Game On

Game On   oil/canvas   18 x 18 x 1.5

Children love games.  Adults love games.  This kind of set up is a common occurrence at our home.  And this composition created an interesting triad to explore.  Moving darks.  Moving lights.  Lots of energy!  

This was an exciting painting to create for me.  

And I am often the observer...best seat in the house!

A Moment Presents Itself

Removed (E)   oil/canvas   14 x 11 x .5

 Seeing a figurative gesture that sparks my interest is a rare moment.  Arranged figures during life drawing sessions often appear strained and stiff....the pose that the model assumes while on a break is the one that pleases me.

In this case, the young boy plops himself onto the ground for some listening pleasure.  This pose was oh-so-very-difficult in its pretzel-like configuration. It really does play havoc with the elongated nature of the human body that seems to please us so much!  And It was so so very difficult.  The curved spine area behind the head was in and out, in and out...any attempts at a hard line ruined the illusion.  The darkness of the hair needed to be balance with the somewhat dark horizontal line behind the figure....at least that was my solution.

I am pleased....and it came at a cost.

Sandbox

Sandbox   oil/canvas   11 x 14

There is nothing quite like sitting in a hole dug out of sand at the beach...secure, yet grimy, as the small particles eek their way into suits, ears and hair.  A truly memorable childhood experience!  As we morph into adulthood, we choose more comfortable seating...beach chairs and towels to soften the experience.  This painting is indeed about sitting in that hole and, if we are lucky, doing so alongside a companion.  

And so, while I relished the painting of these children, I kept my eye on that unifying hole...a shadow that unifies both figures.  The challenge here, for me, was the use of strong and diverse values that do not really occur at the shore, as the light is so pervasive.  A glazing of transparent Indian Yellow over the dark shadows allows for the illusion of light entering into the sandy depths.  I am satisfied.  
 

Essential Lotto

Essential Lotto...ARtGraf graphite block on paper...30 x 16 Ideas come in fits and spurts. During my many walks each week doing a loop around the central area of our small township, I took note of the people going in and out the door of Circle K.....and caused me to wonder just what was essential enough to dawn and mask and shop at a convenience store....gas? made-to-go sandwiches and hotdogs? and, yes....LOTTO. A dream of winnings that might be the way out for many folks of the apathy and distress that seem to hover over this period in time. So....surrepticiously, I shot many photos of these customers as they entered and departed. The plan was to create a series of figurative works describing what each of these individuals considered to be essential. The woman in this work was not young....it took her many minutes to unfold from her car and conduct her business. The door itself was not easy for her to maneuver. Several minutes later, she emerged with a long string of lotto tickets. Ah...THE DREAM. I am quite happy with this work. I hope she scratches off a winning number. I wish her hope.

Boys and Creeks

Boys and Creeks  oil/canvas   30 x 20 c 1.5

My husband loves poking around in creeks.  Our three sons loved poking around in creeks.  And now, our grandchildren are following suit.  There is an exciting world living just beneath the surface.....crawdads, fossils, and interesting rocks and minerals beckon.  Wet feet?  No worries.  Dirty hands?  A momentary inconvenience.  Muddy boots?  They can be cleaned.

During the virus, our family has kept in touch more than ever as we share photos from across the country.  Seeing these daily activities, as well as coping activities, has provided us with such pleasure.  From the seaside beaches of California to the shallows of Ohio's rivers and streams, we are united in the passion of exploration. 

This painting was referenced from such a photo. I am in awe of their resilience and their spirit. 

Rorschach

Rorschach   oil/canvas   24 x 30 x 1.5

This pair of young dancers were quite remarkable....during the warm-up poses, they assumed several premeditated poses in which their two bodies created interesting shapes and outstanding visuals.  I was truly taken with their expertise!

The most exciting part of figurative painting, to me, is the shape of the core, the limbs, and, subsequently, the diminishing of the facial features to create intriguing lines....an overall visual that is greater than the sum of the parts....gestalt!!!

This was an exciting painting to work on...I feel that it mirrors that which their young bodies were trained to do.  Thank you.

Tapper

Tapper   oil on canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

Tapper is what I hope to be the beginning of a series of vertical figure paintings of people....just people....those who inspire and who "do the daily" in an interesting way.  One of my favorite artists of all times is Tyrone Geter who, in a former life, taught at The University of Akron.  Clippings of his work still hang on my inspiration bulletin board.  For me, the work goes beyond the visual.  His telling is big...very very big.  My own stories will probably not be like his.  The soulfulness of his work is built in, the African heritage with its strong values and intense patterning.  But I hope to achieve a strong feeling of the stories I have yet to tell...that is my wish.

Tapper was inspired by some photos in our family album.  I see a hesitancy in her stance.  

Wish me luck.  Wish me hard but good work.