"Attitude" ($30.00)

(adjusted price.....$30.00)

"A good attitude sees roses where there are thorns." Life is not always fair and there will always be people who may not treat us well. However, the right attitude will bring joy and peace. It really is the best way to live.

This is a simple piece with more of an illustrative look. Actually, I painted the rose with all of the shading to make it realistic, but it seemed out of place. After blotting it with a damp paper towel and removing some of the color, and adding black line work, it looked like it fit more with this flat color block. Larger shapes with very little going on can automatically cause the viewer to look at the part that has the most detail and contrast. In this case, it is the bottom band of white gesso peering through the color that becomes the focal point. Making the rose flat and more like a line drawing tied the image, lettering, and textural marks together. The greatest contrast is between the totally flat areas and the ethereal, textured areas. It's just something to think about.

Please contact me personally for inquiry about this piece.

"The Fragrance of Nostalgia" (sold)

(sold)


"Lavender fills my senses with the fragrance of nostalgia." It's one of those fragrances that never seems to go out of fashion. I even have spray starch that smells like lavender! Yes, it 's nostalgia that perfectly describes this scent.

In this piece I began with a very dilute yellow and alternated that with Transparent Raw Umber (Liquitex) and dilute applications of gesso. Throughout this process, I made sure my one dominant window of darks remained that way.

Everyone that's taking a script class from me knows I have a love affair with pencil. Most of the time, I use a Bic mechanical pencil (.5mm) and sharpen it on a sandpaper block. Graphite and gesso go together well, so it's a great choice in those types of pieces.

There are several reasons to develop the pencil habit. First of all, it's extremely portable. It can also be used to write in any direction with no resistance. It enables you to practice and develop muscle memory without having to think about pen and ink at the same time.

Here is a hint or two. If you do decide to pick up a pencil, turn the pencil in your hand after every letter or two in order to be writing with the sharpest part of the point. Hold it vertically to make sure you're writing on the sharpest part. After every few letters, twirl on the sandpaper block again. Just something to do or think about.

"Circular Activity" (sold)

(sold)


"Worry is a circular activity with no destination in sight." It is equivalent to enclosing yourself and the problem within a circle. This is a great day to pray to the God who changes things and can break you out of this circular thought pattern.

This piece is an abstract metaphor of the quote. It is a great solution when communicating an abstract thought. The circular pattern, of course, represents the worry thoughts and the small purple dot represents the problem. But the large light band of color taking up the majority of space represents the activity of prayer and the power of God to calm the troubled waters and give peace.

One approach to creating a piece to represent an abstract thought is to begin by determining the essence of what you want to communicate. Then choose shapes, colors, techniques, and placement (division of space) that give visual weight to your concept. Even if you choose to create a piece with no lettering, this is one way to move into pure abstraction. Just something to think about.

"Dear Friends" (unavailable)

(unavailable......in the permanent collection of dee day)

"Pen and ink are like dear friends." (Several people have ask me to type the quote in my commentary. I will now include it as the first sentence.) My inspiration for this piece was this inkwell made in the 1800's. It is a prized part of my collection.

All week long I have included gesso as the first layer of my process. It will continue because I am fascinated with the process. Anything that adds a look of spontaneity is a good thing. Also, by working on a large sheet of paper and cropping, you can take it up another notch.

I know I sound like a broken record, but cropping is the only way you can come up with these totally random looking layouts. I heartily recommend experimenting on "parent" sheets of paper so you can experience the thrill of the "crop"!   Just something to think about...and do.


Please visit my ebay listing to bid on original art from Dee Day Art Journal Painting a Day.
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"Lines and Spaces" (unavailable)

(unavailable)

"Lines and spaces are good for writing and for music notes." This quote is self explanatory. I was just in the mood to do something with music and Bach Preludes and Fugues were required practice every semester while I was in college.  J.S. Bach ended up becoming my favorite composer.

In a Bach Fugue, counterpoint is the structure. Three or more different melodic lines are having a conversation back and forth. This piece includes the first line and one voice beginning the conversation. Eventually there are two more lines saying different things but all being played at the same time.

