Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Standing in the Sunshine


Standing in the Sunshine
7 x 5

SOLD


You may realize that one of the subject matters that I really like is stately trees. It must be the compelling abstract design of their shape against the relatively blank canvass of the sky that pulls me in. This painting was somewhat of a breakthrough for  me as I tried a technique that starts off with much larger and simpler shapes from which I chisel out the forms. I am very pleased with the results.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Old Tips


Old Tips
10 x 8, oil

SOLD

I have painted this fence before, much, much smaller. I keep going back to the pull of the sun seeping through the slats of the fence as it is in the very slow process of falling down.   You can see these fences of such character all over the place here. Often they are put up as a temporary boundary marker. Property owners usually plant bushes or trees along the same line that will eventually take the place of the fence so they leave the fence to slowly rot away and become part of the land. None of the slats are perfectly shaped either - unless you think that irregularity is perfect. They make me turn my head every time I see them - especially scenes like this one.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Celebrating .... it all



I am in the midst of an 8 out of 10 day Open Studio experience at my home. People come to my house during my open hours and look and buy (hopefully). I am in day two. Not many people here but the ones who are coming I am enjoying immensely.

During my waiting time I am working on some important things in my art - my vision, artist statement, why do I do what I do? What do I personally like about my work? Where is it all going?

Within this quest  I am getting clearer on some of own knowledge of self. I can now put into words that I understand why I paint - I am pulled to celebrate my connection with the subject by painting it.

The celebration just starts with the connection with the subject, which for me could be a special emotion or story that is enhanced with some specific lighting to help show it off.  It is also partly the 'pat on the back' when the painting is done and successful, or when a challenge within the process had been bested. Partly it is the gratitude for having the ability to begin with. Partly it is giving me credit for pushing myself to get better and better.  I guess I do believe that life is to be celebrated with all that we are - I am a painter, thus, I often celebrate with paint.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Several Plein Air Pieces


Sleeping Sailboat
10 x 5
oil on panel

Done on site at Whitstable Harbour in Kent, UK. This harbour town is jam packed with people on a nice day - especially since there aren't that many nice days in England. And it was a nice day the day I painted this. Odd how easily I could pretend all the people weren't even there, even as 100s walked by or settled in within 20 feet from where I was set up. There were also 100s of boats either in the water or waiting on the shore to go in or just nestled in their sleeping rows waiting for their next venture into the water.



Seashore at Clovelly
10 x 5
Oil on panel

Done on site in another gorgeous and out-of-the-way, ancient village called Clovelly, Devon, UK. I got up bright and early to catch the light. We stayed at a wonderful hotel, Red Lion Hotel, right on the water, so the walk to my painting site was a near 50 feet away, on a slippery, rocky shore. 


Clovelly from Below
10 x 8
oil on panel

This one is really just a sketch, generally I am not drawn to paint buildings but this place was just too captivating so I wanted to get some of it down in paint. The ancient beginnings of this village was 2500 years ago! Steep, VERY bumpy cobblestone streets. Cars are not allowed cause they simply cannot navigate the roads - all 1 of them.  The only traffic is by donkey, people and these odd, home-made sledges that they use to slide their goods from the top of the very steep hill down to the restaurants and homes there. The entire village is privately owned and has been associated with only 3 families in the last 600 years. What a place!



The Cliffs at Valley of Rocks
10 x 8

About 1 hour away from Clovelly lies a much larger tourist attraction - Lynton. One of it's beauty marks is the area they call Valley of Rocks. Not for the faint hearted for the cliffs can make even a seasoned height viewer a bit uneasy. I painted this at a cliff area where I only had to go about 2 steps out to .... my death I guess.  Really stunning area.