 |
Also please check out my second blog, The Painting Archives to see older (pre-2004) paintings for sale.
Friday, January 30, 2009
studio wall
I've been working on a group of smallish, single panel paintings, and a few of them are shown here tacked up on my studio wall. I don't think any of these are completely done--this is just a glimpse of what's in progress. But all have a number of layers of paint on them now, and subtle, interesting textural things are starting to happen. ¶ 10:05 PM 11 comments
I've been working on a group of smallish, single panel paintings, and a few of them are shown here tacked up on my studio wall. I don't think any of these are completely done--this is just a glimpse of what's in progress. But all have a number of layers of paint on them now, and subtle, interesting textural things are starting to happen. ¶ 10:05 PM 11 comments
Monday, January 26, 2009
new painting
I've been working on this on and off for weeks. For a small one (20"x16") it has a lot of paint on it. And a lot of texture, and scratched in lines. All that and no title...at least so far. ¶ 6:49 PM 4 comments
I've been working on this on and off for weeks. For a small one (20"x16") it has a lot of paint on it. And a lot of texture, and scratched in lines. All that and no title...at least so far. ¶ 6:49 PM 4 comments
Thursday, January 22, 2009
studio view
I've had a couple of studio visits lately, painter friends Tiit Raid and Mark Horton have each been here and given me feedback on recent work, some of which is bound for my upcoming March exhibit in Madison, WI at Grace Chosy Gallery. I'm excited about a couple of developments of my current paintings--lots of line drawing and inscribed lines on the paint surface, and in general more prominent paint texture. Neither is obvious in this photo, but close ups of new work will be posted soon.
In this view some of the paintings are finished and panels already bolted into place--others are in progress and may change tomorrow or the next day...a snapshot of a typical studio day. ¶ 7:44 PM 3 comments
I've had a couple of studio visits lately, painter friends Tiit Raid and Mark Horton have each been here and given me feedback on recent work, some of which is bound for my upcoming March exhibit in Madison, WI at Grace Chosy Gallery. I'm excited about a couple of developments of my current paintings--lots of line drawing and inscribed lines on the paint surface, and in general more prominent paint texture. Neither is obvious in this photo, but close ups of new work will be posted soon.
In this view some of the paintings are finished and panels already bolted into place--others are in progress and may change tomorrow or the next day...a snapshot of a typical studio day. ¶ 7:44 PM 3 comments
Sunday, January 18, 2009
new painting
This is Wandering Path, 36" square. Since my time in Spain, I've been working with subtle variations in white and pale colors, and also with inscribing lines in the painting's surface. This painting shows both directions. I have also been using fewer panels in some of my paintings, such as this one that has only two--following an impulse to simplify the compositions. I like the combination of simplicity of composition and color range combined with intense worked surface texture.
I've been re-reading Twyla Tharp's book, The Creative Habit, which continues to provide nuggets of inspiration the second time through. Such as--she says it is the intersection of two ideas that provides creative spark. One idea alone may be interesting, but it takes the second (or more) to start forming relationships and interactions that are dynamic and enliven the work. This seems a bit obvious perhaps....but I've worked on certain paintings a long time--stuck and frustrated--before realizing that I need a catalyst, another important element, to break the stagnation.
This past week several other paintings besides the one above have come together and into completion. Today I'm taking off from the studio, feeling pleased with the week's work and the need for a break. It is one more snowy, cold day here in Wisconsin...a good one for relaxing and reading. ¶ 12:40 PM 3 comments
This is Wandering Path, 36" square. Since my time in Spain, I've been working with subtle variations in white and pale colors, and also with inscribing lines in the painting's surface. This painting shows both directions. I have also been using fewer panels in some of my paintings, such as this one that has only two--following an impulse to simplify the compositions. I like the combination of simplicity of composition and color range combined with intense worked surface texture.
I've been re-reading Twyla Tharp's book, The Creative Habit, which continues to provide nuggets of inspiration the second time through. Such as--she says it is the intersection of two ideas that provides creative spark. One idea alone may be interesting, but it takes the second (or more) to start forming relationships and interactions that are dynamic and enliven the work. This seems a bit obvious perhaps....but I've worked on certain paintings a long time--stuck and frustrated--before realizing that I need a catalyst, another important element, to break the stagnation.