In this piece, there are two separate "voices" or patterns of space division taking place. There is the black writing, the black lines, and the line of music dividing the space horizontally from edge to edge. The other shapes are created with the gesso and they are in counterpoint to the horizontal lines.

Before your head spins off from that analysis, let me say that contrast is the name of the game and this is simply another way of dividing space. Explanations give feet to the process. It is my belief that any of us will be dependent on "accicdentally" creating unless we have an understanding of what makes a piece successful. Putting it down in writing will serve you well. It's not that each piece needs to be done the same. The issue is choosing techniques that lead into a spontaneous and successful direction.  Just something to think about.

"The Southwest" ($40.00)

(adjusted price.....$40.00)

With each of us, some color(s) have more significance because they are associated in our minds with special memories. Burnt Sienna is one of those colors for me. Clay pots, adobe, and the beautiful rock formations in New Mexico and Arizona all look as though burnt sienna dropped from the heavens. What color does it for you?

This is an abstraction of the Southwest that includes the colors and texture without all of the detail. We all have so many details in our lives. It is very refreshing not to feel compelled to interpret every memory or image down to the last detail.

It can be a liberating challenge to create an abstract piece by observing the characteristics of a place or thing. But by being very selective and resisting the urge to interpret in a literal sense, new paths of expression will open.

In this piece I used the gesso and Transparent Burnt Sienna to partially hide some lines and lettering that were written on the paper initially. More texture was inscribed into the gesso to mimic the texture of canyon walls. The brown band of color at the bottom is Caran d'Ache ink called Grand Canyon. This process was fun and worth a try.  Just something to try or think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Intuitive" (unavailable)

(unavailable)

Intuitive is the opposite of preconceived. However, the more thoroughly you know something, the easier it is to be intuitive. It reminds me of a book by Malcolm Gladwell called Blink. The premise of the book is that an expert in any field can spot a counterfeit in their expertise in the blink of an eye. The same is true for design. The more you know, the more "intuitively" you will be able to make decisions in your process.

Working intuitively is also quite dependent on an individual artist's aesthetic and what they are trying to communicate. And after completing at least 170 (6 x 6's), I can guarantee you that intuitive efforts don't always turn out well! The most successful intuitive effort for me to date on this blog was posted on August 27th, and the piece is "Smudging Lines". If I could pull that off with every effort, I would be ecstatic!

There are a few things that would help facilitate this kind of success. One of the most helpful things for me is to look at all kinds of color arrangements and images that convey the mood I want to create. From there, I choose techniques that will set me in that direction. From there I respond intuitively by acting on any "hunch" that comes to mind. Most of the techniques I've learned have followed this pattern. By working intuitively, you will be surprised at how much you learned in all those workshops or exhibit experiences because they have a way of bubbling to the surface as you create.   And of course, blogging every day will really propel this process forward. Just something to think about.

"Informed Practice" ($40.00)

($40.00)

So often the things we want to learn elude us because we don't have enough understanding to correct ourselves when practicing a new skill. Just act as though you are teaching someone else what you are trying to learn. You will soon know if you have enough understanding or if you need to go back to the teacher and ask some more questions.

I believe the "gesso man" has taken up permanent residence in my studio! This piece involves three dilute layers of gesso with color and writing in between. The flower was painted with gouache. And if I haven't mentioned it before, I have found a bleedproof white that I like better than Dr. Martin's. In Austin, Jerry's Artarama carries it and it is produced by Winsor Newton. It doesn't crystalize over time but maintains it's consistency to the end.

Another advantage of using gouache with image and lettering is that it can be removed quite easily. The flower image and white ruling pen letters running vertically on the left were diminished from a solid coverage by blotting with a damp paper towel. It almost looks like a stamped image. Just something to think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Think" (sold)

(sold)

School has started and teachers have prepared their materials in hopes that their students will learn. But learning does not take place simply because a teacher teaches. The student also must have a desire to learn. This quote is a take off on another quote...."You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." Learning doesn't happen by osmosis, it happens when we think and apply what we've learned.

