"Berries At The Gate"

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

"Berries at the gate cheer the weary and bid them come in." There are certain combinations of things that serve as a warm invitation to go in and see what's inside. Limestone, wrought iron, and red berries will do it every time. There might be other things that trigger those same kind of feelings, especially this time of year. Enjoy the good feelings that those associations create.

This might be a good time to talk about the difference between using Fluid Acrylics or more heavy bodied acrylics out of a tube. The "haze" on the photography pieces I've been posting, of course has been created by adding acrylic to pouring medium and applying to the sealed photograph with a palette knife.....followed by spraying with water until the degree of "haze" has been reached. Fluid Acrylics are typically the best choice because they are already in a fluid state and mix with the pouring medium with no problems. In this piece, however, I used Titanium White from a tube. No matter how thoroughly I seem to mix the two, there are always a few bits that stay suspended in the pouring medium. It almost looks like snow falling. After this happened the first time I decided I liked the effect for the Christmas type pieces I've been posting. (This goes back to the idea that each and every person who picks up a brush will come up with "accidental" techniques while working. All you need to do is observe and make a note.)

Also, for those of you who write with pointed pen... Spencerian Script such as you see in this piece, is much easier to write on this surface than Copperplate (or Round Hand as some call it). You also need an extremely light touch to glide across this surface or your pen will stick and not want to move at all.

These are just a few things to try or think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"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.)