One Artist's Journey

Final Elephant

2011-07-26T08:29:00.001-07:00

Not the power to remember, but its very opposite, the power to forget, is a necessary condition for our existence.

Sholem Asch

They say elephants never forget ~ maybe that's why this one looks so deep in thought. Imagine never being able to forget anything! At any rate, I don't think I will forget this elephant's face for awhile. Although I could probably go on shading forever I think this is just about all I'm going to do on this one. This was a real exercise in patience. Like all drawings though, it was just a matter of darks and lights.

Elephant Portrait 2

2011-07-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

It is in vain to hope to please all alike. Let a man stand with his face in what direction he will, he must necessarily turn his back on one half of the world.

George Dennison Prentice

Well, I have gone over the entire drawing once in an effort to give it depth. This is the process I enjoy the most, the fine tuning. It's amazing how much of the work now is done with the eraser. First the dark lines are put in, then some shading, then some blending, and finally some erasing. This process is done over and over until the final figure takes on a true look of three dimension. It's like pulling his face out of a snowstorm!

Elephant Portrait

2011-07-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

That which is bitter to endure may be sweet to remember.

Thomas Fuller

Well, I've finally gotten all the major lines drawn in and an indication of where most of the shadowing is going to go. Now it's just a matter of spending lots of time getting the right amount of blending done and the right amount of shading. To get a good feel for the all the wrinkles I'm also going to have to go back and pay close attention to each line ~ they need to be very dark in some places to indicate depth and much lighter, almost invisible, in other places to indicate just slight indentations in the surface of the elephant's face. Lots of fine tuning to be done!

2011-07-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

If, after I depart this vale, you ever remember me and have thought to please my ghost, forgive some sinner and wink your eye at some homely girl.

H. L. Mencken

Known for their ability to never forget, elephants seem amazingly calm. If they are really remembering everything they have clearly found a way to deal with their past. They seem to know how to live in the present and let their hurts and cares of yesterday behind. What a great outlook to have! I have decided to do a series of drawings of elephants. My thanks to Wet Canvas for this great photograph. An extreme close-up, it's going to rely heavily on getting each wrinkle in place and then a great deal of shading to give his face some depth. I am working with only graphite pencil but will probably add a little bit of charcoal at the end.

Apples with Pot

2010-11-19T14:02:00.001-08:00

The father of every good work is discontent, and its mother is diligence.

Lajos Kassak

Yesterday my art teacher was back in class and gave me some final pointers for this painting. It's amazing how a small change can have such a huge impact. After three hours of tiny readjustments here and there I felt I had done all I could do. Fortunately, when my instructor came around again, he agreed. Finished! Now, of course, I need to wait 6 months to put a coat of varnish on but I can finally put this one aside ...... well, actually, now that I look more closely at it I see several places that could use a little more attention. Ugh.

Progress!

2010-11-17T07:51:00.001-08:00

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

St. Francis de Sales

As I have written earlier I am very happy with my art instructor ~ he's insightful, supportive, and has a wonderful eye. This past week I took the three paintings in this post to class for his advice. Unfortunately, his wife was ill and we had a substitute ~ a wonderful teacher also. She looked at my paintings and declared me a "Renaissance painter." My heart soared. Now I know what I aspire to be! Renaissance art emerged about 1400 in Italy (that's why I feel so drawn to Italy, I'm sure ~ it is by far the most beautiful place I have had the privilege to visit). To me Renaissance art is closely associated with the classical painting done by the late 19th century masters. One of the best sites to visit to learn more about these artists and what is being done to preserve their work is the Art Renewal Center. It is well worth a visit. Anyway, it's nice to have a direction at last ~ one never knows how one comment can change another person's life!

Apples with Pot

2010-11-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Success is that old A B C ~ ability, breaks and courage.

Anonymous

The time had come to put the ring on the pot. I was in my art class and wanted to know the best technique to get a perfect ring drawn. I had all sorts of implements on hand and was anxious to discuss them with my teacher. When he came over and I began to explain all the steps I was going to take he just looked at me and smiled. "Draw it," he said, "just draw it." Then he handed me a white charcoal pencil and started to walk away. Why not, I thought, I can always paint over it. But, lo and behold, it worked! Perhaps success is really more C B A ~ I think courage has to come first.

A Pair of Eggs

2010-11-01T10:57:00.001-07:00

Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.

John Ruskin

I have decided to try my hand at some painting with a very limited palette. For this one I used only four different colors ~ black, white, green, and brown. There's still some work to be done with the shadows and molding the eggs and jar but I think its gotten off to a nice start ~ certainly makes cleaning the brushes a lot simpler!

John Ruskin

Sunset Sail

2010-10-25T14:13:00.001-07:00

Once a man would spend a week patiently waiting if he missed a stage coach, but now he rages if he misses the first section of a revolving door.

Simeon Strunsky

I fell in love with this picture the minute I saw it. Although a city girl, the feeling of solitude and isolation conveyed here really appealed to me. These colors are way out for me ~ but everyone in my class today loved them. Today was make-up day so I really didn't know anyone. Maybe they were just being nice. Anyway, for now I'm keeping this one vivid. It still has a long way to go but at least today I got the canvas covered.

Apples with Pot

2010-10-21T12:45:00.000-07:00

If I try to be like him, who will be like me?

Yiddish proverb

The hardest thing about painting is making the painting one's own. Although my teacher says its fine to copy other people's work (particularly the masters), he strongly advocates setting up one's own still life or finding a particular place and taking your own photograph and working from it. Unfortunately, I tried that. I took a fabulous picture of a courtyard in St. Thomas and decided to paint it several weeks ago. After hours and hours of working on the stone courtyard I carefully placed the painting in the corner of my studio and dug out this photograph I found on Wet Canvas. I can claim no originality here but I am enjoying turning the photo into an oil painting with Carravagio in mind. That doesn't mean I don't like the above quote ~ it just means once in awhile it's okay to copy. There's a lot to be learned from other people's work.

Lion 3

2010-09-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Courage ~ fear that has said its prayers.

Dorothy Bernard

Well, with a little reshaping Leo is starting to look more like a lion and less like a monkey. I reshaped his snout and enlarged his head giving him a whole new profile. Now its just a matter of getting more and more texture in his mane and adding some more detail to the area above his mouth (what is that area called anyway?)

Lion 2

2010-09-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

Everyone is a genius at least once a year; a real genius has his original ideas closer together.

G. C. Lichtenberg

I am used to going back over my paintings many, many times but when it comes to painting fur it's a whole new ball game. I don't know how many layers are on here but to my mind it still needs a lot more. He is starting to look quite fluffy though.

The above quote has nothing to do with this painting but everything to do with this blog. For days I have been going around and around trying to sign on using my user name and changing my password over and over all to no avail. Finally I just went to the blogspot website and signed on through that and it worked! I may not be a genius everyday but every once in awhile the light bulb does go off.

Anyway, back to this painting. I'm still not happy with the background ~ not happy with the shade of green. This week my art classes start again so I will ask my teacher for a little help. The green really makes the yellow in the lion pop but it's just not the right shade.

Bowl of Grapes 3

2010-08-20T13:33:00.000-07:00

Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.

John Ruskin

I am having major issues with my blog server. As usual somebody wants to fix what isn't broken. Hopefully, I will be able to figure it out but for now this is the last post of the grapes.

Lion 1

2010-08-19T11:20:00.001-07:00

Dogs come when they are called; cats take a message and get back to you.

Mary Bly

We are not a "cat" family. After one disastrous attempt to have a cat which resulted in a major flea infestation we have had only one pet, a lovely little Cocker Spaniel named Maggie. However, when I came across a photo of this magnificent lion I couldn't resist painting him. How regal and uninterested he appears. After painting feathers it seemed like a good thing to give fur a try. Once again I've found it's a matter of layers and layers.

