Monday, May 02, 2022

A Few Paintings



During the last three months I've been able to devote some time to creating art. These paintings are all oils,  either on stretched canvas or board. Two were painted over old landscapes that I painted years ago. The golden wheat field is now a slice of gold curtain.

The winter paintings. 

In February while walking the hills of Sinnissippi Park, I became intrigued with the interplay of light and dark among the shadows of trees against snow. When the light changed, soft edges would suddenly turn sharp, snow became pink, sometimes purple, other times yellow. As time went on the snow paintings evolved and become more abstract until spring came and the snow melted.  







Small work painted outside

Later, I painted another version of the same scene while at home.


 The window paintings.

 I find the threshold between the inside and outside a fascinating concept. Neither inside nor outside. A landscape or still life? A participant or observer? Is it the edge between the known and unknown? 

The three windows, painted entirely from imagination are still being developed. Each painting has a vase of flowers against a muted landscape that looks like early spring.



The portrait of a girl holding a red flower was started in February of 2021 and reworked in February 2022. I include the before and after to show the difference a year makes when a project is left alone, or allowed to incubate. 




These last few months were productive for me as an artist, both in out-put and problem solving.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Haiku drawing, LIKE SNOW



  In this drawing I attempt to use the Haiku by Poet and Writer Wendell Berry to completely cover the paper and leave nothing out.  I contemplate these words and wonder what would our lives be like if we did our work like the snow?....


Wednesday, February 05, 2020

To Remember


Inspired by a recent post from friend/artist/blogger Dori Stuffer I created a drawing to honor her love and dedication to animals in need. 
They find their way to her, large and small, winged and furred, and live out their lives in a small sanctuary in Bavaria Germany.

In 2013 I blogged about my visit with Dori in Germany and have remembered many of the animals some of which have passed away very recently.

As an artist I deeply connect to memories and events through art, sometimes symbolically or figuratively, the lines and paint are a conduit to the soul's expression.

Here my friend is shown with some animal companions that have died. An alpaca, white dog and chickens, a black sheep and cat all huddle around their caretaker while a sheep walks toward them. He is a red ram and is only partially drawn for he has only died a few days ago.
He was called Pauli and had a big personality. I'm sure his absence will be felt for a long time to come.






I go among trees.


Thinking of  the words of Wendall Berry on a recent winter walk.


I go among trees and sit still.
All my stirring becomes quiet around me
like circles on water.
My tasks lie in their places where I left them
asleep like cattle.
Then what is afraid of me comes
and lives a while in my sight.
What it fears in me leaves me
and the fear of me leaves it.
It sings and I hear its song.
Than what I am afraid of comes.
I live for a while in its sight.
What I fear in it leaves it
and the fear of it leaves me.
It sings and I hear its song.

By: Wendell Berry

Saturday, September 09, 2017

Those enchanting Monarchs



Many Monarch eggs were found this year. Although I shared some with other Monarch Mavens, I was able to successfully release nine healthy and strong butterflies into the world. Here you can see a newborn just a few hours from emerging from it's chrysalis, clinging to a leaf while it's wings dry completely. In the background another Monarch feeds on nectar from a variety of flowers grown especially for butterflies.

Monday, February 01, 2016

New sheet metal art


Happy February

I have just finished a new sheet metal Angel.
Acrylic paint and crayon.



Also am working on a cat with kittens.



Thursday, June 25, 2015

summer drawing, ink




          Small sketch of a girl and bird together.





Monday, March 23, 2015

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Birch Panel Painting and the Reoccurring Bear

























 Black Bear comes to visit in Winter.
Acrylic paint and crayon on birch panel 9x12 inches.