Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Time for Reflection



As the fire in the sky races to the sunset
I'm left to ponder the end of one journey
and the beginning of another.  It's been great
but it's time to move on.  There are sights
in Utah yet to see, but home beckons us
to start heading towards Michigan and
family.  It's a bunch of miles but as
with all journeys the reward at the
end is always worth while.

Thanks for hangin with me for the last two
months and if time allows I'll send off some
pic's from Utah so you can join in our
travels.  Stay well everyone and remember,
paint and draw with Passion!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Heading Home Soon


A small pastel sketch on Biggie paper.  Taking another shot
at painting this waterfall on Oak Creek.


This is attempt number 4 of Oak Creek Waterfall.  This is only a
beginning with wet into wet soft color.  I have some idea where this
is going so we'll see what happens later.


This is what I call noodling!  The word comes from using bare
hands to reach under river banks to catch huge catfish.  How that
has anything to do with this piece ... well, I started by just spraying
water onto the sheet randomly.  Then taking wet paint and dropping 
it in the water and letting it stretch.  At that point I take a liner brush
with water and draw wet crosshatch patterns that just touch the
wet paint and water already on the sheet.  You can piddle with
this for a very long time.  Not necessarily a good thing.  It was
fun to do.  No expectations.


This is the 3rd attempt at this little moutain range.  Another 
example of stopping to late!


It's been nice being here in Sedona.  We did some hiking,
sightseeing, reading, napping and enjoying the sun which 
was with us most of the time.  

My good friend, Loriann Signori has always told me that the
struggle with painting and searching for happiness while
doing it is always the worst before a significant breakthrough.
Well friends, this should be one hell of a breakthrough because
my struggle here in Sedona has been one for the books.
Practically every day I painted was frustrating either because
they didn't begin well or they didn't end well.  I mixed enough
mud to fill the Mississippi, used enough paper to fill a flat
file and turned the light out and walked away more than 
I'm used to.  I thought I would go ahead and post today's
happenings, not because I'm happy with them but just to show
I'm still drawing breath and juggling brushes.  We'll leave
in about a week to head home.  Our trip will lead us north
to Utah and Zion National Park, Arches National Park and
Canyon Lands National Park for a few days and then start
our trek east back to Michigan.  Hope it's finally spring time!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Pinion Fire

Never try to create a diva.  They're seldom good and mostly evil.
This one is evil, too showy and has muddy feet.  I'm paying
the consequences for thinking to much and or not enough or both.


Diva's should be lady like and soft spoken.  This one is screaming
at the top of her lungs and is far from dainty.    More later.
As an after thought ... I seldom if ever use opaque white, see
why?  Time for the garden hose.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Verde River Valley

This is the painting I left alone for a bit.
I was unsure of the direction plus some of the technical
problems created by this kind of contrast.  I'm still not
sure if I'm through so I thought I would go ahead and post


it and see what your thoughts might be.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Evening Pencils

I started a new painting several days ago and started to ponder, what am I doing?
So, rather than answer that question I've stayed totally away from it.  Evenings
find me doodling in the sketch book.  They are some times memories but mostly
images plucked from the air.  They're very small and take on somewhat of a graphic
look (2 dimensional).  Relates back to days of designing, logos, cartoons, basket
designs for China, ideas for plush toys, bla, bla, bla!  Just give me a soft pencil and


a pad of tracing paper ... I was in heaven.  More later.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Destination

This one moved along quite quickly.
I will probably try this again with some different
colors.  Just trying to loosen up a bit and without
much thought.  Tomorrow a little more thought.