Bowl of Grapes 2

2010-07-06T15:38:00.001-07:00

Whether it be to failure or success, the first need of being is endurance ~ to endure with gladness if we can, with fortitude in any event.

Bliss Carman

It is amazing to me what one little bit of knowledge will do to change things drastically. I am contemplating buying a video painting workshop on color. The free introductory lesson taught me that the part of anything in shadow will have a touch of color that is opposite its main color on a color wheel. For example, the shadow side of the swans were grayish-purple. The shadow side of the grapes, above, therefore, would be reddish, orange. I'm not as brave as I know I should be but I'm working up to more and more contrasts in my paintings. That's what makes them pop. Anyway, the grapes are done for now ~ on to the pears!

Bowl of Grapes

2010-07-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

In creating, the only hard thing's to begin;
A grass-blade's no easier to make than an oak.

James Russell Lowell

Although I took some quick photos of this painting earlier on this is the first time I have gotten to my computer to post anything. I found this photo on-line and fell in love with ts simplicity immediately. Of course, when I started to paint it I quickly realized that it is not simple at all. Each grape had a personality all its own. It was a real joy to tackle each one. I'll probably go over them all at least one more time but for now, I'm just happy to have this one sitting on the easel.

The Mating Game 11

2010-06-17T12:50:00.001-07:00

A work of art is a corner of creation seen through a temperament.

Emile Zola

My computer was in the care of Best Buy for over two weeks and I cannot begin to describe how happy I was to get it back. At any rate, I am happy to post another rendition of the swans. I took them to class today and my teacher feels they are finished. My favorite critic does not. I will try to add a few more touches to them but actually will be quite happy to see them swim off into the sunset. While I feel I learned a lot about painting water, feathers are a whole other story! The quote above seemed to fit perfectly with this painting. Every time I approached it I had a different idea of the feeling I wanted to give to it. I'd try to give it one type of atmosphere at home only to have my teacher suggest something to give it a completely different feel. That little bit of still water in the lower right hand corner is me clinging to my original idea of still, placid water counterbalancing the tension between the swans. My teacher kept at me to swirl that water up but I hung tough. Today he didn't mention it all ~ maybe (probably) he was right, but it's my painting.

The Mating Game 10

2010-05-21T13:36:00.001-07:00

If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it: Every arrow that flies feels the attraction of earth.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Feathers! Feathers! Feathers! I don't know how to paint them. Today I worked a long time on the swans. While I feel I have the shadowing in pretty well I would like to see much more definition within the feathers. The problem here is a continuity of style. While I acquiesced to my teacher and added lots of detail to the water overall the painting style is smooth and blended strokes. My original idea was to have strong and heavy strokes when I got to the feathers. I'm not sure this is going to fly with my teacher. So far I've been happy following his advice ~ can't wait to see what he says about mixing of painting techniques on one canvas. Also, I can already here him telling me to get more contrast in the swan's bodies. I know the one on the bottom needs more work ~ my arm just gave out.

The Mating Game 9

2010-05-20T14:13:00.001-07:00

God gave man work, not to burden him, but to bless him, and useful work, willingly, cheerfully, effectively done, has always been the finest expression of the human spirit.

Walter R. Courtenay

Well, as you can see I put in a fair number of hours today on the water. This has been quite time consuming but once I got into I really enjoyed it. My teacher had some really good pointers about making the swans appear as if they are actually sitting in the water not on it. However, I am so anxious to get to work on the swans now. Although I am glad I listened to my teacher and spent more time on the pond, I feel it still needs a lot more work. The next session, however, will definitely be spent on the birds. Its time to give them a little attention. Since there's only one more class to go I want to be sure and get my teacher's input on them as well.

The Mating Game 8

2010-05-19T08:35:00.001-07:00

Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into, the mind.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Well, as you can see my idea didn't fly with my teacher. He really thought the water needed a lot more attention. I've started at the bottom of the canvas and am adding more depth and detail. A lot of work left to be done here!

The Mating Game 7

2010-05-12T08:39:00.001-07:00

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

William Butler Yeats

I've spent about eight hours on this since my last class working only on the water. The big question in class tomorrow will be how much more to put in. I like how still the water looks ~ it adds a real touch of serenity to the entire painting. I want the energy to come from the tension between the three swans. I'm guessing though that my teacher will want me to add some motion to the water. The beauty of oil paint is that I can try it and if it doesn't work just cover it up again. Painting the water like this took a tremendous amount of blending ~ no harsh edges between the different colors. Unfortunately I broke my favorite little blending brush ~ fortunately that means a trip to the art supply store.

The Mating Game 6

2010-05-06T15:40:00.001-07:00

Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence.

Henry Chester

Today was art class again and my new favorite teacher was not there ~ ugh. I was all prepared with my questions and my working photographs. Although I didn't enjoy the instruction I thought I would get, the substituting teacher did have a few good pointers. My enthusiasm did not stay dampened for long! At any rate, today was background day and I have just begun to get the water laid in. Once I get a few more layers of paint on it will be time to go back and add in the highlights and darker shadows. Then feathers!

The Mating Game 5

2010-05-05T08:21:00.001-07:00

They gave each other a smile with a future in it.

Ring Lardner

Well, this is coming along slowly. I've gotten a bit of the shading done on the lower feathers and more detail put in the faces. This white on white is quite a challenge! Since this is a combination of two different photographs this weeks job is to get the water to make sense. I'm going to work on not only the color but the movement. Also its time to start getting some reflection at least indicated. Because of the story within this painting I think its necessary to have patience in getting just the right amount of action on the canvas.

The Mating Game 4

2010-04-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

The last thing a woman will consent to discover in a man whom she loves, or on whom she simply depends, is want of courage.

Joseph Conrad

The best paintings in my opinion tell a story and that's what I'm hoping to convey here. Is the little lady in the front beginning to look shy? I hope so. And does it look like the swan on the left is beginning to muster some courage to try to head the other swan off? At any rate I worked all day today getting more shading done. My class is on Thursday and I'm hoping to get some pointers on getting both the swans and the water to look more realistic. I'll have to let this dry until then so I can add some bold brush strokes to create feathers. I know my instructor is going to want me to add some foliage but I kind of like the serenity of the water in contrast to the emotional struggle going on. Ying and yang.

The Mating Game 3

2010-04-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

If there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another, and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.

Albert Camus

Today I worked solely on the swan on the left. This is the one in this little scenario who is not happy with what's going on between the other two. He wants to be the one that attracts the lady swan in the front but he's waited too long ~ the other one is making his move. I've started doing some of the shading and blending but there's a long way to go to get him three dimensional. The problem with painting something white is that its difficult to give it form ~ a good exercise I learned in school when I first started studying painting was how to paint an egg on a white canvas. Give it a try.

The Public Speaker 2

2010-04-22T15:50:00.000-07:00

Tell me and I'll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I'll understand.

Native American saying

Today I started my art class in Boca and knew right off the bat I had found a great teacher. He looked at my swans and asked me what my plan was. Then he smiled and said "We're going to have a lot of fun with this one". I decided to work on the Public Speaker today, however, simply because I want to get some better photographs of the swans to work from. As you can see I at least got some paint on the entire canvas. Every time the instructor would come by he taught me something new. He gave me some great tips on color mixing and also some pointers on making convincing shadows. He also suggested that next time I use an acrylic underpainting as it is frustrating to have to wait so long for oil to dry between sessions. I have avoided acrylics up until now because I don't think they give the same depth to a painting as oil paint does. Maybe they're worth a try, though. At any rate, it was great to be back in the classroom.

