Solitude...again

Solitude II

24"x30" Acrylic on Canvas

This is another painting that I completed in the Solitude series. There's still another that I'm working on and will post soon...probably tomorrow.

Solitude II is available on Ebay for a short time at low starting bid price of $199.00. Shipping is free within the continental US.

Getting Inspired Again!

Solitude

24"x24"

Acrylic

Being an artist can sometimes be a lonely job. Don't get me wrong, I certainly prefer being alone in my studio than working in an office cubicle or back in the classroom again. But, occasionally getting together for good food, great art talk and lots of laughs is just what the doctor ordered.

It was a real treat to get together recently with three of my artist friends for lunch at Kim Norris' lovely home. Her gardens and pottery studio are truly inspiring. These get-togethers are great opportunities for us to share lots of ideas on art and art marketing. I'm always impressed by the variety of work and extent of talent my friends possess. Nancy Medina's floral oil paintings are truly beautiful and Judy Mackey's little oil landscapes are absolute gems! I always feel artistically refreshed after our visits.

I started working on three paintings today and was able to complete Solitude. It measures 24"x24" on .75" deep gallery-wrap canvas. Metallic bronze and heavy texture accents make this a unique work. It is available for a short time on Ebay.

Grand Opening!

The big day has finally arrived! The grand opening of Art 251 is this Saturday, September 13.

If you are in the area, I hope you will stop in to visit the gallery, meet the artists and partake of some refreshment. I plan to be there between 2 to 4 pm and look forward to meeting you. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ike is also planning a visit this weekend but hopefully will not dampen our party or our spirits!

A New Gallery!

Prismatic

Acrylic

30" x 40" x 1.5"

Finally, there is a fine art gallery opening in the my area!

Art251, a contemporary gallery, will open it's doors on Tuesday, Aug. 13. The official grand opening is scheduled for next month. The owners, Mike and Kim Gerra, are devoted fans of local artists and have graciously invited me to show my work in their new space. I stopped in a couple of days ago to drop off three paintings and to take a sneak preview of the gallery. It is located in The Arthouse at Keller's Town Center. The vibrant turquoise floor, white walls and sleek furnishings signal to any visitor that this is no ordinary gallery. Mike and Kim are striving to make this an inviting space that will not intimidate the new visitor or turn away the experienced art collector.

As I toured the yet unfinished gallery, I was impressed with the caliber of work that was already accumulating on the walls and shelves. I instantly recognized the work of several of my art friends, Jean Storm, Kim Norris and Marla Cook. These amazingly talented artists, as well as the others I have not yet met, now have a unique place to showcase their art.

If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I hope you will take the opportunity to visit Art251. Prismatic, above, is available at the gallery.

Visit my website and Ebay for more original art.

Cosmic

Cosmic

30x30"x.75"

Acrylic on Canvas

I was able to spend the whole day in the studio today without any outside interruptions. The phone didn't ring, I didn't get inane "chain-letter" emails and there are enough groceries to get us through another day. What a treat!!

Of course, having the time available to paint isn't the only factor. The creative juices need to be running too. Some days I end up with a dud that needs to be recycled, but today things worked out well...at least I think so.

Cosmic is available on eBay. Hope you'll check it out as well as take a peek at my website.

A Winter's Tale...in June!

A Winter's Tale

30"x30"x.75"

Acrylic on Canvas

I started this painting a couple of days ago but things just weren't working out. I contemplated just gessoing the whole thing over and starting again. I layered diluted gesso to create a veil of white over some of the areas I wasn't happy with. This morning, as I studied the painting and prepared to do something with it, I decided to reinforce the light areas with a mixture of titan buff and raw umber. The painting started to come alive again and with some more tweaking and a couple of sprays from my water bottle, it was done.

Deciding on a title for the painting took more time than I expected. Most times, something just pops into my mind. This painting reminded me of a cold winter day. I pulled a copy of Shakespeare's works from my book shelf and just randomly opened it. There it was! A Winter's Tale!!!

I just listed the painting for sale on eBay with a starting price of $99.00 and a reserve of $275.00.

Check out my website for more original paintings.

Tomorrow's Dream

Tomorrow's Dream

30"x40"x1.5"

Acrylic on Canvas

Every once in a while things just click in the studio. That's what happened last week when I painted Tomorrow's Dream.

I started the painting by washing in the undercolors with a natural sponge. I glazed thin layers of color, diluted with Golden Glazing Liquid, over the base color and let each layer dry slightly before applying more glazes. With a slightly damp sponge, I started to create texture by subtracting color with the sponge. Several layers of glazes down the road and the painting was finished.

I listed the painting on eBay and was pleasantly surprised that someone met the reserve price of $325.00 almost as soon as it was listed.

Check out my website for more original paintings.