Scary

Sisters in Spirit   watercolor   21.5 x 13

means so many things to so many people.  In fact, I think that our notion of what is scary is being constantly pushed to the extreme these days. 

In this painting, I chose to depict two seemingly innocent young girls in sweet patterned dresses, each wearing Halloween heads.  That, in and of itself, is a bit disturbing.  Things are not as they "should be".  I decided to push the envelope by scewing their bodies slightly off the vertical.  Diagonal placement leaves the viewer a bit disoriented....will they tip over?  will they rock towards the vertical.  In addition, the figures and the background were merged in a sameness that, in my opinion, adds a bit of other-worldliness to the presentation.

I am pleased with this work.  It is not only what we have to say, but how we say it, that makes for a more creative viewpoint.

Equilibrium

Equilibrium   oil   30 x 42

is the title of this painting of a kayaker.  It also describes what I lost during the very long process of painting it.  Each pass offered some good passages, but was, overall, not acceptable to my sense of correctness.  Again.  Again and again....throughout the long hot summer.  I kept going back to my initial sketch to repaint as that usually does the trick.  My sketches are done so spontaneously...the goal is usually an even distribution of values.  I kept trying to solve the dilemma with color, even though I have never really been a colorist.  Eventually I realized that I had to depart from the initial sketch although, while powerful, destroyed the mood of this enthusiastic boater on a hot summer day.  I am, at long last, pleased. 

I am now realizing that I needed to declare a value dominance of the work, one that supports the mood that I am trying to achieve,  in addition to the playful distribution and linkage of values. 

This lesson was learned the hard way.