The Public Speaker

2010-04-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

Say what you have to say and the first time you come to a sentence with a grammatical ending ~ sit down.

Winston Churchill

This week I am starting a new class at the Boca Raton Museum of Art School. It will be a real treat to be back in a studio with a group of artists and to have a new teacher. For my project I have decided to do an oil of this drawing I found in a book. Since it is black and white I am on my own as far as color. So far I've sketched it in on the canvas, sizing it up 1 1/2 times and have painted in a background. As I was working it occurred to me that he looked as if he was giving a speech so I have placed him on the edge of a stage. My first question to my new teacher ~ how should the background be handled? Second question ~ how do I tone down the yellow a bit and still keep it light so there will be a striking contrast between the background and his dark coat? Stay tuned.

The Mating Game 2

2010-04-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

All profoundly original art looks ugly at first.

Clement Greenberg

Here I have placed the swans where they should be on the canvas and have begun to work on the background. Since they were floating about in a fairly shaded area the water had taken on a lovely green hue which works well with the brilliant white feathers. There will be quite a bit of blending to be done in the water to get the shadow lines softened and more depth to the water. Slow and steady it goes.

The Mating Game

2010-04-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.

Blaise Pascal

I have decided to go back to my original idea for this blog which is to trace a painting from its very beginning. Last week I went to the Palm Beach Zoo ~ a surprise outing but fortunately I had my camera along. After going through all the photos I decided to use a few of some beautiful swans I had taken. I printed them, cut them up and rearranged them to form a three-way flirting fest. The story will be a little clearer as I get to their facial expressions. For starters I just wanted to get them placed correctly with each other and on the canvas. It wasn't until I had gotten fairly into blocking everything in that I noticed the swan's body on the left is heart shaped ~ perfect symbolism for a love story.

The Steward

2010-04-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair.

George Burns

Although I've posted this one before and kind of even sort of put in in a frame I knew it wasn't really done. I put in maybe four or five more hours just tightening up some edges and loosening up others. My quote really doesn't have much to do with the work that I did only that maybe what one thinks is finished in Washington really isn't. ANYWAY, this is an art blog and I'll stick to the subject. I really enjoyed working on this one getting the different shades of gray to reflect where the light was coming from and also to give a three dimensional effect. My favorite critic told me I "nailed it" so this time I am done.

Evening Sunset 2

2010-02-06T09:50:00.001-08:00

Music is a strange thing. I would almost say it is a miracle. For it stands halfway between thought and phenomenon, between spirit and matter.

Heinrich Heine

Mark O'Connor is the best fiddle player I've ever had the pleasure to hear. He started playing at the age of 11 and in less than a year was winning competitions at a national level. My absolute favorite number he does is Jerusalem Ridge. It is bluegrass fiddling at its finest. It's also the song I play when I want to really get moving on a painting. I haven't touched this Evening Sunset in quite a while but I knew that I needed to get more of an underpainting job done on the tree and other greenery. This is the point where its really important to work the whole canvas at once. Although it still doesn't look like much the bones are there. Mark had me flying all over this! Next session will be much slower ~ probably some yoga music ~ time to work on details.

The Window 2

2010-02-03T07:29:00.001-08:00

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I almost titled this painting "Imagination" ~ what is outside of the window? Is that brilliant sunshine streaming in or a raging blizzard? Maybe my mind is focused on weather because my husband is traveling in a snowstorm on business and I am sitting on my porch in bright sunshine surrounded by palm trees. Emerson definitely had it right, though. No matter what the weather, the sky is always magnificent to behold.

As far as the painting goes, it was fun trying to create the look of an old structure. The inexact lines of the window frames coupled with the uneven paint on the wall definitely give the room an aged look. Also keeping the furniture to the bare minimum adds to the simplicity of the composition and helps to lead the eye to the focal point ~ the light from the window. No matter what the temperature is I hope the sun is shining on you.

The Window

2010-01-21T11:13:00.001-08:00

Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.

Thomas A. Edison

Last weekend we took a trip to Winter Park, Florida. It is one of the most charming towns I have ever been in. One long street divides the town in two ~ a beautiful park on one side and a residential neighborhood on the other with beautiful homes overlooking tranquil lakes. The street is one long avenue of restaurants and shops. Although I still intend to finish off a lot of unfinished projects I was so taken with a small photograph in one of the shops I had to stop on the way home and pick up a small canvas and get to work on this little painting. I love the simplicity of the composition as well as the color scheme. Don't let the bed ruffle fool you ~ the black is just an underpainting for something softer.

Red Morning Bouquet 2

2010-01-11T14:32:00.001-08:00

It is better to wear out than to rust out.

George Whitefield

I hope the above quote is true because I am on a tear to get so many projects done and yet I keep getting more ideas for new ones ~ not the least of which is working on my photography skills. At any rate, this one is going into the finished pile as well. Since I overworked that drawing last month I'm very hesitant to keep working on things too long. This will take months to dry before it can be varnished so it may go back into the "just a few more touches" pile before all is said and done.

Red Morning Bouquet

2010-01-08T13:52:00.001-08:00

This is a prime example of why I need to take a course on how to photograph oil paintings to be posted on the computer. This painting looks much better in person (even if I do say so myself). Anyway, I have finally decided to make the flowers red. There is an underpainting of shades of blue and then another of shades of white which are working to give them some depth. Next step will be to get to work on the greenery and add more dimension to the pot. So far I'm pleased with how the light is cascading across the tips of the flowers ~ by darkening the greenery they should pop out even more. That's my leap!

Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know how, you begin to die a little. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.

Agnes de Mille

New Year's Pear

2010-01-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.

Charles Kingsley

I love New Year's Day! I love the idea of fresh beginnings ~ a chance to start anew, get organized, and make plans. That's where this pear came from ~ I plan to finish up many of my projects that have been sitting on the back burner. This one required about an hour of finishing touches. Of course, no painting is ever truly done in the eyes of an artist but I'm walking away from this one (for now). There's a lot I'm not happy with (the ribbon for one) but a lot I am happy with (the texture of the pear). Anyway, happy new year ~ may it be a healthy and peaceful one.

Girl with Flowers 3

2009-12-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

The ear tends to be lazy, craves the familiar and is shocked by the unexpected; the eye, on the other hand, tends to be impatient, craves the novel and is bored by repetition.

W. H. Auden

I just can't leave well enough alone ~ guess I'm "craving the novel." Once again I feel I've overworked another drawing. While the detail in her outfit sits okay with me, there is way too much going on in the bouquet. With every drawing, though, I learn so much. The other problem here is that the I've overworked the paper ~ too much charcoal and too much erasing. Well, there's always another drawing to be done.

Girl With Flowers 2

2009-12-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

In early youth, as we contemplate our coming life, we are like children in a theatre before the curtain is raised, sitting here in high spirits and eagerly waiting for the play to begin.

Arthur Schopenhauer

She seems to be coming along. This drawing is a real exercise in balancing detail with the looser style I'm trying to develop. I want her face, particularly her eyes, to be the focus of the picture and the flowers to just frame her intense look. The goal here is to draw the viewer in, capture his interest and make him wonder what the girl is thinking about. I have my own idea what's on her mind which also presents a challenge ~ how do I convey what's I think is on her mind in her demeanor?

Girl With Flowers

2009-11-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.

Rachel Carson

I have decided to do a series of pencil drawings of children. This first one is of a young girl staring directly at the viewer. One of the things I am going to concentrate on is trying to be a little looser with my renditions. I have a tendency to put too much detail in parts of my drawings that would be better left to the imagination. As in all portraits the eyes "have it" so in this case I will attempt to leave the flowers alone and not draw in every petal. We'll see.

Morning Bouquet 3

2009-09-28T14:33:00.001-07:00

The father of every good work is discontent, and its mother is diligence.

