Lying in Ruins

After weeks (over 2 years for two of the culprits) of struggling with about 8 canvases I am ready to toss them in the bin.

While two have questionable composition, that is not the case with the others, it's the paint! I have either been to heavy handed, choose the wrong colour, the wrong hue. The brush work is awkward, there is to much medium in this area or that. It's a wreck! They all are wrecks!! I am a wreck!!!

So now here I am. I have been trying to figure out how and where I went wrong. Was there a sign I didn't heed? A point at which if I had slowed down or sped up I could have pulled these paintings back from the brink? Were they over thought, under thought? I simply don't know.

I do know I will start again. A bit more humble and unsure of myself, but this is not a bad thing it just is. I don't know where I am headed, but I know where I will start. As always the start will be a clean unmarred surface that I will have prepared for my first mark.

The Month of August

Wednesday morning I loaded up my car with paintings and drove into town to deliver artwork to Criollo.

Once there I unloaded the paintings, several large paintings. At this point the panic starts to settle in. Do I have enough paintings, do I have to many?

How are we going to arrange these?

The self doubt seems to be a constant companion. A much smaller voice to be certain, but still that little nag. There was no need for it. Kassidy was up and down on the ladder securing and adjusting the paintings and as if my magic it was all hung and looks fantastic.

You will have to stop in Criollo, 16 North San Francisco Street in Historic Downtown Flagstaff to see  the show. It is up through the month of August.

Big thanks to Diane Rechel for taking these lovely photographs.

Ocean Oracle II

from the"Ocean Oracle" series

Mixed Media on Paper

15" x 22"

750.00

from the"Ocean Oracle" series

Mixed Media on Paper

15" x 22"

Sold

Two more from the series "Ocean Oracle" that my wonderful friend and photographer Tom Alexander shot. He is such great guy! I am very fortunate that he works with me.and is the consummate professional.

This series is inspired by the beauty and magnificence of sea turtles. Each painting is archival and created on Saunders Waterford 300 lb watercolour paper with watercolour, ink, asian papers, acrylic lifts, 23 karat gold leaf, and graphite.

Ocean Oracle

from the "Ocean Oracle" series

Mixed Media on Paper

15" x 22"

750.00

from the "Ocean Oracle" series

Mixed Media on Paper

15" x 22"

750.00

I think there is something magical about sea turtles. They are ageless and mysterious to me, living in a world between the water and the air. Returning to land bask in the sun and lay their eggs. I am fascinated by them.

These paintings are part of the "Ocean Oracle" series. Composed of watercolor, ink, acrylic lifts, asian papers, and 23 karat gold leaf on 300 lb Saunders Waterford watercolor paper.

Yellow!

Detail of work in progress

To round out the primaries, yellow. I always underestimate the time it takes me to paint. This painting is crawling together.

Into the Blue; Work in Progress

Detail of Work in Progress

One of the hardest things for me to do is to stop editing. This is completely different for accessing the painting. The self editing becomes a problem when I start to question to the point of becoming paralyzed. It hinders the process.

The goal today is to paint and only paint.

Red Edge; Work in Progress

I am currently working on a triptych. Each panel canvas is 24" x 40" x 2". This area is approximately 8" x 8". Planning to show the finished painting at Criollo August 7th.