Playing around

Springtime, 2009. oil on panel 6 x 8.

Trying new things is not always easy.... I think it is human nature to be lazy and not want to try to do something differently. In the studio it is equally true. As anyone grows as an artist, they can fall into only doing things a certain way, because frankly, it works. And this becomes a habit. I mean who want to risk making a bad painting? If I know a way of doing something well, why would I want to change?

I believe that without risk the work can began to lose its spark and become boring or worse, mechanical. The thrill of painting for me is not knowing how things will turn out. To this day, I'm still astonished when I finish a painting...how did I paint that?

It is so important to remember to try what may seem as strange or different, even if it fails. Sometimes it will work and that will lead to important breakthroughs. It all starts with being willing to play around in the studio and not worry about the immediate results.

I'm ready for 2010.

Mixing and Shaking

A Brilliant End, 2009. oil on panel 5 3/4 x 9 3/4 sold

This is a small painting that I just finished and took to the holiday show at the Elliott Fouts Gallery.

This little study was, I hesitate to say, was almost effortless to paint. Everything went so smoothly. That doesn't happen often; maybe a hand full of times a year. Every decision I made was the correct one. There was very little correcting of the composition or color as I painted. Mix color. Put color down. Mix next color. Continue. I can remember as I was working on this piece, I began to actually shake, out of excitement or nervousness, I'm not sure which, I just knew I didn't want to screw it up.

Enjoy.