Lajos Kassak

Lots of big changes since the last time I posted. First of all I darkened the upper right corner and started blocking in the tablecloth. Here comes the "discontent" part. I don't like the tablecloth at all. The decision now is whether to even leave it in. That's one of my big problems ~ sometimes I get impulsive and add things that I don't like the next day. Then its time to balance discontent with diligence. Should I keep working on the tablecloth until it pleases me or give in to my discontent and get rid of it now? I do, however, like the way the vase is starting to shape up. And, I'm also pleased with the placement of the greenery and the flowers. Anyway, guess I'll live with this one on the easel for awhile the way it is before I make any changes.

Morning Bouquet 2

2009-09-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

There is no royal road to anything. One thing at a time, and all things in succession. That which grows slowly endures.

J. G. Holland

I like the quote above ~ slow and sure wins the race! Here is the result of my second session with the Morning Bouquet. Although there doesn't seem to be too much progress at first glance there's actually a lot of new stuff going on. The table has taken on more dimension and the vase is starting to appear in the background. Another thing that is becoming very clear to me is that there is too much light in the upper right corner. Although it's not quite so obvious in person, the photograph really brings out the contrast. I had originally thought I would do red flowers but now am thinking maybe white. For now, I'm just going to keep working on the background. Once I darken the corner and add a little more green it will be easier to reach a decision on the flowers. No rush ~ steady progress.

Morning Bouquet

2009-09-15T07:12:00.001-07:00

Be regular and orderly in your life like a bourgeois, so that you may be violent and original in your work.

Gustave Flaubert

I have hit a wall in several of the projects I'm working on and finally decided last night that I just needed to start something new and get a brush back in my hand. Keeping with the theme of "nothing is working right" this photograph doesn't come close to showing the colors on the canvas. For some reason my camera has decided to do its own color editing ~ whatever. I am not in the mood to pull out the manual and figure it out this morning. This picture does, however, capture the values that I'm going to be working with ~ at least as I have them so far. Bright light in the upper right hand corner will reflect off the left hand side of the table while the left top of the picture will fade into darkness as will the edge under the table. Getting started on the background of a painting is always the loosest painting I do and for me the most creative. I'll do a couple more sessions on this background before I begin the bouquet. I need to know where the color is going to go with this before I decide on the flowers. Next time I promise a better photo.

As far as the quote above, being "regular and orderly" in my life explains the lack of posts recently. It was thrilling last night to put aside my bourgeois existence, turn on some Beethoven and become "violent." I highly recommend it.

The Sailor

2009-07-22T05:15:00.000-07:00

Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean ~ roll!
Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain;
Man marks the earth with ruin ~ his control
Stops with the shore.

Lord Byron

When I was twelve years old I crossed the Atlantic aboard the SS Stavangerfjord with my parents to visit my father's homeland of Denmark. In the middle of our crossing we encountered an enormous storm and for over a day we were tossed about by waves over 40 feet tall. My father had been a sailor in his earlier days. He thoroughly enjoyed the storm and his serene acceptance of our situation calmed all my fears. Peering outside it was quite a sight to watch the sailors crawl across the open deck clutching a rope above their heads that had been strung from the main part of the ship to the bridge.

While I hoped to convey some sense of alarm in the sailor's face above, I also hoped to convey that same sense of acceptance my father wore on his face. We live in the middle of many storms over which we have no control ~ might as well accept it. But just like that storm on the sea, the calm eventually comes.

Wildflowers

2009-06-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

Faith moves mountains, but you have to keep pushing while you are praying.

Mason Cooley

I love this little bouquet of wildflowers. There was no source material for this painting ~ sometimes I just like to see what shows up on the canvas. As far as the quote above, it just seemed to fit right in with how I'm feeling about being an artist right now. I'm not sure where it's going but I'm just going to keep on plugging away.

Oh, a little update on the Megilp. While cleaning out some files I found an article from the June, 2005 Artist's Magazine saying that the new medium from Gamblin ~ New Megilp ~ doesn't yellow or darken over time but still provides a luminous quality to oil paint. Now I'm glad I bought that bottle at Pearl!

The White House

2009-06-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context ~ a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan.

Eero Saarinen

I have always loved cities ~ particularly those that are laid out beautifully. Washington, D.C. and its many circles, New York and its parks, and, of course, arguably the most beautiful of all cities, Venice and its winding canals all come to mind. An antique etching of a house perched along one of the canals in Venice was the source for this small oil. As I got closer and closer to finishing this painting I was struck by how it began to look more and more like an abstract. Venice, built centuries before the abstract movement was born, like all cities is merely a product of countless components. Great cities, like great paintings, depend primarily on great design.

Going Fishing 4

2009-06-17T11:54:00.001-07:00

Inconsistency is the only thing in which men are consistent.

Horace Smith

The only thing consistent about this blog is that I consistently come back to it. Anyway, I finished this little painting this morning. While visiting New York I picked up a bottle of Neo Megilp at the Pearl Paint store on Canal Street. It's a medium to be mixed with oil paint that the woman in the store guaranteed me would not only provide a lovely gloss to the paint but help it go on more smoothly. Before I started painting this morning I cleaned out some of my files where I keep notes on all sorts of tips and helpful hints . Wouldn't you know I came across one that said not to use Megilp as it causes darkening and cracking. I decided to use it anyway ~ after all, everyone has an opinion on what works and what doesn't. That goes for just about everything in life too, I've found, not just painting techiques. Anyway, my fishing boy is on his way.

Grace

2009-04-23T05:35:00.001-07:00

Grace is the absence of everything that indicates pain or difficulty, hesitation or incongruity.

William Hazlitt

It's been a long time since I've done any figure drawing. I thought this woman's beauty and in particular her pose exemplified Hazlitt's definition of grace. Charcoal pencils are one of my favorite things! This one was done in one sitting so unfortunately I have no "in progress" shots to share.

Going Fishing 2

2009-04-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

If thou workest at that which is before thee, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract thee, but keeping thy divine part pure, as if thou shouldst be bound to give it back immediately; if thou holdest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with thy present activity according to Nature, and with heroic truth in every word and sound which thou utterest, thou wilt live happy. And there is no man who is able to prevent this.

Marcus Aurelius

The outlook on life presented in the quote above is what I hope comes to mind when one views this little painting. Set upon one task, carrying his fishing pole to the river, the young fisherman is solely dedicated to that purpose. Live simply and live well. Focus on the task at hand and it give your all ~ not an easy task with the way our minds jump around, but worth trying anyway.

I've darkened this painting up considerably which intensifies the brightness of the sunrise. There's still a lot of detail to be added but it's coming along.

Going Fishing

2009-03-17T06:48:00.001-07:00

Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into, the mind.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

After the local art show was cancelled I became very discouraged. I love "doing" art ~ I don't love "marketing" art. I suppose that's true of all artists, though. Anyway, my good friend Lynn encouraged me to keep at it. Lynn's positive, cheerful outlook on life is a gift she generously shares with everyone she meets. So, Lynn, if you're reading this, thanks for the kind words.

I started this small painting last week. I am particularly interested these days in getting the background of my paintings correct. The right mixture of darks and lights are not only key to making the figure pop out but in making him look three dimensional. I've blocked in where I want the shadows to be but now need to spend some time blending them in with the highlights in the background.

The Purple Vase

2009-03-02T14:47:00.000-08:00

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

Calvin Coolidge

Last year the Art Club in my development sponsored an art show. Forty exhibitors, myself included, participated. It was a lovely day and the show was very well attended. I have been looking forward to this year's second annual show for months. Unfortunately, it was just cancelled. Only 15 people were willing to put their work on display. Is everybody down in the dumps? I guess I'll just need to work harder to find places to show my art ~ or should I just stop for awhile? Anyway, I'm at least going to finish up a few pieces and try not to be too discouraged.

