Finished Paintings Finally Posted

These two paintings are from the enginehead series. In this series I am approaching the emotional and intellectual forces that drive human action as an externalized motor. In these paintings I was trying to represent the character of the person through their motor as well.

Finished Boat Motor. The first large painting from the enginehead series. I designed this series to be done as diptychs. The Boat Motor and the Windmill being the first. Although I like both paintings individually, I don't believe they worked out as a diptych. I will most likely re paint these again in the future. The boat motors in this painting represent the self-destructive force of addiction. For though the motors want to be in the water, the water will eventually corrode them.

Finished Windmill. Of the enginehead series I did for school last semester, this was one of the toughest. As a windmill does not have an engine per se, I envisioned a pump for the head. As an antithesis to the Boat Motor's addiction, this painting was focused on the care of other, and transfer of one's own benefit (the wind) to the action of care.

Cattle of Helios

Tried to think of a good name for this one. These lonely cows out by the road when I'm driving to work. I've been really impressed with the white-yellow grass, kinda looks like snow. But here I was trying to capture the warm sun of the afternoon on the way home. I love the way the cattle break up the plane of the field.

Storm Coming to Shore

Here's a small painting I finished for the crawl.

Finally, Back in the Studio

I made the trip up to the studio yesterday. Tried to get a lot of work done. I was up there at 9:30 and started painting. It went pretty good, but jeez the studio was quite, and I started getting sleepy. Beautiful day outside, so I went to 19th street to check out the happenings. That got me inspired again, and so I went back to finish some stuff up.

I feel like this peice is finally nearing completion. I really like looking at it. I added the buildings in yesterday. I was originally planning a smaller grouping just in the middle, but after putting the first one in, I realized the scale was all wrong. A actually used the drips to define the shapes of the buildings, which makes it look like there are some ghostly buildings in there too. I like the effect.

Here is the update on the "august sun" painting. I'm really loving this one. It's still got two more sessions on it I think, but I was able to correct the tree line. I had the color bands reversed earlier.

By the way here's a link to an earlier post of these paintings ( in progress )

Working the Studio

I just started moving into a studio in Houston. Still not much up there, but I figured I should start trying to put out as much work as possible while there. It is easier to focus. I've started three pieces so far. Nothing done yet, but here are some previews.

Tree at Jack in the Box

Saw this tree a Jack in the Box while getting food after class last night.

Night Sky

While walking home last night, I looked up and saw the smooth low clouds tear open, to reveal the high islands swimming past the moon. The air was cool, and the ground felt extremely solid and deep.

Though I would be still.

It seems that the problems that used to hold me back have taken root. Though now I often feel drawn to their shade, and to lay in the grass at their feet, I shall resist. There are clouds rising, and I with them shall pass.

Head in the Clouds

Another cloud sketch. We had an awsome front come through a week or so ago. The clouds were building all around the town that day, and in the evening the lightning started flashing. At first it was all cloud lightning, which really showed of the forms.

This year has just been a sky year in my opinion. Last night was another beautiful sunset.

Cloud Stage

Sometimes things flatten out when I start to think about them, like stage sets. Here the cloud is reflected in the ground, continuing the flattening and simplifying.

Cloud Light

The sky is full of light and color, you just need a canvas to paint it on. I have always been fascinated with clouds, their forms and colors.