Evolution of the UNTITLED RED PANEL

I am very happy with my progress on this panel.
I corrected the proportions of the woman's arm.
Had a blast building movement under her blouse
and warmed up her skin tone quite a bit.  I was
on a roll, but then I noticed the time and had to
put away my brushes and pop on my Mommy Cap.
Maybe I'll finish this panel tomorrow.  Cross your fingers.

Ancient Elements: Modus Operandi

Ancient Elements, 36 x 36, Mixed Media, 2008

This piece was inspired by the Ancient Greek Esoteric Doctrine of the Elements.  The discovery of the four Elements is generally credited to Empedocles.  It is important to note that for Empedocles,  the Elements are more than just material substances.  He introduces them as Gods:  Zeus is Air, Hera is Earth,  Hades is Fire, Nestis (Persophone) is Water.  The relationship between the Elements is diagramed on what is known as the Elemental Square or the Square of Opposition.  I thought it would be interesting to explore this tenet by layering contemporary man made elements (acrylic paints, synthetic plasters & factory manufactured patterns) atop natural raw materials like cotton and wood.

Fuzzy Logic: Contemporary Painting After a Century of Abstract Art

 Fuzzy Logic Installation Photo                           

After a century of abstract painting, many contemporary painters (yours truly included) infuse overtly conceptual methodology with non-objective painting practices.  Fuzzy Logic examines non-representational art with conceptual, rule-based strategies.  I submitted works from my Lace Series and was honored when esteemed curator and gallery director, Todd Bartel invited me to be a part of this exciting exhibition. 

Sketching on the Beach

I love baby bonnets on the beach.  Isn't she lovely?  

Would you like to see a few more beach scenes?  Okay...

A Few of My Favorite Things

I am not in my studio this week.  I sure do miss my palette.  

Belated Thursday Post: Artists' of Minnieland Occoquan

The sun was shining and the scent of fresh cut grass filled the air as we made our way onto the Quad.  We stretched our arms and moved our bodies as if we were fully loaded paint brushes.  Then we familiarized ourselves with the brushes we would be painting with by drawing a variety of lines with water on the blacktop.

Their creative juices were FLOWING!   We headed back to the KIDS ZONE CLASSROOM and the young artists' were asked to choose a limited palette (three colors plus white) that represented how they were feeling that day.  They created expressive personal works that are surely going to be a treasure for years to come.

Thursday's Be-lated Post

I had the opportunity to work with 17 of the sweetest, most creative, and energetic kids from Minnieland Occoquan.  The above pictures are of the children painting assorted lines of varying weights with water on the Quad of the Workhouse.  I am demonstrating how to hold the brush in a painterly way to create very thin line.

After we practiced painting lines with water we hip & lipped it on back to the Kids Zone to create a painting using a limited palette (students chose three colors plus white) to depict how they were feeling that day.