Painting in the Round

Well she did it again... my wife that is, she purchased for me a series of six round canvases from three inches up to 12 inches. I'm staring to go through catalogs in order to foreshadow the next shape coming my way.

I started with this one, the ten inch round. There just seems to me to be some real opportunities to look and paint something a little different. After all our vision is somewhat circular if you include peripheral vision. Focus is usually specific to a point in front - but - division of focus by thirds isn't as firm a rule in a circular canvas.

Simple and It Works

I like things that are simple and that work. But, as a painter you might gain from my happy accident. I was over talking with a friend, not too long ago and he is a furniture re-finisher. Really great work, but it’s also messy as any an occupation as I’ve witnessed. He uses a mixture that includes diesel (fuel) and stand oil and always another oil such as walnut, depending on the color of the wood and the effect. He uses this mixture as a finish to the wood. It really brings out the grain in a way that is simply amazing. Oh, but the mess. Well, he uses this “SimpleGreen” stuff in a green bottle that really seemed to clean the area and whatever he used it on of grease and oil.

Painting is what I do - clean-up is pretty much a chore that follows painting, and not the least of which is cleaning my brushes. I don’t use many brushes, but I really like finishing off quickly. It works really well. I wipe off as much paint as reasonable, then use SimpleGreen to take the oil out of my brushes, finally I still use an oil soap that replaces some of the elasticity of my natural hair brushes, but works just as well with synthetics. Works for me.


Really - I, nor anyone I know have any affiliation whatsoever with this product.

Wow

"Congratulations! Your work has been selected for the Brevard Art Museum’s 2008 Juried Exhibition to be on display from July 18 – September 12, 2008"...

I submitted three paintings about a month ago and yesterday I recieved an email accepting one of them. I'm pretty jazzed about the whole thing. My wife suggested that I make the effort - thank you. 

It really has been a interesting experience. First there is CaFÉ Call for Entries web site in order to directly upload high-resolution digital images of artwork for jury presentation. I needed the assistance of my good friend, Keven Roberts, who owns Intimate Images photography, here in Melbourne, Fl for the high-rez digital photos. After that it was straight forward process to enter.

I've had great fun in the art community and this will put me into contact with a whole group of people that support the arts.

I'm pretty excited.

New Painting - New Comparison

Florida Wetlands - 6 x 6
This is a painting of the Florida wetlands as the title states. I really enjoy the long vistas and the wildlife that packs these areas - not that you might notice from the "long view" such as this painting represents. These areas are the very nurseries for a great number of species that toward the top of the natural hierarchy are represented by fish, birds - yes insects, all manner of plants, reptiles, and alligators.

I thought that I would compare a digital picture with minor adjustments with a digital scan.
Digital Photo

Scan

Even though I took some care - there is a substantial difference between the two. And I am ignoring the differences in the monitor that you may be using.
So, you can get an idea of a painting on the web, mush the same as looking in a book - even a high quality one, but it is best to see the actual painting.

Luckily, there is a location that has agreed to display some of my paintings - it is:

"From The Heart"
1428 Highland Ave.
Melbourne, Florida, 32935
Opening Fall of 2008, if you are in the area, please drop by and take a look.

Really Small Painting...

Row House III 3"x 3" Oil/canvas
This is a very small painting that happened by a happy accident. I have wanted to paint a number of small paintings in order to keep me painting consistantly. I am thinking six inches by six and above. I was given package of six canvas supports that are three inches x three inches. Well, for whipping out small compositions - these canvases are really fun. I displayed the painting, about the size of the the actual six x six, because I really like the painterly look of the brush work. I was actually counting brush strokes on this one... Actually that was not very difficult for me to count.

Florida Tech Panther Statue

Fla. Tech Panther statue in Melbourne,FLA.
This is a 6 inch X 6 inch oil painting that I did recently. A very highly shined marble base and angular panther statue against a background of Florida vegetation. I like the color combinations of this painting. I took some liberties with the panther color itself in order to contrast it and the background - my apologies to the sculptor.