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)

trees

« Previous Entries Next Entries »

Sun Shower 03

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007


 

Sun Shower 03

When I water the flowers in the front yard usually the Oak tree gets a shower too. There were a number of impressive photos from this session, but the clump of leaves in shadow contrasting with the bright sunbeams in spray brings this photo a little above the rest.

Sun Shower 03 was accepted into Studio 2600’s Holiday Light and Sparkle Exhibition at 2600 Hibernia, Dallas TX November 2007 through Jan. 2nd, 2008.

Emerald Tree Boas

Saturday, August 4th, 2007


 

Emerald Tree Boas - Dallas World Aquarium - 24H x 57W x 2D inches acrylics on canvas

Emerald Tree Boas, 24H x 57W x 2D inches acrylics on canvas, wrapped sides painted, trim frame

This painting accumulated finer detail than is typical of my work, except in graphite illustrations. The Emerald Tree Boas are one of my favorite exhibits at the Dallas World Aquarium (Texas). Their beautiful green skin has striking black and white scale patterns along the spine and a turquoise mother-of-pearl overall sheen that’s visible at certain angles where the body delicately curls and bends.
It would be nice if this painting could carry enough potency to alter the automatic responses of fear and disgust that are associated with snakes. I made Santa hats with construction paper and cotton balls, taping them on as part of our Christmas decorations.

  Left detail, Boas' Christmas, construction paper, cotton balls taped on Emerald Tree Boas, 24 x 57 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas Right detail, Boas' Christmas, construction paper, cotton balls taped on Emerald Tree Boas, 24 x 57 x 3 inches acrylics on canvas

Yellow Poplar

Saturday, July 7th, 2007


 
Yellow Poplar, Niagara Falls, NY
This week: organizing photos and material for The Majesty of Trees solo exhibition, here are the unusual flowers of Yellow Poplar – Niagara Falls, NY, U.S.A.

Raccoons

Thursday, July 5th, 2007


 
Raccoon
Raccoons

Bold and as curious about us, a family of five raccoons played in a willow tree in our son Adrian’s back yard, Ottawa, Ontario

Maple leaves, Kingston, Ontario

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007


 

Maple leaves, Kingston, Ontario

…back after two weeks of driving from Texas to Ontario and back the long route this time through North Carolina just so we could see it, and thanks to the invention of the digital camera my daily image requirements remain satisfied! Maple trees are common almost everywhere between Texas and Canada, here are some branches in honor of Canada Day, held on July 1st. This shot was taken at Jones Falls Dam near Kingston, Ontario.

Polypore Fungi – phase 2

Sunday, June 10th, 2007


 

Polypore Fungi, work in progress, 59 H x 41 W x 2 D, acrylics on canvas
Polypore Fungi, work in progress, 59 H x 41 W x 2 D, acrylics on canvas. Here is the painting after a few more hours of work.

Polypore Fungi, work in progress

Saturday, June 9th, 2007


 

Polypore Fungi, work in progress, 59 H x 41 W x 2 D, acrylics on canvas

Polypore Fungi, work in progress, 59 H x 41 W x 2 D, acrylics on canvas

Studying shades of dark and light are the basics of any Artwork done with color,  and it’s good to practice “real” drawing every so often, paying attention to lines, shapes, spaces…but enough of pencil drawings for a while. I’m craving color and space once more- ready to paint again, but starting this so close to the date we leave for holidays this coming Friday. My hope is to call it finished while it’s still at the open and lively stage, before over-working it.  Here is the painting after about two hours.

Aspen, Banff National Park

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007


 

Northern Delights 01, Banff, Alberta, Canada, 14 x 11 graphite, waterwash pencil, oil stick, colored pencils
“Northern Delights 01, Aspen at a protected Bison reserve, Banff National Park, Alberta Canada – 14H x 11W inches oil pastels and water-wash pencils on paper, white double mat, 22H x 26W inches white frame with white crackle finish

Redbuds 02

Saturday, March 17th, 2007


 

Redbuds 02, misty morning in Coppell, TX, 14H x 11W inches oil pastels, graphite, watercolor pencils on paper
Redbuds 02, misty morning in Coppell, TX, 14H x 11W inches oil pastels, graphite, watercolor pencils on paper. 3-inch-wide white double mat and 26H x 22W inch white custom-built white wood frame with crackle finish.

This drawing was an experiment with oil pastels and water-soluble graphite to see if the two could cooperate in the same drawing. Conclusion: that’s up to the artist! It was about 8 A.M… the sun barely shone through the thick mist this early Spring morning. The surrounding forest was grey, and the brilliant pink blossoms of the Redbud bush pushed through it all, with patches of green grass starting to grow in the field.

March Winds

Thursday, March 15th, 2007


 

March Winds, Coppell, Texas, 14H x 11W inches oil pastels on paper, ode to Jackson Pollock via oil pastels.

March Winds, ode to Jackson Pollock via oil pastels. 14H x 11W inches oil pastels on paper with 3-inch-wide white double mat and 26H x 22W inch white custom-built white wood frame with crackle finish.

“… the painting has a life of its own. My mission is to bring forth this life”.        Jackson Pollock

Styles are an intuitive response to place, emotional memories, subject, media, etc. When March Winds was finished it reminded me of some of Jackson Pollock’s work, which I never really understood until this piece unfolded in a similar manner.

Showcased in Grand Prairie Arts Council (GPAC) Open Juried Art Show and Sale September/October, 2007. Grand Prairie Memorial Library 901 Conover Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas.

« Previous Entries Next Entries »