This little painting is a smaller rendition of a larger one I had in the show last year. Again, I'm experimenting with a looser style. The background and vase are done. The flowers, of course, will never be finished.

Flowering Branch 4

2009-02-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

The drop of rain maketh a hole in the stone, not by violence, but by oft falling.

Hugh Latimer

I've had a hard time working on anything else since I started this small painting. I was very anxious to see if the original plan of locking in the drawing with the gesso overcoat would work. Actually if I had the patience to follow the drawing with a very small brush and very small strokes it would probably have been possible to get a much closer resemblance to the source material since the underdrawing did hold up rather well. But since the drawing was a copy of someone else's view of the flower it wasn't my nature to follow their exact plan. The whole idea of art is to interpret what one sees even if one is looking at another artist's work. Of course, this painting is not done yet. That's where perseverance comes in. This will probably sit for awhile now but at some point I'll finish it.

A Bouquet 2

2009-02-13T14:52:00.001-08:00

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's Heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

Dorothy Frances Gurney

There's really not much to say about this painting as I am still undecided on this style. I've never done anything this loose before. While I was working on this I listened endlessly to one of my favorite pieces of music. It's called Jerusalem Ridge and is performed by a magnificent fiddle player by the name of Mark O'Connor. The music really affected how I worked. If you can find it, you'll love it too!

The Purple Hat

2009-02-13T14:44:00.001-08:00

It's not what I do, but the way I do it. It's not what I say, but the way I say it.

Mae West

I posted this hat when it was a black and white drawing back in September. Every once in a while I get the urge to work with colored pencils and these hat drawings are the perfect thing. There's still more to be done on the hat and then I'll go back in and do a little more molding on the face. Isn't she a pip?

Flowering Branch 3

2009-02-13T14:35:00.001-08:00

People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.

Iris Murdoch

I have now started to put the highlights and shadows into the flower even though I haven't decided what color it's actually going to be. The source I'm working from is an intricate black and white line drawing. Originally I had thought the flower would be white but am now leaning toward red. At this point, though, there's still a lot of work getting in the detail. The original under drawing is now completely covered so it's a matter of painting from the source. If I do decide to make it a different color it will be through applying a series of glaces. Time to put this one aside for awhile.

Flowering Branch 2

2009-02-09T14:31:00.001-08:00

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.

Charles Kingsley

Of course, the ticket here is to find something to be enthusiastic about. And nothing fires my enthusiasm to paint more than going to an art show. This past week we went to a magnificent Fine Arts Fair in Palm Beach. On display were works from all around the world ~ both traditional and contemporary. What a treat!

I've put the background and leaves in on this little painting but am a little concerned as the drawing seems to have faded. Perhaps I didn't make it dark enough but I was concerned about covering the pencil lines since the flower is going to be white. We'll see.

Flowering Branch

2009-02-07T15:02:00.000-08:00

A work of art cannot be satisfied with being a representation; it should be a presentation.

Jacques Reverdy

Jacques Reverdy to my mind is right on when he says that art should be a presentation rather than a representation. Artists are interpreters. They look at what is actually there and then present it as they see it. I love realistic paintings. I love beautiful photographs. To me they are both artistic endeavors. I consider both of them art forms. The photographer using his creative talent uses his camera much the same way the painter uses his brush. Each one using his interpretative way of seeing things changes what is actually in front of him to what he or she wants the viewer to actually visually experience.

I am trying a new techique in this small painting pictured above. I first gessoed the canvas using white acrylic gesso. I then did a detailed drawing of the flowering branch with graphite. To seal the drawing I put a fine wash of thinned gesso tinted with yellow ochre. Hopefully, this will keep the drawing from smudging when I start to actually paint. In keeping with Reverdy's way of thinking I'm hoping to be a little freer in my work even though the drawing is so exact. Should be fun!

The Pagoda

2009-02-04T09:15:00.001-08:00

Beauty ~ the adjustment of all parts proportionately so that one cannot add or subtract or change without impairing the harmony of the whole.

Leon Battista Alberti

This little pagoda was outside of an Asian restaurant in Boca Raton near where we used to live. I thought the proportions were just perfect. Another one of those little paintings I have had sitting around that just needed some finishing touches ~ I think in spite of the color scheme it's very serene. I darkened the background a little ~ the original brighter red was too great a contrast with the green leaves and I wanted the pagoda to stand out a little more. It's amazing how different things look when you go back to them after several months!

Olive Oil

2009-01-30T13:46:00.000-08:00

I feel a recipe is only a theme, which an intelligent cook can play each time with a variation.

Madame Benoit

This small painting of a jar of olive oil is one I started several years ago and has been sitting with a group of other paintings waiting for some finishing touches. It was initially intended to be an exercise in learning to paint glass. I'm not quite sure I have that down yet but I am pleased with how the cork turned out! In any event I hope to be posting five or six small paintings in the near future in an attempt to get my studio organized. And, oh, I am dedicating this painting to the most intelligent cook I know ~ Em!

The Jar

2009-01-23T17:52:00.001-08:00

I could say I've not been well ~ I could say I've been traveling ~ I could say my computer has been acting like Hal. Anyway, here's a little update on the white jar.

The Red Hat

2008-12-14T14:30:00.000-08:00

An artist never really finishes his work, he merely abandons it.

Paul Valery

I have had these "hat drawings" sitting in my studio for several weeks now. The other night they caught my eye and I decided to give them a little pizzaz by coloring in the hats. Valery's comment is right on ~ in an artist's eye, the work is never finished. There's always one more thing to do. Or at least one more thing to try.

Sunflowers 7

2008-12-04T12:25:00.001-08:00

A Bouquet

2008-11-14T18:45:00.000-08:00

I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.
Henry David Thoreau

Tonight I visited these flowers ~ not sure where this one is going.

The Steward 4

2008-11-14T12:50:00.000-08:00

Clothes and manners do not make the man; but, when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.
Henry Ward Beecher

Today I worked on giving the jacket sleeves more dimension. Surprisingly, the photograph I'm working from makes the entire figure look flat ~ perhaps the steward was standing in direct sunlight. Anyway, I'm taking an artistic license and adding some deeper shadows to give the painting more depth. I also changed the hue of the red cuffs ~ was a little too purple for my taste. I like the idea of painting figures from the back and am on the lookout for some other occupations that would be good subjects.

The Lipstick

2008-11-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

Is dishwater dull? Naturalists with microscopes have told me that it teems with quiet fun.
G. K. Chesterton

Today I organized my studio. What sounds like a dull job was actually very fun. I didn't organize my paints and brushes and my "hazardous chemicals" ~ but I did organize all the projects I've had sitting around for months. Now I know what needs framing, what needs, varnishing, what needs finishing, and, sadly, what just needs to be put down. Anyway, this little painting is going on a new page I hope to add to my web site. I'm going to be posting small (very small) paintings for sale. Duane Keiser a very well known artist from Virginia began a "painting a day" craze on the internet. I love following his works! At any rate, while I won't be able to produce a painting a day I am hoping to be disciplined enough to get a few new paintings up and on the web every week. Keep posted!

Evening Sunset

2008-11-07T12:30:00.001-08:00

Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
Oscar Wilde

This painting was originally going to be a ship in the middle of the ocean. It is now on its way to being a picture of the sun setting at the Wakodahatchee Preserve. A beautiful place to take an evening stroll, Wakodatchee is the home to herons, ducks, turtles, alligators and a whole assortment of other wildlife. A boardwalk winds its way among several lakes dotted with small islands. At dusk white herons come from far and wide to claim a sleeping spot for the night. Its one of my favorite places to visit and fortunately is very close to my home. Anyway, this painting has a long way to go ~ am debating about adding a few ducks or leaving it as a simple landscape. We'll see.