White is a powerful color especially if it's white gesso. The ability of gesso to give as little or as much coverage as you desire makes it a powerful tool for transparent and illuminated images. This piece appears to be glowing and even more so as it is lit up on a computer screen.

I am experimenting with "veiled" effects and intensity of color. So you might see some unusual pieces as I go through this process. It has totally captivated my interest. This is a meditative process that can keep you engaged for hours.

It can be summed up in three points. First, practice applying gesso in different densities and stages using different sized segments of credit cards, shaper tools, or sponge brushes. Second, apply acrylics in very dilute layers with the same consistency as in watercolor. Third, use pens or pencils to create lines, lettering, or drawings either on blank paper or in between dried layers. Also try stamping into the wet gesso. By alternating or changing the sequence of any of these steps, you will come up with some interesting effects. Just something to try or think about.

"Rest" ($60.00)

(adjusted price.....$60.00....mounted on a 1.50" depth clayboard)

Saying that rest is renewal is like an overstatement of the obvious. However, I have noticed that most people, myself included, tend to think that rest can be robbed with no consequences. The medical verdict is in. Our cells need replenishment and that only happens when we rest. Join me with a new commitment to set aside more time for rest.

As you can see, I am still experimenting a lot with gesso. In this piece, I randomly painted a very dilute portion of violet on blank paper first. Then came the gesso...also randomly applied but extending from edge to edge. Cobalt Blue and Transparent Burnt Sienna (very diluted) were then applied.

What I am particularly fond of is the illuminated effect that happens when transparent color is applied over gesso. The exciting part of this whole process is playing around with the sequence of layers. Mixing acrylics and applying them like watercolor is also part of this transparency. You will actually be able to paint over a layer and not disturb the layer underneath. Golden Fluid Acrylics are made for this type of watercolor application. Just something to try or think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Smudged Lines" (unavailable)

(unavailable.......in the permanent collection of dee day)


Another word for "smudged" is "blurred". The overlapping of color and texture creates blurred lines which create textural beauty. In real life, smudged or blurred lines are the equivalent of making decisions that don't get you where you want to go. In truth, every decision is a "make or break" decision.

This is another gesso piece with a different application. The process began with a blank sheet of paper. In this case I began with a paper at least 2.50x the size of the cropped version. (Cropping is still the most satisfying way of achieving division of space that looks spontaneous.) Subtle divisions of space were created with pencil lines from edge to edge and a few bits of unreadable text. I then applied gesso quite randomly, making sure to leave some of the paper untouched. The gesso was allowed to dry overnight. Two Golden Acrylic colors, (Green Gold and Transparent Red Oxide) were greatly diluted with water and mixed with a palette knife on a disposable plate. With a 2" brush, the bands of color were applied and crisscrossed from edge to edge. The way the unprimed paper and gessoed areas received the paint created the transparent and ethereal look.

The color for the bowl and brown sections was created with Caran d'Ache Ink (Grand Canyon) and blotted with a kleenex. Inks are a great addition to this process because most of them are transparent and have great staining power. Very great for smudging. (The ink was purchased from Paper and Ink Arts.)

Of course, the ink is not permanent and the surface will need to be sprayed with acrylic coating, followed by dilute matte medium to prepare for writing. These are exciting techniques and worth some experimentation. Just something to think about!

"Obvious Things" (unavailable)

(unavailable.......in the permanent collection of dee day)

Many times there are things in life that are not obvious because there seems to be a veil over our understanding. Knowledge and truth can lift that veil so that the deeper things in life can be understood. (Implies a deeply spiritual application in our understanding of God.) In this piece the veil is represented by the thin layers of gesso that allow lines and color to peek through.

There was much excitement in the air when Yves Leterme came to teach in February of this year. (It is still hard to believe that we battled an ice storm that week!) His remarkable ability in executing gestural writing plus his gesso works made an impression on all of us who attended those classes. This is a cropped portion of one of those pieces with a few additional touches.

