"Blast From The Past"

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"A blast from the past is often a step into the future." This old hardware store is symbolic of things in the past that often prompt new thoughts and ideas for the future. Creativity and invention keep us moving forward.

This piece is a sketch created with a fine point pen of a very old hardware store in Boone, N.C. It is a historic landmark in the area with an old gas pump and screen doors that have withstood the test of time. 

Sketching is a simple impression of a scene or subject that gives the artist a more emotional "feel" of the subject. It does not have all of the shading and other characteristics of a full scale drawing, so I added text pages partially covered with gesso to enrich the surface in the background. 

There is a lot to be learned by sketching that will enhance the scope of work that any artist wishes to create. Sketching journals have been around for a long time, but I have personally found it very difficult to carve out time just for sketching. It may just be that it needs to be viewed as a foundational part of the art process. So my encouragement is to have you join me in a commitment to pick up pen or pencil everyday and sketch at least one thing. It may even become addictive and spawn a whole new direction to your artwork. And there you have it...just a few more things to think about.

"Opposites Attract"

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


"Opposites attract in art and relationships." Too much of the same thing tends to create boredom. I suppose that's why opposites are attracted to each other. The evidence seems to prove that two opposites make a complete whole rather than two of the same thing.

In this extreme close up of a chandelier, the crystal next to the iron work is just about as opposite as you can get. In art, these contrasts are very important. Some of the other important contrasts to think about are: contrast in size...contrast between edges (crisp or diffused)...realism contrasted w/ abstraction...light vs. dark...contrast of line (thick / thin)...detail vs. no detail...etc.

Noticing the contrasts you see on any given day is another way to get your head wrapped around the opposites in our visual world. Too much harmony and not enough contrast is generally the number one problem of artwork that will not hold your visual interest for more than five seconds. Having too much contrast will also cause a viewer to look away quickly. The visual overload is just too much to handle. Finding the balance is the essence of integration and worth thinking about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Ivy and Berries"

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


"Ivy and berries illustrate the visual power of small things repeated incessantly." Repetition not only creates visual power, but creates power or success in any area of life. Nothing is learned without repetition.

Slowly, but surely, I am contrasting realism (as in photography) with sketching and drawing. This is becoming part of my layering process and it will be exciting to see where it ends. Certainly a sketch or drawing can stand on its own, but the "mixed media" part of me always wants to combine techniques. For me this is what process is all about.

The "sketchiness" of the lettering is also a reflection of the ivy that was sketched.  Mark making, erratic, lines, and spontaneous processes of any kind are absolutely compelling because they reveal the impulse of the artist. The way you learn to draw is by drawing anything and everything. Process in any area is all about repeating it over and over again until the skill is learned. My encouragement to all fellow artists is to "stay calm and carry on". Don't be overwhelmed by the process. Just keep comparing, analyzing, and doing....repeatedly. This is something we should all think about and then do.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.