finally back to painting

Finally back to work on this Birth of Venus and I like where it is going. It’s been a while since I’ve had so much research and painting to do, not to mention all the attention the little house needs. But research and painting are the squeaky wheels right now, so the cottage can wait.

Years ago I figured out that I can indeed switch from one side of the brain to the other, from statistics to art and back, so long as two conditions are met: I can’t do both on the same day; and I can’t do either without a lot of protein. Sounds contrived, I know … like some spoiled artist’s affectation … but that’s really how it is.

The pattern of flowers has been laid in (just circles at this point), and the watery background, from which our Venus is emerging, is coming along. Haven’t determined exactly which flowers to use, but it felt like the essential composition needed to be locked in first, and then the flowers would just declare themselves. You should see my desktop and sketchbooks …. flowers everywhere …. like an uberSpring …

Bookends

Yesterday, with the release of the Black Hole images, I felt absolutely compelled to render these mysterious creatures. Same thing happened about a year and a half ago in August 2017 … the Totality eclipse cast the same spell over me. I simply had to render these bigger than big heavenly objects … and attempt to express their magnificence … and somehow record their strange pull on me. In such a state it’s best to surrender to the whole business … just go with it … and paint or draw without purpose or judgement. Usually the work is pretty good when this happens, and almost always the result is unexpected.

So finally, late in the day yesterday, I gave in … madly scribbling energy and matter dutifully making their way into the gaping mouth of oblivion. Then, naturally, I fell into a trancelike sleep and dreamed of the cosmos. Like ya do.

In the dream the Totality and Black Hole images were bookends, holding only one book, with only one chapter. The story started with the Totality and concluded with the Black Hole yesterday. During that time all I did was travel across time space in a golden pod … from that place to this one. So here I am … arrived fully intact, and happy …. incredibly happy. What a magnificent life I have! … and I feel some wonderful work happening, bubbling around inside me. So … here we go!

Studio

The new space is finally coming together … just a bit more wall painting to do … and then back to the business of art-wherever-it-takes-us. Love working in the attic. And love having my muse back home. All is well.

PS. A note about objects in the studio. At this point in my life, I’ve mostly stopped “dragging my traps,” Thoreau style. What’s left are the storied treasures — those objects dripping-rich with meaning. The chair is an English piece adopted from a picker in Winchester when I was in my early twenties…. that was on the same day I was completely entranced by the cathedral there … a milepost in my life, and a story for another time. The chair is close to 300 years old; it’s not the first antique I ever purchased, but probably the oldest. It fits me so perfectly, I’d swear it was made for my frame. Beside the chair is a little “telephone table”. My father made it. He also made the lamp … it is one of a pair made for my mother for their first wedding anniversary. They were both students at Auburn and, according to my mother, so poor the only way they could give each other gifts was to make them. As the story goes, Daddy had a buddy who worked for Southern Bell, and the company was getting rid of these old phones. He managed to recover two from the trash, and reinvented them as table lamps for Mother. She treasured them so …. I was surprised when she gave them to my sister and me last year.

Here we go...

So excited to be getting back to this Birth of Venus painting … I can remember doing two others, but there have probably been more. Been painting for 20 years now… so every week or so there’s evidence of a painting I totally forgot doing. Anyway … this one has been gestating for months … and here’s the new thing I want to try. The background water and gold areas are going to be decorated with botanicals … inspired by the photo (artist unknown) and Gustav Klimt styles … and rather than do the composition on canvass (or the usual sketchpad), I’m going to push my photoshop limits and do the entire design digitally. Guess we’ll discover if I’ve got the horses for that … sure see lots-o-layers in my future!!! YIKES … ok… here we go!

Rosie Progression

Here’s Rosie, from underpainting all the way through. About two days work.

New Attic Studio

Although the remodel is still underway, I’m working in my attic studio today. It’s actually a great space … western light, the only drawback, can be managed, especially on a cloudy day like today. Two other times I’ve had attic studios, in Easton and Asheville … have done some of my most elevated painting there. Working on this little Collie commission today.

That’s Alia Atredes, tailless wonder, at the top of the narrow staircase … which I really love (architecture and quadruped) … until it’s time to schlep large furniture upstairs!

Another Birth of Venus painting. Yes that’s a gold leaf upper background … thinking Botticelli meets Klimpt.

Not Sure How the Forrest Feels

I love that I had three completely open days to work on the little painting of Sydney, hurricane threat notwithstanding. And here’s the weird thing that happened: painting a happy child in the woods … presumably a lovely, bucolic setting … but I think the energy of the weather …. and a bit of concern for loved ones in harms way … could have led me to paint a scene of underlying menace.

My morning ritual starts with three activities — letting the dog out, starting the coffee, and reviewing the previous day’s work. It’s usually surprising … good and bad … to see yesterday’s decisions after a good night’s sleep. And when I looked at this work in progress, even though there’s still quite a bit to do, I could feel something dark in the woods. Clearly it’s time to take a few days off this one and “turn it to the wall” as my teacher always said. There’s nothing more practical than a fresh perspective when you’re too close to the struggle … give it a few days ‘to the wall’ and bet I’ll see a different painting …. or at least I’ll see a simple way to get it back on track.

