Cutie pie

Here is a painting I made as a gift for someone special. Happy bd! This is a serious face for a very sweet, cute little girl.

Companion of Diana

This painting is a bit larger (11x14) than I have been working lately. It was fun to work on the values here, and how the lighting in the museum changes the color on the marble. Looking at the warms and cools kept me on my toes. The twist in the figure and the devoted dog were really fun to draw. This is a painting made from a reference photo from Different Strokes.

MUSEUMS

A couple of recent trips, one to NY, and one to DC, gave me an opportunity to visit some art. At the Met in NY (word of advice: don't visit NYC on St. Patricks Day, unless you wish to be caught up in the overenthusiasm of the green).

I made my way through the parade crowd to see Pierre Bonnard, late interiors. The color use use is amazing, his selection of where to lay it on, and where to leave some canvas peeking through. As you look, the composition comes together, the colors come in waves, and what appears off balance is really so settled. One object on top of another, whether it is plates on a table, or the lovely bottles along the bottom of the self portraits of melancholic Bonnard.




Several weeks later I was able to visit Washington, and see the Hirshhorn for the first time. I have to say it is a strange, monochromatic place. I would love to see some natural light on those deKooning ladies. The Calder mobiles need more space.

I was able to visit the National Museum of the American Indian, its wonderful architecture. Inside I found an exhibit of a contemporary Native American artist, Fritz Scholder. ("Indian, Not Indian") Images and use of color, the exhibit did not discuss his influences in the context of other artists before him, I see some Matisse there, as well as the American imagery.

La spiaggia

Another Different Strokes challenge. It was fun to play with the bright colors, feel the sun on the skin.

OWL in the backyard

This afternoon, I looked up to find an owl sitting in the drizzle in our backyard. I have seen a variety of wildlife in the backyard, (deer, foxes, rabbits, etc), but this is our first owl. This photo is a bit blurry, but I did not want to get close and scare it off.

PARTY DRESSES

My drawings and paintings lately have been taken from old photos. I like the personalities of these little girls and the awareness of being posed. 12 x 12 in, oil on board

SUSHI

Painting (6x6, oil on board) another Different Strokes opportunity. This was a challenge, texture and value work outside my comfort zone. It was fun, though.