When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

Archive for May, 2008

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Zen, Day and Night

Thursday, May 15th, 2008


Zen Garden 08 at night, 24 x 24 x 1 inches acrylics on woven canvas strips over a layer of wrapped canvas, about 1 inch beyond the wall surface.

Zen Garden 08 Day interest and night drama! 24H x 24W x 1D inches acrylics on woven canvas strips over a layer of wrapped canvas. Sold.

Hangs diagonally about one inch from the wall surface. The wrapped sides are painted, frame unnecessary. View the piece from start to finish April 27th, May 12th and May 13th. The tiny openings between woven strips are brightly colored orange and reds, and to ensure they’d be noticeable. A string of small clear lights is woven into more canvas strips behind the frame. It’s quite attractive in the dark and also hung diagonally, optionally hung as a square.

Zen Garden 08 detail Zen Garden 08 during daylight, 24 x 24 x 1 inches acrylics on woven canvas strips over a layer of wrapped canvas Zen Garden 08 detail

 

Today’s Nik-Pics

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008


 

Reflections - photography, sun poking through between storms.  Sunflower-heads, red variety, the plant is very healthy with plenty of flowerheads appearing.  Reflections #2 - Photography - Green Anole eating insects off of a spider web.

Reflections – Sun poking through between storms. Sunflower-heads, red variety – the plant is large already, and very healthy with plenty of flower heads appearing. I’m taking photos in sequence and will post those together when the plant is in full bloom. Green Anole eating insects off of a spider web, window reflection.

Zen Garden 08 – work in progress

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008


 

Pebbles / Zen Garden #8, 24 x 24 inch stretcher with woven canvas strips. Phase 4, work in progress. Zen Garden 08 detail, work in progress Pebbles / Zen Garden #8, 24 x 24 inch stretcher with woven canvas strips. Phase 7, work in progress. Pebbles / Zen Garden #8, 24 x 24 inch stretcher with woven canvas strips. Phase 8, work in progress.

Crackle glaze was applied at one stage, but the humidity is too high so it didn’t take, may apply again later at some point. Today playing with the patterns, colors, refining the pebbles, splattering to give them more realistic texture.

Zen Garden 08

Monday, May 12th, 2008


 

Pebbles / Zen Garden #8, 24 x 24 inch stretcher with woven canvas strips. Phase 2, work in progress. Pebbles / Zen Garden #8, 24 x 24 inch stretcher with woven canvas strips. Phase 3, work in progress.

The Emerald Tree Boas is out in one work-area, the recently started Maple Leaves in another, and in the afternoon when I feel less like thinking but still want to keep the hands busy, have started painting Zen Garden 08.

New marketing strategies

Sunday, May 11th, 2008


 
Grackle Party, Dallas Texas, 11H x 9W inches graphite and colored pencils

Grackle Party, Dallas Texas, 11H x 9W inches graphite and colored pencils, white double mat, white frame with crackle finish

In her Wed. April 30th blog post, my friend Chris Bolmeier writes about an older painting she revitalized, and in this case it improved dramatically.  Surprise 2 supports what I wrote in yesterday’s post: many paintings need a period of rest before we know how to solve them. In any Artist’s home/studio there are at least ten or so paintings hanging around or put away in unfinished states. If it isn’t sold immediately, chances are 50/50 it will continue to change as we attempt to improve it until we know it’s truly finished.

Chris is trying new marketing strategies, and offering anyone who sells her work a 20% cut. A little out of the ordinary to show and offer another artist’s work for sale on my own website, but this is a brilliant idea she has, and I don’t mind trying to help promote her work. Good Luck with your sales, Chris!

Today’s work, details

Friday, May 9th, 2008


 
Maple Leaves, details after a few more hours working today - 48 x 84 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas.

Maple Leaves, upper right details

Maple Leaves, details after a few more hours working today – 48 x 84 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas. Changes may be subtle from here on; time to set it against a wall and study for a while before adding more. It’s a good time to start another painting.

Maple Leaves, work in progress

Thursday, May 8th, 2008


 
Maple Leaves - 48 x 84 x 3 inches Acrylics on stretched canvas. Work in progress - 3rd day.

Maple Leaves – 48H x 84W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted. Work in progress.

On paintings with such large surfaces, acrylics are used more like watercolors, with gradually built thin layers of paint and matte gel medium. Soon after this stage as I become more confident with the subject, paint is applied thicker in areas helping to give a better illusion of depth.

Armadillo

Sunday, May 4th, 2008


 

Armadillo near Fort Worth, Texas A closer look at the interesting design of an Armadillo, Spring-time near Fort Worth, Texas

…a close look at the skin and overall design of an Armadillo who met misfortune near the Texas Motor Speedway.

Painting large again

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008


 

Maple Leaves, 48H x 84W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas. Just started.  Maple Leaves, 48H x 84W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas. Work in progress.

This morning I started painting Maple leaves on one of the large heavy-duty frames we made last week. Trying to think of a catchier title as I work. 48H x 84W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas. It should be a good study of the color green.
And speaking of green, yet another photo of one of the Anoles running around in the back yard this morning – I love watching these little guys!
 
Male Green Anole in our back yard, Lewisville, TX

 

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