Hurricane Painting Update 3

So far, not much weather here in Upstate SC …. just the right amount of wind and rain to create the perfect paint-all-weekend vibe. Here’s the latest on the painting …. need to get to the figure now … in the source photo she has a darling happy expression, which really makes the picture …. so have to get that right.

Hurricane Painting Update 2

this is all I’ve got today …

Hurricane Painting Update

Lots of painting …. not so much hurricane. All is well.

Hurricane Painting Underway

Starting a new portrait/landscape … of Sydney on a path in the woods. Some time ago I painted my favorite time and place …. autumn in the mountains … in this case Wildcat Path in southern Appalachia. Could have sold this little painting several times over … so it’s time to do some others like it. I’m taking an outdoor image of the subject and placing it in a Wildcat Pathish setting …. never done this before … we will see …. and looks like I’ll get to paint through a hurricane. This will be the second time for that adventure … last time was St. Augustine … great energy for studio work until the power goes out. Wherever you are, be safe.

Flowers in the Kitchen

I started work at fourteen … at the country club in our neighborhood. And even now I remember the feeling that work was magic … it was hanging out with friends, doing something (relatively) useful (flipping burgers at the snack bar), being able to buy things for myself …. what’s not to love. At this point in life I realize work has always defined me …. what I produce, how I touch other people and they touch me, actualizing and expanding my world. So excited to be working with a furniture store and design group now. They are showing my paintings, so working a few days a week in the shop makes me feel like fourteen again … hanging out with designer friends, doing useful things …. guess some things never change. And I also realize that work is the greatest gift … it is living in love: freedom, expression, movement, connectivity, belonging … flowers in the kitchen.

Bubba the Pirate

Hmmm... it's late enough in the afternoon ... probably won't start anything new today. Maybe some work on Hail and Farewell tonight while watching a movie ... and my Finished-Painting-Ritual: steak with lemon and olive oil, red wine, fresh bread, avocado salad, and fresh flowers in the kitchen. Plus, this is a good excuse for a drive in the country with the top down! Cheers.

Student work

Here's a student's first dog sketch. At only twelve, she already has a great eye. The model is Roxy, from my current works in progress. When I was a student, we worked on whatever my teacher was working on .... in the tradition of apprenticeship ... so, not knowing any other way to do it, I'm teaching the same way. 

Bubba the Pirate in progress

Here's Bubba after the second session. One more session should finish ..... don't you love the little pirate teeth .... Arrrrgh!

Great Advertising is Great Art

At it's best art communicates on many levels ..... and it takes a stand .... it has a point of view. Even paintings of dogs and ads for sports equipment can speak to our highest pursuits. 

Sing the body electric

Easily two or three more days of work on this painting .... all but the top three flowers are just sketched in .... Roxy's volume definitely needs to be dialed up .... a few other adjustments to bring things into balance...

BUT we are, as they say,  SO CLOSE I CAN FEEL IT!  In fact, I've been living with the imagined piece so long, and feeling our way down the path together .... now as it comes to life, the anticipation is wonderful .... to sing the body electric! 

Marriage of Different Styles

This painting by Japanese (I think) artist, Soey Milk is a terrific example of various styles coming together beautifully. From what I can tell of her work, the focal point of the painting is rendered in the style of classical (Western) realism, and then drops off to complete abstraction moving out from the central focus. She is the best contemporary example I know of (although there are certainly many others) using this technique ... making Post Modern great again. I do love her work. 

Battle Plan, Meet Contact with the Enemy

Working on Hail and Farewell. Been a day of contradictions, but isn't that what makes art  interesting... and beautiful ... and disturbing ... 

"They" have always said you can't use different painting styles in the same painting and still have the end product hold together. I have never listened to them, but so far in my work they have always been right. In working the vines and flowers I fell into the use of a very painterly style, plus outlining, which I love but seldom use. Although the contrast relative to the rest of the work thus far is subtle, any trained eye would spot the shift right away. I'm going to take this path further  .... I want the two styles to keep moving forward, converge, and marry into one unified whole in the end.

So I have to report that this was one of those days in the studio when I know that all is well. That despite challenges on all levels, I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing. These different painting styles will reconcile on some new level where there's nothing to explain.  That is the magic of an artful life. 

Progress on Roxy's Hail and Farewell

Today was a good day in the studio .... some writing and correspondence, some canvass prep, some teaching, and some painting. I'm pleased with how these vines are turning out .... the leaves are underpainted in pale red-violet, which serves as the perfect complement for the bright green finish layer. I found the flowers for this painting down by the river yesterday ... they are perfect .... just wait!  Nothing to do but paint tomorrow, so I can layout the flowers on this piece, and maybe even finish Bubba the Pirate ... but for now ... I need a good night's sleep.