PORTFOLIO

Weather

I’m like a moth at a flame when it comes to weather.  I know it can snuff me out and never notice me.  As a sailor I weigh fear and love, I come up with respect and awe.  As an artist I can’t make myself paint a puffy white little cloud.  It’s got to have a rough edge to it or have the potential for evil or maybe it just finished it’s ugly work.  Maybe when it comes to it I’m just a drama junky but a big nasty weather system boiling in on the horizon makes for a painting with real punch.  I took these shots today while standing on the cliffs of the mountain I live on.  I am at 2,000 feet and the front is just above me, I can almost touch it and often can do just that.  It developed very fast and these shots were taken over no more than ten minutes.  It ends with a small twister briefly touching down on Lookout Mt in the distance.  Why would I post pictures on my studio blog?  This is natures art and I’m hooked .

Atlanta Show

I just finished the last couple paintings for the Atlanta Show at the Bank of America building downtown.    The show was on then off then on then off right up until the last second.  I went so long thinking it wasn’t going to happen and not painting for it and then there it was staring me in the face and saying where are the paintings for the show?  It was like I was working for the newspaper again.  They would call me at home during the morning news meeting and say something like we need a portrait of Jimmy Hoffa in an hour and a half.  I learned to draw at stop lights on my way in.  Deadline stress, I used to thrive on the stuff but, no more. 

“Bugatti” 30×48 acrylic didn’t make it into the show because I destroyed the frame at the last minute.

“Red Boat” 30×30 acrylic is a sister piece to Red Hat done several months ago                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Red Hat

At Your Own Risk 20×36 acrylic

Proper Skiff  16×20 acrylic

The rest of the pieces in the show are all marine subjects.

Paint Chemistry

Ask almost any artist what the basic make up of paint is and they will tell you; Pigment, vehicle and binder.   I talked to a student today and was asked how long it would take to find their style.  The answer is, as soon as you start painting what’s really inside.  I see so many young artist that are so wrapped up in technical aspects and being new and on the edge that they forget to add the most important element to their paint, EMOTION.  It’s the 4th part of paint and the most basic.

While I’m Working On New Stuff

I thought I would post some old things while I work on finishing newer work.  This piece is

of the Bodie Island light from the sound side.  It is acrylic on panel 3×5.  It is sold.

Sculpture

If I could, I would do almost no painting and instead I would sculpt all day.  Painting and drawing involves so much illusion while sculpture is direct, no BS, it is what it is.  The problem is that the expense of casting in metal is more than any of my clients want to pay.  This piece will be cold cast, much less expensive.  It is close to being done and when I cast it I will post the results.

Portrait of Dee

I have been doing a lot more portrait work in the past few years.  I normally do mostly marine subject matter.   I have welcomed the portrait commissions

This piece is acrylic on panel.  I enjoy the challenge of working a portrait in acrylic instead of the oil.  With very little blending time it keeps me on my toes.

New Work Coming

I’ve been working to get a Sept show done while at the same time getting a house on the market.  I had too many balls in the air at once for too long.  I can see it in my current work.  I will be posting current stuff soon. (before Sept I hope)  This piece is the last thing I think I’ve done that wasn’t stressed.  It is sold.

Working Alone

I guess what I am really doing here is opening up my studio and my thoughts about the business of art to the world. My first thought should be to run. But the need to interact with others on the same path is just too strong. I will lay it out there and I hope to get some of the same coming back.

ISM’s

Realist, that’s what most people see when they look at my work. They recognize the subject so it can’t be abstract in all of it’s forms. What bothers me is the need to attach an “ism” to it at all. Why do we care about the names, the labels, the words. When I look at a piece there are no words in my head at all. It effects me, that’s it. A works effect on the observer is all there is. When we start in with the explanations and labels we have started using words again and they are only needed when the artwork is lacking. The piece itself should have already told you everything…without speaking a word.
As soon as I put my work in a category I make it harder to change. If I call myself a realist then how do I load shotgun shells with paint and blast away at a canvas when I want to… realist don’t do that do they. No name is real artistic freedom. What kind of art do I do? Whatever is in me that wants to come out. Maybe I should call it Whateverisinmethatwantstocomeoutism and keep everybody happy.