LOOK MA!

No trees, no barns, no fence posts, and no barbed wire!! Just another sky, horizon, and foreground.

I have learned a great deal from these small paintings, and plan on working on a larger scale after I've finished preparing for, and celebrating, our 7th anniversary event.


Dawn...watercolor...4x7"

The sky was done with Alizarin Crimson, Cobalt Blue, and Raw Sienna. I like this combo for the sunrise effect it creates.

7 AT 5

In two weeks I will be hosting a reception at Gallery 5 celebrating seven years in Paducah. The theme of the show will be the evolution of my art during those seven years. I am frequently asked why I came to Paducah and if I have any regrets with the decision to move here.

I moved to Paducah to be part of the city's Artist Relocation Program which held for me the hope of a wonderful place to live and work. Regarding a place to live, I cannot imagine a warmer, friendlier neighborhood than Lowertown, and the community of Paducah and its citizens. I have not, for one moment, been disappointed in this move.

Living and working in a community of artists has been more than I imagined it would be. The sharing, nurturing, and encouragement of colleagues has played a critical role in my development as an artist. I do not think my work would be what it is today if I had remained living in relative isolation on our Maryland farm. The artwork being produced in our community is as varied as the personalities and aspirations of the artists themselves. The lessons I have learned are not so much about materials and technique but about attitudes and commitment to art, and the respect for excellence in all of our endeavors. It doesn’t matter if the art is abstract, conceptual, or representational; what matters is the artist’s commitment to the work.

My personal goal has always been to create the best art that I am capable of creating. In Paducah I have learned that this is a goal that will always be just out of reach, for there is always room for growth.

If you are in the neighborhood on Friday, the 13th of November between 5 and 8 PM, join the celebration at Gallery 5 at 803 Madison St.

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

before I painted another barn! I avoided the barn thing for as long as I could, but yesterday my will collapsed and I gave in to the urge, consoling myself that it was only a very small barn.


Forlorn.....watercolor.....6x9"

OIL PASTEL

While clearing & cleaning in preparation for next months show I came across this small oil pastel, probably dating back to 2006 or 2007. It measures 5x6" and therefore qualifies for my "small works" file.


Planetary Oil pastel 5x6"

A NEW DAY,

a new painting appropriately called...A New Day


watercolor 7x9"

THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO SAY,

at least that I can think of, about these small sketches. I suppose that one day I'll simply stop, but until then...I just keep painting. The thrill has not yet dampened. Maybe its because they take up so little room in my already overcrowded studio/gallery.
I think tomorrow I will post some pics to make this point. But, in the meantime, here is a 4x6 watercolor pulled from the files of my imagination.



I read in one of my books that Cobalt blue and Aurealen Yellow can be combined in wet washes on paper, and because of the characteristics of their pigments, they will not become so green.

FRESH PRODUCE

I love these produce markets with all their colorful wares and awnings. This small sketch is from memory/imagination, easy to do after painting as many as I have.


Fresh Produce watercolor 4x7"

Here are 2 paintings from my days in Wilmington Delaware, when King St. was still home to the meat and produce markets. they were painted in the early 80's.

THE GRAY DAY OUTSIDE

led to a gray painting inside. Sticking with favorite themes, big sky, low horizon, and contrasting values, I came up with this small painting, based on memories of the southwest landscape.


Gray SW landscape watercolor 4x6"

WESTERN KENTUCKY

has some wonderful countryside. Several years ago a day trip with car & camera brought me through nearby Livingston county where it borders the Ohio river. I have been mining the photos I took since then for an endless number of paintings.

This 5x9 watercolor is from on of those pics. It was done with Cobalt Blue, Burnt Siena, and Sepia, with a touch of viridian green in the bottom foreground.

TUSCANY IN PROGRESS

As these pics will show, I prefer to paint from the background forward, even if it means significant areas of the canvas remain blank. Today I worked on the architecture and am not satisfied with the colors; they don't capture the patina of age. I'll work on correcting that and completing all but the small details, before moving forward toward the foreground.




I'm painting with acrylic on a 24x48" wood panel

TWO WORKS IN PROGRESS

There is not much to see yet, but it is a start. The paintings are being done from photos from our time in Tuscany. The smaller one is from a photo my photographer son-in-law Bob took in Siena, the larger one is from photos we took over looking the village/winery of Fonterutoli where we stayed for one week. It is in the heart of Tuscany on the Chianti highway between Florence and Siena.

I will keep you posted on my progress, which I suspect will be a bit on the slow side.

IT'S BACK TO WORK

after a brief one and a half day trip to Lousiville. As I promised myself, I have begun working on 2 acrylics, one 24x24" and one 24x48". Both will be scenes from last years Italian journey. Too soon to have anything to show you, but I do have to Clay mono types that I am adding to my collection of miniatures. Neither have a title.


7x4.5"


6x5"

SALMON SKY

It seems appropriate to follow Summer Squall with Salmon Sky if only because of the alliteration.


Salmon Sky watercolor 5x8"

SUMMER SQUALL

I wonder where the name squall came from? Try saying squall over and over and you realize what a strange sound it is. Why am I writing this...it's nonsense.

Be that as it may, Summer Squall is the name of my latest small (small squall?) watercolor landscape. It measures 6x8 inches.

The colors used were: Cobalt and Prussian blue, Burnt sienna, and Alizarin crimson.

DOING MY BEST TO...

loosen up! Leaving behind the urban streetscapes, I've turned to these rural landscapes using a limited palette and working wet in wet. My hope is that I will eventually be able to take a similar approach with architectural and urban scenes.


East of Paducah wc 5x8

This painting was done with varying mixtures of Cobalt blue, Raw Sienna, and Alizarin Crimson. At the very end a small amount of Cadmium Yellow was touched to the edge of the horizon.


Summer Day wc 4x6

Viridian Green, Ultramarine Blue, and Raw Sienna were the only colors used in Summer Day.

MY VALIUM

I admit it. I was anxious today, waiting for the opening reception of our exhibit at 5 PM today. My therapy was to paint these 2 small wc landscapes.


Through a screen of trees wc 5x5"


Distant Hill wc 6x7"

FIVE AND OUT!

Finally finished...the last of the Paducah streetscapes. My original intention was to do 8 paintings, but after almost 10 months of the project I'm ready for a break. The remaining 3 pieces? Maybe later than sooner. Here they are in all their glory (after all this work I'm entitled to saying that.)

Each painting is aproximately 16x60"


Broadway north side 2nd t0 3rd


Market Sq. west


Market Sq. east


Broadway 4th to 5th


Broadway south side 2nd to 3rd

RUMAGING IN THE FILE CABINET,

which I tend to do at times, usually when I'm not in the mood to do anything else, uncovered a series of drawings from 3 or 4 years ago. They were all done on clay mono types that had been printed on paper, rather than the non-woven synthetic fabric I usually use (trade name - Remay). I have always been rather fond of these, but it seems an affection shared by few others. I tell myself that some day I will give them a proper showing, but for now they are consigned to the drawer.


drawing #1 12x12


drawing #21 9x8


drawing #14 9x12


drawing #11 9x5

HOOKED ON BARBED WIRE

THUMBNAIL Not sure why but I remain fascinated by this image and just had to paint it again. I'm sure that I will return to it once more, sooner or later.;


Wired Down acrylic 5x5"

BEGINNINGS

The thumb nail


The finished product...Wired Down...acrylic...48x60"