Postcards of Portugal - 1

Jon and I spent ten days in Portugal last March.  Our trip included Lisbon and three towns on the southern coast: Tavira, Albufeira, and Lagos.  I brought my sketch book on the trip but, ended up with more photos & writing than sketches.  

Thinking back on days of travel when we use to send postcards home, and in the interest of creating a stronger discipline around drawing and painting, I am inspired to create postcard size paintings of our travels.  My goal is to complete 30 in 45 days.  

Here we go... Day one.  A hike along the Algarve's coast outside of Lagos in early March.  We couldn't have asked for better weather.   The temperature in the upper 60's F, bright sun, and crisp clear skies made for incredible light.  The contrast of the deep blue sky, aqua marine sea, and golden striated orange clay cliffs were a sight to behold.  Spirit lifting weather.  Spirit lifting landscape!

graphite sketch 5-1/2 x 8"

"Algarve's Coast", 7x5", oil on board

Puppy Love

Leon - initial sketch

Leon - process

Leon - oil on board, 12x16"

This sweet pea came into our lives in January at just two months old.  I've been blinded by his adorable presence ever since.  This painting is what I can best describe as a love note.  It took me just three days to complete and I had the most fun painting this piece than I've had painting in a long time.  I think it had to do with the subject.  Pure joy.

Sedona Red Rocks ~ Little Triptych

Sedona Red Rocks - 3, 8x8", oil on canvas

Here is the final painting on ferric oxide ground.  This was quick and so much fun to paint.  Inspiration from a natural red rock skyline in Sedona, AZ captured on a late winter afternoon.  Sunlight against the rocks is a beauty I will be chasing in art and life for years to come.  God willing.  Paint on!

Earth Tones: A Journey Toward Mixing My Own Paint

One of my great passions of exploration is on the subject of health: physical, cellular, ethereal, earthly.  I cannot get enough information.  A subject that has come to light for me in the past few years is electromagnetic fields (EMFs).  You can google yourself into a rabbit hole on this one, but I will say I have meet people who sincerely express and exhibit dis-ease as a result of electrical pollution exposure.  There is a LOT of information on the sources and negative aspects of man made electromagnetic fields, but like all things there are two sides.  In a dualistic world the best resource in the search for balance is nature.

This brings me to Ferric Oxide (Fe2O3).  My understanding from basic chemistry is that Fe2O3 is an oxidized iron or 'rust'.  It turns out, it is so much more than the rust of an old Schwinn that was left in the rain.  Fe2O3 is also called 'Jewelers Rouge' and is used to clean gold, silver, and other precious metals.  It is an inorganic compound found in the rocks in Sedona, Arizona and apparently, it helps protect or balance the electrical fields in and around people.  How exactly?  Well, here's another great google afternoon: Schumann Resonances and Scalar Energy.  I'm not sure the extent of it's efficacy, but it's not harmful and as it turns out, artists have been using it in paint for centuries.  So has begun my journey into mixing paints.  For me, it's a whole new exciting world of blending art and geology.

My first run - I didn't make a paint exactly, but a gesso ground for a painting.  This is what I used: Clear gesso and pure powder of Ferric Oxide (with a wee bit of water to dilute).

Clear Gesso mixed with Ferric Oxide onto three 8x8" canvas.

The resulting color was absolutely vibrant!  I could not accurately capture the radiant color for the screen (that's another push to get out and see art in person).  Next I will try mixing this with my medium of choice, linseed oil and see how it differs as a paint vs a gesso ground.  This experiment drives me to try other natural grounds and possibly trying tempera painting.  One material of particular interest is mica which is abundant here in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Happy new year and all the new possibilities it brings to you.  Paint on!

Looking Up - Key West

Two Palms, 24x36", oil on canvas

There are sounds, colors, smells that can transport you to a place.  Sit and listen to the wrestling of palm fronds.  Look up to the illuminated chlorophyll against a bright island sky.  Take in the smells of salt, sand, and street food.  Key West, baby.  Don't you want to go?

Island Iguana

Island Iguana, 5x5", oil on board

"Got grapes?", were words formulated from a loud stare.  While picnicking on a Caribbean island, it's good to pack a little extra for surprise guests.

Now with a full belly he whispers, "Iguana come home with you". 

This guy will be part of my art show, Seaside::Poolside.

Honduran Hatter

Honduran Hatter, 6x6", oil on board

What do you do when you wake up at 5am on a cold, rainy winter's day?  Go to the Caribbean of course.  On the beaches of Roatan you will find crystal clear turquoise water, bright sun, and warm sand.  While you're there why not buy a banana leaf hat from this gentleman?  He might even sing you a tune.

This painting will be part of an up coming join exhibition with Asheville artist Moni Hill titled, "Seaside::Poolside" in Asheville, NC January 15 - March 8, 2015. 

"Hotel Pool with Jr."

5 x 5" 

oil on panel

Yep we're all guilty of it: taking a dip in the pool when there's a perfectly good ocean steps away.  None the less, the light and colors of the water are the same amount of delicious.

Happy Halloween

"Beach Side Pier", 10 x 9.5", oil on board

I painted this from a photo I had taken after hurricane Sandy & the 'frankenstorm' that hit NC Outer Banks two years ago.   I had drawn this onto a board then, but just got around to painting it this week - spooky.  I've started a series of small seaside themed paintings in preparation for a show this January in Asheville, NC.   More details on January's show in the coming weeks, in the mean time I'll be sharing some new work.... and painting on.

Dona Juana Be Here?

15-3/4"x9-3/4", Oil on Board

Nothing better than on a cold rainy day to take off to the Caribbean... with my painting anyway.  This was done from a photo I had taken on a small island off of the main island of Roatan.  Something about the way the color, light and shadows bounce in and off the water was mesmerizing enough to take me back there for the day.  I can almost hear the waves lapping ashore.

Live Oak Allee - Graphite Study

Graphite Study for Live Oak Allee

Back to in the studio & it feels good.  Above is a sketch for 'Live Oak Allee', a commissioned painting.  It was a bit of a struggle getting the composition balanced or to a place where I felt it was interesting.  I think I struggled because my paintings typically focus on the tree as subject and this is more about the path.  A fun challenge I must say.  Paint on.