This past week several other paintings besides the one above have come together and into completion. Today I'm taking off from the studio, feeling pleased with the week's work and the need for a break. It is one more snowy, cold day here in Wisconsin...a good one for relaxing and reading. ¶ 12:40 PM 3 comments
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
new small painting
This 10"x10" painting came together today, and although it is untitled, it fits in with others that I think of as abstracted landscapes because of the suggestion of horizon line. I enjoy the play between the flat picture plane and the feeling of the deep space of landscape.
As an abstract painter I dance around with the amount of recognizable content or subject matter in my work. Generally I welcome hints and traces of subjects when they make their appearance, as guides in the development of the painting, but I like to keep them subtle, fluid, and open to interpretation.
Diane McGregor has a few thoughts on the relationship between abstraction and the landscape (and narrative ideas concerning landscape) on her blog, Working Space. I found myself thinking of her words as I painted today. ¶ 8:02 PM 2 comments
This 10"x10" painting came together today, and although it is untitled, it fits in with others that I think of as abstracted landscapes because of the suggestion of horizon line. I enjoy the play between the flat picture plane and the feeling of the deep space of landscape.
As an abstract painter I dance around with the amount of recognizable content or subject matter in my work. Generally I welcome hints and traces of subjects when they make their appearance, as guides in the development of the painting, but I like to keep them subtle, fluid, and open to interpretation.
Diane McGregor has a few thoughts on the relationship between abstraction and the landscape (and narrative ideas concerning landscape) on her blog, Working Space. I found myself thinking of her words as I painted today. ¶ 8:02 PM 2 comments
Thursday, January 08, 2009
workshop in rochester
Now that the holidays are past, and we can all think into the new year a little better, I'd like to put in another plug for a workshop I am teaching at Rochester Art Supply in Rochester, NY on the weekend of April 18-19. Click here for details. My plan is to share some of the techniques I've developed for building up layers of pigment using cold wax medium. Experimentation and exploration of new ideas will be the focus. If you are in the area, or are willing to travel a bit, please consider joining me in Rochester!
¶ 7:31 PM 2 comments
Saturday, January 03, 2009
a diversion
For the past week or so I've been deconstructing seven paintings that I thought were nearly done so far for my upcoming show at Grace Chosy Gallery in Madison WI. I'm not using art jargon here--I mean that I deconstructed them in a literal sense--taking off all of the clamps that were holding panels into what I had thought were final compositions. Yesterday and today I have been coming up with new ideas and compositions that are more exciting, and closer to my vision for the show, so I think this was a good move. Although there were a couple of days that I left the studio in the evening wondering why I do this to myself!
So in place of posting new paintings (which I really thought I'd be doing by now) I offer a fun website for your diversion. Dumpr allows you to upload a painting jpeg or any digital photo of your own into a museum setting. Besides being an undeniable kick to see your work in this classy setting, it also allows you to visualize a small work in large scale.
What you see above is a portion of my small painting Old Wall: Barcelona (which I posted a few weeks ago.) ¶ 4:56 PM 2 comments
For the past week or so I've been deconstructing seven paintings that I thought were nearly done so far for my upcoming show at Grace Chosy Gallery in Madison WI. I'm not using art jargon here--I mean that I deconstructed them in a literal sense--taking off all of the clamps that were holding panels into what I had thought were final compositions. Yesterday and today I have been coming up with new ideas and compositions that are more exciting, and closer to my vision for the show, so I think this was a good move. Although there were a couple of days that I left the studio in the evening wondering why I do this to myself!
So in place of posting new paintings (which I really thought I'd be doing by now) I offer a fun website for your diversion. Dumpr allows you to upload a painting jpeg or any digital photo of your own into a museum setting. Besides being an undeniable kick to see your work in this classy setting, it also allows you to visualize a small work in large scale.
What you see above is a portion of my small painting Old Wall: Barcelona (which I posted a few weeks ago.) ¶ 4:56 PM 2 comments
