The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery

......Francis Bacon

Friday, February 25, 2011

Layer By layer

 Thats how I'm working this painting. layer by layer. Here is the initial color going in. This will have to dry completely before adding any details.


This is a 16x20 canvas, mixed media. A new technique for me and I really like the results so far. More progress to follow. I have a couple paintings to varnish while this one dries. Be back with more later.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Three In A Row

I have put my second sketch down onto my canvas for my crow tryptich. It may be hard to see as it's just the initial sketch but soon it will have color. This canvas will be the third canvas in the group with my first sketch being placed in the center of the mix. I sometimes do this with my multi panel pieces. I will move them around to see in which order I like them best.


This last crow is further down on the branch so consequentially, he is closer to the viewer so,ie, he is a bit larger. He is also engaging the viewer as is the second crow. So far, the first crow 's eyes follow me around my studio as I work, very cool.

  I have one more canvas to prep and the last crow to sketch so it's back to the studio for me. Stay tuned for more progress on this one.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Ready To Add The Beauty

I think I have this sketch the way I want it finally. I am going to now add the beauty part, color! I LOVE this part..........


 She is on canvas. I will lay subtle washes of color over her and give her a background. I will post more photos later. Thanks for viewing!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Working Away On A Monday Morning

Here is a progress shot of my fourth lady in my "Fearless Diva" series. It's so great to be able to wake on a Monday morning knowing I am going to spend my day, in my studio, creating art. I just follow my bliss!


The sketch.................


Laying in the first color

As you can see, a painting is going to look pretty flat and one dimensional until the depth is put in. Thats the secret, be fearless!........ get those darks in there! More progress to come, keep checking back.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Just A Little Addition

I have been staring at this canvas for a couple days now, trying to decide just what to add. After coming up with all kinds of ideas, I settled on a book. I will have her reading! So that is what I did. I added a book to my sketch.

  If I wasn't so busy, I would like to pick up a book and read too. But, I will be happy just painting her reading. Here is the before and after pics. I really think it added a lot to the composition.



 Now to add some color! I will post more later.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Enlightened And Enchanted

Finished!


"Buddha In The Shadows"
18X24 Acrylic, Mixed Media On Canvas
Giclees Available, Contact Me For Pricing

And A Closeup...............


Enjoy Your Week!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Buddha In Progression

Happy Valentines Day to all you lovers out there!  Iv'e been working on this new Buddha, the fourth painting in my "Enlightened Buddha" series. I'm actually trying to pull back into a consistent color palette. 

  I love my vivid jewel tone palette with lots of the quinacridone colors. But I also have a second color palette that I adore too, consisting mainly of blue shades. For now, I am going to stick to the quin palette and see what happens. Here is the progression of this work.......... 

Initial Sketch done in charcoal direct onto the canvas and fixed with fixative.


The.......Starting to lay in color. Just basing in.



As I am laying in more color. I am also paying attention to where I will place shadows and in what direction the light is coming from. You can see in this photo how I am applying that.



The color is spectacular on this painting. I am using Quinacridone Crimson for Buddha. Not a usual color for Buddha but then,  I don't usually use quote "Normal" colors unquote.Hopefully, I will be finishing this painting up today. I have other canvasses prepped and ready to go with sketches already on them. I will post those up here later as well. Thanks for visiting!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Windy Wreck

It is still a bit breezy here in So. Cal. I sure wish it would stop. But at least I finished my 3rd Fearless Diva......


Here is the initial sketch...............And here is the finished painting.............


"Windblown"
14X18 Acrylic, Mixed-Media On Canvas
Third In The Fearless Diva Series
Giclees Available

Have more canvasses sitting and waiting for me. catch you all later. have a great weekend!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Messy Messy

I feel so windblown! The winds have been terrible here the past couple days. I'ts not so bad when I can stay home, but going out in it, like I did yesterday made me crazy, much like the way I sketched my new crazy haired, fearless Diva....................


This is pretty much the way I looked all day yesterday. Being fearless, my Diva doesn't mind it as much as I do. She just fluffs her hair up with her hands and she's good to go.

