The Bank job, part II

Almost After, 2009. oil on panel. 24 x 24 sold

This is the second painting that I finished for the bank commission.

Titles are funny things. I purposely keep them ambiguous so people can fill in their own story. But sometimes this leads to awkward conversations....

The study for this painting (it had same title) was hanging in a gallery and after staring at the title card for several seconds, a woman turned to me and said, "I don't understand, almost after what?"

I frankly didn't know what to say. I fumbled around for some words, "Um, a lot of my paintings are of late evenings." She continued to look at me blankly, clearly not understanding. "It's almost after evening or twilight," I said implying that she could fill in the blank.

"I still don't understand. What does the title have to do with the painting?" she asked again.

Sometimes I'm not even sure why I try.

More Work...

Intense Ending, 2010. oil on panel. 8 x 9 sold

Another smaller painting from the year's first batch.

starting again

Last Bit, 2010. oil on panel 8 x 10

It has been my habit for the last several years to start off the new year will a series of smaller paintings. This year has been no different. Here is one of my first paintings of twenty-ten.

Enjoy.

The Bank Job, part I

Resplendent, 2009. oil on canvas 40 x 50 sold

I have been working on a series of commissions for an agricultural farm credit bank for the last six months. This is the first of three paintings that I have finished, I have one more large painting be finished in the first quarter of the new year. I am honored to have my paintings in their work space.

They said they wanted agricultural paintings with Big intense color....and I said, "Um...I'm your man."

Enjoy.

Happy New Year!

A New Day, 2009. oil on panel 20 x 24. sold

I'm excited by what the new year will bring...its going to be an interesting ride.

It's time to start getting some work done!

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.