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All the arts are related, right? I’ve been working on my voice.
For a long time, I painted and drew because I liked to. Never a real direction as to what I wanted to do or what I wanted “to say”. Although I love to create pretty pictures, I had been looking to change things up a bit to make images my own. Find my voice.
The past six months I started to hone where I wanted to go. I’m drawn to high contrast with strong composition, throw in some vivid colors. Less interest in subject and more in the composition.
I was really charged about exploring these interests earlier this year by trying different viewpoints (up close, aerial, etc…) and more color, but seem to have ventured away from that recently. 
It wasn’t until I stumbled onto the photography website of my friend Eric Tobias that it clicked how I had strayed. He’s got a great eye for composition with strong shapes and values. His color photographs also have a richness about them as well.
Turns out you can find a spur in unexpected places; thanks Eric. Seeing the work of other artists can spark change in yourself.
I may not make it to Hollywood in the next installment of American Idol, but I like to think my voice is getting clearer with every painting. Stay tuned.
Images © Eric Tobias, Stairway and Round & Round
My latest milk mug.
Milk Mug on Violet
8″x10″
oil on panel
Here’s wishing everyone a thankful, heartfelt, belly-gorging, football-watching (go Pack go!!), fun-filled Thanksgiving holiday with those who mean the world to you.
Oh, and between floats in the parade and during halftime, check this out:
I can make it go both ways. Which way do you spin?
I made my goal by about 30 minutes, or close enough to meet it “in the spirit in which it was made.” My goal last Wednesday was to complete 3 small pieces by midnight Mt. time Sunday (tonight). I’ve gotten two and 3/4 done.
I wanted to get a few new ones added to my “coffee” show at Wild Oates in Glendale. I set up a still life with interesting backlit compositions. Turns out the dark mug and all those shadows plus the dark coffee were too much. Had to lighten it. So I dumped the coffee and poured the milk.
Here’s the first of 3 “Milk Mugs”. This blue one was actually the 3rd that I did, but I really like it. It just flowed off the brush so easily; practically painted itself! I love it when it does that.
Milk Mug on Blue
10″x8″
oil on panel
“There is usually an inverse proportion between how much something is on your mind and how much it’s getting done.” –David Allen, author Getting Things Done
“To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.” — Leonard Bernstein, conductor
I constantly struggle with the competition of my time between studio time (art), other work time (admin time, massage biz), and everyday life (errands, etc) time. To those with kids and a spouse I imagine this sounds pretty lame; what can I say. All I know, is that I don’t seem to have enough active time in the studio.
Brian Tracy espouses, “set clear priorities……discipline yourself to start on your most important task and stay on that until it is complete.”
Lisa Call, art blogger extraordinaire, has talked about this recently and it’s still on my mind.
I work pretty well with impending deadlines, but it’s when I have a while until the next show that I have trouble focusing my time. I always have seasonal/monthly goals, and live by daily to-do lists. Have I missed the middle man? This week, I’ll try a weekly goal: I’ve committed to getting 3 pieces done (small, but done) and 2 blog entries. (here’s one) By Sunday at midnight. On my mark …….. get set ………………. GO! Check back to see my status.
In the meantime, I just put up my coffee mug theme show in another venue; stop into the Wild Oats in Glendale and take a peek if you like. Here’s another mug I didn’t put up here earlier. I loved how the spoon offers reflections inside the mug.
White Mug and Spoon (private collection)
8″x10″
pastel
In the meantime, my garden continued to produce until we had a hard freeze. I still have remnants left of what was growing. I really like the little pumpkins that have appeared, especially when they’re still green.
Pumpkin Pair (sold)
8″x10″
oil on panel
Let’s close the book on the 07 World Series. Ok, ok! So the Red Sox barely nipped the Rockies. Time for the ball and bat to hibernate in the garage until next spring. So…..are you ready for some football?
No, no football art here, but here’s the last of my own personal 07 baseball series. It was kind of refreshing to do different subjects than I’m not used to.
Baseball 2 (sold) .Baseball 3 (sold)
8″x10″ 8″x8″
oil on panel oil on panel
