When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

Archive for June, 2012

Stars in the Sweetgum

Thursday, June 28th, 2012


 
Stars in the Sweetgum, 9 x 12 inches charcoal and colored pencils on paper
Stars in the Sweetgum, 12H x 9W inches charcoal and colored pencils on paper, preliminary study for a larger painting of the Sweetgum tree in our side yard.
Portraying darkness is an excellent way to study color. Inspired by travels on clear nights when speeding by tree silhouettes, there’s an illusion that horizon is absent, and the stars are in the trees. I often marvel how dark skies can still be so colorful, ranging from rich teals, purples, sometimes shades of red and orange.

 

Chrysanthemums

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012


 

Chrysanthemums, 85L x 45W x 3D inches, graphite, charcoal and dry pastels and primer on 100% cotton, fixative

Chrysanthemums, 85W x 45H 3D inches graphite, charcoal, soft pastels, fixative with primer used as paint on white 100% cotton. Grey narrow frame. This is a beautiful painting, impressive because of its size and the expressionistic style of the flowers. The small photo doesn’t do it justice, so some detail images are provided below. It’s hanging in our family room on a grey wall beside the Chrysanthemums Chair. They do look great together!

Detail images: Chrysanthemums, central right detail   Chrysanthemums, central left detail   Chrysanthemums, upper right detail
  Chrysanthemums, central detail   Chrysanthemums, left detail   Chrysanthemums, right detail

The insight of a nine-year-old

Monday, June 25th, 2012


 

“It does not matter how much you see, it matters if you appreciate what you see”

Fintan Fox, 9 yrs old. Below, an angel fish drawn after snorkeling in Figi

Fintan Fox, Angel Fish, pencil crayon on paperI recently had the pleasure of conversations with nine year old Fintan Fox, the son of a good friend whom I had not seen for over 35 years. My friend Julie and her son, Fintan, both created blogs about their extensive travels beginning in England where they live, to Russia last August, then through China, Thailand, Cambodia, to Australia, Figi, and now through western North America. They are on the last leg of their year-long trip around the world, stopping to visit us in Oregon on their way to Canada.
This drawing is one of Fintan’s blog entries, an Angel fish drawn after seeing some while snorkeling in Figi. So impressive! With a minimum of information, the style is bold and confident… simple, yet accurate. Similarly, he writes with matter-of-fact wisdom, and surprisingly well-thought-through opinions. Wow, nine year-olds can be great sources of inspiration.