Long before Yves came to town, I was deeply attached to graphite and pencils of every kind. (And very fanatical about how sharp pencils should be!) So my desire is to develop pieces with gesso , pencil, and imagery and make them uniquely my own. The technique of applying the gesso is not complicated. I use (3) methods of application, depending on my goal. Credit cards cut in various widths, broad edged shaper tools, and sponge brushes are my tools of choice. You can cause the gesso to "pool" along an edge or scape it off, add water to the edge to soften and blot with a kleenex for very ethereal effects.

The soft divisions of space can be created with pen and ink, pencil lines, or soft color blocks. Soft diffusion of these lines or color are then created with the overlay of gesso.   If you use water soluble media, you will need to fix that layer with spray acrylic before applying gesso or you can use "thinned" layers of acrylic.  This technique is very conducive to the inclusion of drawing or small painted images within the piece. It is a meditative process of working which you might like to try. Just something to do or think about.

"Lines" ($40.00)

(adjusted price......$40.00)

Lines are part of art and life. They are the shorthand for defining form and every object has form. In fact, everything occupying space has form and each artist has a unique interpretation of what they see. What are you observing today?

This is a contemporary piece with very strong contrasts. The most obvious contrast is the white, black, and red color combination. There is also a hugh contrast between hard and soft edges. Different textures are present as well. The overlapping black lines created with a stamp and the expressive lettering and imagery from the paste paper are playing off of each other. Finally, the horizontal bands are different sizes, creating yet another contrast.

When creating an abstract piece based on design principles, it is always prudent to think about contrasts. Just consider including the opposite of what is present in the first layer. It can be a bit "scary", but remember, it's only paper, canvas, or whatever else you're working on. Experimenting with contrasts will give you courage. In this piece there is contrast of line, direction, color, value, texture, shape and size. Just something to think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Fertile Ground" (sold)

(sold)


In today's culture of social networking and tech devices as close as your pocket...a state of silence must be planned with intention. It is so worth the effort as it provides fertile ground for inspiring thoughts, actions, and prayer. Plan for silence in your life today.

The first layers of this piece were created with walnut ink and water soluble oil paint. I resurrected it from my archives, knowing that at some point, I had written a quote in Spanish that included the word silencio (silence). So here it is with a new line of lettering. The basic format (division of space) was created with horizontal bands going from edge to edge. The band at the bottom was created with a commercial stamp used in an unconventional way. I first mixed some walnut crystals with enough water to resemble melted ice cream. (The crystals produce a richer color than the premixed kind.) By brushing this ink on the stamp and applying it to dry paper repeatedly, some very interesting texture appeared. Dry this with a hair dryer, spray with acrylic coating, and then stamp again with white water soluble oil paint or Speedball printing ink. The technique involves using a brayer on a smooth surface to roll out the paint and then brayer onto the stamp. This process creates wonderful layers with elements of the stamp appearing throughout the texture. You can also remove parts of the white stamping with a damp paper towel to give it a "less contrived" look. Just something to think about.

"The Shade Tree" (sold)

(sold)

If you are blessed to have a large tree either in your yard or surrounding area, then you can appreciate its significance. Perhaps you've noticed how quickly all of the parking places near a tree get "snapped up" as we continue to endure the Texas heat. Trees are good!

The primary appeal of the tree in this piece is the transparent watercolor plus a "wet into wet" application. The soft blurring of color is a great contrast to the hard edges of the tree's outline. The contrast in color was "bumped up" in the lettering and the dark areas of the foliage with the addition of Perylene Violet Gouache (WN). Violet is a split complement of green which gives a more subtle contrast than a direct complement.

Shapes and division of space are always present in my thinking process. By extending the tree from top to bottom and choosing a tree with interesting branching, I was able to mimic the same shapes that were present in the first layer of paste paper. Extending lettering, shapes, and imagery from edge to edge is so much more exciting than placing everything in the center. And that is something to really think about!

"Caliente" (unavailable)

(unavailable......in the permanent collection of dee day)






This particular color combination is fresh and exciting because it's a new twist on an old favorite. Red and green are the two most recognized complementaries on the color wheel. What you see here is a derivative of this classic favorite. Enjoy this "colorist" piece and these "hot" (caliente) colors!

