A Teacup and a Linoleum Block

Teacup, ink on paper, 3.5 x 2.5 inches

Fresh new ACEOs hanging on the line, 4.28.2008

I spent a good part of the day yesterday carving - and then printing from - a linoleum block. The teacup painting above, on the right, was my inspiration. That - and fitting into the ACEO format - were what guided me. I tried a few different papers - all ones I had on hand; watercolor, card stock, pastel and Fabriano Medioevalis. The Fabriano won out in the end. No one thing is ever perfect, but this paper came pretty close for what I'm doing here.

Printing requires a lot of trial and error and the cards above all fall towards the error end of the scale. But I feel these are getting closer to where I'd like them to be. I've ordered more linoleum and when that arrives, I'll start all over again.

A Plastic Sandwich Bag with a Fold-Over Top

A Plastic Sandwich Bag with a Fold-Over Top, oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches

detail of "A Plastic Sandwich Bag . . . "

detail of the painting in the next post

Extremely Small Comfort

Tissue, oil on canvas, 3.5 x 2.5 inches

I thought this tiny painting needed some context to show its relative size. It was hard to get the proper focus with a camera. Maybe when it's dry I'll try scanning and posting it again.

(added 8am 4.17.2008) Not realizing it when I set out to paint, the size of this piece qualifies it as an ACEO. Wikipedia has a nice introduction to ACEOs here. I chose this size for a couple of non-related reasons though. One being that I made an impulse buy at my local art supply store. 6 of these little canvases were attractively displayed near the checkout and I fell for them. The second reason is I'll be part of a miniature collaboration this fall. A group of artists have been asked to create the art for a dollhouse that will be on display at our county's history museum. I'll post more about that as the time nears.

(rephotographed and image reposted 10:30am 4.17.2008)

Gently Looped 'round his Arms

Monkey low and to the Right (top), oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches

(bottom image is an in-progress shot)

Anon left a comment a couple of posts earlier - concerned that the bunny might be suffering head pain from the clothespin. So I tried a different approach here - gently looping the string 'round this monkey's arms.

(top image was added 4.17.2008 and is the bottom image painted further)

detail of "Monkey . . . "

detail of the painting in the preceding post

Return of the Bunny

The Moon never shows its Dark Side, oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches

detail of "The Moon . . . "

detail of the painting in the preceding post

This is the second time I've painted this bunny. You can see the first and smaller one here. Thank you again to Steven for first suggesting the idea of painting well-worn stuffed animals - and to my son for the use of his "Funny Bunny."

from 2004

study for a vanitas still life, oil on canvas mounted on board, 7.25 x 9.25 inches

This is another piece from four years ago that's been calling to me lately. I find myself drawn to the shape of the coins as they rotate in space along with the depth perspective created by size, contrast and edges.

I'd thought about using this idea in a painting as a computer's screen saver. Vanitas often use money as a symbol of greed and this seemed like a contemporary way to work that in.

detail of "When you Run the Gamut . . . "

detail of the painting in the previous post

Small Comfort - a series of paintings in progress

When You Run the Gamut, You're really not Going Anywhere, oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches

from 2004

oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches


detail

This is a painting from 2004. I've been looking a lot lately at the broken ground - it's texture, color and movement. At the time, I was struggling to describe the shadows where they met the light. The sunlight was very bright on a white table cloth. I still remember how dazzling the effect was.