lessons learned

3 6"x6" oils

Ok. So I've done the third piece in this experiment. What have I learned? More about myself than about painting. I've mentioned before my dislike of painting the same thing more than once. So I've tackled this beast four times including the big commission. The original plan(after the commission) was to do 3 studies with different complementary arrangements. The first was red-green the second blue-orange the last yellow-purple. Each monitor reads differently but at any rate I strayed with each piece. Again, what did I learn? I learned that if I approach the same subject more than once with a different objective the piece can remain satisfying for me and stay fresh. On the other hand I recognize the fact that I am a very intuitive painter. When I paint it is a meditative experience and I do indeed have inner voices that call the shots(don't worry, I only talk to them once in awhile) What I mean is there is no predetermined outcome. Each piece, no matter my intention, has it's own outcome. The artist is the vehicle for these voices to appear. Yes, I recognize that the technicians out there will say you need total control over your medium. I would answer I was never a control freak...............

the final piece in the experiment

Light Emerging

6"x6" oil

As the light becomes slightly more apparent, the boat emerges from obscurity. Even still, it rests on unknown waters. Is it even a boat? Does it matter? After all a painting is about paint is it not? Ahh, what next for this subject. Turn the screws and tighten things up? Put it in it's rightful place? Suddenly philosophy infiltrates the process. I choose to see where my next piece takes me.

The Cape show had wonderful weather and I met some great people. Next weeks show on Long Island could have a hurricane in the forecast. We shall see.

Wellfleet Harbor

12"x24" oil
plein air

Since I'm off to the Cape I figured I'd post a piece I did a couple of years ago at Wellfleet.
And I'm sure a few folks saw yesterdays post and thought "What is he doing?" Don't worry. I have a plan. That piece isn't met to be a single piece. It will be shown in a set where the viewer can see work in various phases with various interests. Ideally completing a cohesive body. til next week...............

destroying the subject

6"x6" oil

So I tweaked yesterdays piece and started a new series. The subject I like. I've decided to do multiple color theory studies of the shrimp boat on a small scale. The goal is to destroy any attempt at an object and capture light even if one has no idea what the the light is hitting. This one was based on green red complementary colors. Ended up closer to blue orange. I've got work to do!

I'm off to Cape Cod for a show tomorrow. Won't be able to continue studies til next week. Cheers

Shrimp Boat

30"x40" oil

This is a commission that has been planned since April. A friend of mine used to live in Louisiana and I'd visit and fish in the Gulf. I had a fondness for the shrimp boats. So he found the image and I agreed to paint it. Seems appropiate subject matter considering what has since happened in the Gulf.

Cat as still life

40"x30" oil

This piece was demanding. There were 2 light sources one warm and one cool. Being backlit is another challenge. Sunlight and artificial light create different temperatures. Both apply here. Reflected light adds another challenge.

I approach the piece as I would a landscape. What is necessary? Gesture is critical. Definition is not. Do you need to see feet from this perspective? Only if you're a photo realist. I prefer to let the mind find the description. Do you feel anything? Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?

I'm doing a soiree with 3 other artists this coming Saturday. This means I'm supplying my 3 tents and panels for us all to exhibit work. It's through the art association of Harrisburg. Come on out. I'd add a link but can't find one. Hmmmmmmmm.................Soiree is at 726 Indiana ave. Lemoyne Pa aug 21, 5-8pm

Entering the Catskills

16"x20" oil/canvas

I've had this image in my head since February and stored on my computer just as long. I took the shot on the way to ski in the catskills and found it just wonderful. However, I felt it was too busy to be a good painting. Well it finally clicked. For those who know the area this is near the town of Fleishmans. Just as you enter the Catskills national park. I want to do the river but time is limited. And yes the studio is still insanely hot. Oddly enough, when painting I'm not even aware of temperature. While typing, it is all too apparent! Off to the Rehoboth art league show this weekend. Tomorrow I'll be reframing the many paintings that have been knicked and chipped during the many travels they have seen and wind gusts that decided they would be happier on the asphalt than on the panels. Cheers

more midwest skies

24"x24" oil/canvas

So I'm back from my last midwest show of the year. This is again a shot coming home from Madison. It looks like others but the grouping of these pieces in person is starting to gel. I've gone back to a 3 part mix of medium. stand oil, thinner and varnish. I just needed to stir things up. Still hanging in there with the brushes. Studio is insanely hot. As I type this sweat is pouring from my skin. After all these trips away from home I have to say the Susquehanna river, 3 blocks from my house, is still one of my favorite things to view. I've taken it for granted but prepare for more river paintings soon. Lots to do and off to Rehoboth Beach this weekend. Wheeeww it's hot!

Catching my breath

16"x20" oil/canvas

So I can only take photo's at night. There is glare. I like this piece I think. Will try a better photo in daylight. Off to north Chicago tomorrow for the ART at the Glen show. 90 degrees in studio again. I'm contemplating going back to knife work.