As I have mentioned numerous times on my blog, most of my pieces, after the first month of blogging, begin with paste paper. (Recipes of this paste can be found if you google "paste paper".) After making your paste, the next step is to mix some of the paste with a portion of acrylic paint or any other water media or powdered pigments. I use Golden Acrylics with an ocassional tube of Liquitex. The advantage of paste paper are the textures that can be created in the paste before it dries.

The "hot" red in this piece was created with Napthol Red, Cadmium Orange, and a bit of Raw Umber and White. The green was created with Green Gold plus a bit of Raw Umber and White. If you also want some of the olive green, just add more Raw Umber and leave the white out. Color is an exciting thing to experiment with and playing around with it by referring to a color wheel is a great first step.

The gestural writing was written with Perylene Violet Gouache (WN). It's an excellent choice rather than always going for black or brown, especially when using a "hot" combination like this. Just something to think about.

"The Gate"

This is a (12" x 12") piece created for the Open Doors Gallery at Hill Country Bible Church NW in Austin, Texas. The passage is from the gospel of John. The gate is Jesus Christ and the contemporary translation is from The Message. Double click to read the passage and be blessed today.

These larger works always give me an opportunity to develop my concept more completely.
The background was developed from a spontaneously created first layer to establish an ethereal and timeless mood. Consequently, white gesso entered the process but only after the background was painted, sealed, and prepared to receive the lettering and soft edged patches of white. (Refer to earlier postings for surface preparation.) Notice that the white is emphasized more in all four corners. The capital "I" representing the person of Christ was my focal point with the lettering so I created the most ornate and flourished letter that could be found in all of the exemplars of spencerian in my library.

Even though there is a lot going on in the background, the division of space is still quite pronounced. I have come to fully understand how important shapes are, even in an abstract piece. They ground the piece and deserve careful attention. Just something to think about.

This piece will not be listed on ebay. Any interest should be directed to me by leaving a comment or sending me an e-mail. (Only my 6" x 6" work has a ten day listing on ebay.)

"Unforgettable Moments" (Sold)

(sold)

Shared experiences with a friend are often the memories we savor over time. These are the friends who share and regard conversations as a sacred trust. Savor those memories. They are a blessing from God and food for your soul.

Those of you who follow my blog already know that chairs are one of my favorite contemporary icons. They imply a human presence so that you can imagine your own dear friend or loved one sitting across from you.

There is a subtle division of space in this piece found in the raw umber tones that cross the piece from edge to edge with the chairs helping to form the shape and connection. The chairs, of course, were painted with gouache and then soft pastel was brushed on by scraping it off onto a disposable plate first. The hake brush or old blush brush will provide the best application.

The soft ray of diagonal color certainly helped me to determine where to place those chairs as well as the direction of the square. The rectangular shape in the upper right quadrant was created with white gouache and the corner of a credit card. All of these design decisions begin with something. Remember that any cropped portion of a discarded piece can be your beginning. Just something to think about.

(All pieces with an adjusted price must be purchased through the artist.  New pieces are listed on e-bay for (10) days before having a price adjustment.  Contact me by leaving a comment or via e-mail.)

"The Chandelier" ($40.00)

(adjusted price......$40.00)

All spaces in any style look more opulent with a chandelier. There is something fascinating about the form, the detail, and most of all...the light. Enjoy the form of your chandelier whether it's simple or ornate.

The first layer of this piece has a very busy background, but it has an elegance by virtue of the "grayed down" color palette.

The best way to integrate an image into a busy setting is to create a solid color silhouette. It also helps to choose an image that has interesting form or detail. The choice of white also gave it a regal look.  If I had made it a black, lime green, or cadmium scarlett chandelier, the effect would have been totally different.

Notice also that the addition of the white dots and placement of the quote helped me to design my corners. I also added some charcoal powder to the vertical gray band to help ground the piece. Just a few things to think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Cowhide and Cactus" (unavailable)

(unavailable......in the permanent collection of dee day)

Those of you who have traveled very far in Texas have seen this "duo" time and time again. Frankly, I don't know how one state can have so much Prickly Pear cactus, but I love it! It's part of our persona. Pause today and thank God you live in Texas! (...and if you don't we love you anyway!)

