Wishing for Monet's Garden

"Wishing for Monet's Garden," Acrylic on Board, 36x24"

Here's a last painting to the end the month.  My sister was traveling this summer and took some fantastic photos while visiting Monet's garden.  It made me long for a place where I could cultivate my own inspiration.  I like how this ended up looking almost like a Tiffany window - good light.

I'm off to NYC on Thursday to visit my sister and to refuel creatively by touring the galleries and museums.  I suspect that it won't make my work NYC-caliber 'edgy', but it may be give me some new ideas.

Figure Study

"Figure Study," conte on paper

The model showed up yesterday - hooray.  I like this one quite a bit.  Once I added the background elements, it really started to pop.  The model is amazing too.  She's ~70 (?), blind and absolutely gorgeous.

Head Study

"Head Study," conte on paper

My figure drawing class started up again today (hooray!), but unfortunately, the model did not show up.  In lieu of drawing the figure, the students took turns posing for a 15-minute portrait.  This is my favorite of the bunch.  Funny, but it seems like the more challenging I find the pose (odd angles, etc.), the better I like the end result.

Heat

"Heat," acrylic on board, 36x24"

This is a throwback to my tree/water series, but I like the composition.  Plus, I still need to line up some models to get reference for me new concept...

I made some bold color choices in the contrast of the warm trees/rocks with the cool water.   For me, it captures some of the feel of walking next to that water with its promise of relief from the heat on a 100+ Texas day.

Warming up for a new series...

"Teddy 9-14," Acrylic on Panel 10x8"

"Lila 9-14," Acrylic on Panel 10x8"

"Artist in Red Box" Acrylic on Panel 10x8"

I'm starting to think about a new series in which figures are 'contained' in the image plane as if they are in boxes.  All three of the images above are sketches and I'm using my family kids as guinea pigs to work out some of my ideas.    I like the painting of my daughter in particular, because you can see her future teenaged self.  In terms of where I'm going next however, I think the self portrait is more along the lines I want to pursue.  Now I need to get some real models!

Cycle in Blue

"Cycle in Blue," Acrylic on Panel, 30x40"

With this painting, I've finally captured some of what I want to say about the relationship between light, water, and foliage.   The downside of photographs is that they freeze time - removing all of the subtle motion that brings the view alive.  With the right brushwork, I think you can bring some of the life back into the scene.

Creek in Turquoise

"Creek in Turquoise," Acrylic on Board, 16x20"

I was down in Zilker Park the other day and the color of the creek there is gorgeous.  Expect to see more in this series.

Warmer

"Warmer," Acrylic on Board, 16x20"

The summer vacation is over, the kids are back in school and I am happily back in the studio.   I have some ideas for larger paintings, but today was about warming up.