Getting the Canvas ready

First gesso coat

MY NEW COMMISSION!

I just got a commission for a 10'x7 1/2'painting on canvas to go on a high wall in a 2story bedroom in greater Tucson. Hal just finished building the canvas, after carefully checking that it would go out the gallery door, and I put on the first coat of gesso this morning. I've done a small mock up (10"x8") and hope to start on the painting itself first thing next week since it must be done by Sept. I must admit I've done large paintings before, but none this large. It will be fun, I hope. Thought you might like to see my progress.

When you look, what do you see?

When I am teaching, I ask "Do you see how this relates to that?" Often the answer is no, or maybe, or I'm not sure. So I began to wonder what do other people see. I haven't figured how to see through your eyes, but I do wonder what DO you see.
I see lots of colors. In my mind I run through the tubes of paint naming each one I would put on my palette. I see the lights and the darks and the movement. Sometimes I "see" what it would look like in a "bird's eye view". And, oh, those negative shapes are amazing. See the spaces between the branches of a tree or the flower stem or that ladder back chair. And there are wonderful shadows that change constantly when the wind blows casting moving sun lit circles on the ground. And how weird my shadow looks when the sun is high in the sky....or how long it is at evening and the edges become soft as it goes away. And what color are shadows anyway? The color of the grass? How many greens or browns would that be. Or is it blue, or grey or purple like the impressionist often made it. And what color is skin anyway. Is it pink? or grey? or orange? or brown or black or all of those?
But, what do YOU see? I look at landscape paintings and know the artist and I do not see the exact same colors. Is that tree cool or warm? And why?
So I wish just once I could see what YOU see. Does your world look like mine? Sadly, neither of us will ever really know.

FINALLY, some new work.

Well, the world sort of fell on me recently with a family full of deaths and marriages and illnesses and moving.  But I'm back at it with a return to my narrative work.  It's been a while.  Meanwhile, I've practiced with landscapes and still lifes and some other minor refreshement of techniques and want to get on with it.  Telling an emotional story is of prime importance to me.  I hope you will let me know if you have a response to any of this work.

"Biography" Oil, 30"x36", $750 (unframed)

"Movin' On", oil, 24"x12" $350, (unframed)

Lime Tree with Birds, oil/c, 20x16 $600 unframed

Busy time of year

Like most everyone else I have had little painting time recently.  I'd love to go to the studio and push a little paint around the canvas.  I really had great plans to do just that, but you know what happens to the best laid plans.

Back Among the Living...

The "Salute to Fort Bend" exhibit is over and I can think about something else.  If anyone is still reading this, the last few weeks have been a mish mash of things getting ready.  Myself and 6 other artists from MSG have all been rushing to put together work having to do with the past, present and future of our area.  And my super family and I dealt with all the logistics of transportation, sales, etc. (What would I do without Hal and Mary) It all happened at a  lovely benefit dinner at Sugar Land's Safari Club.  Owner Allison Wen put out the invitation for the exhibit and we were delighted.  There's not much I enjoy more than an art show.   When everything is hung and lights go on....WOW  I love it!.  I thought it was spectacular.  Now the paintings are hanging in Morton Street Gallery and we're throwing a party Saturday night, Oct. 16th. from 5:30-7:30.  It's open to the public so come on.  You can check it out at our  website www.mortonstreetgallery.net. There's a link on this page.  (I should put it here, but in case I don't do it right!)