Exibit in Roanoke, VA

I recently traveled to Roanoke, VA to install an exhibit of my work at Gallerie Francois II. I had not been to Roanoke before and was pleasantly surprised to find a very nice section of galleries and cafes, along with a gem of an art museum, downtown near Galerie Francois. The official opening is not until April 6 during the First Friday gallery walk. We installed the show early because of scheduling issues. I have to thank fellow artist and friend Helene Steene, also from Lexington, who introduced me to the gallery and helped hang the show. She has some beautiful pieces hanging in the gallery as well. And of course, much gratitude goes to Francois Tor, for giving me the opportunity to exhibit in his gallery.
Galerie Francois II
133 Campbell Ave SW
Roanoke, VA 24016
540-561-0925

Share

Outside My Window

Fresh from the oven, 23" x 24" acrylic, Tyvek pastel and mixed media on panel. No tile yet - although the title of this post is a good candidate.

I've been trying to paint more from personal everyday experience. All the Humming Birds have arisen from an "encounter" I had last summer. It all turned out OK, if a little startling. I was watching one from my doorway when it turned and zoomed, in three short spurts, to within about four feet of my face. We both paused for about 10 long seconds, then he was off. Makes you wonder - which is kind of a main point of my paintings. The Passion Flower Vine grows on the fence behind the Scarlet Sage the bird was sipping.

Share

notBIG

"Sage: Variation 2"

"Bridge Beneath The Moon"

I'm pleased to have two pieces in this show at the M S Rezny Studio/Gallery, 903 Manchester Street, Lexington, KY. Dates are January 9th - February 3rd, 2012. The exhibit is definitely worth seeing.

Photos of the Gallery and pieces can be seen here 

Quoting the the exhibit statement:

"The juried exhibit, notBIG a small art competition, features works in any media that is no than larger than 12 inches in any direction. Jack Girard, a professor of Art at Transylvania University, served as juror. notBIG generated 381 submissions from 112 artists, spanning 32 states and 8 countries. Girard selected 62 works for the exhibit.
Girard believes that, 'the works here represent current trends in some arenas of picture/object-making... I think we have here a dense, exciting, and intense exhibition of real gems-first-rate works that insist on a rather intimate relationship between artist and viewer.... These are small works and there are a lot of them, but they are nonetheless monumental in conceptual and emotive power.'"

Share

Owensboro Museum of Fine Art

 "Water Garden 1"
Acrylic, Tyvek, and pastel on panel
39.5" x 36"

I am fortunate to have this painting included in the exhibit “River Country 2011”, at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art in Owensboro, Kentucky. The dates are Dec. 2 - 31.

This is a national juried competition sponsored by Owensboro Medical Health System to acquire works of art for the hospital’s new regional medical facility.

From over 700 entries, 60 works were selected for exhibition by juror, Peter Morrin, Director Emeritus, JB Speed Art Museum, Louisville.

Share

Recent Work

I've been doing a lot of birds lately. I'm moving toward including more representational elements in larger mostly abstract work, but I'm enjoying these small studies on their own. They bring together several techniques I've been trying to combine for awhile. All are 12 x 12 in. wood panels.

 

 

Share

Looking and Drawing

I've been drawing more (and posting less) lately. I'm still looking for a way to combine some of the techniques I've used in the past into a new synthesis. Creativity, in my opinion, is not really about making anything new - all the elements and principles and potentials are already in place. But as we explore new ways of relating and perceiving we create an inner experience of both cause and effect. We just happen to leave bits of physical evidence here and there.

But that is getting beyond the subject of this post. All this searching I've been doing has put a serious crimp in my painting productivity. So I'm looking to drawing to get back in the flow. Drawing is a great way to focus your attention outside of yourself.

This drawing was done with sumi ink using crude split-reed brushes and pens that I make from dried grasses and bamboo. Broader washes are done with a traditional Chinese calligraphy brush. It's one of my favorite techniques. I love the unpredictability. And I think crows are pretty cool too. The second version is digitally colored and composited with part of an old painting for the background.

Some of my ink drawing tools

Share

Changes

Winter Water #1
This is not an entirely new piece but I have made changes in the upper right corner and feel it is much stronger now. You can see the previous version a couple of posts back.
I am searching for a direction to create a new body of work. This is very close to where I want to go next. I would still like to incorporate more representational elements though. The challenge is to successfully integrate the grid structure and abstract patterns and gestures with recognizable figures and objects. My intention is to create dreamlike experiences that can be summoned at will for personal reflection or the simple enjoyment of exploration.

Share