Me, I despise the wind. It makes my house feel gritty and it totally destroys my mood. Not to mention the fact that it blew my canvas across my driveway and into the street. Yes, my canvas was on my driveway because when I purchase a brand new canvas, I don't like how they are sometimes a bit saggy. I like them as tight as a drum when I paint. So, I mist them with a little water, set them on my very large driveway to bake and they tighten up with the heat from the cement drive. Works like a charm! Except for today when I had to go rescue mine from the street before it got run over.

  As you can see from above, it's just fine. I will lay some color in on her in a bit and I will post my progress soon!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Let's Hear It For New Art Supplies !

I LOVE getting new art supplies............New supplies mean NEW paintings!


I am in love with my new paintbrush. It is an Escoda Takatsu Round, size 22. Big and juicy! Can't wait to initiate it. I adore LARGE brushes. If you have never tried using larger brushes, I urge you to do so.

  And speaking of new paintings, here is number four in my "Enlightened Buddha" series. Just the initial sketch so far. This is a pretty large painting and I can't wait to lay in color. If you look closely, you will see an extra eye!


Off to the studio I go. I will be posting more progress soon! Thanks for visiting me!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Here is the third painting in my series "Enlightened Buddha". Under all the paint, I have written the following Metta Prayer. It can be deciphered in small areas of the painting.

"May All Beings B Peaceful
May All Beings Be Happy
May All Beings Be Safe
May All Beings Awaken To The Light Of Their True Nature
May All Beings Be Free"


"East Meets West"
6X20 Acrylic On Canvas
Original And Giclees Available
Contact Me For Pricing


 May this painting bring to it's purchaser, a life filled with peace, compassion and happiness.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Discussion

Finally finished and she is going out to L.A. this afternoon to the Hamilton Gallery and The Happening Gallery to see who might take her!  Very exciting!...............


"Lets Talk About This"
14X18 Acrylic On Canvas
Original And Giclees Available
Contact me For Pricing


Thursday, February 3, 2011

Enlightened Buddha

I'm making quick progress on this, my third painting in my "Enlightened Buddha" series. I really enjoy painting Buddha and I will most likely make this a series of about ten paintings all told.

Here is the initial sketch on canvas..............



And here is my progress so far..............


I'm dropping in color and adding depth. I am hoping to finish this up in the next couple days. I am also preparing my fourth Buddha work which I have an idea for floating around in my head! I really need to get that one down on canvas soon. I will be back with more progress on this one soon.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Feeling Liberated

  This past week, I spent my entire time going through mountains of stuff. Stuff that was not only taking up physical space but, also precious mental space and energy.

  Possessions that had sat for a long time were now being purged. Either sold, donated or just plain disposed of. These were things that I never dreamed I would ever be able to let go of. And, as I look back on this past week, I have no regrets, none whatsoever. I don't miss the stuff!

  All I am feeling right now is totally and completely liberated. As I take a 360 degree look at my now organized and pretty much emptied out studio, I really don't understand why I didn't do this sooner. I don't know why I chose to feel buried alive under things that I now realize were not important to me. I had no passion for the stuff I let go of. These things, yes just "things" were zapping my energy and taking me away from the life I really wanted to live.

  I can breathe, and it feels so good. My creativity is busting out all over and I can't seem to get my ideas down on canvas fast enough! I am carrying this whole letting go of stuff over to my entire household. As each room empties out, I feel more and more free from digging myself out from under mounds of un-needed, un-used, un-wanted material possessions. This feels soooo good. It's hard to explain just how good this feels.

  As a friend of mine put it, I was expressing "ownership" It's not that all this stuff was anything great or special. The majority had no meaning at all other than being pretty or cute or fun to play around with. It was just the fact that it was MINE. Even if all I did was stare at it as it sat taking up much needed space for what was really important.

  This is one of the best things I have done for myself in a long time, and I vow to keep it this way.I will not burden myself with stuff anymore. Now........off to the studio to create!

  Here is a new work in progress................








And another being finished up.........................