DEEP PURPLE

After 3 aborted attempts I finally salvaged a painting out of this 8x8 canvas.

ALL I NEED IS PATIENCE

I've finally managed to stay away from the minis long enough to finish this 24x30 canvas.


"first" finished version...left me feeling a little conflicted. So once more I turned to my "go to" critic for an impression.


Winter fields acrylic 24x30

I don't know if you can appreciate the differences from the photos.

ONE DAY AT A TIME...ONE PAINTING AT A TIME

Oh the many dreams that filled my head when I navigated that journey from medicine to art. I was young (well...relative to my current age), fearless, brimming with confidence, and determined to establish myself as a successful artist/illustrator in spite of the absence of any formal training. My earliest work was naive, fresh, and devoted to subjects that other artists were ignoring, local markets, street scenes and architectural portraits of old local neighborhoods. Fortunately it proved to be very popular with the buying public (at very modest prices.), which only affirmed my confidence and enthusiasm. I was unafraid to embrace my destiny, and held closely aspirations and dreams of becoming a celebrated artist and illustrator, with national acclaim and comfortable commercial success. Thus armed, I painted my way through the early stages of my life as an artist.

As my facility with the medium grew, my interests and ambitions kept pace, and I began to expand the scope of my work. Urban landscaped and architecture began sharing space with rural landscapes, barns, and experimentation with abstration.. The economy in the late 1980s was flourishing, and I was selling my art almost as fast as I could create it, which continued to fuel my growing aspirations; my paintings would be on the cover of the New Yorker magazine, galleries in Philadelphia would represent me (I did have my work with 2 different galleries in Philadelphia for several years), and I would become a celebrated artist. So I continued to paint with unbridled enthusiasm through the economic boom with visions of an unlimited future.

The changes and transformations have been gradual and subtle. The work has evolved as my motivation and the range of interest in media and process has expanded. At the same time my fervor for major recognition and gallery representation has receded, and my aspirations more modest; There has been continued commercial success, though somewhat moderated by the current economy, and I do have my work in several out of town galleries, including the long established Sande Webster Gallery in Philadelphia. There is no doubt in my mind that the seven years I have been in Paducah, and my exposure to the many accomplished artist here have had a major impact on my development as an artist. I am, at age 70, comfortable with myself and my art, confident in my work, and realistic about my limitations. I am no longer burdened by outsized goals and aspirations, having reduced them all to simple desires...to do the best work I am capable of doing and to learn all I can from each painting.

Just as becoming 70 has nudged me into thinking in terms of one day at a time, it also encourages me to live my art one painting at a time.

NEW MEXICO IN 5X7

Southwest Landscape acrylic 5x7"

I know. Yesterday I said I would get to work on the 24x30 canvas, but I could not avoid this little gem. I did take the wrap off of the canvas, and will definitely get to it today. Well, I'll probably get to it today, if not, tomorrow for sure. Right now I have another miniatures in progress. You know how that is.

MORE POTATO CHIPS

I have a few more recent miniatures to share with you. I really am trying to make my way to the larger canvas on the easel but without much success. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. In the meantime:


Summer Tree acrylic 10x8


Fall Tree acrylic 10x8

I'M HAVING FUN

with these little paintings. They are like potato chips, once you start you can't stop.


Livingston County landscape acrylic 8x8

MORE MINIATURES

These small works continue to intrigue me and offer a delightful diversion from the larger canvases. They are intended to be part of a 3 person show of small works that we will present this October at the Leaping Trout Gallery here in Paducah's Lowertown arts district.


Small Fall acrylic 6x6


High Plains in 4x4 inches acrylic

SAVED BY PATIENCE ONCE MORE

Once again my best, and favorite, critic came to my rescue. In my last post I explained my dissatisfaction with the most recent painting, and after several days of looking I finally called in the big guns. Patience took one look and said, "get rid of the road"! And I did, and I'm glad I did.


The Barn acrylic 30x40

With the road gone I was able to make a few adjustments in the foreground. The result...a much better painting.


The barn detail

Thanks Patience.

DERIVED

from the small painting, this 30x40 is finished, at least to the "I'll set it aside and look at for a while" stage.



My initial reaction is one of dissatisfaction. It does not capture the mood I wanted, and I'm disappointed in the sky...thinking it is too orange. But I'll give it a chance to convince me otherwise, and if it doesn't, I'll paint over it and start all over. One mistake I made was to spend too much time looking back at the smaller piece, not allowing this one to direct me.

LANDSCAPE IN PROGRESS

This piece is derived from the recent small painting I posted...


Tractor road 6x12"

I've taken a more abstract approach to the sky, but want to retain the same warm mood.
The canvas measures 30x40, and I find myself in no hurry to get it done, quite a contrast to the impatience that rules the rest of my life. Maybe it's a bellweather of changes ahead.