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I Was Busy Yesterday!
I found a pile of little 9″ x 12″ canvases in my studio cabinet, so I decided to put them to use. I don’t usually work small, so it was a bit of a challenge. I started with a little, close-up landscape. I was comprised by a pile f fallen leaves and the base of my grape vine. I spotted this little gem of a scene after I returned from the Van Gogh, Up Close show and started refocusing on the things around me. I can’t come close to replicating Van Gogh’s strokes, nor would I want to. There’s only one Van Gogh! Instead, I tried to reign in my normally less-than-controlled approach to painting to the much smaller surface. Here is the result:
Vinnie's Vines, Acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12", 2012
I used the same palette to complete another small painting. This one is much more within my normal comfort zone. I do love to paint dogs!
Mr. Boxer, Acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12", 2012
I completed one more painting with this palette, but I can’t reveal it yet…the subject hasn’t seen it yet!
I Hate Wasting Paint
Whenever I finish a painting and have a palette full of wet paint left, I feel like I need to do something with it…voila…this painting…
Old Paint, Acrylic on canvas, 14" x 11", 2012
I painted her with the leftover paint from Daphne Dreaming. Painting dogs and wolves is stil my passion!
The Daphne Experiment
Daphne Dreaming, Acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12", 2012
I have been working on increasing my skill with human figures and faces. I chose a single photo and have been painting and repainting it, hoping to be able to find a style that works for me and the subject. I’ve painted her body 3 or 4 times now and still have not created anything that has been able to capture the image that’s in my mind. This is my second attempt at her face and, finally, I have found the beginning of a style that may work.
Party in the Wolf Den
I started this painting before I went to see the Van Gogh exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I finished it yesterday. I think (hope) that the experience of seeing Van Gogh’s work, in person, for the second time, had a positive influence on my eye and may approach. I know I put a bit more thought into my color choices. I also know a thought a little more about the deliberateness of my hand. I can see just a bit of difference…a slight improvement. I hope I can build on it…I hope I grow…I know how I’m thinking about my future work has definitely grown. I am more inspired than ever to paint! I may require a trip to the artist supply store! It may require me to start stretching my own canvases!
Party at the Wolf Den, Acrylic on canvas, 30" x 30", 2012
Seeing Things Differently!
One of my favorite artists has always been Vincent Van Gogh. There are so many reasons; his use of color, his bold strokes, his unique vision. The other day, while viewing his work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I realized that it was also his ability to see something beautiful in anything and everything he saw. There were pieces on display that depicted nothing more that a hard full of dandelions or a pair of dirty work boots that were stunning. This show, “Up Close”, was a collection of his later work where he often took a more personal, close approach to his subject. His style is still the same, but the focus is closer.
I came home inspired! I’m looking at color and life in a new way, thinking about exaggerating the brilliance, taking metal pictures of sunsets, trying to see clouds as living, breathing objects. I’m also taking a closer look at the things I walk by everyday. Today I took a really good look at some dried leaves around the roots of my grape vines…if I can capture this…oh if I can capture this…
East entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Another Sad Dog
Shelter Me: No Name, Acrylic on canvas (in progress), 12" x 30", 2012
I have a vision in my mind of a series called Shelter Me. I want to honor the many dogs who never make it out of shelters, but I have so much trouble painting sad dogs. I hate to see them that way and it pains me to look into their eyes and see the depth of their fear and sadness. I started trying again to day. While this one is sad, I think I may be capturing a little feeling of hope. This may be the direction that I need go to make these paintings work.
I LOVE Painting Wolves!
No matter how hard I try, I can’t get away from the fact that I just LOVE painting wolves. They are perfect subjects: mysterious, expressive, beautiful, fierce. They embody all of the characteristics I love in art.
Lakota Listening, Acrylic on canvas, 30" x 24", 2012
Like this:
Let’s Goat Together
I started this one a while ago and let it percolate a bit. I had an image in my mind and it wasn’t quite showing up on the canvas the way I had envisioned it. So I worked on other things and let it sit. Sometimes I just need to mix it up a bit and give certain paintings a little time to breath…or is it age?
I took the photograph that this painting is based on at the local petting zoo. The goats that greet you at the fence are just so sweet. You would think they were dogs looking to be adopted. Really I think they are just hoping you have some of the got food from the little vending machine, but they will settle for a scratch on the nose.
Let's Goat Together, Acrylic on canvas board, 16" x 20", 2012
Close to My Heart
Three Paw Prints on My Heart, Acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20", 2012
I painted this for friend who had adopted a dog from me years ago. He was a sweet husky who came to me very broken. He had been hit by a car and was running loose on a broken leg for over a week. When animal control finally caught him, he was in bad shape. The shelter the was taken to put a cast on his leg, but that was absolutely NOT what he needed. His leg was horribly infected and he was slowly dying. We got the call and moved on it immediately! One emergency surgery and several days and 38 staples later, he was safe and sound (although missing a leg!) in my home. He stayed with us for over a month while he healed. Finally, he was ready for his forever home, which he found with a colleague from work. Over the years, we became friends. His “mom” started volunteering for the husky rescue I work with and we have all remained connected over the years.
A couple months ago, at the approximate age of 14, my three-legged buddy passed away. He left many broken hearts behind. The photo I used for reference for this painting was taken just last year. You can see that he is an old boy, but still so handsome!
Where is My Comfort Zone?
Last Dance, Acrylic on canvas board, 16" x 20", 2012
I made another attempt at painting a figure this weekend. I have had this “picture” of a woman dancing in my head forever and I just can’t get it out onto the canvas. This is my most recent attempt. Nope! Not there!
So, back to my comfort zone. I dug out an old photograph that I shot years ago at Lakota Wolf Preserve of an arctic wolf. This time I changed things by trying a new surface, something called Gessobord, It’s interesting! Very smooth, not texture, just a hint of tooth. I used brushes and a palette knife. While it was a lot of fun to paint, I’m not completely sure I love the result. It is definitely better up close and in person than in a photo. It is hard to capture the texture and the subtlety of color. I may go back and rework it a little bit when I get past my “figure drawing frustration”. We’ll see…
Autumn Frost, Acrylic on Gessobord, 16" x 20", 2012
