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

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

"...the painting has a life of its own. My mission is to bring forth this life". (Jackson Pollock)

"Trust your intuition, it's just like goin' fishin'; you cast your line 'til you get a bite." (Paul Simon)

contemporary

Approaching Winter

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

Approaching Winter, top half detail, 60 x 40 x 3 inches Acrylics on wrapped canvas $1,100

Approaching Winter, bottom half detail, 60 x 40 x 3 inches Acrylics on wrapped canvas $1,100

Dec. 13th note: On exhibit at Oxide Gallery in Denton TX until February 28th, 2009.

Dec. 7th: Approaching Winter,  60 x 40 x 3 inches Acrylics, wrapped canvas. More contemporary than my usual work, thought I’d try a new approach to painting…with more attention to editing rather than overworking. Shown in two detail images above, full view: right thumbnail. Large paintings don’t show as well on computer screen, so there are two detail images that were sharpened 2X to reveal the actual texture as it is close up.Approaching Winter, 60 x 40 x 3 inches Acrylics on wrapped canvas $1,100Cold Lake, Alberta. Canada - photo courtesy of Ray Muskego

Dec. 6th: Colors mixed with matte medium: Ultramarine, Pthalos Blue, Prussian Blue, Cobalt Blue, Pthalos Green, Sap Green, Unbleached Titatium, Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Red Deep, Mars Black (rarely use black). This morning I scrubbed and washed away a lot of paint in areas then reapplied more. Trying to stay with the less is more principle. Hope to wrap this one up by the end of the weekend if not before.

Dec. 5th: Stage 1, first coat of Ultramarine Blue and matte medium, very watered down, then applied thick in places. Inspired by photos taken by my good friend Ray Muskego in my home town, Cold Lake, Alberta during sunrise December 4th as misty fog drifted off the lake.