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)

illustration

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A Heart Filled to the Brim

Sunday, January 17th, 2010


 

Portrait of Alzheimer's: A Heart Filled to the Brim, 36 x 48 x 2 inches, water soluble graphite, acrylics on canvas

A Heart Filled to the Brim, 36H x 48W x 2D inches, water soluble graphite, acrylics on canvas. On exhibit along with Polypore Fungi February through May at the Oxide Gallery, Denton, Texas

Graphite painted with water, detail of hands, A Heart Filled to the Brim An excerpt from the song, I Don’t Believe by Paul Simon on the CD, Surprise:

I don’t believe a heart can be filled to the brim

then vanish like mist as though life were a whim.

Maybe the heart is part of the mist

And that’s all that there is and could ever exist.

A portrait of Alzheimer’s honoring my Grandmother, my Mother-in-law (whose portrait this is, and whose 80th birthday is in two days), and now recently my own Mother who is in the earliest stages; and with empathy for all those afflicted, including the families dealing with the awful emotional reverberations caused by this disease.

Portrait of Alzheimer's: A Heart Filled to the Brim, detail, water soluble graphite, acrylics on canvas, gallery wrapped

Here are a few websites providing information about Alzheimer’s Disease

http://www.alz.org/index.asp

http://www.alzheimersrxtreatment.com/learnaboutalz.html

http://www.alzheimers.org/

Our Carbon Footprint

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009


 

Our Carbon Footprint, graphite on paper, scanned, digital pen

Our Carbon Footprint, graphite on paper, scanned, digital pen

Creativity is above all our best resource to finding and maintaining improved solutions with regard to our impact as consumers on the earth. Our carbon footprint is worthy.

The Majesty of Trees Exhibition was just accepted to show at the University of  Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum in the Steinhauer Trust Gallery during May and June, 2010.

Howler Monkey

Friday, March 6th, 2009


 

Howler Monkey, 11 x 11 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas, sides painted

Young Howler Monkey at the Dallas World Aquarium, 11H x 11W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted. Frame unnecessary. Hang on a wall or display on a flat surface. Signed on the side so as not to impose on the composition.


 

Young Howler, 11H x11W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas - wrapped sides painted


 

Work progress detail images shown, scrubbing and scratching away more paint than adding it.

Howler Monkey, 11 x 11 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas, phase 01 Howler Monkey, 11 x 11 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas, work in progress

Showcased in the J. Mane Gallery’s Fins, Feathers and Fur 2020 exhibition (post-dated comment).

VAST/VACD Exhibition

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008


 

Adam - part of the Children series 11 x 14 graphite drawings on paper

Merit Award winning Adam, 11H x 14W inches graphite on paper, 21 x 25 inches framed will be on exhibit as part of VAST Connections, running from October 3rd through November 1st. Sponsored by the Visual Arts Society of Texas and the Visual Arts Coalition of Dallas, the exhibition will be held at the VACD Gallery in the Thompson Fine Arts, Inc. Building, 2902 Maple Avenue, Suite A , Dallas, TX. Gallery hours: Fri, Sat: 11a.m. – 5 p.m.

Going for the magic every hour

Friday, August 15th, 2008


 

Magic Hour 60H x 40W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, sturdy home-built core stretcher frame, wrapped sides painted

Magic Hour finished (Gitxsan Totem Pole, Thunderbird Park, Victoria, BC Canada), 60H x 40W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas, sturdy home-built stretcher frame, wrapped sides painted, narrow trim frame. Here is an earlier post with information about this totem pole.

Magic Hour, top detail of 60H x 40W x 3D inches acrylics on canvasGreat moments in painting are addictive, when so completely immersed in the work that time becomes non-existent… The Zone! I’ve had a good week with this one, partly because of getting past the habit of trying to control the outcome. Things happen in every painting that are not planned, and the endless choices are part of the fun.

Magic Hour, bottom detail of 60H x 40W x 3D inches acrylics on canvas

Painting is considered to be a two-dimensional undertaking, but it’s so much more. While lost in the work process, all the dimensions of the subject are explored, including the deeper dimensions of ourselves. While painting we discover our convictions and the means to ask how far we are willing to go to stand up for them.

Work every day is about continually reevaluating decisions, taking responsibility for choices made, being honest about mistakes, shortcomings and limitations of media and self, and digging deep to find compromise between technical and intuitive solutions. It’s about control of all those elements, combined with easing up on trying to control too much. All this and more translates onto a flat surface as we hope to give the illusion of depth…if that isn’t magic, I don’t know what is!

Post-dated Note: When choosing this totem pole that is erected in Thunderbird Park at the RBC Museum in Victoria, I didn’t realize that it’s the same one that Emily Carr painted in 1928. More magic! Here is a link to more information about this totem and the Gitxsan Poles moved from Gitanyow (formerly Kitwankool) B.C.

A word here about artists’ representation of First nations or any other cultural/historic works: subjects are painted with the greatest honor and respect, with purpose to study and draw interest to the importance of appreciating our multi-cultural world and the unique characteristics of each and every culture. This is what artists do. Our differences as cultures are connected across time and place, as there are many common traits and themes expressed through Art everywhere.
Robert Genn and readers of The Painters’ Keys have some very interesting comments all around the board about this topic.

Portraits

Sunday, June 29th, 2008


 

Josee, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper, gift

Josee, a portrait of one of my nieces. Gift, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper. Drawing portraits is like brain surgery – one millimeter off, more or less, in any direction makes all the difference between success or failure!

Takkakaw Falls

Saturday, January 12th, 2008


 

Takkakaw Falls, Yoho National Park near Field BC Canada, 12H x 9W inch watercolor and graphite study from antique books of hand-colored Vandyck Photogravures of Canadian Rocky Mountains scenery. Study, private collection. Cards only

Takkakaw Falls, Yoho Valley, B.C.  830 feet high, said to be the most impressive waterfalls in North America next to Niagara. 12H x 9W inches graphite, watercolors, based on antique Vandyck photos of the Canadian Rockies. Study only, not available

Growing Up and Looking Back

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007


 

Lucas at the Museum, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Lucas at the Museum, 11H x 14W inches graphite on paper, originally posted March 23, 2007 – today notified as part of the exhibition Growing Up and Looking Back – Reflecting on Childhood, Parenting, and Home at Gallery RFD in Swainsboro, GA October 12th – November 3rd, 2007.
See more of the Children Series, graphite illustrations available as cards, matted prints and framed prints.

Joseph At The Park

Sunday, July 15th, 2007


 

Joseph

Joseph At The Park, 15 months old, 11H x 14W inches graphite on paper

Brittany at the Beach

Friday, June 8th, 2007


 
Brittany at the Beach, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

Brittany at the Beach, 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper

More Children in the series

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