"Perfect Elements"

($40.00.....6" x 6" mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)


"Nature offers the most perfect elements for a still life." So often we think of a still life as perfectly selected items arranged with a strong light and then painted. I much prefer to have a still life composed of the natural elements seen in nature. If you look closely on your next walk, you will see small still life arrangements everywhere. What a visual delight!

Notice the strong division of space created by taking a close up shot and then effectively cropping the image to create one strong positive space (the pine cones) and two strong negative space shapes (the area at the top and bottom of the pine cones). There are many diagonals created by the shape and structure of the pine cone which creates all of the drama. If you drew an outline around the outside perimeter of the cones, there would also be diagonals. Even the blue brush strokes at the bottom create more diagonals. They are very important and worth noticing.

The lettering is more of my attempts at expressive lettering with changes in the spacing and odd angles in direction. Instead of using black ink, I mixed up Perylene Violet Gouache + Prussian Blue and a bit of Raw Umber. It's much more vibrant than black and creates a bit more vibration with the gold tones of this piece. Just a few more things to think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Habitual Repetition" (unavailable)

(unavailable)

"Habitual repetition creates good form and good habits." I've noticed that everyone gets excited when starting a new project or taking a class. But I've also noticed that it takes repetition to create the desired form or goal and few there be who keep up the repetition.  The pine cone is an example of a repeated spike in various sizes that creates a lovely cone shape.

The techniques involving gesso are many and it's worth experimenting with to come up with new effects. After initially covering the entire piece with slightly diluted gesso, followed by spraying until the desired percentage of the image was revealed, I used two sponge brushes to create a "veiled" effect. Brush on the gesso from top to bottom in one area and then use the other brush (dipped in water, but not too wet) to go over it with a light touch to remove a portion of what you laid down with the first brush. It really gives the image an ethereal look.

I would encourage anyone who loves layering techniques to do many experiments with different saturations of gesso. You can also tint it with acrylic paint. For a smooth effect, though, I would recommend fluid acrylics over tube acrylics. This is just one more thing to try or think about.

"Pine Cones"

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


"Pine cones are perfect in their spontaneous texture and form." I like to compare the form and texture of pine cones to the human personality. No two are alike, but their characteristics are perfect in texture and form.

It was fun to juxtapose the very realistic image of the pine cone next to my ink drawing. The drawing is not precise, but that is the charm of expressive drawing. It could have been drawn with other materials, but this is my interpretation with an emphasis on the triangular shapes that are repeated in the form.

If you haven't tried drawing you should start. I began this drawing with my pointed pen and Moon Palace Ink (surface prepared with diluted gel matte medium). It is a contour drawing which means I just followed the outline of the basic form of the cone. I then added crosshatching, ink splatters, and black soft pastel to give it some depth.

If you have trouble quieting yourself internally so that you have the ability to focus creatively, I can guarantee that drawing will put you on the right side of your brain immediately. I like what Nick Meglin says in his book Drawing from Within...."When you are drawing from within, your chief concerns should be what and why rather than how a drawing is done....During the initial stages of drawing your concentration should be limited to what you see and feel and the act of expressing yourself.  (Just a few more things to try or think about.)

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.