New things done in the last two weeks or so

"Ok, so I like to paint."

"Well, what kind of painting do you like to do?"

"Actually, whatever kind of painting I do when I am doing it!"

I think each picture is sort of an experiment in and of itself. Although my marks may have some common features from picture to picture I really see each piece as an adventure, an effort in fact, to pull out something new....maybe fewer gestures to reveal my impression of whatever the subject is? And at the same time I am learning the expressive language of the brush and combinations, juxtapositions of colors.

Sometimes I am looking at someone or something; on other occasions I reach into my imagination or assess the work as I am doing it looking for direction from the colors and lines. How wonderful!!

I don't think there is a "best" art-making situation or experience; the results vary regardless of the set-up, locatation, presence of another; what seems to matter is just the continuous "making", the effort to do it (effort is a synonym for pushing paint with brush). All anyone has to do is paint, if that is what they want to do. Me, I like to paint.

Floral-1998

I've been doing several floral pieces lately, reviving an interest in that subject I began years ago. Over the next week or so I'll post images of my progess.

2004-2011

If my memory is accurate I started working on this piece in 2004. I've moved it so often, from work-space to work-space, storage to studio, mishandled it, smudged it over and over and reworked it endlessly, so much so that it doesn't have much resemblence to what I started. If I could frame it, maybe I'd be done with it! Watercolor, charcoal, pastel, gouache; it's about 24" by 48". This image is a portion of the work.

Faces and figures

I like the way it sometimes feels that artwork can suspend time, but alas it really only records it. That's better actually because with time one can grow, positive change can occur, knowledge can be increased.

Recent figures

Each of these sketches was done quickly using watercolor and/or gouache and at least in one instance graphite. Something like three to five minute poses and the work was done on mat board.

When I look at them they strike me as efforts to order lines, curves and volumes. In that process there seems to be a dividend paid (at least it seems to me that one is paid!). Each piece seems to have a "weight", a certain personality, something projected or withheld by the subject which, again, it seems to me transcends the conscious effort to organize lines, volume, etc. Art making is exciting that way!

Austrian Nazi Victim's Heir to Get Klimt Painting from Salzburg's Modern Art Museum

Austrian Nazi Victim's Heir to Get Klimt Painting from Salzburg's Modern Art Museum

Ink figure