The Pear

2008-11-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15

After working on and off this pear for several months I finally decided to lighten the background and darken the bottom of the tablecloth. Using the same palette for both sections of the painting really pulls it all together. Unfortunately, the stem seems to disappear into the background so I'm going to have to go back and darken it considerably. I also think the perspective is off as there is too much of the table top visible and the ribbon on the right is coming out too high ~ adding a bit of abstract to the overall composition. Almost done!

The Bride and Groom

2008-11-06T13:40:00.001-08:00

Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

This is a drawing I recently completed of my daughter and son-in-law. I worked from a photograph they particularly like that was taken on their wedding day. At first I wasn't happy with this pose because their eyes are downcast. But now, after working on it for several weeks, I love it. The quote above captures their relationship perfectly. They are remarkably suited for each other and very much in love. I think this drawing captures that and also reflects how happy they are together.

Sunflowers 6

2008-10-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Exuberance is beauty.
William Blake

This painting will never be finished but I don't care. It's so fun to work on. Every time I look at it I see another place I want to fuss with.

The Steward 3

2008-10-03T08:32:00.001-07:00

I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm.
Calvin Coolidge

Finally, a politician after my own heart! Am I the only one tired of all this politcal yakking? Anyway, here stands my silent steward who obviously thinks the same way as President Coolidge. I've worked a considerable amount of time on his hands and finally came to an interesting conclusion. Even though his left hand looks very much like the photograph I'm working from, it doesn't really have enough dimension. I need to darken the shadows, particularly on the side of the hand to give it more depth. Other than that, I think he's coming along nicely.

Quick Sketches

2008-09-12T13:25:00.001-07:00

Man arrives as a novice at each age of his life.
Sebastien Chamfort

When I came across this quote I felt a divine sense of relief. Suddenly I realized it's okay not to know exactly what to do next or where to go with things. I've always felt as if each day was a new beginning but with that new beginning comes an uncertainty. Each day is a new path ~ a new adventure. Albeit unknown, just to be aware of one's future potential is a magnificent gift. In this sense we are all beginners. Anyway, above are two quick charcoal sketches I made ~ one a young girl just starting out, the other a woman who has been around the block a few times. Each one, though, is just stepping out again for the first time. I love doing these quick sketches, not just trying to capture movement but trying to capture a sense of anticipation and expectation in the figure.

The Steward 2

2008-09-10T13:55:00.001-07:00

Silence is as full of potential wisdom and wit as the unhewn marble of great sculpture.
Aldous Huxley

After an unscheduled and lengthly break I am back at my easel! What a wonderful place to be. Anyway, I decided to get to work again on the steward so all day as I've been painting, I have been wondering what stewards, waiters, doormen, taxi cab drivers, hair stylists, manicurists, (you get the idea) actually think about as they go about their jobs. I can just imagine they hear and see all kinds of things but eventually aren't shocked by much. I do think they can't help but become wiser as they observe life close up. And yet, they're paid not to share their wisdom but to just comment on the weather. We used to live in a doorman building and I often thought how sick the poor fellow must be of passing the time of day with each one of us when he probably really wanted to tell us how he thought we should be solving our problems.

Anyway, I think this painting is starting to take shape. At first working with just shades of gray, it doesn't seem like it's going anywhere but then the folds and shadows start to appear. It's still got a long way to go but today's work provided lots of definition.

Hats 3

2008-09-08T11:05:00.001-07:00

Gossip is when you hear something you like about someone you don't.
Earl Wilson

I'm not quite sure if this woman just said it or just heard it, but she's definitely in possession of some very juicy information. And with that hat it's all about to take wing!

The Steward

2008-08-11T10:30:00.001-07:00

One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.
G. K. Chesterton

I have done this particular painting before on a 4" x 5" canvas (see it on my website). This time I'm doing a much larger version ~ 16" x 20". I love the colors and the composition. Recently, we saw a wonderful movie called Up the Yangtze. It was about one of the final voyages of a cruise ship up a part of the Yangtze that was going to become flooded after a new dam was built. Rather than a documentary about the building of the dam, or a simple cinematic recording of the river and surrounding countryside, the movie delved into the lives of the peasants that were going to be flooded out, contrasting them to the lives of the passengers on the cruise ship. What do people who are in service to others really think of those they serve? This unforgettable movie will open one's eyes in many ways ~ I highly recommend it.

As I made a quick sketch, it occurred to me that this figure clearly demonstrates how a painting is composed of a group of forms. Without the hands this is almost an abstract work. Only with shading and softening of edges will the figure begin to take on dimension.

On My Easel 2

2008-08-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere, wholeheartedly, one-directionally, without regret or reservation.
William H. Sheldon

Venice! I followed Sheldon's advice and found he was right on. Right now I am spending all of my free time doing genealogy. No matter how hard I search I cannot find any Italian ancestors. This is very frustrating as I love all things Italian and am convinced that since my mother's maiden name was an Italian one, I must have a few drops of Italian blood in my veins. Anyway, I am enjoying working on this little painting of a canal in Venice. There's a lot more detail to go in but it's coming along.

At Sea

2008-08-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

The fly ought to be used as the symbol of impertinence and audacity; for whilst all other animals shun man more than anything else, and run away even before he comes near them the fly lights upon his very nose.

Arthur Schopenhauer

I just finished watching the entire first season of Lost. In the final episode three men and a young boy take off from the island on a funky little raft they've built. When they set sail the beach is filled with desperate well-wishers waving them off. For several minutes there is no dialogue only rousing music and spectacular footage of the raft surmounting the incoming tide and setting out on the open sea. What unbelievable courage and yet, what unbelievable nerve. I've decided to paint a picture of a boat on the water, but first I painted just the water and the sky. Now, if you look again at the painting above you can appreciate the vastness of the ocean and the sky ~ there is no clear end of one or beginning of the other. And without the boat as a reference, it's impossible to tell how large an area you're actually looking at. That's creation ~ tiny, immense, unfathomable, and yet, man ventures out into it everyday. Wow.

On My Drawing Board 2

2008-08-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.
Dutch proverb

Whoever came up with the above saying must have been an artist ~ particularly one who drew. After the initial sketch is made, the key to making a proper drawing is taking one's time. I always like to start at the top and work my way down in the beginning just so the back of my hand doesn't smear too much of my work. Of course, this is just the first of many shadings I'll do but it's good to get an idea of where the lights and darks are going to be in the final version. Slow and steady, she goes.

Hats 2

2008-08-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

I have heard with admiring submission the experience of the lady who declared that the sense of being well-dressed gives a feeling of inward tranquility, which religion is powerless to bestow.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here's another hat from the 1920's. This lady is so tranquil inside she looks like ice ~ such confidence!

Deep Thoughts

2008-08-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.

Washington Irving

This is another painting that's been sitting in the corner for months and months waiting for attention. She's got a lot on her mind. Although she looks totally lost in thought, in my mind she looks like she could jump up and act on what's troubling her any second. Something's wrong ~ even if she doesn't have a solution yet though, she's capable of taking immediate action. She's open to be led by what her woman's intuition might tell her to do.

This is a very small painting so I'm going to have to spend a lot of time on the tiny details of her face. Her foot I'm leaving alone!