This piece is a combination of acrylics, oils, and gouache. The paste paper background was the first layer and set the placement, tone, and texture of the piece. The second layer was the cactus...painted in oils "en plein air" on our property. The third layer was the cowhide...painted on a gesso base with gouache. And finally, the lettering was written with gouache.

The final piece was sprayed with a Krylon Archival Varnish intended for oils and acrylics and after the oil paint was dry. This is important because you cannot use a spray acrylic coating on top of oil paint. Notice also the division of space. That is the loveliest part of this composition and it just happened by reacting to the space divisions created in the cropping of the paste paper. Just something to think about.

"A Vessel" ($30.00)

(adjusted price.....$30.00)

The quote today is like an "over the top" statement of the obvious. However, knowing that we all have different qualities does not make us happy. What gives us peace and contentment about who we are is accepting that we each have a set of God given qualities that make us unique. By keeping your eyes focused on your own "running lane"...you can have joy in knowing your vessel is unique to you and only you can be all that you were created to be. You're unique!

This piece is a strong graphic. The contrasts are strong and all the edges are hard. It's in your face! If you are making a poster or trying to communicate a message that needs to be noticed and read...this is the technique for such an occasion. Black and white ( or almost white) plus one or two other colors works every time it's tried.

In other cases, you might want the lettering to be a lot more subtle. I often do. It all depends on what you want the viewer to notice first and how close you want them to be to your piece before reading it. In some cases, you might not want it to be read at all!

The technique of painting these pots was simple. The texture was initially over the entire space. All I needed to do was paint the negative space around each one and add shading around the opening. It's fun to try and most silhouette shapes will work. Just something to think about and perhaps try.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Beautiful Forms" ($60.00)

(adjusted price.....$60.00.....mounted on a 1.50" depth clayboard)

The design and pattern of growth in plant life, especially tropical plants, has always inspired me visually. Be inspired today by stopping to notice the beautiful forms radiating from floral and tropical plants.

When the artist chooses to allow the image to consume the design space, there is no place for the lettering to go except to march right over the image.

In this case, that poses a problem because the plant was painted with gouache. For that reason, the piece was sprayed with Krylon Acrylic Spray Coating. Even though that seals the gouache, it also creates a resist. The surface is prepared to receive the bleedproof white by applying a layer of diluted Gel Matte Medium. (two parts water to one part medium....mixed with a palette knife) You will still experience the surface repelling this layer, so you must brush...dry with hair dryer...brush...dry with hair dryer and eventually the heat will cause it to attach. I also dropped a couple of drops of gum arabic into the gouache to give me a thin hairline.

Just something to think about if you want to write over gouache. (Even Acryl Gouache will not give you a writing surface as good as this.)

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Thoughts" (sold)

(sold)

Thoughts enter and exit our minds at an accelerated rate each and every day. The wise person will gather up the good ones and throw the rest away. Gather up the thoughts that are positive....the ones that move you forward in life.

Today's piece leaves no middle ground for the viewer. You will either love it or hate it. What can I say! It simply evolved. And I do have days like that where I simply don't want to do things in a conventional way.

I did try to think about shapes and color as the elements that would unify the craziness. Otherwise, I just followed my instincts. You could call it a "jazz" or "improvisational" process. I will admit that I'm partial to the combination of turquoise green and lime green together.

The one new thing that is not present in any other (6" x 6") is the imprint of letters into dried gesso with metal stamps. It gives the look and feel of letter press. Also notice that every corner is strikingly different. Try your hand at this "funky" improvisational process. It's really quite satisfying.

"Threshold" ($40.00)

(adjusted price......$40.00)

Prayer is a holy activity that anyone can access immediately. The visual of stepping over a threshold brings the point home. If you want to know God...pray.

This doorway and the steps leading up to it appear to be floating in the air. Details were omitted that would have given context to the doorway. The "floating doorway" gives credence to the quote because the threshold that is crossed is obviously in the mind.

