Graphite and watercolor

This looks to me like something done in the 1940's by someone else.  Ever had that experience?  Not too original I guess but I do like the colors.  It was done so long ago that I almost feel I could be objective about it!

Water media

20" x  36"

Watercolor and gouache on foam board.

Bold color

c. 20" x 24"/oil on canvas

Not too subtle.  Bright.  Loud.  Bold.  She appeals to me!

Making pictures

18" x 24"/pastel and charcoal on heavy Bee paper

Clearly there was thought put into this but as I look at it the calculations disappear from my memory.  I think that's a good sign that something ethereal, transient yet strong was involved in the process of assembly.  How lucky for me!  At least that's how I look at it.  Making pictures likely has something to do with trying to hold on to time or maybe more precisely to a moment....which is time, I know but when I think of "time" it is usually in chunks so I'm trying to differentiate, be precise.  Photographs can hold the future off or hold the past too I suppose but I don't often put a camera in my hand when picture making. Maybe it is something about it's precision...even if the image is manipulated and looks distorted, out of focus, untrue to reality or abstracted in some way.  The required calculations are made on a level of consciousness that as a mark maker I don't have to be involved with. Or so I'm thinking.  Maybe photographers have totally uncalibrated results, too? 
I wonder if the exercise of comparing hand rendered art to photographic art is worthwhile?  Certainly, I think, the immediacy of a gesture with charcoal, pencil or pastel in hand and the resulting mark(s) is different than the capture/impression of pixels...it seems almost that the difference is like a vacuum cleaner to a broom.  The camera sucks in all the available stuff; the broom is guided as it collects.  Interesting comment from someone who knows nothing about photography, huh?
I like trying to figure stuff out but maybe like some, try working at it with less than an adequate amount of information! 
I do know from looking at this piece that I got myself perfectly.  If the lens were pointed directly at me it couldn't have captured a better representation.

Nina's Nook Exhibit

18" x 24"/Charcoal and pastel

12" x 16"/Oil on board

The lower image is a view of a larger work on display at a local gallery exhibit of erotic art.  Not sure but I feel it is at the margins of what I understand to be erotic representation but none the less I was pleased it was chosen to be included in the collection of work produced by local painters, photographers and sculptors.
The venue is Nina's Nook, a unique space located at 125A Avenue A, Turners Falls, Mass. 01376.  Turners is just a quick jog off of Rt. 2 between Gill and Greenfield.  More about the exhibit, gallery hours, etc. can be found at www.ninasnook.com.
Above is one of several pieces on paper I did some time ago.

A feeling too rare; incentives

18" x 24"
charcoal/pastel/bee paper

These two images have, both of them, enlivened my picture making practice and I hope set me firmly on a path more consistent with my seemingly waxing and waning desire to make expressive pieces in the tradition of the modernist, expressionist painters I so admire.  The portrait/figure above was a short exercise recently undertaken and one I am entirely pleased with.  The photo I've posted isn't too bad, save for the visible clip; can't say that about the oil.  Sorry!

Oil on canvas
18" x 18"

The landscape is a representation of a beautiful view on property where we lived  for about ten years in Duxbury, Massachusetts beginning in about 1996.  I recently found a photo I'd taken sometime ago and was inspired to use the scene as the foundation for the piece.  I've started several others with reference to that property and some from recent photos of the area where I now live.

Newer drawing

18" x 24"
Charcoal and pastel on paper

Painting idea/drawing from Sunday

Pen and ink figure from Sunday; image above is an idea for a picture I'd like to do.....I think.

Heavy charcoal on Bee paper

Drawing with charcoal + gouache

Expressive

18" x 20"
Oil on canvas

Watercolor/gouache/charcoal figure

I did this in October and just got a good photograph of it to share.  Watercolor, gouache, charcoal on mat board.

Recent work/oil/charcoal

The volume of recent work posted here has been pretty slim lately.  But not for having anything to show, just too busy making it, slow getting it photographed and posted, pulled in another direction, etc.  So, over the next several weeks I will try putting something up here every day or so.

Bullit Reservation
12x12 oil on canvas

Oil Figure
12x12

Charcoal Figure
12x16

ArtSpace Exhibit Comes to an End

Our drawing group exhibit of work based on the figure comes to an end on November 18th.  One of the participants took this photo of the gallery and shared it with me the other day.  The framed piece to the left of center is my work.  Watercolor, charcoal, gouache and graphite.  It was great fun to participate; the opening reception an opportunity enjoy each other's work and learn from those attending how they saw and felt about the pieces on display.

The colors I like

Water color, charcoal, gouache; 14" x24"; detail.

Adult content!

So, maybe I should but the adult content warning page on this?

Charcoal and oil

While speaking with an artist acquaintance last week the subject of working in a series became part of our conversation.  For whatever reason I have chosen to work on individual pieces with a rather random, perhaps whimsical approach.  The fellow I was speaking with offered a suggestion that I think I might try to implement.  He offered that if I were to choose a subject and purchase a sufficient quantity of paper or canvas I'd have an easier time and an opportunity for efficiency in the work.  He offered that many gallery directors prefer to exhibit a series of related works.  That certainly sounded reasonable.  So, I think I am going to work on that.  Maybe I'll start with 25-30 or so sheets of exceptional paper, lots of really good charcoal and a few soft pastel sticks.  

Work in Progress

For me, a massive oil.  I keep looking and wondering if I can do it.  36" x 48"; maybe a half-dozen times to the canvas, including almost eight hours yesterday....and I'm absolutely unsure of where I am headed with it.  So far, not too frustrating.  Not sure about it but I'm "listening" and for the most part enjoying the search for balance and tempo.

Fairly fast ink figures

 

 

If I remember correctly, these were three to five minute sketches; done in 5" x 5" sketchbook.

Free time Thursday!

Life drawing "collection".