we say.............brutal. I'd like to write an analogy but not sure I can. Ok, imagine this. 150 people in tents. 150 people in tents wiping sweat from their brows continually from 10 am till they had finally had enough. 75 people in tents around 1pm wiping sweat from all body parts watching maybe 10 patrons. Oops, not patrons.... just more exhibitors heading for ac or their hotels. Or both. Show promoter attempts to limp through the remaining survivors/ exhibitors and say it's ok to zip up and call it a day. At least that's what I think she said. Delirium was close. And I don't mean the Belgian beer although I wish it was. Dropped a weight on my big toe zipping up. Kiss that nail goodbye.

Day 2. Who really cares? You get the point. ...Well I should mention the wicked storm that rolled in at tear down. Fortunately, I felt it coming and tore down early. No more than slammed the van door shut and Hell broke loose. Yes my friends.............It was Hell..............

same old same old

48"x24" oil/canvas

I hesitate to post this but am anyway. As usual I like the first piece more and completely dislike trying to capture anything more than once. The first one was photo'd with artificial light and appears more yellow than it is. This one is in natural light.

The goal was to intentionally place masses on edge of canvas and through the use of angles and distance keep the eye bouncing around the center of the canvas, forgetting about the side masses. While maintaining atmosphere. Frankly I'm tired of the piece and don't know if it worked or not. I even went back over it with some thin layers. Something I never do these days. I have to ask myself why would I even attempt this, let alone make it a piece I attempt to do large scale. Well, I'll have 2 days to ponder it while I sit in the blazing heat that is the Long Beach festival of the arts. Forecasted heat index of 109 degrees with high humidity both days. Here we go again. It just keeps getting hotter. Oh yeah, they put my cronkite boat painting on the advertising card for the show. Hope it helps. That's assuming the patrons don't die from heat stroke!