Anytime I want to focus on the ethereal, white seems to enter the process. So after painting the doorway, I sprayed the piece with Krylon Acrylic Coating to seal the gouache. With the help of white gesso and a 1.50" broad edged shaper tool, I was able to apply the gesso and take it off in areas to achieve the desired effect. The corner of a discarded credit card was used to inscribe gestural marks into the gesso. Rubbing alcohol and a stiff brush will remove any gesso or acrylic paint to create more texture. Just something to think about and experiment with.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Paradise" (unavailable)

(unavailable)

So often we think a planned trip to a "cool" place is paradise. (In this Texas heat wave, that's probably true!)  But a deeper truth is realizing that any place where mind and body can relax is called paradise. This thought gives a new appreciation for that favorite chair, patio, or porch setting where you enjoy relaxing on a daily basis.

There are numerous ways to portray an image or establish a mood. An artist has the option of going completely abstract or completely real or some combination of the two. I enjoy bouncing back and forth with different combinations of the two. It could actually be said that even a photograph is abstract because the viewer is seeing a flattened image of what they would see if they had the opportunity to view the real thing.

In this piece, there were lovely textures in the background. The decision to let the greens and blues represent trees and water was an easy one. And even though the lawn chair image looks real, there are only two values represented...actual hue and slightly darker hue. A more realistic image would have midtones, direct light, reflected light, etc.

This piece makes the case for gouache if you want a solid matte coverage of color. It is the best choice. Even acrylics and oils will not give you this kind of coverage with one coat. This is also the reason why it is the best choice for lettering. If you have not used gouache (opaque watercolor) for lettering, there is a simple way to achieve the right proportion of water. Mix enough water to achieve the consistency of melted ice cream. You might also want to add a drop of gum arabic. Test it by writing with it. If it doesn't flow from the pen, add more water. If it's too thin, add more gouache. Try painting and writing with gouache on a regular basis and you will soon see for yourself what a treasure it is.

Winsor Newton Gouache is reliable and can be found in most art stores. However, M. Graham & Co. makes a superior gouache. It must be ordered from Paper & Ink Arts (www.paperinkarts.com)

"Drawing" ($30.00)

(adjusted price.....$30.00)

Even if you don't consider yourself an artist, you might be surprised if you simply picked up a pencil and paper. Just look at an object and act as though you are tracing it. I've never experienced an activity that shoves me to the right side of my brain more completely. So next time you feel "blocked" creatively, just start drawing!

There are many types of drawing. Some drawings are perfectly rendered and require much time and effort. There is another type of drawing that is done quickly with gestural strokes and not lifting your pencil or charcoal from the paper. The type of drawing I prefer to do is probably more in the realm of sketching. It is extremely edited and even plays around a bit with distortion.

In this piece, my reference photo was an antique store in a small Texas town. If your eyes were closed for more than 10 seconds, you would miss seeing the town entirely! Just looking at the photo and thinking about drawing it made me tired. There was an overwhelming amount of detail. So I decided to do what Alan Cober does when he draws. (One of my favorite illustrators.) He just omits the things he doesn't want to draw. What a concept! It's called editing. We can all forget that we are the artist and we can choose what to include. The "drawing police" will not give us a citation if we fail to include every detail, for heaven's sake! And if the drawing isn't perfect...that's even better.

It becomes even more expressive if you draw on an abstract background or a few smudges on the paper. This whole expressive process becomes even more addictive when you create your drawing with a pointed pen and play with the quality of the lines. That's exactly what I did in this piece and it was completely satisfying. I even created the lettering with a very "nonchalant" attitude. Sometimes, perfect lettering has to go! You will know when you're through as soon as the drawing is convincing. (You can tell what it represents.)

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

" A Clear Mind" (sold)

(sold)

It is very frustrating and difficult to be in a "creative flow" when there is too much clutter in the work space and things are not where they're supposed to be. The organizational "gurus" in the world have figured out that if our desk or work space is cluttered, then so is our mind. That is precisely why the anitque drafting table in this piece has been cleared of everything. It was done to drive home the truth of this thought. Obviously, a desk or table needs minimal items on it, but when there is so much "stuff" you can't find anything, it's time to clear the surface which in turn will also clear your mind.

