The Three Stages of Saturday Night

Saturday Night's All Right   oil/canvas   16 x 20 x 1.5

My notion of a great Saturday night has evolved a bit through the years. When we were a young couple, Saturday night was a night to be with friends, drink a little too much and stay out too late. Sleeping in the next morning. After the children came along, Saturday night included shampoos and some pretty bad television shows. Now, my notion of a fabulous Saturday evening is painting....nonstop....terrific. This Saturday evening is the Akron Art Walk and our ASA Studio is on the list of open venues. We will paint from a model from 5-9 pm on the third floor of the Summit Artspace building which is located at 140 E. Market Street in Akron. Painting from a model for 4 straight hours is my notion of Saturday night bliss.

The fun continues on Sunday when we continue the open studio from noon until 5 pm in collaboration with The Sunday Sampler program (FREE admission) sponsored by The Akron Art Museum.

Be evolved. Avoid drinking too much and staying out too late. Avoid bad television. And put off that shampoo for another day....it really doesn't look that bad. Saturday night ART's all right.

Inspiration

Saturday Night's All Right   oil/canvas   16 x 20 x 1.5

Every now and then, I view the work of an artist that literally gives me goosebumps......Alex Kanevsky. His style gives me inspiration and direction...........we agree on on so many things, especially the prioritizing of the movement of the figure. However, he goes for the universal in figure painting, with little detail and color on the faces of his models. I have always, purposefully, chosen to describe the specific, with an intended leap on the part of the viewer to find the universal. I think that I will explore Kanevsky's philosophy and see where it takes me. "Saturday Night's All Right" was painted from a model during our monthly artwalk in Akron, Ohio. It took round about 5 hours to finish. It has just been accepted into "Sensory Feast", an exhibition at 2nd April Galerie in Canton. Opening is September 19............it is a wonderful and magical gallery..........come on along.

Beware the unexpected

Saturday Night's All Right   oil/canvas   16 x 20 x 1.5

Artists work very hard. I draw and paint with many other artists each week and am witness to the efforts that are required. The results are often surprising. Sometimes, the works that we labor over remain stale. Yet, some works seem to paint themselves with ease. We are always surprised and wish that we could find that formula again....................I don't believe that there is any such formula. By working within the time framework of a given situation, we are at odds with the clock, but, in doing so, put limits on what can be done. I believe that a great work can result after 5 minutes, or after 5 hours. Using a camera for photo references breaks that boundary and allows a work to be picked at ad infinitum. Often a disadvantage and a downfall. I know this from experience. "Saturday Night's All Right" is one of my favorite works, created during a Saturday night art walk in my community. I had only 5 hours with this model and the pieces seemed to fall into place easily. I so wish for that formula!