More Work

Big Turns, 2008. oil on canvas, 44 x 54

Here is another painting from my show. I wanted to see how painterly I could be in the orchards in this painting. I was surprised how little detail was needed and still have them feel like my orchards. I was excited by the outcome and I look forward to trying the same idea again on another painting soon.

Enjoy.

Another Way

Evening's Embrace, 2008. oil on canvas 40 x 40 sold

Here is a larger piece from my show. I did a whole series of these blue cloud/yellowish sky combo several years ago and just revisited it again for this show. My color sense has really evolved over the years, even using some of the same color ideas from the past has proven surprising. The color has become more subdued, less jarring at times. I can't really explain how or why this has happened and I don't really think it matters. I'm always seeing things, outside, in other artist's paintings that change how I look at the landscape. I am always being influenced by many different sources.

I enjoy seeing things in a new light of a different experiences, its one reason why I think I will always put paint to canvas.

Enjoy.

It's up and I'm Done

Ascending, 2008. oil on panel 12 x 15. sold

So my show is finally up. I finished varnishing things today (I know the show opened on Monday, things went up Monday unvarnished, what can I say?) You can see the show at First Street Gallery's website, if you don't live in the area. If you do why don't you stop by and see it yourself? The reception is tomorrow night from six to eight in the evening. It should be a fun party.

I'm really pleased with how everything turned out. The paintings are strong. ( at least that's how I feel about them right now, I still could be a little too close to them) I tried some new things in this show that I think will help improve my work over the long haul. I'll talk about more about that in future posts.

Right now I really just want to spend some time with my family and relax...cause I'm done.

Enjoy.

I'm not lost, I just don't know what day it is

Late Stormy Color, 2008. oil on panel, 8 x 7

I have been totally slammed by an upcoming show. Somehow I got behind on it, so now it's put up or shut up. I'm not sleeping well, so I just get up and ride over to my studio and go to work early in the morning. I tend to work well under pressure so I feel like I am doing some strong work. I have two weeks before the show opens, and I will be working to the bitter end. I haven't even had time to document any of my new paintings, but I will so new work is coming soon.

Stay tuned....

Repeat after me (well, Cezanne)

Falling Down, 2008. oil on canvas. 18 x 18

Light is a thing that cannot be reproduced, but must be represented by something else - By color

-Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)

Hand painted grids

The Three Hundred, 2008. oil on canvas 60 x 72

Here it is...my latest commission. I really had a lot of fun doing this painting. The collectors let me make a painting. They showed me their land and then said to me, "We want you to make the best painting you can, so do whatever you need to do to make the best panting you can for us." "Wahoo!!" I thought. I get to do the painting however it needs to be done. That's not to say that their commission wasn't without its challenges. Their ranch is very large, so I knew that trying to literally paint the whole thing was really going to be impossible, and even if I was going to try and paint it how I wanted to, I would still be painting thousands of trees. Plus the trees were not a defining element for the painting. I had to find an element that I could build the painting around. Exploring around their ranch I found it in a spring creek that ran through their property. I knew that if I got that right, it would feel like their ranch.

When they came into to my studio to see the finished painting for the first time they immediately said, "Hey, that's our three hundred..."

Let me tell you, that felt good.

Making Tracks

Orange Notes, 2008. oil on panel 12 x 12

I continue to explore different color ideas. Here is one of my more recent efforts. I don't really know where this is going to lead...but then that really isn't the point, is it? I don't know who said it first but I'm stealing it from Wolf Kahn,

"I just follow my brushes and let them take me wherever they want to go..."