S and K

S and K   oil/canvas   30 x 40 x 1.5

Some images become iconic to me...those scenes that repeat themselves throughout one's life so much that they become embedded in our memory banks.  I am lucky to have so many beautiful ones.  The boys in the photo that inspired this work are now adults...both almost 30 and one to be married within the month.  The bodies have been replaced by other children but the same scene was repeated at this year's beach vacation...the castle builders now Jaidyn and Logan, children of our niece Katie.  In this case, the image becomes more than a singular painting...the work represents, to me, the impact of important familial traditions.  In my work to come, I hope to visit other such scenes/memories...they are the stuff of impact...that which makes my life worthwhile.

In the canvas, the figures were sketched in different positions than the reference photo provided.  I wanted the two figures to work as one in their singular endeavor.  The forms became pretzel-like, in a singular shape that includes the somewhat tangled arms and legs.  The figure on the right became slightly larger to create more interest.  The drip castle is indeed the tie that binds, but has become less consequential...a supporting prop.

A Tale of Two Horses

Two Horses   oil/canvas   18 x 24 x 1.5

This painting took months and months to complete....I just couldn't be satisfied.  The split rail fence behind the horses was in...then out....then in in parts....then out again.  Likewise with the detail and full rendering of the horizontal horse.  All that detail was just too much for me and took away the power of the image.  This represents a final (yeah, sure) effort at pleasing my aesthetics.  The horizontal horse has become a two-dimensional shape.  The white horse carries enough detail for my liking.  The dark violet horizontal band carries some semblance of a fence.  The swishing tails were just too easy to over-render.....so I gave them supporting roles only.   I am not sure this is what I intended....but this is where I ended up.  I am liking it more all the time.

Let me know what you think.....................

Surprise!

On Thursday night my husband surprised me....and I wasn't quite certain I was up for it.  With evenings still in the mid-eighties, we were usually found in front of fans either reading or slowing down from the day by watching totally mindless television.  I was in the process of the wind-down, when he suggested a visit to Ohio Music Shop in Kent for open mic night.  Each musician played three songs while we listened, enjoyed and sketched in theater-style seating in an air-conditioned environment.  What a rare treat!  My usual sketchbook was not in my bag, so I made do with this small notepad.  The parts of the faces not visible were behind the microphone...no matter.  All in all, a perfect evening...fine music, sketching and cold beverages.

Lemonade...

Lemonade   watercolor   13.5 x 18

Who wouldn't like some?  Especially here in northeast Ohio where the temperature is hovering at 90 degrees in the shade.  This watercolor was done in class from items that were put together by artists in the class.  I have since stopped the "everybody bring something" method of setting up a still life as the resultant composition usually contained too many elements for my liking.  But this one worked out well for a couple of reasons.  I tend to like an opposing color temperature as an underlying wash.  This is more difficult to do with watercolor.  And I also like mixing the organic and geometric shapes that create balance....a great yin-yang combo. 

The difficult part, as I recall was keeping the lemonade fresh with ice cubes.....we were all melting.

Yes...the garden

Radishes   watercolor/gouache   9 x 12

"Radishes" is a watercolor and gouache painting.  The paper was first coated with permanent white gouache, mixed to the consistency of cream, and allowed to dry.  This method allows for more flexibility in moving colors around and also provides a bit of opacity where intended without the mud that sometimes occurs when layering watercolor pigments.  I have always used it as a counterpoint in the work, i.e. juxtaposing it with transparent passages for that point::counterpoint effect.  In this case, the opaques are mostly in the background, but ease their way into the bunch on the leaves in the upper left.

The only time I have relished (no pun intended) radishes was in a brewery in Mill Valley  where they were served as an hors d'oeuvre, sliced ever-so-thinly and served with a pat of creamy butter at room temperature.  They are always delicious when painted.

Oh....the Garden

Beets   watercolor/gouache   10.5 x 21

We love beets at our house.  My husband's family is of Pennsylvania Dutch origin, so one of our favorites is Red Beet Eggs, or pickled beets and eggs.  We love them roasted, glazed, sliced, chilled in salads.  The leaves can also be prepared as a wilted lettuce dish.  The garden is coming in now...it is a glory to behold.  Graceful leaves and branches....colorful produce on the vine.  Painting produce is one of my favorite things this time of year.

Eat your veggies.....but paint them first.