Blooms in white

I mentioned that on Mother's Day I got to paint some. I've had some of these ideas burning in my mind for months now, so it's a relief to get them out on canvas.

I have a series based on the 'Bloom' piece started. This is an angle view of one of the first new pieces. It is entitled "Clean: Blooms in White" It is full of metallic paints that I need to photograph under a spotlight to show the affect I was after when I created this.

Gallery Updated

If you haven't checked out my gallery lately, I've added several new paintings. Several pieces sold before I listed them, but you can see them under the 'sold' section of my gallery. I'm debating whether to expand my permenant collection exhibit on there or not. I have dozens of pieces that I won't list for sale because when I first started painting, I used cardboard scraps, 50 cent paint brushes, and the kind of paint you use to do children's crafts. They're not exactly done to archival standards, which is why I won't sell them. But they are interesting to look at. Several have been made into archival prints which I will list for sale soon here. I brought several dozen back with me from my visit to my parents house that I have yet to scan or do anything with (they'll go back to my mom when I'm done though). Many of my early pieces were initially motivated by my blank walls. I just wanted some art to look at so I painted some. Fortunately, high quality scans and archival inks and papers can preserve the images even though eventually the originals will likely deteriorate. The flower shown here is an example of an old image that I have never done anything with. As soon as I have the time, I'll list the prints online for sale.


I've also added new items for summer in my private cafepress store if you haven't been there recently.

Check back soon for information about June's upcoming shows!

Lately

I've been out and about quite a bit lately. Two large on-site painting projects kept me busy for several weeks. I also just wrapped up my show at the Millford mill. I really enjoyed the crowd of artists there as well as the rural scenery of the surrounding region. Clarke County has to contain some of the most idyllic farmland in the U.S. I’d like to spend some time doing some plein aire painting out there. One point that attracts me most about the particular lay of the land out there is that it contains vistas with multiple layers of depth. I tend to shy away from landscape paintings that feel ‘closed in.’ I prefer scenes where you get a sense of the context of the subject and aren’t stifled by walls or objects blocking your view from the larger picture (perhaps that says something about my view on life in general.)

After several weeks of intense painting doing murals and other things, I took some time to reabsorb some art by visiting several galleries. My first stop was to visit Heather Levy’s show at The Graham Collection. Her exhibit “The United Series” showed the connectedness we all share as humans. My favorite was a gradient of green, yellow, and blue with what seemed to be dancing figures intertwined. I met Heather when we showed together at the Nowuno Gallery.

I then visited the Cézanne in Provence exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. His color palette is still fixed in my mind. His brush strokes seemed soothing but his patterns bothered me at times. I do find his use of light to be his major genius though. His ability to direct the eye right where he wants is part of what makes him a timeless master.

On another day I visited Grant Wood’s exhibit at the Renwick followed by the Dada works at the National Gallery. The contrast between the two exhibits was rather strong to experience in one day. In Grant Wood’s pieces I saw a thousand memories of my own life. Although my life has been divided between inner city, suburbia, and rural life, I have had a great deal of influence from the latter category. Having done a great deal of farm labor as a child, I’ve had countless hours to soak up the scenery. Being strongly connected to my extended family and the older generations thereof, I have had an immersion in the culture and mindset behind the wrinkled brows Grant Wood paints so well. Knowing of his recluse life and looking at his obsessive perfection made me wonder if he might have fallen somewhere on the autism spectrum.

Dada was the complete converse of the Grant Wood exhibit. Although shocking at times and un-nerving at others, I loved the rebellion of it all. The daring to see things in new ways, the boldness to call things “art” that were not understood by the establishment. Man-Ray was clearly my favorite and I ended up having to rush through the end of the exhibit a bit because of time, so I clearly missed some things.

I did paint a little on Mother’s Day (breakfast in bed is a truly inspiring way to start the day). I miss my brushes and paints so much when I don’t get to do much of my 'own' art. I needed the time to just look at art and to soak in their colors and moods and light though at the galleries. I am hoping to get out this summer and see quite a bit. Art truly comes alive when you see it in person. I have a deep appreciation for those who ‘do art that has never been done before’ and although I strive to make each piece my own, I would never for a moment deny that to me, art bears a great sense of connection to all who have created before me and all who will create after.