La Jolla Shores in the 1950's - SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Title: La Jolla Shores in the 1950's
Dated: 4/19/2010
Size: 8 x 6
Medium: Oil on Canvas Board.















For some time I had been thinking of how to paint the La Jolla Shores neighborhood in which I was raised in the 1950s. Several sketched attempts turned out too literally. What I wanted was not a literal representation but the feeling of life for us in that special time and place. It wasn't until I focused on the colors of the memories that the painting emerged.

Every artist has his or her own approach to painting. Kate in Ketchum, Idaho commented: "...you can continually come up with art that is so different from what you've done before." Well, this is something I have had to accept somewhat against my will. What is more natural for me is to try to do something similar to previous painting I liked. But for me this usually doesn't work out. So I am realizing more and more lately I need to allow each painting to have its own particular direction or the work falls flat and feels burdensome to do.

And speaking of comments, I really appreciate yours. They are not only helpful but some of you have wonderful insights and critiques. I think Barb should write a book!

San Diego Harbor - SOLD

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Title: San Diego Harbor
Medium: Oils on Canvas Board
Size: 8 x 6 x .25
Date: 4/12/2010















When I painted this I was not looking to the harbor or photos of it. Rather, images and feelings of it were floating through my memory inspiring the colors and strokes. So you might say it's an "interior view" of San Diego Harbor. This is one of my new favorite pieces.

Little City

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Title: Little City
Size: 6 x 8 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas
Date: 3/23/10















Four Views is still not dry. So I did not get to enter in it into the big Regional Show at SDAI as hoped. These things happen. Sometimes a particular pigment doesn't want to dry on schedule.

This next little one has been drying on a narrow little wall of my studio in front of where I work. I have enjoyed looking at it there.

In keeping with the earthquakes we have been having in San Diego lately: What did one earthquake say to the other? "It's all your fault!"

Four Views. SOLD

Click image to enlarge.
Title: Four Views
Size: 8 x 10
Medium: Oils on Acrylic
















This painting is titled "Four Views" because it is multi-directional so that whichever of four ways it hangs, it presents a different scene. Look at the box of images below the first image and let me know what you see. If it is dry in time this will be my entry into the next SDAI Regional Show. I will have to decide which way it should hang for the show though, if selected. Hmmm.


The four views


Update:
This painting was selected by jury for the San Diego Art Institute's Regional Show through 7/18/2010

Udpate on New Friend

Some good news about New Friend, or New Friends (haven't decided on the title) posted January 17. Tuesday I learned it was selected for the next San Diego Art Institute's Regional show and today I learned it was given the Juror's Choice Award. I'm not really sure what this means yet, other than it's a good thing. Click on "Update" to view the painting online.

The reception is Friday, March 5th at 6PM at the Institute.

3/1/10

I have received some insightful views on the title of the painting since the blog was published:

Sharon wrote: "I like "New Friend" because it brings you inside the painting; who is the new friend? from the dog's view, it's the man and vice versa for the man's view. When one says "New Friends", it takes you outside the painting as an observer and (I think) it loses some of its magnetism."

Barb wrote: " "New Friend(s)"...interesting distinction between the singular and the plural because we don't know if the man or the dog found a new friend- but plural would be nice because that way we know they both did."

The Mist SOLD

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Title: The Mist.
Size: 16 x 20 x 1/4
Medium: Medium: Acrylic on canvas board.
Date: 1/24/2010

I am a bit tardy in posting this piece. And I have not had any time for painting since. Actually I started it well before New Friend but it sat waiting for me for weeks. I consider New Friend to be the more recent painting. I hope to get back to painting soon!

Update

Still too busy with other matters to have a painting to post today but I do have an update. Pumpkin Patch Waltz, posted 12/23, was selected for the next SDAI Regional Show. Pop Art Woman Portrait was submitted as my primary entry. I entered Pumpkin Patch Waltz as an afterthought because it was small enough for the One Foot category of the show. To my surprise it was the latter that was chosen. Perhaps after having tried three times, I should finally give up entering Pop Art Woman, which is still one of my favorites.

New Friend

Winner SDAI Juror's Choice Award February 2010.

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information

Title: New Friend.
Subject: Man and Dog.
Size: 10 x 10 x 1.5"
Medium: Acrylic on stretched canvas.
Date: 1/15/2010


Posting a bit late this week and I know some of you will not see it until you return to work on Tuesday. Since I have so much going on right now, including trying to get my condo rented, I feel fortunate to have any time at all for painting.

Sure would like to find a paint medium that requires only one layer for full coverage. That would save time and alleviate a bit of tedium.

Update

In the last post, Pumpkin Patch Waltz, I challenged you with a riddle as to why the title had the word "waltz" in it. Congratulations to Barb and Karen, both dancers from different states, for figuring it out:

Throughout the painting is a waltz rhythm created by groups of three. 3 white shapes, 3 trees, 3 shadows, 3 pumpkins, 3 shadows; 3 windows on one side of the house, 3 orange shapes in front of the house, 2 sets of 3 gray-green leaves. 1, 2, 3; 1, 2, 3; 1, 2, 3; 1, 2, 3; the rhythm of the waltz as told by shapes. Barb put it more technically: "So the waltz is in three-quarter time: three beats to a measure and the quarter note gets one beat. Well you've got three pumpkins ( and three trees) and the slice might be a quarter of the pie."

Pumpkin Patch Waltz. SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Size: 8 x 8 x 1.5
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Date: 12.21.09



















"T'was the day before the night before Christmas" so I thought I'd post early... This week I am posting Pumpkin Patch Waltz, new, and Cherry Pie, from a few weeks ago that I am just now posting.

There is a riddle to the title Pumpkin Patch Waltz. The only clue I am giving is that it has to do with the time signature of waltzes.

"Merry Christmas to all"...