May 29, 2012 May 29, 2012

I am getting ready for the exhibition/competition season in the Indiana art world. I just got back seven paintings from my framer. I think they did a GREEEAAAT job.  They are very good at throwing out ideas and introducing me to new framing materials (Aspen Moulding in Indy – I would recommend them with a score of 100%!) Here is the whole group:

My current crop of paintings “ready to go”

The frames are wrapped to protect them. I leave the wrapping on until they’re delivered to their first show. A closer view:

Do they look like they’re marching forward?

I really love this silvery, gold finish. I find it very attractive and sophisticated but I occasionally have a painting that screams for a plain black frame. Another close up:

Two of these are heading for the Hoosier Salon Juried Show judging and five to a 3 artist show at the Hoosier Salon Gallery in Wabash, Idiana that opens in June. I love the way they look! I’m a proud parent…

May 27, 2012 May 27, 2012

Memorial Day weekend in Indianapolis and looking forward to great things today. First the race. The coverage has already started – right now the topic is the dedicated fans that spend the night camping at the gates waiting to claim their favorite spot. Later the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. It is an exhilarating experience but after four or five times attending I decided that was enough. Now I listen on the radio while planting flowers. Our family is getting together later in the day. I have the responsibility for the fried chicken. Ymm-o!

Here is my final work based on the trip to NYC. I did this painting after returning home. It started out as my latest experiment with Yupo but as I worked I began to think about walking the streets and subway stations of New York about the rough surface and the colorful bits of paper, about the wear and tear of daily life and all the traffic. I think that comes across in this little abstract.

Underfoot

This painting was done in watercolor on a quarter sheet of Yupo and has a little of everything in it. Multiple layers of paint, at least three collage layers, some pencil, some colored pencil, some charcoal, all topped off with a touch of dry brushed gesso. I must have my mind on food – sounds like a sundae!

 

May 24, 2012 May 25, 2012

This is my final sketch from my trip to New York City. I made this one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is graphite in my little Bee sketchbook. This sketchbook allows wet media but that is too much weight to lug around NYC – even using aquabrushes!

Temple of Dendur

This piece of history is displayed in a huge light filled room. I have barely hinted at the texture and carving in the huge old stones.

May 20, 2012 May 20, 2012

Another sketch from New York’s Central Park. This one is of the Belvedere looking across the Turtle Pond. This is an incredibly beautiful vista. I had to darken my original sketch.  It is amazing how light all of my sketches turned out. Bright sunlight definitely plays tricks with a person’s vision.

The Belvedere in Central Park

This is graphite in my 6″ X 9″ Bee sketch book.

May 16, 2012 May 17, 2012

This is the second sketch from my trip to New York City. I sketched this tower at the Belvedere  on Sunday morning. It was sunny and bright and the glare from the paper about blinded me. DUH! I was finally smart enough to move into the shade. I thought I had taken a photo of this but couldn’t find it so there is no comparision this time.

I sketched in pencil in the park but always had the intention to finish it in marker. I also added just a touch of watercolor to add soft background shapes and some texture to the stone walls.

May 14, 2012 May 15, 2012

I spent the last week in New York City immersing myself in art. Two whole days in the Met and visited the Frick Collection, the Whitney, the Cloisters and the Asian Institute. Can you imagine – 8 – count them! – 8 Vermeers and Rembrandts in less than 2 days. I was in heaven. We stayed on Times Square and also visited Ground Zero and the Lady herself (Ms Liberty). All this embellished by great food, the NYC Ballet and the Book of Mormon. Great week…

I was lucky enough to have about 3 hours to sketch in Central Park on Sunday morning. I did one sketch in the room earlier in the week. I will post my Central Park sketches later but here is Times Square from the room. First a photo.

Times Square

Then the sketch.

Times Square Sketch

Done with watercolor and markers. Oh yes – add MOMA to the list. I’m overwhelmed…