"Sunny Disposition"

($40.00....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)


"Lemons have a sunny disposition in all the seasons of the year." Isn't it pleasant to have friends who are always full of joy? I am blessed to have a few. They are like these lemons with a sunny disposition through all the seasons of life.

Theses lemons are the remains of the "bumper crop" from our lemon tree. It is an ornamental lemon tree with beautiful little white blossoms in the spring. You can imagine our surprise when it began yielding these beautiful lemons. The total crop was eighteen!

As most oil painters know, morning and evening light are the conditions most conducive to creating the most shadows, direct light, reflected light, highlights, etc. This photo was taken in the late afternoon light which adds to its drama. It's something to think about when drawing, painting, or photographing.

Cropping is the next most important thing. By allowing the lines of the image to go from edge to edge, very dramatic shapes are created. The more subtle shapes are created with pencil lines in the background. I've said it many times and will say it again, if you want spontaneous results, you need to use spontaneous techniques. Consequently, random placement of the pencil lines on the Arches Text Wove before printing the photograph will yield a spontaneous rather than a contrived look. Take a few shots today and practice zooming in and cropping. These are just a few more things to try or think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Bright and Early" ($40.00)

($40.00)


"Bright and early reflections fuel the day." To some of you, this may sound like an oxymoron, especially if you're not an early riser. So after you've had your first cup of coffee, think about your day and what thoughts will help you navigate through your schedule in the best way.  It makes a huge difference.

The color studies I've been creating involve changing the surface to react differently to the paint and changing the properties of the paint to create different saturations and texture.

Gesso actually creates a resist if applied to the surface before the paint.  If it is applied randomly, you can create interesting shapes because the paint reacts differently on the unprimed areas. It creates a "veiled" effect if applied over color or imagery. Technique becomes very important at this stage depending on how much or little you want to reveal of the previous layer.

Changing the property of the paint is also exciting for the same reasons. You can choose how much light you want to have by how saturated or unsaturated the paint is. If it is diluted a lot with water you will get the equivalent of a stain. If you use a thick application of pigment or add a medium to the paint, you will block out the light. It's quite like adjusting the light source to spotlight or backlight an area.

All of these effects are great experiments to try or think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Seeds of Thought" ($60.00)

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


"Seeds of thought grow in silence." If you've ever tried to focus on two thoughts at the same time, this quote will make sense to you. It's impossible and yet we try to do it everyday with all of the electronic media at our fingertips. That's why in most of our life experiences, silence is a "hot commodity". Creative thinking and prayer are just two of the things that require silence. I vote for silence.

Ramping up the color is the path I am on..at least for now. There are several ways to do this. Choosing to use bright and intense color combinations is one way. The path I am experimenting with is showing a contrast between diluted and saturated color. A more saturated color appearance can be achieved with acrylics by adding a medium to the paint as well as using more paint. The medium suspends the color equally and gives a good coverage.

In this piece I used Liquitex Pouring Medium on the top portion. Mix a ratio of approximately (1) part paint to (4) parts or more of Pouring Medium...with a palette knife. This mixture can be applied with a palette knife or poured from a bottle. It is self leveling and has a "slow motion" blending quality with any adjacent color or color dropped into the mixture.

My favorite "colorist" is Rebecca Bennett. She works exclusively in oils and has a beautiful website. We are fortunate to have several pieces of her work in the upcoming exhibit at "Open Doors" Gallery at Hill Country Bible Church NW here in Austin. The Opening Reception is Friday, September 30th. Further details can be viewed at our website (www.http://pactofaustin.com) Forty artists working in all types of media will also be included. I will personally have a kiln formed glass piece with lettering. It is free and open to the general public. Invite your friends and enjoy a fabulous evening of art, music, and refreshments.


Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.