Sunday Fisherman

11 X 14 inches Acrylic

This is one of my favorite paintings. I like its feeling of isolation. Lone man standing in  front of a wall with his hand line trying to get a fish for dinner. (In this part of Mexico, it is more common for local  residents to use a hand line rather than a fishing rod.)  But, it contains something I often use in my work and that is an abstract painting within the painting.  The water viewed by itself is quite abstract yet the painting is figurative.

Sometimes I like the acrylic sketches more than or as well as the finished paintings.  At times, I stop at the sketch stage, sometimes I push onward to what seems a finish. This is a closeup sketch of the fisherman. It shows how I begin to paint in shapes. Yes, at this stage the shapes and their relationships are much more important than the object or figure.  When working from a photograph, I will often paint parts of the painting upside down to further divorce myself from the object and see only the shapes. Accurate depiction of shapes will naturally make the image real once turned right-side-up.

Merry Christmas Mr. Claus

8 x 10 acrylic sketch

Even Santa deserves a little extra joy.  I will probably do a little more on it this but, I really like it's unfinished nature.  I won't do too much, would hate to loose the immediacy and spontaneity of the brush work.

This is a gift for a very good friend, who I  know will really appreciate its innocence.

A Chat With Santa.... Finished

Ah, what  one can see with fresh eyes!!  Put in another four hours and  I think it is done. I am fascinated with the American illustrators of the late 19th, early 20th century. Their skill in drawing astounds me. They paint things I can only dream of.  And since it is the Holiday Season take a look at the Santa's painted by Haddon Sundblom, Norman Rockwell and Joseph Christian Leyendecker.  I based this painting on a fragment of a Leyendecker illustration.

Work in Progress: A Chat With Santa

8 X 10 inches

Acrylic on stretched canvas.  This is what I have at the end of the day.  I wish I could see it with your eyes, as mine can no longer see objectively.  I absolutely love Santa, his innocence and magic. Tomorrow, I will continue with fresh eyes, hopefully I will be able to sort out the painting's problems. But if not, I have enjoyed spending this day with Santa Claus. Merry Christmas.

Negative/Positive Drawing Exercise: Charlie Chaplin Look-A-Like

8 1/2  x 11 inches

 The photo was a Weekend Drawing Event Photo on Wet Canvas. I chose it  in order to to do an exercise in negative/positive space drawing. How much more perfect is a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like, of course dressed in black and white. I chose the diagonal stroke for the negative areas because I wanted them to function as a uniform dark. Any variation of the stroke in the dark areas would have only complicated and confused the dark areas.

     I also chose this photo because of the angles in Charlies pose which provide movement, energy and character.  THE CHALLENGE AND THE ADVENTURE OF DRAWING ADDS MYSTERY TO LIFE, A BLANK PIECE OF PAPER IS SCULPTED BY OUR PENCIL STROKES. 

Photo: Dia de los Muertos

This is the first time I have posted something to do with traditions in Mexico. This is my favorite holiday. We celebrate the lives of those who have died by inviting them back for one night. Altars are made using objects like the ones you see in the picture. It is a happy celebration....Mexican people make fun of death, they go to the cemetery and play beloved music, eat the favorite foods of those they are visiting  and clean and decorate the graves passing the entire night with those they LOVE. What a wonderful way to celebrate life!

Part III Orchid Triptych: Oncidium

This one is moving along without many problems.  I think because I work on it when I am at my best, freshest, just waking up with my cup of coffee.  My mind at this stage is still calm and at peace.  It is dark outside, the roosters are crowing, little geckos (lizards) are still making their loud smacking sounds and life hasn't quite begun.  I tend to be very patient, my strokes even and unhurried.  I don't have to remind myself to slow down and concentrate more, like I do when I am tired.  There is definitely something to be said for working when you are the freshest.  Keeping this freshness all day would be lovely.  An elixir?  A daily trip to the Fountain of Youth?   Magic?   NO, I had better stick to working the hour or two after I awake.  To much of a good thing may not be a good thing!