Stars

Starbursts of blue on tall stalks greeted me as I entered my cottage. Each time I opened the door the sudden gust of air would cause the flowerheads to collide and jostle each other. As the days passed some could no longer hold on to their lifeline, and they dropped, in despair, to the tabletop. I would sweep them away.

When it became obvious that there was little life left in the remaining blue stars, I gathered them together and laid them gently as decorating a grave, in my own tiny grassed garden. There they laid, and my last backward glance appreciated the symmetry of the prostrate stems.

Next there were only blue stars, carried off by rainforest mist, some ground into indigo pulp on the tiled sidewalk leading away.

Inspiration of the Day: blue

Caribbean Blue

60" x 30", acrylic on canvas

I have finished the large abstract painting I've been working on the past few days. Next step is getting a transparency made and scanned, so I can print this as a three piece giclee, twice this size.

My next project is in California, and I've been gathering and submitting images for that since yesterday. Also on my schedule is more work for a hotel in Arlington, TX with an unfortunately small budget for public spaces. I'll probably do giclees for that, too.

I took a time out Saturday, and didn't work at all. Spent an hour in the gym in the morning, then went to the Fort Worth Stock Show and the rodeo. I haven't been to one in years, and it was a real hoot. Fast paced excitement that's for sure! I did take my camera, since I couldn't pass up the chance to take cowboy photos. See my photoblog for a shot of the bull riding.

More New Things

Glorieta TC, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48

Gloriete TC, detail

Back in the electronics category I had to replace my keyboard and mouse yesterday. See? Once you start upgrading electronics....

I bought one of those ergonomic models, and now I have to learn how to type again, jeeez!

I had forgotten how much I love the Glorieta series of abstract paintings. Spent the whole day in the studio yesterday working on the painting shown above for Texas Clinic. I had such a good time that I stopped and stretched a new canvas so I can paint another one for my solo show in October. I keep forgetting about that show, and that's dangerous since I'm slated for 13 paintings. I'm feeling the pressure, believe me.

I'm getting another opportunity to place paintings, and/or photography at the Ritz. My gallery called yesterday asking for anything I might have in the right color palette for the Spa (which got a big write up in the newspaper recently). I'm submitting today. It's another fast turnaround since the hotel is now opened.

Shaping up to be another busy day.

Blue Forest

"Blue Forest" 16 x 24

Paintings always look different when you walk away and return. Blue Forest is no exception. I painted it very fast, in Mendocino. Then when I took it out of the shipping carton yesterday I spent a few more hours on it, thought it was finished. Got the brushes out again this morning, and noticed that it's time to walk away. Now that I look at it here, there's a few things I want to fix. Aha! Another never-ending painting!

About eight years ago I did a series of still lifes that started with wrinkled tissue paper varnished onto watercolor paper. It provided a nice texture. This was one of those paintings, well, just a start, really. It had the tissue and a background color and that's it. So this practically painted itself in the beginning, since I used folds of the tissue as the tree trunks and limbs. The rest was basically negative painting. Now I've added additional colors, more trees, and a better composition, although not great. I probably should put it away and get back to commissions. I'm starting to obsess.
This is a photo of one of the sheep that lived at the place we stayed in Mendocino,CA. One of three. Sweet!

Feeling Blue

For some time now I have had a love affair with the color blue, reinforced by the design industry which is currently embracing all hues. My paintings from Mendocino arrived, with a lovely blue forest painting. Once I saw it in my own studio I had to get my brushes out again -- to perfect it. I'll photograph it tomorrow and post it for comments.

Also in the box were several more blue paintings. I was working with a three color combination from a color wheel, and although I kept trying different combinations, my brushes kept picking up blue as a dominant color.

Talked to the gallery director at Smith Art Gallery with the Scott and White hospital in Temple, TX. There is room for 13 paintings at my October solo show. I have a plan for that, and the first one of the series just came back from Mendocino. More tomorrow about that.

Think Spa

The pale blue green tints that came into vogue several years ago are now the hottest colors. A recent order from my West Coast rep said "think spa". To me that describes white-lightened shades of turquoise, glass green, and sky.

Those are the colors I'm using for the current series of photo paintings, one of which is shown above. The photo was taken in Florida, south of Miami in the Keys.