Dark Side

12"x12" oil

Back from Michigan. Barely enough time to paint. Leaning toward my darkside. Palette is crusty, I'm struggling, time is limited. Next year will have to be different. I can't survive another year of such things. The work is suffering as well as myself. I find it funny when people ask how long a painting takes to complete then figure a price per hour. Please remember the education, time doing exercises, travel, booth sitting, the shear effort of dealing with galleries and show organizers, and yes PAINTING! Oh yes, what a glamorous life indeed!

hmmmmm

3 6"x6" oils on panels

I'm not sure what to make of this. I applied what I thought was thick paint only to see it dry in front of my eyes in different spots. Hit some more paint and no change. A few spots stay dark. It is out of my control at this point. My studio is about 90 degrees. I've seen similar things in the past but this is unusual. Oil paint is dry to the touch in half an hour. I'm using a water based white only because that's all I have right now. The darks have no white in them and they dried the quickest. In fact, they dried lighter than when mixed. Jeez, I've been doing this a long time now and don't know what to think. I'm curious to see what happens when completely dry. Might need to varnish for uniform look. Off to the Orchard Lake fine art show in Michigan tomorrow. Cheers

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!

break rules

12"x6" diptych

So I'm back from Westport and tackling a new subject. I'm working on breaking the -Don't put masses too close to the edge of the canvas- theory. Also, I'm going to attempt a seriously high light key. This is the initial breakdown. The landscape is California again. By the time I'm done with the subject the viewer should smell the eucalyptis and feel like they're being dressed in sunlight. A tall challenge but that's what I'm chasing.

ps. I realize that the composition law could be unbreakable. I'm still consiberably tired. Will try anyway.

California mountains

30"x40" oil/canvas

Made progress with this subject finally. I mixed an absurd amount of paint but at least I didn't run out! This piece has a nice surface variety in person. I am happy with this one. The last one lacks textural interest. Off to Westport Connecticut.

self perception

24"x24" oil/canvas

Ok. I'm at a tough point. I can't gauge the work that I'm doing. The schedule is probably to blame. While painting I am still completely focused. The instant I stop, the schedule is my main focus. I'm excited about some of the upcoming shows but I've learned it's not beneficial to be excited....leads to dissapointment. My paint appears to be thinning as I feel rushed, yet I feel I must continue painting. In a way, it's self therapy. Learning ones own reaction to circumstance can only be helpful. So bare with me as I continue to stretch my faculties and see what the outcome will be. This has happened before and I've put work away only to realize later that it wasn't horrible after all. Or at least salvageable............Off to Westport CT. this weekend. They were kind enough to feature me in the show advertisement so I want to live up to expectations. I will paint again before leaving and will post the piece no matter what the outcome is! Cheers

exhaustion

6"x6" oil

This is what I do when I'm worn out. A quick light sketch. Just got in from Madison Wisconsin...took the van to the garage... picked the van up... bad water pump....ordered frames... ate food finally....my palette has a ton of color mixed yet this piece looks very minimal. I'm preparing a big painting from the east view of the mountains around big sur. The mountains are classic California. They look like pillows to me. So inviting..............and I'm quite tired.

Toast

30"x40" oil

Pardon the poor picture quality. I've sat roasting in the Hamptons for 3 days trying to sell my work. It was in the 90s. Got home to Harrisburg..... it's over 100 degrees f. My studio is about the same. I picked this scene from our trips to California. It might need tweaking... I'm off to Madison WI. tomorrow. I remember the cool air around pebble beach. Trying to recapture it...........

something about Mary

OK. So I have no image to post. Last weekend I did a show in the north Chicago suburbs. I did ok selling 4 paintings with possible future sales. Old town was better but potential is there. This post is about my neighbor exhibitor at the fountain square show. I challenge you folks to follow this dialogue in this age of reality tv and quick fixes.

Day one: Friday evening I setup my double booth with propanels. Setup was after 7pm so no paintings were hung and I barely got everything anchored down. Met my side by side neighbors but not Mary. Storms were imminent.

3am saturday awaken by a serious thunderstorm. Pray my booth is in one piece.

Get to my booth Saturday morning and everything is in one piece thankfully. For the first time I witness Mary rolling in with her "booth".

Mary is old school! She comes in wheeling a cart with 3 panels meshed together with chicken wire. She carefully arranges them so the wind won't blow them over. Her dress is quite short, her age is quite long although it varies greatly from rear view to front! She puts up her signage. A somewhat replica of a palette that is almost believable but not quite. Mary has a spray bottle that I find a bit odd. Turns out she unscrews the top and takes a sip when needed and sprays her legs when the heat gets to be too much. I begin to realize Mary has been at this for a long time. At this point I realize sales are secondary. I'm witnessing history here!

Day 2
The radar shows big weather coming around show opening. I get there early.. open booth... see storm coming....close booth.... anchor myself in booth...storm comes.... Storm drain clogs in my booth.... I'm stranded standing on my cooler in my booth. 10" of rain in booth. Mary had enough sense to wait till later to show up. Of course she has no tent so why come early? I ask myself " how'd she pass the booth shot?"

Day 2 after the storm
So Mary puts out an award ribbon on one of her 3 panels. Turns out the ribbon is a year old. Her dress is even shorter on this day and her age increases at the same rate that her dress decreases. Mary seemed to jump at a client a day late and a dollar short. I guessed she had a ton of experience but I could be wrong. I never met Mary so I choose my impression to remember Mary

a new horizon

40"x30" oil/canvas

So here is a new one based on the old one. Try as I may I refuse to do the same thing twice. It's more like I can't do the same thing twice. It feels like some entity is trying to kill me when I try to match color...light...composition... same idea...etc... Every piece has to be new. It has to develope from some new part of my psyche. The subject is simply a vehicle to get to a new place in my developement as a painter. Yes, the last one was warm with a fair bit of cad yellow to achieve green water. I liked the idea then. Different tangent now. Perhaps the fact that I tanked at the Scarsdale show has left me scarred and a bit blue. So be it. My paintings are a reflection of my life. I'm off to the next show this week in Chicago. Yipppeee. Those folks know painting and I can't wait to set up for an appreciative crowd.