Diary of a Painting

 A self portrait in profile was almost the last angle I have yet to paint, and so I wanted to see what it was about.  After taking a lot of time and care in setting up two mirrors and adjusting to the odd perspective of a reflection within a reflection, I lifted my arm to paint~ only to find it obscured my face completely!  Annoyed I banged the easel, the mirror slid, and everything aligned...

I closed the eye in this painting to push the viewer even further away from the figure.  It is beginning here to feel intimate and distant at the same time.   I added layers to the hair to catch the lighting and the grey, and rounded out the flesh.

 Pushing out of what's comfortable and easy is important for an artist's growth ~ mine anyway.  Here the narrative is forming. The energy that keeps the viewer in the painting and asks them to question and think and wonder...  

"What No One See"s 2014 oil on canvas 20in x 24in ~ complete

Love Tokens

"Whenever I am sick, or feeling grey, he would bring me a cat to hug and to cuddle, and with this demonstration, he would remind me of love.
When we were young and standing under our tree, he had agreed to everything with no fear, no hesitation, and the most quiet of smiles..."

This painting is about the charm and the rings on the cord around my neck and what they mean to me.  I think many people have special tokens they carry and wear to remind them of good things and better memories.  It is part of our humanity, these little objects we put meaning into. 

Sick Day

Ugh! Not the best way to start a Monday, but I can't help enjoying the company.  Animals have such a way of communicating. They do not have words like humans, and yet ironically, they seem to speak much more clearly. 
This 6in x 6in small painting (if not yet sold) is on view, with other pet paintings, at 2nd Helpings, in Roanoke, VA. 

Also too, please visit my SALES page to see specially marked paintings from 2010 -2012. If there is a piece you are interested in, but do not see there, please contact me.  Sale ends December 31st.

Where it all Happens... a first in technical discussions

The palette.  I started using this glass plate in early Spring.  Before that I had a medium size travel palette with little scoops for about 20 different colors and a sealed lid.  Though I liked that I could close a lid on it, that palette didn't actually seal very well as I got paint on the rim very very quickly... I also didn't need all the little scoops and found myself only using the flat mixing section, which, when holding the paint choices as well, turned out to be a bit small.
So I found this 18in x 24in piece of glass and started to use it.  I really like it.  Have not scraped it yet, and maybe glass is not the best material for its fragility, but I like it.  Paint is always very smooth and there is plenty of space and its got weight enough. I do need to tape the edges.  When I am done, I cover it all up with wax paper and fold under to seal.  For me, this keeps it well enough. If I go a long time without painting, I clear the palette by working til its empty or I usually have a "left over paint" canvas kicking around for experimenting and such to make sure everything gets used up.

There is a certain chaotic order to paint placement too, but that is a story for another day.
In the meantime, from now until December 31st, there is a sale on my website.  All pieces are from 2010 - 2012. 40% OFF.  Please take a look.