Blue Coo Ka Chu

  As promised in a previous post, here is another piece from my trip to Door County. The day "Ole Blue" (12x12") was painted the sky was overcast but the mood Amongst the painters was all sunshine! I learned right after I 

Ole Blue, 12x12, available

had finished this piece that I was to speak to a good sized crowd of collectors and art enthusiasts. I had a good time talking and enjoyed learning about the other artists that spoke. Also learning last minute that I had to speak helped not having to over think it, which I tend to do. 

Perched

This piece "Perched" 20x20" is one of my favorites of recent. The odd viewing angle and cropping that seems very momentary. Not a traditional view or composition by any means. It kinda makes you feel like Im a Lobster Trap on the way to a boat. ha! The deeper dark pattern and lighter halftone helped me keep this pattern big and clean. Good times.

   One of the things I like to talk about in my class and workshops is the implied (accidental or on purpose) meaning of the the angle of view and cropping. For example in a traditional Portrait looking slightly up at the subject, shows them in a grand more admirable way. Just the same as looking down on a person implies pity, maybe shame or in need of protection. Move this type thinking into landscape work and you will notice some different things when looking at master works. Things like is the boat entering or leaving the picture, are you part of the image or are you removed via distance of foreground? Are you showing a bird's angle or a worm's angle. That's a tough one when you are 6'4".. I am looking into portable seating to get a different angle sometimes in the future.

 Some of my favorites were the way(some of) the Russian Impressionists when doing forest scenes from within the forest would keep the perspective up close and exciting showing you the Grand impressiveness (is that a word?) of nature without it being an open expansive scene. To explain a little better, they would keep the tree trunks deeply angled so that at, depending on the painting, certain areas would taper away from you showing you where the painter was looking and creating a personal perspective. I cant remember certain names right now as I type but will come back and edit this post with some links soon.

 I once asked a fellow painter who happens to be Russian ( no names here) "How did they teach drawing in Russia? Sight size? Relative shapes? Gesture first type of thing? this painter responded... "We just understand and draw" ..  more, Good times.

Perched 20x20, Available at Camden Falls Gallery

Recession

 At the moment i don't have too much to blog about.. I am currently working thru another wiping out phase.. These bouts of wiping off paintings seem to be coming more frequent and with stronger winds (figuratively). i used to really loathe these times and not wish them on my worst enemy but now i just put down the sails and row. "If the wind doesn't blow, row row row."

This Painting, "Recession" 30x30 is the result of coming out of my last wiping phase. they usually help in the long run.

Recession 30x30 available at Camden Falls Gallery

 One thing I would love to share with you is a great book (I listened to it on Audible dot com) "The War of Art" the ideas expressed in this book are great for putting your ass in gear and its pretty cheap. Let me know if you like it when you read or hear it. Happy Rowing!

Harvest Moon

Harvest Moon 30x24 available

With the recent crisping and cooling of the air here in Maine my favorite time of year is just about here! Just last night a strong wind and rain storm scattering leaves announcing the coming of the king of seasons, fall.  I will miss the steady sun of summer but the poetry of fall cannot be matched. In my opinion.

So this piece "Harvest Moon" 30x24" (available) has an interesting color harmony that is one of my favorites! This is the kind of color in works that are among my favorites. It is relationship based instead of local color based. This type of relationship based painting tends to fail for me and others i have seen when you lose the guts to take it too completion and say to yourself  (in a whiny voice) "no it cant be that color, people will think i cant see properly if i use that!! "

"Be Bold, Be Brave!" Simon De Pury

Workshop and Climbing

Later this month I will be teaching a workshop in Kennebunk Maine thru River Tree Arts. This should be a great time with plenty of demos and hands on brush learning.  For more info click HERE. The Piece shown titled "Climbing" was a fun piece for me. Getting into the pure abstract shapes of clouds and looking up at a different subject every two - five  minutes is really a test in aesthetics and speed. The piece in real life is a little more subtle in the color. i still let the color fly but depending on your monitor it can pop a little too much. The study of clouds is almost like studying a really slow wave.  Always moving, shape shifting and in open areas casting different shadow patterns. Climbing 30x24" available @ Camden Falls Gallery

Camden Falls Paint Out

 

Well, I finally remembered my password to sign in to Blogger.. I'm kidding. I ended up being pretty busy and then realized, I haven't posted in about a month.. Sorry bloggees. 

 The image above is a quick phone shot of my 20x20" piece "Lady in Waiting" (Angelique). This piece was my contribution to the Camden Falls Gallery Paint Out (wet paint auction). This is the first year of this fund raising event and hopefully not the last. I hada blast meeting uo with some local painting frineds and meeting new ones. 

 Thank you to the staff of Camden Falls for making this event work even though the weather threw quite a monkey wrench into the plans with some pretty heavy rain. The rain ended two minutes after the event started and the auction was moved. Figures.

 The talent pool was very strong. So even with lackluster weather, this caused more then a few heated bidding battles for pieces. Always fun to watch. I can't wait to see who signs up next year.

Home Sweet Home

  Man it is great to be home! I have been working on some figure pieces which I can wait to share and hear a little feedback on. The inclusion of figures in a painting is almost the "fourth dimension" in a two dimensional image. 

  In the Meanwhile this piece above (Local Setting" 24x30")  is of a local scene on Orrs Island, Harpswell, ME. The sunset is an elusive hunt and a worthy opponent to even the most seasoned painters. If you would like a tip on sunset, i say go for it. Include logic and thinking later, make marks of value and most importantly temperature. Sort it out later with memory and the study.