Mixed Bouquet

2008-07-29T12:26:00.001-07:00

A work of art is a corner of creation seen through a temperament.
Emile Zola

My critic brought me a huge bouquet of flowers the other day ~ the inspiration for this painting. While I usually labor over each stroke I thought I would attempt a more impressionistic style this time. This initial painting certainly went much faster than starting with a detailed drawing. There's still much to be done here but I am enjoying the process very much ~ it's a nice alternative to the current work I'm doing in the Sunflowers. These flowers look nothing like the flowers sitting on my kitchen counter. As a matter of fact, I didn't even bring the bouquet into the studio. I just painted the beauty of the gift of them that was in my mind's eye. They made me happy.

Hats

2008-07-25T14:41:00.001-07:00

Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess.
Edna Woolman Chase

While I may agree with the above statement, it's my opinion that certain fashion trends do lead to a greater presence of style. Take hats, for example. Hats always make one more stylish, or more mysterious, or more sexy, or more sophisticated, or more demure. How sad that they are no longer part of our everyday attire. I've, therefore, decided to do a series of drawings of hats from the 1920's just because I wish I had a closet full of them.

Simplicity

2008-07-25T14:22:00.001-07:00

Most of us think ourselves as standing wearily and helplessly at the center of a circle bristling with tasks, burdens, problems, annoyances, and responsibilities which are rushing in upon us. At every moment we have a dozen different things to do, a dozen problems to solve, a dozen strains to endure. We see ourselves as overdriven, overburdened, overtired. This is a common mental picture and it is totally false. No one of us, however crowded his life, has such an existence. What is the true picture of your life? Imagine that there is an hour glass on your desk. Connecting the bowl at the top with the bowl at the bottom is a tube so thin that only one grain of sand can pass through it at a time. That is the true picture of your life, even on a super busy day. The crowded hours come to you always one moment at a time. That is the only way they can come. The day may bring many tasks, many problems, strains, but invariably they come in a single file. You want to gain emotional poise? Remember the hourglass, the grains of sand dropping one by one.
James Gordon Gilkey

At the beginning of the yoga classes I take, we are always reminded to live in the moment ~ to be aware of our breath. In other words, to keep it simple. That's what I try to do in some of my paintings. It's not that I'm tired of the sunflowers ~ really. This painting has been sitting in the corner of my studio for quite a while now ~ almost finished ~ and today just seemed like a good day to slow down and appreciate the simplicity and beauty of one small sugar bowl.

The Backward Glance 6

2008-07-23T12:56:00.001-07:00

The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that's the essence of inhumanity.
George Bernard Shaw

The above quote by George Bernard Shaw captures exactly the message I want this painting to convey. The man is obviously totally unaware that the woman's mind and heart are somewhere else. You can read it in his stance ~ this guy has got bigger fish to fry than to bother with her. And you can also read her dilemma in her stance. She's wrestling ~ should I stay or go?

Today I added more shadows to the clothing and drapes, tightened up some edges and worked a little more on her face. Next time I'll give more depth to the sky and more texture to the wall. And then there's that pesky floor!

An Italian Villa

2008-07-21T12:00:00.001-07:00

No house should ever be on a hill, or on anything. It should be of the hill. Hill and house should live together, each the happier for the other.
Frank Lloyd Wright

I think Mr. Wright would have been very happy with how the architect worked with the builder in placing this house within nature. We were walking on the path on the left hand side of the painting when we turned the corner and saw this beautiful, old home. Anyway, I posted about this painting back in the end of April. The original house is stucco and actually resembles more of the right hand side of the painting. Even though it's a beautiful building I thought it needed a little more interest so I made the left side appear more rough. I had intended to come back and do the same to the right side but have decided that I like the contrast. Wonder who lives there.

Sunflowers7

2008-07-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

The painting rises from the brushstrokes as a poem rises from the words. The meaning comes later.
Joan Miro

I'm not complaining about how long this painting is taking ~ I'm really not. There's just so much to see here and so many details to fuss over. There are a few places that I've barely begun to address and others that I've spent a lot of time on. I think it's really starting to pop now which is really fun to see. Slowly, slowly, brushstroke by brushstroke, it's coming to life. And, I'm enjoying it's company more and more.

White Tulilps 7

2008-07-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

Rembrandt painted about 700 pictures ~ of these, 3,000 are in existence.
Wilhelm Bode

Today I spent quite a bit of time on the White Tulips ~ deepening the shadows, tightening up the edges, and painting the red apple and ribbon. I am still nervous with watercolor. Oils are just so much more forgiving. Last week when I organized my studio, I gessoed over a couple of old oil paintings that just weren't going anywhere. Maybe that's where Rembrandt's 2,300 paintings are ~ under the ones hanging in museums around the world. Anyway, that's not an option with a watercolor. Once something is put down, it's there for good. At times, I find the process tedious, at other times, it's almost like meditating.

On My Drawing Board

2008-07-16T12:28:00.001-07:00

It is dangerous to let the public behind the scenes. they are easily disillusioned and then they are angry with you, for it was the illusion they loved.
W. Somerset Maugham

Whenever I show my work to people inevitably I hear comments such as "Oh, how do you do that? I can't even draw a straight line." Or "you must have been born knowing how to draw." Or "I'd love to be able to draw but I just don't have any talent." Well, while I'm flattered that some people may think I have talent, it's my belief that everybody can draw. Maybe some can draw better than others ~ but everybody can draw. The problem is most people don't have the patience to do it. To get the basic proportions down for this new drawing of a sailor took me well over an hour. This is the critical part ~ getting the shape and form down on paper. There aren't that many lines involved. One has to spend the time carefully measuring distances and judging critically for correct placement Without this foundation the drawing won't be successful. But once done properly the rest of the drawing flows easily. Then it just becomes a matter of getting the right tones down to create depth. There's no secret to a good drawing ~ it just needs to be coddled.

On My Easel

2008-07-16T12:06:00.000-07:00

Have a place for everything and keep the things somewheres else. That is not advice, it is merely custom.
Mark Twain

Since two of the five original projects I began for this blog are now finished, I have decided to start posting some of the other things I am working on. This is a small painting of a canal in Venice. I am (was) working from a photograph of an old etching. Last week I spent a couple of days cleaning out and organizing my studio ~ right down to sharpening every pencil. Today when I went to my source file the photograph I needed wasn't there. Oh well, since the etching was, of course, in black and white I was on my own for the color anyway. One of my art teachers told me that it's really important to get the basics on the canvas right off the bat so if you lose what you're working from it won't matter that much. I guess he read Mark Twain too.

The Backward Glance 6

2008-07-09T11:53:00.001-07:00

When women go wrong, men go right after them.
Mae West

The above quote has little to do with the work I did today except maybe I think she's about to "go wrong." I started putting in the facial features and have decided to make it appear as if she's making eye contact with the viewer. As you stand looking at the painting the idea is to feel as if you are the one she's communicating with ~ you're the one that's in on the secret. To add to that feeling of mystery, I'm working on making the draperies even darker and heavier. I want the viewer to feel as if he's standing in the shadows having just arrived at the most awkward moment and yet unable to look away.

The painting of the bouquet is something I've been working off and on for awhile and have just finished. It's a small canvas ~ 8" x 10" ~ and was a nice change to work on when I would get tired of wrestling with the big canvas I'm using for The Backward Glance.

Sunflowers 6

2008-07-08T13:58:00.001-07:00

In creating, the only hard thing's to begin; a grass -blade's no easier to make than an oak.
James Russell Lowell

I'm pretty sure there's a kazillion pedals in this painting and I'm happy with maybe two of them. That said, painting each one ~ teasing out its shape and form, giving it depth, mixing just the right color ~ brings me so much joy. Lowell's observation implies that a blade of grass is every bit as complicated and miraculous as an oak tree. He's got that right! I don't know how many more hours I will put into this painting ~ it's one of those that are really difficult to look at and say "Done!" ~ but, that's okay. The hard part's finished ~ I began it.

