White Horses

I actually DID work on the Three Dancers again, but it is not quite ready to post. I am having somewhat of a dilemma trying to decide just how closely I want the dancers to resemble one another. I do not want this to look like a "cookie cutter" painting with just a repetitive figure; rather, I want each dancer to have her own unique features. At least, that is my goal.

Fall is around the corner, and the weather is soooooo beautiful right now. Plein aire painting in the mountains would be great at this time of the year. We'll see.

Anyway, I am starting another large horse painting, featuring grey and white Arabians. Just getting the sketches done, but I am excited about this one. (I know, I know...I always say that.) Will post the work in progress within a couple of days.

See ya!

A Personal Break Through???

Okay. Here's the thing:

Two thousand years ago when I was in school, I was encouraged (by my high school art instructor) to submit into an art show an "unfinished" piece, along with several completed works. Specifically, it was my version of a "sun god" sculpted from clay. The large piece was completed insofar as the sculpting, but was technically still "green ware" as it had been neither fired nor glazed yet.

Following this juried show, I received what I considered to be mixed reviews from the judges (who were respected art professors from the university). I was praised and awarded for my batik art pieces, along with a pen and ink drawing. But to my personal horror, these much admired geniuses of the art world (my perception of them as a seventeen year old), mentioned in their printed article regarding the Show that they were "surprised at the number of unfinished pieces that were included in the exhibit". ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I AM RUINED!!!

Of course, they could only have been talking about me...how embarrassing...would I survive this??? At least they didn't mention me by name, I thought to myself, trying to grasp at straws and to the tiny speck that remained of my self-confidence. (It would be years later that I learned the truth in the theory that in order for a person to absorb and learn from a criticism, they must receive and accept 4 or 5 positive comments first, in order to properly absorb the shock...but perhaps the calculation is ten-fold when you are a shy, insecure teenager).

To make a long story short (ha!)...

I have never posted or presented artwork that was unfinished. Now you know the reason. But to show how much I have grown (now an insecure adult???), I have thought about it and have come to these conclusions:

(1) I enjoy looking at other artists' blogs who show the actual painting process, with "before" and "after" photographs of their work.

(2) I believe that it is helpful to other artists, and perhaps interesting to the buyer of the piece, to view the actual art in its progression, from a concept to a finished canvass.

Toward that end, I am (gasp!) going to show some of my artworks now in progress, in hopes that you will learn, or perhaps be entertained, by the process. (But, please don't tell those university art professors that I am posting unfinished work. It will be our little secret).

I have been working several days on this fun little painting/sketch that I may be calling "The Three Dancers". Yeah, I know. Not much to look at yet, but I think that I have gotten the basic sketch pretty much like I want it. Details will come later, and the background will, more likely than not, go through a multitude of changes in both color and texture.

We'll see. Stay tuned...

Bright Spot of Color

There is such beauty around us. It is literally everywhere...

Looking around my room at this very moment, I can see the incredible shadows cast by the last of the day's sunlight seeping in through my blinds, the infinite shades of green in my pothos house plant, and the shocking red color on the ladybug surveying one of the longer leaves.

I could never run out of subjects to paint. There are too many interesting subjects out there! Sometimes it takes a friend to help us see that. I really hope that I can make a difference in helping others to appreciate more of the beauty around them.

I believe that is why I choose the bold colors, contrasts, and "every day" subjects and compositions that I choose...landscapes, trees, flowers, horses...

I have been doing a tremendous amount of traveling lately, and have made a concerted effort to collect lots of photographs which I am planning to share with you through recent paintings that were inspired by these venues. I have tried to emphasize the bright colors and textures that actually motivated me to create these paintings in the first place.

My recent trips to the beautiful gulf coast, and to the North Georgia Appalachians were eventful. (By the way, did you know that Boxers apparently can have life-threatening panic attacks induced by not being allowed to ride in the car with their head out the window, i.e. not "getting their own way", and that one of the most delicious desserts in the world may just be a home-grown and home-made fried peach pie from Ellijay, Georgia?)But, I digress...

Looking Up at the Changing Tree

Acrylic

24" x 48"

Here is a bright, bold painting that I hope will be a "picker-upper" for anyone needing a little "bright spot" in their day. If it makes you smile, then all my efforts are worth it, and I feel amply rewarded.