New Shell Pieces

I've been working on some new shell pieces. These works are my way of showing how these natural forms inspire imagery to me. My hope is that people will take from this a new way of looking at the world around them.

The first is titled 'The Dance' and the second is titled 'The Tortise and the Raven'. The painting around the shells expands on the original imagery. Tried to give it a watery feel.

Final enginehead Diptych

These are the most recent enginehead pieces. With them I feel that I've completed my exploration of finding "engines" that fit personalities. Although I do intend to continue with the enginehead series I am looking at working more with the figure in the next set.

Finished Steam Engine. I wanted to talk about those people that need pressure in order to work. The pressure of multiple tasks and deadlines perhaps, or the pressure that comes from internal and external influences working against one another. This piece is actually very bright and yellow. Unfortunately, the color did not capture so well.

Finished AC Motor. Here I wanted to talk about weighing decisions constantly -- looking at both sides in order to find the solution.

enginehead evolution

These next two paintings were the first I've done in this new style. I'm happy with the results so far.

Finished Sewing Machine. The sewing engine as it is represents the connecting and brining together of separate objects into a whole. A personality that is precise and collects things into a consistent whole.
Finished Chainsaw. This engine I chose to represent the drive to achieve at all cost and in all speed the task at hand. The easily bored and rather sloppy behavior that can come on as a task begins to drag.

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.

Painting Updates

Here are some updates from Painting ...

I really like how this one is coming out. To me, the water is almost there.

This one I really had to think about. Including designing the pump motor.

New Paintings

Here's an in progress picture of the "Boat Motor" or "Addiction" painting for Advanced Painting. It's part one of a diptych (the second painting will be "Windmills"). Each diptych will be two paintings, 36 x 36.

Thoughts?

Walking Line - Update

Wanted to go ahead and post an update. I knew there was an elephant in there, and I found it.

Studio Night at Mother Dog

Last night was the "Raining Cats and Dogs" show at Mother Dog Studios. So, I was up there working of course, and left the mingling to the artists that were finished with stuff. Have a show to get ready for, and I'm not driving 50 miles to just sit around. And here is a picture of the inspirational wall, which was uncovered when I removed the big wooden box that was taking up this wall of the studio. The paint was just cracking and falling off. I've left it for now since it looks so cool, and I know that John will want to take many excellent photos with it.

Work in Progress - Walking line

I've decided to call these kind of pieces "walking line" after hearing Paul Klee's work being described as "... a line taking a walk." I thought that described what I was doing here. I let the line just travel around and when it's done I find the image inside, by luck. So, I never know where these pieces are going to end up. I usually do this on paper while taking notes or sitting in a meeting, and for some reason find the technique difficult to translate into charcoal and paint on board. This was the third line I tried last night, the other two didn't have anything interesting in them. Right now my focus is on figures and animals, so the egg-beaters are left out for now.

Work in Progress

Two updates on this one (see original here). This picture is making me happy too, but the cell phone pictures are making me very sad.

Work in Progress

This image is very dark. Photographing in the studio with my cell phone isn't really working so well haha. I'm happy with the way the figure is shaping up (see original sketch here). There are a few stories trying to push there way into the piece. I'm going to have to pick one before I can tell you what it is that she's holding.

Work in Progress

The colors on this one make me very happy. In fact, I think when this is done, I'm going to hang it in my house. The charcoal sketch underneath was so solid that the paint washes aren't making a lot of change (which is good, I liked the sketch). However, now I have to be very careful not to create new sharp detail in a style that conflicts with the sketch. Of course, now I'm just worried about messing it up. Haha.

Work in Progress

Ok, this one does not resemble the model, maybe an elderly version haha. Still, I'm liking this piece a lot more since starting the paint (see original sketch here). I've been having good luck with the acrylic washes, and the colors are coming together nice. This is maybe a little over half done.

Postcards

These are pics of the postcards I'm submitting to the Elder Street Gallery show in October.

and in paint

This may come back again later, though not like this. Here's the painting based on the sketch. Sometimes I loose all detail on these 6 inch paintings :(.

Anyway, though no one may want it, I promised an explanation to go with the painting. To put it simply its about disconnected emotions. Disconnected in the fact that the target may not be something that you can attach directly to the emotion. Hence shadowy forms. The basic emotion (haha) we boil down to in this process is confusion.

Day One 08/13/2009

Here is a sketch for a portrait I will be working on as soon as the model gets here.

Day One Again

I'm trying to start it again. I've got lots of little pieces of masonite ready to go. For those that don't remember this belongs to my series of paintings all executed at one sitting. I'm going to try to do one a day during the week. Enjoy

Wednesday Night Life Drawing

Here are the pieces from Life Drawing tonight. I was kinda surprised how much I got done, and how many people turned out. It was a great night :)

Ah, crayons.

I think this was my favorite

I wanted to do more with this, but that's a hard pose to hold.

This was actually the first drawing of the night

I love the color and movement, needs a little more work though

This is just the beginning, but it was fun to be painting

I guess this one worked, the model took it home. :)

In Prep for new Collage Portrait

Here's a quick snapshot of the underpainting for my next collage portrait. Instead of magazines, I'm painting the collage. Below are some of the photos I took at the beach for the collage.

Worked in Studio today

I was hoping to get more accomplished today.  Continued working on the crayon technique.  Trying not to cover the drips to much.  It's starting to look decent.  You cant really tell from this pic (I have another I might upload later), but I was trying to fix the sky without painting over it.  On the far left you can see the "reverse-drips" that I tried.  Also, in the original crayon pieces the horizon line was mostly white (paper) so I thought I'd try that too.  It looks ok so far.  I want to capture some from the original pieces, but not lose the cool drips.