White Tulilps 6

2008-07-07T14:20:00.001-07:00

Until I saw Chardin's painting, I never realized how much beauty lay around me in my parents' house, in the half-cleared table, in the corner of a tablecloth left awry, in the knife beside the empty oyster shell.
Marcel Proust

These pieces of fabric came out of my old quilting bin ~ the flowers are artificial bought at a craft store ~ and the vase is an old milk bottle we found in the attic of our old house in Baltimore. Nothing fancy or expensive here. But when I look at this painting, it reminds me of happy hours at my sewing machine, shopping trips with my sister, and the house where I raised my girls. To me it's one of the most beautiful paintings I've done so far even though there's still quite a bit left to do. That's what a piece of art should do ~ speak to your heart.

The Backward Glance 5

2008-06-27T15:50:00.001-07:00

Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Well, if the above quote has any truth to it, this young couple is in deep trouble. She obviously is not interested in what he's looking at, and he doesn't appear as if he's even noticed he's lost her. At any rate, I've started darkening up the curtains while still allowing the red tones to come through. I also darkened the top of the sky while keeping the bottom lighter to make it appear as if light is being reflected up from below. My critic suggested a dark green for the dress and while I'm happy with the bottom velvet skirt I'm thinking of making the top a much paler green the next time. And then, there's still the floor! I think it just needs one tiny adjustment to be in alignment but I'm not going to correct it until I'm absolutely sure. By the way, working on this huge canvas has turned into quite a challenge. Today I took it out on the porch and worked kneeling in front of it. I had all my tubes of paint spread around me and unfortunately knelt on an open tube of green. I didn't realize it until my toe slid into something squishy ~ a half of tube of paint smeared on my drop cloth. By the time I got what little I could save into a baggy I looked like a leprechaun. Maybe it's time for a bigger easel.

Sunflowers 5

2008-06-27T15:21:00.001-07:00

Hasten slowly.
Augustus Caesar

My goodness there are a lot of pedals and leaves in this painting! I have gone over the entire painting twice now cleaning up lines, adding shadows and highlights. Each time I get close to finishing a "go-through" I start to speed up, resulting in work that I'm not happy with. It's going to take a lot of tightening up so each time I start again, I'm going to start in a new place. At the top is a detail of the corner that's gotten a little more attention than the rest ~ still a long, long way to go.

Russian Girl Finished

2008-06-25T11:18:00.001-07:00

Do not show your wounded finger, for everything will knock up against it.
Baltasar Gracian

From the moment I saw this little girl's picture I knew she had seen things she wasn't meant to see. Although her clothes lead me to believe she was from a well-to-do family, living her early years in a war torn country clearly left its mark on her face. As I mentioned when I started this drawing, I have no idea who she is or where she is now. She just looks, though, that she learned early on to hide her wounded finger. Beneath the fancy dress and shiny ribbon, I think beat the heart of a strong and courageous little lady. I'm going to miss working on her.

Key West Rooster ~ Finished

2008-06-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Painting, n: the art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to the critic.

Ambrose Bierce

Here's the original photograph of the the Key West Rooster that I worked from. I really enjoyed working on this painting as it brought back memories of visiting my Grandmother's house on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. My Mom often spoke of being sent out into the backyard when she was a little girl to catch a chicken and kill it for dinner. Aren't we all thankful to Frank Purdue?

At any rate, I'm going to set this aside for about six months and then come back and give it a coat of varnish. Although the composition makes the painting appear rectangular it is actually 24" x 24". Hope you enjoyed seeing the progress. I'll be coming up with a new project to take its place.

White Tulips 5

2008-06-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

The secret of being miserable is to have leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not. The cure is occupation.
George Bernard Shaw

Today I was very happily occupied working on this watercolor. However, it will be a long time before I attempt another one like this. Usually not until the third or fourth session does it become necessary to really start tackling fine detail. Due to the unforgiving nature of watercolor, however, these miniature prints needed to be outlined pretty carefully the very first time.

I was getting a little concerned that the tulips were disappearing into the print, but now I've decided that that's exactly what I want to happen. When I set up the still-life in my studio they got lost in all the fabric and became part of the overall composition. The title of the painting is misleading ~ I should have called it something else. Well, let's be honest here. You've probably noticed the outline of the red (!) apple. Maybe I'll change the title to Adam's Downfall.

The Backward Glance 4

2008-06-09T15:06:00.001-07:00

Today I decided to work on the soldier's uniform so I squeezed out some black, grey, and white paint. All I wanted to do was paint a dark outfit. Not as easy as one might think.

"One of the most difficult things to do is to paint darkness which nonetheless has light in it."
Vincent van Gogh

Anyway, I've made a start and am actually not that unhappy with it. I couldn't resist adding the red pom-pom to the hat. That's the red I'm hoping to sell it with ~ not the curtains which I intend to tone way down at a later point.

There's also the question of what color to make the dress since I'm working from a black and white picture ~ something to contrast nicely with the black uniform but also something that's not going to fade into the balcony wall. Right now not just the curtains but the sky and the white in the floor are way too bright. Hopefully, after they're all toned down a bit, a lighter color for the dress will work. This is definitely a special night and a special place so the dress has to be especially fancy even if she's not happy to be there. What is she looking at?

This past weekend I came across a very interesting website that claims, among other things, that every painting should tell a story. If you are a big fan of modern art don't go near this site ~ if you're not this one is for you ~ http://www.artrenewal.org

Sunflowers 4

2008-06-05T14:19:00.001-07:00

I've always wanted to paint portraits. To me the human face is the most beautiful thing in the world. However, I've always been intimidated by the complexity involved ~ not just the physical form but the emotional component that's a part of every face. While I was working on the sunflowers today I came to realize that they are faces as well ~ each one with it's own unique personality, each manifesting it's individuality. Henry Ward Beecher says it better than I can ~ "Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile, some have a sad expression, some are pensive and diffident, others again are plain honest and upright." I'm still a long way from getting all the facial expressions even close on these beautiful flowers but I do feel I'm getting to know each one a little better.

Russian Girl 4

2008-06-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.
Goethe

I spent the better part of today staring at this little girl's face. She has such depth to her eyes. This kid knows things! Anyway, while I think I'm just about finished with the ribbon, hair, and dress I want to come back and put some finishing touches on the face. It needs a little more modeling to give it more dimension. That's the problem I've found with drawing children ~ no wrinkles or facial hills and valleys to give the drawing depth. Of course it could be I'm just not ready to tell her good-bye.

Key West Rooster 4

2008-06-03T08:14:00.001-07:00

Slow down. Take long looks at everything. Single many things out for grateful consideration.
Marcina Wiederkehr

If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.
Martin Luther

I have reached the point now with this painting where I am checking details. They are, of course, countless. But the more I fuss with it, the more little dabs I put here and there, the more alive not just the rooster, but the whole composition, becomes. Its why I love to paint ~ it makes me slow down and see. When I walked out of my first painting class, I literally stood in the parking lot and looked at the world around me like I had never seen it before. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was right on when he claimed "God is in the details." I will probably only visit this painting a couple of more times but it would be just as easy to come back to it a thousand times.
I like "seeing" that much.

White Tulips 4

2008-06-02T14:37:00.001-07:00

Victor Martinez is one of my favorite watercolor artists. Born in Peru he now lives and works in Arizona. Whenever I get discouraged painting with watercolors, which is practically every time I attempt to work with them, I visit his website at http://www.victormartinez.com. His website alone is a work of art and well worth taking a look. Anyway, today I added the striped fabric and the small piece of maroon velvet. This is truly tedious work because of the intricacy of the prints. But maybe the prints are why I am so drawn to Martinez' s work ~ his work depicting Peruvian native costumes is magnificent. Look at his stuff today ~ not mine.