pink leaf

Leaving; casein on panel; 10" x 8"

The snow covered woods outside the window from this still life set-up cast a magical light.  It was difficult to see my panel at times it was so bright.  Every so often, it helped to take the panel into another room - to make sure I was seeing, and painting, true to life.

This was an exercise in drawing as the leaves and stems created a complex arrangement.  Add to that the endless shifts of values and color, painting green next to pink, light leaf against dark background and vice versa.  It's done - I'm content.

leaving be

in progress: Leaving; casein on panel; 10" x 8"

Here are some of the first color notes on a new still life.  I'm at my North light nook again - and the light from the snow-covered woods outside is magical. 

edited: Below are a couple more in progress views - adding color notes and details to resolve my idea.

in progress: Leaving; casein on panel; 10" x 8"

in progress: Leaving; casein on panel; 10" x 8"

four square

Red Betta; casein on board; 6" x 6"

This is the last of four little caseins on watercolor board.  It's been an interesting adventure with this square format.  The Savvy Painter (Antrese Woods) recently interviewed an artist who preferred to work in a near-square format.  She felt that a 20" x 21" canvas, for instance, created a bit of tension in her works.  Kenn Backhaus, during his recent talk at the Cincinnati Art Center, also mentioned mixing up dimensions to create more excitement and to avoid stagnation.  He suggested a 2:1 ratio both vertically and horizontally. 

A decade or so ago, I was married to the idea of always painting with the dimensions of the Golden Section - 1:1.618.  It was freeing to have that constraint and, at the time, I found the possibilities endless.  When I finally explored the more conventional ratios of 4:5 or 3:4 it surprised me that I could still find exciting compositions - with the added bonus of ready-made support panels, canvases, frames, backing boards, shipping boxes, etc..

I'm rambling here - not really getting to any point - just musing on formats - and hinting that I may need to try the near-square for myself. 

looking ahead

Potted Marigolds; casein on board; 6" x 6"

Looking ahead by looking behind - this painting was done from a reference photo I took last September.  I needed a reminder that flowers will grow outside again and that the bright sun will do more than dazzle us - it will warm us too.  You're welcome :)

squaring up

Winter Morning; casein on board; 6" x 6"

It's been snowing since yesterday afternoon - causing 25 accidents in 15 minutes during last night's rush hour.  It snows in 80% of the Aprils here in Minnesota so nobody is particularly shocked - we're sick of it - but not shocked.  Our response seems to be to don shorts.  Yes, you read that right.  Many folks deal with the duration of winter by denying it.  They'll defiantly go out on a snowy-30-ish-degree day baring their legs - although they still tend to wear boots and parkas.  Not everyone does this, mind you.  But the one-in-a-hundred, shorts-in-winter folks do get noticed - and they give hope to the rest of us.

from 2007

sold - Funny Bunny; oil on canvas; 20" x 16"

It seems appropriate to repost this today - a day full of symbolic rabbits, eggs, lilies and such.  The Easter Bunny doesn't visit our home anymore - but it's fun to get reports from our grandchildren that he's still alive and well.

This painting sold at Digging Pitt Gallery in Pittsburgh - John Morris, gallery owner.  It was part of a group exhibition called The Blogger Show that had two components - one in New York City (Agni Gallery) and another in Pittsburgh.  Funny Bunny found its new home via that show - and lives on in paint.  Bye bye Bunny.