ALL OVER THE PLACE,

a phrase I often use to describe my work to visitors to my gallery. I greet all visitors by introducing myself and explaining that all ot the art in the gallery is mine, and I can see the disbelief and/or skepticism in their faces as they take in the wide range of art on the walls. On the left, they see this,


POWER PLANT MIXED MEDIA 18X36

on the right they see,


DARK FIELD OIL PASTEL 8X5"

and straight ahead they see,


COTTON WOODS ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 30X40 $2500

In addition, there are the watercolors, pastels, and clay mono types.


CLAY MONO TYPE


PASTEL


WATERCOLOR

I have posted before about this being a source of anxiety for me, especially when it comes to choosing what art I want to submit to galleries for their consideration. I have also questioned myself as to whether I would develope more skills and growth by narrowing my focus. But, in the end, I have chosen not to change, and I am pleased to say that my anxiety about all of this has lessened significantly. The more I work in the different mediums the more I appreciate how each evolves into a style of its own.

Underlying this issue is the elemental problem so many of us face, balancing the need to be true to our creative callings with the need to pay the bills and survive as artists.

I would appreciate hearing what others think about this and how you deal with these conflicts.

1-8-09

SELF PORTRAIT #4

This last piece reflects a childhood spent on a working farm, one with 10,000 egg laying chickens. We also had, at one time or another, a family cow, sheep, pigs, and one pony. But the chickens dominated everything. Eggs had to be collected 2 or 3 times daily and feed distributed twice a day. The hours spent cleaning four chicken coops at least once a year are stained into my memory. Needless to say, at least a part of my childhood was spent in a dusty gray-black environment. In spite of this, I would not change one minute of my time on that farm. For a small boy growing up it was heaven. I consider myself truly blessed by those years.


Self portrait #4 acrylic-collage 24x24 $1200


Self Portrait #4 detail


Self Portrait #4 detail

FROM THE ER

The next two "self portraits" reflect on my days as an emergency room physician, using images from my sketch book.


ER acrylic-collage 14x14 on canvas $400


ER detail


Chest pain acrylic-collage 12x12 $300


Chest pain detail

A LITTLE BIT LIKE POTATO CHIPS,

it was not possible to stop after one or two. After completing the first three "self portraits" I went on to do 4 more. The series has evolved into an exercise of creating art using graphic biographical material, as well as making a statement about my art. This is a departure from my usual work, and I'm not sure if I should offer an explaination for each piece. My inclination is not to do so, and let the viewer reach, or not reach, their own conclusions.


The Artist as a very young man acrylic-collage 12x12 $300

SELF PORTRAIT #3

acrylic-charcol on panel 24x24 $1200

ABOUT THESE SELF PORTRAITS

I have broadened the definition of the self portrait to include biographical and other personal characteristics beyond just the physical appearance that define who and what we are. To accomplish this I am using photos, old drawings and paintings, and other picture resources, and trying to incorporate them into a cohesive work of art. The intent is to "say something" about myself and my art. As might be expected, some results are more successful than others, at least to my eyes.


Self Portrait #2 acrylic-collage on panel 24x24 $1200

YOU NEVER KNOW

when an idea will strike. For me it is often in the middle of a shower, as it did several days ago. I have no idea where it came from, but suddenly there it was, clear and distinct...I would not do the acrylic triptych on the three 24x24 panels, but on the large 48x60 canvas that has been sitting patiently in the storage area for almost 6 months. But, before doing that I would begin a series of "self Portraits" on the 3 panels. Self portraits?? Where in the hell did this come from? In my 30 plus years of making art I have done only one self portrait over 15 years ago, and have not thought about it since. In any event, as many of you know, it is not wise to ignore the muses, so, for the past week I have been busy working on what I now think of as a series of biographical paintings. It will be fun to see where this takes me.

Here is my first effort, an acrylic-collage on a 24x24" hard wood panel. More will follow in the days ahead. (I have put the pastels away for awhile.)


Self Portrait #1 $`1200