When creating this piece, I did not want too many elements cluttering the space. (pun intended!) So the only way to keep it from causing the viewer's eyes to glaze over was to position the table to create some diagonal lines. It also created a lot of interest in one of the corners. The diagonals in the legs of the table also created more interesting shapes.

Depth, especially in an abstract piece, is not only created by lines, but also by layering. The vertical band on the right began with ruling pen and burnt sienna lettering. It was too prominent so out came the diluted white gesso. I applied it with a sponge brush in thin layers until I achieved the right level of transparency. The pencil lettering was written on top of that, but it was still not right until I smudged some umber and burnt sienna over it with my fingers. So goes the process of layering. If I had not placed that vertical band in the piece, the directional lines of the table would have taken my eyes out of the piece entirely. Just something to think about when designing your piece.

"A Signature" (unavailable)

(unavailable)

Most of the time a signature refers to the written name of a person. However, there is a broader definition that refers to a distinctive action or characteristic of a person's style. For instance, if you see enough of one artist's work, you can immediately tell that it was done by that artist. Each artist has their habitual marks or arrangement of elements, or techniques that visually describe who they are. None of us can run away from our signature. It is who we are!

I actually created this background some time ago, but never could write a quote that seemed to fit. The "aha" moment for me was realizing that the gestural marks in the background reminded me of someone's signature. Better yet, I had made a gestural mark with a brush, the corner of a credit card, and a pointed shaper tool. I also used a credit card to incise some lines in the paper while it was wet. This does add some energy, especially when they are inscribed at an angle or veer off in a different direction.

The inkwell is from my personal collection and I'm particularly fond of the shape. You might not be able to pick up the subtle nuance of the dark values in the pen, bottle, and shadows, but they are not black. I mixed up Ult. Blue, Winsor Violet, and a bit of Burnt Sienna (in gouache) to create a color that looks like black. It is a livelier color combination with the yellow green background because yellow and purple are complements. It is one of those details that can make a huge difference, especially in the original.

As always, these comments might spark your imagination to try a few new things or just give you something to think about.

"Deadline" ($30.00)

(adjusted price......$30.00)

Isn't it amazing how quickly our thinking and actions change when there is a deadline? There is nothing that galvanizes our thoughts and increases our focus when we know something is due in short order. Embrace your deadlines. They're a good thing!

Creating a piece based on geometric forms is not much different from creating a piece that gives a nod to realistic imagery. All artwork is based on a compilation of shapes.

The irregular striped pattern was made more interesting by adding blue to the brilliant orange and black. The edges were softened with water and a sponge brush. Because blue is the direct complement to orange, the combination and soft edges created a highly charged surface. The only problem was too many vertical lines. The curved line in the upper left hand corner was already in the paste paper design. By stamping and repeating that curve in the lower right corner, the vertical lines were broken up and contained.

Try your own experiments by creating an abstract piece with geometric forms. Very exciting!

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Anchored" ($60.00)

(adjusted price....$60.00.....mounted on a 1.50" depth clayboard)

Everyone has a routine. By thoughtfully planning and improving a daily routine, anyone can move their dreams forward. It's the routine that firmly anchors us to the habits that make our dreams come true. Enjoy your routine today!

Abstraction in artwork gives the viewer the "essence" of a concept. In this piece, the overall mood and feeling is reminiscent of the coast. The colors, texture, and division of space are the elements that create the "beach" feeling. It wasn't necessary to paint the waves crashing on the shore or having sea gulls realistically painted in the sky.

These are actually my favorite type of paintings to create because of the mystery involved. The repetition of the vertical lines not only reminds me of the picket fences I've seen at the beach but echoes the concept of a daily routine...something happening over and over again.

Abstraction is a fun and exhilarating way to explore the elements and principles of design. Everything does not need to be rendered precisely. Think about the "essence" of any subject and it will open up many creative doors for you.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.