UPTIGHT VS. LAID BACK

Big Red St. clay drawing...aprox 14x28:

Because my attention span is so short...I rarely spend more than 15-30 minutes at one time working on a painting or drawing...I like to have 2 or more works in progress at the same time so I can move from one to the other (between reading and napping of course). For the past several days these 2 works have served that purpose.

The clay drawing above was done on a clay print I pulled from the storage bin, originally printed 6 or 7 years ago. The more I looked at it the easier it became to see a street scene in it. I'm now considering the possibility of one or more distant buildings on the left side of the image.

At the same time, I've been tending to my more anal needs working on the 2 pieces below, one is finished, the other still a WIP.


Columns & Arches WIP...watercolor...8x28




Columns & Arches I watercolor...8x28"

I also managed this small piece...clay drawing aprox. 4x10"

FROM THE ER JOURNALS

the Bowtie

I thought I would stick to the ER for at least one more post. Although my art is entirely non-figurative, I have been drawn to faces and figures (no pun intended) when engrossed in the sketchbook, where most of the entries are not as frivolous as the "DOTS".
These sketches were done quickly, with the intent of capturing the mood of the subject, or the surroundings.


Where am I?

Officer Bill

Writing in the chart

DOTS...DOTS...AND MORE DOTS

Don't even think of asking why! As big John said, sometimes "a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do". In my case, it was being consumed by dots during the wee hours of the morning on the midnight shifts in the ER. That was a long time ago, and I can no longer remember how it began. What I do remember was the delight I experienced every time I came up with a new "application" for the dot.

RECENT CLAY DRAWINGS

Red Balloon in Parma...16x15

The drawings will speak for themselves.


Ferrara


Dinning out


One of Many

WILLIAM RENZULLI MILLER

Patience and I have had the delightful pleasure of spending the last 5 days with our 9 year old grandson, William. He flew, unaccompanied by parents, from Chicago to Paducah last Wednesday, and returned home yesterday. He spent time with me in the studio...he loves to draw...he and I saw the Sorcerer's Apprentice Monday afternoon...and he spent time with Patience walking the dogs and learning how to take Swede William, our Whippet from Sweden, through an agility course. But for me, the highlight of the visit was the afternoon he and I made pasta.

It began ominously when I forgot he 3rd egg and the dough was a horrific lumpy mess; I almost abandoned it, but decided I could still add the needed egg, which we did. After some unrelenting kneading, we eventually ended up with what we thought was an acceptable ball of dough.



It survived William's efforts to carve his initials in it and eventually found its way through our hand cranked pasta machine.



Needless to say, the pasta was delicious, served with a sausage-tomato sauce...we even had enough for lunch the next day.


William's clay drawing

ANOTHER DAY WITH CLAY

Formaggiore

The drawings appear to be leaving the studio as quickly as I make them...that is not a complaint. I'm delighted that others are enjoying them as much as I enjoy creating them.


Two Paducah Eateries...


Max's

GALLERY 5 NEWSLETTER

Last fall I began an e-newsletter which I sent to the gallery's mailing list. Initially my goal was to sell art. The letters, with a brief narrative, contained 2 or 3 images of small, modestly priced paintings ($100.00 or less) and were sent weekly throughout the holiday season. In the process I realized I enjoyed writing the letters, and the feedback I received was very positive, as a result I have continued the letters at a rate of one or two a month. I still send images of new work, and of course would like to sell them, but sales are no longer the primary goal (believe that I have a bridge to sell you). That has now been expanded to include the joy and satisfaction of staying in touch with friends, family, and the many wonderful folks who have visited Gallery 5. Obviously I lack enough humility to think that all of the recipients share that same joy and satisfaction. They have been encouraged not to tell me if they don’t.

I do my best to keep the letters brief, informative, and entertaining, focussing on my activities in the studio and gallery. This fall I will resume the weekly letters with small artwork, all priced at $100.00 or less, perhaps with a few exceptions.

If you would like to be on my mailing list please contact me by email, commenting on this post, or via facebook.

CASTELLO ESTENSE...FINISHED

Castello Estense...watercolor...18x27'

Unless I discover a detail or two that I've missed, this painting is finished and I can now move on to my next large painting. Only one problem...I don't know yet what that will be. But I can't let a little detail like that stop me!

BILLY'S BEEN A BUSY BOY

Via Clavature...watercolor on 300lb cold press paper...aprox. 12x6"

There is more to life than clay drawings...there is watercolor! The photo above is one I recently completed of an old but busy street in Bologna.

Below is the 9th installment of the Castello Estense. The next time I post will be the 10th and final stage of the painting.

MORE CLAY DRAWINGS

Imagine...clay drawing....5x7"

It's like eating potato chips...once started I can't stop. Sooner or later I will, but until then I am thoroughly enjoying myself with doing these drawings. Here are a few recent creations:


Bologna Street #4...12x24"

Graffiti...clay drawing...6x14"

Roofs...clay drawing...7x11"

CASTELLO ESTENSE…PART 8

It may seem like I am purposely dragging out the work on the Castle...but I'm really not. It is simply the result of my work habits...I go to the studio and the first thing I do is sit down (with my feet up) and read whatever book I'm into (currently it's Dan Brown's THE LOST SYMBOL). After 5 or 6 pages I put the book down and walk over to the Castle and paint for 10 or 15 minutes, long enough to complete a small section or detail. From there I'll move over to another work top and work on a clay drawing or a small watercolor. After 15-20 minutes I'll take up another task, or go back to my book. Somewhere in between all the stops I may close my eyes and nap for 15 minutes. And I will spend an afternoon repeating this cycle, perhaps starting up a new painting or clay drawing. If there is a rhyme or reason to all of this, it is unknown to me...it just is.

I've been working exclusively with watercolor and clay for several weeks, but one of these days...maybe today...I'll get started on the 24x24" canvas that I've been looking at all this time.

CASTELLO & CLAY...

Sounds more like a boxing match...and in this corner...Castello Estense, part 7 versus a team of clay drawings. I know...it's kinda weak. But cut me some slack, it's too damn hot and my ac doesn't do a great job in the studio when the temps climb into the 90s.
However, I am a tiger and in spite of the heat I continue to plod along in the studio, painting, drawing, reading, and occasionally, napping. And this is what I have to show for my labors.


The castle is beginning to take shape with the added details.

They may not be a team, but here are a few of the new clay drawings, all depicting Bologna streetscapes as I remember and imagine them.

CASTELLO ESTENSE…PART 6

Moving along with this painting...slowly but surely...it is now sharing my time with the clay printing. Since my last post I have corrected the area on the left that bothered me, and have begun to work on the roofing. The next step will be the windows and shadows.

CLAY...WHAT?

I don't know what to call these pieces...enhanced clay mono types? Whatever they might be called, here are 2 more, the result of today's efforts. Each piece measures approximately 10x4". The clay print was the first stage, then line was added with markers and pen.