I SUPPOSE IT WAS INEVITABLE

That sooner or later this would happen… I would overcome my resistance and the horizon would disappear. It was not by design. I began the piece with the idea of completing this series of landscapes depicting large dramatic skies that overwhelm the horizon and foreground. With the exception of one painting with a few trees, the landscapes were barren, and the horizon became less distinct with each piece. But it was always there!...until now.


All sky...acrylic...16x40

As always, I completed the sky first, before attempting to define the horizon, but as soon as I finished I knew…There was no way I was going to interrupt the painting with anything else…even a horizon. (I can already hear H.T. saying, “I told you so”.)

Below you can see the transition as it unfold in each subsequent painting:



The lesson here? Never say never!

AM I FINISHED HERE?

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this latest series of paintings; the work has been relatively simple, but very satisfying. Although I have learned from them, and can see some evolution in the work, there remains the danger of languishing in a comfort zone. The question is, can I create more in this series without repeating myself? And the answer is...I don't know. I have no idea what happens next.

This piece is the last of the lot, and measures 16x40", a very pleasant size to work with.


Too Hot...acrylic...16x40

This next piece was created a few weeks ago, and yesterday I decided it needed some remodeling in the foreground.

Blue Landscape...original

Blue Landscape...re-worked...18x24

IN PRAISE OF THE HORIZON

OK...I admit I spend a lot of time in the studio reading, listening to music, and "resting" my eyes, all very important endeavors that allow me to stay fresh and on the cutting edge. Or at least an edge, even if it is a little dull. But I DO make time for painting, and offer as proof this latest piece in the series. With each one the horizon become less and less distinct, so why not get rid of it completely? Because I remain committed to creating a sense of place, and the horizon, however faint it may be, does that. Without it, the canvas becomes a mediocre abstraction.


Acrylic on canvas..24x30

Patience and I have been invited out to dinner tonight so the next pasta quest post will be tomorrow evening.

A SERIES IN PROGRESS

The recent painting, TURBULENT SKY, has since become the first of what has become a new series. The paintings all share the same technical approach in the rendering of the skies and foreground, with the focus on exploring the different uses of color and light and their effect on the horizon. It has taken a great deal of restraint on my part not to include barns and trees...I don't know how long that will last. Here are the 3 paintings completed to date.


Turbulent Sky...acrylic...24x48


Gold Landscape...acrylic...12x36


Blue Landscape...acrylic...18x24

The last 2 are on "re-cycled" canvases

SKY BABY

The title of this post is meaningless. I tried unsuccessfully to come up with an appropriate title but liked the way this sounded, even though it has nothing to do with this painting.


Dark skies...acrylic...24x24

BURY ME NOT

on the horizon! Looking at all of my paintings from the last 7 years it is obvious I have spent years there already. After every painting I tell myself, it is time to move on, to a different perspective, or composition, or subject, or ANYTHING, as long as it doesn't have a big sky and small foreground. So what am I doing now? Creating work for a show in March with the theme, The Horizon. To my credit, there are several paintings that have a small sky and a big foreground. (I'll take credit wherever I can find it.)

This latest piece is completed, or nearly completed, depending on how I feel after several days of viewing it on the easel. It is done on a 24x24 panel, over a previously "failed" self portrait. My apologies for the uninspired name.


Violet Sky