Avocado Painting

I am starting a new series of still life paintings. This one is oil on panel, measures 12*12.

Some Thoughts on Inspiration

Why do artists create? There are as many motivations as there are artists I assume. Many artists paint, draw, sculpt, make etc. as a response to the world around them, the world which they observe. For me the greatest inspiration for my artwork is nature itself and the Creator of that nature. Artists throughout history have responded to this never ending source of inspiration. I think of the great Northern Renaissance Artist Albrecht Durer who studied nature so carefully while capturing its fleeting beauty. His great artistic skill, the ability to handle paint and other media strikes me. While viewing one of his portraits you can truly know the personality of the sitter. Vincent Van Gogh is another artist I truly admire, probably more for his passion and insight into the "invisible" world than for his technique. Although I love his use of brushstroke and color. His earlier work focussed on the "down and out" of society and he sought to bring dignity to their plight. 

At the moment I am inspired by artists who paint "alla prima" style. The paintings become a reality themselves because of the thickly painted canvas. Artists who can paint with a quick technique that is both fresh and very skillful draws my attention. The "important" details are said, those details that speak to the identity of the subject. 

Inspiration is sometimes hard to pin down. It changes with time but stays around long enough to ponder and study and if given the right mood art is created from it.

Olive Oil and Egg

Another quick painting. I attempted this scene from life a few days ago and failed. I just did not have it in me to take on all of the greens, ambers, and other colors in the olive oil bottle. I think this one worked out fine and I am pleased with the color work and the lighting. This was from life and the colors turned out much more realistic than from working from a photo. The still life was set up near a window to allow natural lighting to hit the objects. The background is my daughter's blue shirt.

Real Light.

This small painting is from Ruidoso, New Mexico. We went to one the trail heads of Lincoln National Forest. I was with my family so I didn't paint on site but we did hike a little so I was able to snap some photos. What a peaceful place so quiet and removed from our "big city" life. 

My desire to paint has been on the up recently. I decided to set up a small still life. I so much appreciate painting from life where the true colors and light remain. What a difference over photos, not to say that photos cannot be a good option for the painter because they can and sometimes they are a necessity. But you have to take the opportunity as an artist to study nature and participate with it, enjoy it and learn from it. 

Small Portrait of my Wife

Here is a small 5*8 portrait of my wife, Cindy.

Painting Fast and Small

Stacked Cups and Egg, 6*6

Light in the Alley, 5*7

I've been painting fast and on a small scale recently. I've been inspired by the "daily painting" movement that many painters have subscribed to. It certainly is a good way to gain skill, but also a way to sharpen one's artistic eye, always looking for beauty and uniqueness in the world. There is so much good, and praiseworthy material to be found! But you have to actively look for it and not let the darkness in. I like the idea of the setting evening light falling on the back alley, illuminating trash cans into objects of beauty, causing a pathway to be for just a short time.

Some Daily Paintings

These two paintings were quick observational "studies", each taking 3 or so hours. This type of technique has become appealing to me lately; kind of like plein air painting, done on the spot with quick decisions as opposed to longer studio paintings where decisions are planned and paint is mixed in a sort of long ritual. Both are valid methods used to achieve different ends. I do like the spontaneity and life of the quicker observational work, these both measure 9*12. Let me know what you as the viewer thinks of them.

A New Commission Completed

I've had this commission to compete for some time now, an oil painting of a fruit still-life. I set the "models" up under an interesting light source and took some reference photos. Then I created some painting sketches on Corel Painter to get the feel and composition I might want to use for the painting. When working in acrylic or oil I usually begin by starting with a quick pencil sketch followed up by an oil sketch, usually with burnt umber and mineral spirits. Then I start blocking in the forms. I like to keep it very loose in the beginning and then work into the details. For this particular painting I wanted the the composition to be loose, quick, and full of brush strokes and energy. The texture of the paint is important for this style as well. Please feel free to comment and critique the work.