Inspirations

Yes, I've prepped some canvases. So I was not as idle last week as I was for the past two months! I have some good pieces planned, which I look forward to posting about, but in the meantime I have fodder for a few years worth of painting. I spent much of this summer traveling and spending time with family, and I came away with inspirations from images I saw and people I met.

When I travel I tend to visit galleries, and I like going places where the artists actually play a role in the gallery. The family-run Frykman Studio Gallery in Door County, WI is one, and the MPAF Artist's Coop in Monterey, CA is another (in which I have spent a lot of time and money over the past year, as I have attempted furnish my apartment while modeling my own business model on theirs). While wandering I've also run into art professors, a print maker and an oil painter my age.

Among all the people I met the most applicable conversation I had was with this painter, who had a tattoo of a Miro design on his forearm that looked to me like an airplane orbiting and lassoing the earth at the same time. I love Miro and all things Barcelona. But the point is that he was doing what I am in the process of beginning. He is specifically not selling - in fact he isn't even referring people to images of his art - because he is developing a solid body of work that is all going the direction he wants it to go. Once he has that repertoire he will presumably reenter the commercial art world. But he's my age and he's a good bartender and he loves to paint. I really enjoyed comparing notes with him.

I'm moving abroad in about a month, and I have some painting to do before I get there. But once I arrive I intend to do the same as he. I will no longer sell, but I will set up a studio and develop a strong body of work that is going the direction I want it to go. I will share it on this forum, but shipping is an issue so unless you come visit me I won't be selling. That said, I've been racking up images as fodder, and with my quasi-new digital camera I can share them with you! These will all be incorporated into the repertoire I develop, if only in experimenting with the play of light or the contour of a sea lion's skin. Please share your thoughts with me on how I can consider interpreting these images!

Door County



Sea Lion in Monterey



Ripples



Acadia



Lobster Boats



Rockland Sunset



Moules

Summer Vacation

Ashley's Bouquet



Stats: 8x8x1.25 in. oil on canvas
Playlist: Brazil Soundtrack
Beverages: Evolution #9 (excellent Washington white blend)

I've been remiss. This summer I have been doing more traveling than painting, and while this has resulted in a distinct downturn in "production," I have netted a lot of nice inspiration. This summer has been busy, hectic and hot. May and June were filled with local social engagements, and one of the most memorable was my friends' wedding. They had a lovely ceremony, a very classy reception, and the best part of all of it was having the chance to celebrate such an important milestone among very good friends.

Having a somewhat fluid concept of the passage of time, I somehow ended up with one of the bridesmaids' bouquets, which had been left I believe at the bar we went to after the reception. I thought I would try drying it and then give it to the bride, but that failed miserably. Not one to pass up a good, free still life model, I painted it first. I have not decided what to do with this painting - I haven't been painting these still lifes randomly for self edification recently. However, given that the bouquet represents such a significant event celebrated among good friends that intend to remain close throughout our lives, I believe I will give it to the Maid of Honor so that she is never lonely and always reminded of her good friends. Fortunately she has a spotty internet connection, so I am not afraid of her reading this post before I give it to her.

July followed with trips to Wisconsin, California and Maine, and I came away with some excellent mental images that will stand me in good stead for the next six to 10 months as I search for inner inspiration. I will post on these separately, since I took many photos of light rippling in the water, etc., that I would like to share with you. Now it's August. The heat seems to have broken, and I have commissions to do!

As a fair warning, I will be taking orders through the end of this week. Your deadline is Friday, 20 August if you want me to do a painting for you. After that point I will be focusing on moving overseas and will change my art objective from producing art to sell to delving into my craft and amassing a good body of work.