"Transition" ($30.00)

($30.00.....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)

"A fallen leaf is a sign of seasonal transition just as right choices are a sign of a transition in life." It would be great if transitions in life happened as regularly and "on time" as they do in nature. The good news is that every life can have a quick turn around by making and following through with good choices.

Unfortunately, central Texas does not have the same brilliant colors in the fall landscape as you would be seeing in the Smoky Mountains. So the next best thing is to paint the colors as they would appear in other parts of the country. These particular colors are Raw Sienna plus White, Cadmium Orange, Napthol Red plus Raw Umber. This image viewed from across the room is quite brilliant. The color, of course, is "kicked up a notch" with Pouring Medium added.

In most of my pieces, I choose to focus on the image, especially color, so that it gives a power punch from across the room. Even when Pouring Medium and strong color are not chosen, the powerful division of space will give that "across the room" power punch. In this piece, there is a simple division of four horizontal bands with softly diffused edges. This type of division works every time it's tried.

Spencerian Script is my hand of choice when I have a long quote or don't want the lettering to overpower the image. To achieve a fine hairline on this type of surface (which has been prepared with gel matte medium...diluted) I dilute my gouache a lot with water and then add 1-4 drops of gum arabic in a small container not much larger than a thimble. It has been my experience that different colors require more or less gum arabic than others. Also, if the lettering turns out too light...I do go over the downstroke very lightly (with no pressure) just to make it more readable. All of these things are just something to try or think about.

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"Drifting" ($40.00)

(adjusted price....$40.00)

"Drifting is not an option if success is the destination." Drifting implies that nothing is happening with intention. In such a case, there are no goals, no plans...but simply living each day doing whatever feels good. The best thing to do is get some oars in hand before the canoe gets "beached" on a sand bar or keeps going in a circle!

There are so many approaches to the conceptualization process, it's hard to know where to begin. When that happens to me, I typically look at what is happening in my background and actually define the mood that is represented. By define....I mean with words. For instance, the extremely diffused lines in this piece caused me to feel like I was in a fog. So....being in a fog described the mood.

As I was looking for a visual to paint or use as a collage, I came across this canoe, with no one in it and no oars. At that moment, the word "drifting" came to my mind and with a few minutes of thought, the quote was born. The visual of the canoe, the diffused lines, and the quote complete the marriage of the design elements.

Hope this helps to describe one way of conceptualization. Make some connections in your art and you might be surprised at the outcome. Just something to try or think about.


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