The Forgotten Landscapes

Lest you think I have abandoned landscape, let me post these examples. I feel as if I need to paint more landscapes to maintain my artistic balance. I believe continual exercise of portrait, figure, landscape , and still life important to my growth as an artist. So that is my art resolution for 2013. More landscapes!

New Figures

My figure painting is continuing to be all over the place. Some I like...most I think fall short.
I like the Guy in Jeans. It has focus and freshness...love that underarm.

Portrait VS Landscape Format

Some times I see my composition as being wider than it is tall and I paint a portrait in what is called the Landscape Orientation....that is with a rectangular canvas on its side.  I once had someone curating a show tell me I had painted it "the wrong way".

Square Format

These are 18 x 18 inches. The square format is kinda fun for a change. However they violate the basic rule of composition in that the equal sides decrease variation......always risking less interesting composition. I cant 't figure out why I don't like the painting of the Bearded Gentleman. I love the Moody Gal.

Portraits

Back to portraits again. No surprise here! These are all 18X14 inches. One of may favorite sizes for painting at an open session of three hours.

Master Copies

Every once in a while I do a Master Copy. It is a great way to learn but somehow I am resistant. When I do them I really enjoy myself, but it is hard to get started>

Still lifes

I am still painting a still life most weeks. I can tell it is paying off. The process flows...many fewer false moves.

Nude FIgures

I continue to work on the full nude figure. I find this a most challenging subject. Sometimes I feel like I am making progress, but they next painting is almost always a failure! Big Sigh!!!

Gesture Heads and Torsos

On these paintings I was trying to disregard getting a likeness and instead concentrating on gesture and mood. Still can't figure out how to paint stripes in a loose manner!

More Portraits

18x18

16x20

16z20

Although I have not posted since June, I have been painting as usual. I will let the blog go when I am busy, but I cannot stop creating. The only time I stop painting is when I am making something else.

The Big Friendly Fish

The Big Friendly Fish is made on a 1982 Cushman utility vehicle that was completely rebuilt after stripping off the body. It was constructed freehand out of square tube and 1/8 inch steel plate. The ethos is Dr Suese meets Mad Max. Covered with 3500 computer controlled LEDs it is awesome at night.  Made by myself and my Son, the BFF is a work in progress. The Fish attended 2011 Burningman and has a pass for this year as well. Not seen in these photos is the disco ball hanging from the front of the gantry. The BFF seats five including the rider on top.

Small and Fast..... Figure Oil Sketches

These are all small paintings executed in less than an hour. The first set of 7 are done from life.

The last 4 are done from 5 minute charcoal sketches. From life one must simplify but painting from sketches one must amplify. This is totally different and a great exercise.