SOLD...to Cape Coral, FL

Painted Desert, 12x12" pastel

I'm pleased to announce that these two pastels are going to a private collector in Cape Coral, Florida.

Painted Desert, shown above, was taken from a road trip on the way to the Grand Canyon a few years ago, in a terrain that is actually referred to as the "painted desert". You can see why...the dappled turquoise sky shines like a jewel and the ground is blanketed in stripes of pink, purple, yellow, coral and lime green. Jumping out of the car frequently, I took tons of photos and painted this one at a later date. It's one of my favorite memories as nature was really showing off that day!

If you want to see some of the photos I took from that road trip, refer to my blog, here.

Ring 'Round the Rosey, 12x12" pastel

Ring 'Round the Rosey was awarded Second Place in Landscape at the Austin Pastel Society 2011 Member Show. It was quite an honor for me since so many terrific artists entered paintings in that category. The reference for this piece was originally shot on my iPhone during rush-hour traffic off of North Mopac Expressway where I have spent the last 20 years here in Austin...quite literally just off the highway! Of course I manipulated the colors in Photoshop, since we don't regularly have quite this amount of pink in the skies...unless it's out by Lake Travis where I have seen some skies like this.

As a side note, I also used this reference in a "paint around" with 4 other artists. I started and finished the piece while the other 4 took turns painting on this one, and each others. The finished piece was auctioned off for a worthy cause. To see how the other painting turned out, see my blog, here.

SOLD to a New Home!

Evening Shades, 16x12" oil - SOLD

These two paintings are now in a private collection in Austin, Texas. It's always a thrill when a painting finds a new home! I feel so blessed to be able to share these moments of vision with another.

The above image, Evening Shades, is from the top of Jockey's Ridge, the largest natural sand dune on the east coast, in Nags Head, NC –a favorite childhood vacation spot that I revisited a few years ago. There is a 360 degree view of water from up there –the sound on one side, the ocean on the other. It's an amazingly spiritual place to watch the sun set.

Dusk Impressions II, 6x8' oil - SOLD

 This smaller artwork, Dusk Impression II,  was inspired from imagination and photo reference. Painted at another time and place, it just happened to be similar in style and color with the first piece, Evening Shades. They are hanging close by in a hallway, leading your eye from two rooms into a peaceful resting area of their new home.

Now Showing in "Cool...Hot"

 

YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN US

Saturday, June 15th from 6 - 8 p.m. for our "Cool...Hot" art reception 

of the Austin ArtSpace resident artists! 

Refreshments, live music, great art and fun times!

The show runs May 31 through July 6th,

so drop by to see a wonderful variety of creativity,

Fridays/Saturdays 11am -6 pm, or by appointment.

Austin ArtSpace

is located at 7739 Northcross Drive, off Anderson Lane.

Hope to see you there!

A Fire that Never Goes Out

The Preserve at Walnut Springs, Johnson City, Texas

After the recent tragedies we've faced individually and collectively in Newton, Boston, West and now Moore, I find inspiration in a longtime favorite tune by Mindy Jostyn. 

The lyrics remind us that no matter what has happened in our lives, we are loved, we are wanted and we matter. It speaks of the the fire that never goes out...like the love in the heart of this great nation, and the flame of all humanity around the globe.

May you find comfort, peace and love, and the courage to live from the heart, wherever you are. 

Words by Mindy Jostyn & Jacob Brackman
Music by Mindy Jostyn

In His eyes, you're a fire that never goes out
A light on the top of a hill
In His eyes you're a poet, a painter, a prophet
With a mission of love to fulfill
Outside there's a world so enchantingly strange
A maze of illusion and lies
But there's never a story that ever could change
The glory of you in His eyes

In His eyes you're a radiant vision of beauty
A gemstone cut one of a kind
You're fine as a diamond, deep as a ruby
Rare as a jade in His mind
No need to believe all you may have been told
No need to live in disguise
You're brighter than silver, purer than gold
A pearl beyond price in His eyes

You're an innocent child in the sight of His face
No cause for blame or fear or disgrace
He sees only goodness, His vision is true
And nothing can change the perfection of you in His eyes

In His eyes, you're a fire that never goes out
A light on the top of a hill
You're a rose in the forest, a prelude from Bach
A triumph of heavenly skill
Outside there's a world that keeps breaking your heart
And tearing your dreams down to size
But guiding you homeward, piercing the dark
Is the lovelight that shines in His eyes

Now and forever, that light never dies
You're dearly beloved in His eyes

Johnson City, Texas

Part 2: Painting Progression of "Somewhere"

In the zone... painting this 3x5 foot oil on canvas I call "Somewhere."

I have a favorite brooding spot I go to in the middle of the night or at day's end...when I need a little TLC from Mother Nature. One day I was trying to recharge my not so happy thoughts with a little fresh air and a fast paced walk. I found myself looking out over this place listening to "I Don't Ever Give Up" by Patty Griffin. Pouring out the refrain, "Love isn't here, love isn't here, but it's somewhere", I looked up and saw a blue heart-shaped piece of atmosphere peeking out from behind a dramatic dusky cloudscape...not quite sunset, but going in that direction. I swallowed the big lump in my throat and gave the Universe a high five for the special moment. And, the idea for painting "Somewhere" was conceived.

Humble beginnings...a quick layer of the big shapes.

Several years later, I am finally getting around to this painting...starting with toning the canvas in cadmium red...probably one of all time favorite colors for it's passion and tonality.

From dark to light I begin to define the larger earthy planes.

Surrounded by my thumbnails, I primarily keep the far upper left one in mind but I occasionally refer to some of the techniques in the others...both as much as what to avoid, as what to do.

Working on laying in the sky shapes and reflected light in the water.

We still see a lot of the red background showing through the above image, and much less below. Overall the warmth of the red is still a strong presence. Perhaps the vanishing red is symbolic of the song that inspired it...love isn't here...but it's somewhere!

I'm starting to add more lights and mid-tones now.

The sky is beginning to take shape and the grasses are starting to come to life,

but it still has a long way to go!

Stay tuned to see more progress in Part 3.

I Can Hardly Wait...!!!

I'll soon be livin' lite and hitting the road in my Camplite trailer!

I just ordered a Livin' Lite all aluminum Camplite trailer (my dad would love this!)...and I can hardly wait for it to arrive sometime this summer-- praying for end of June to mid July!!

I'm bursting at the seams...my 7 year dream to travel around the country with paints, camera and canine is finally coming true! I'll keep you posted on the progress and whereabouts.

Meanwhile, if you campers have any trailer travel tips for a first timer...leave your comments here or post on my Facebook page!

The inside will look something like this...minus the TV.

I'll be living in this 13x7' space...just right for me and my Corgi!

I'll be towing my new homestead via the Zanne-Van!

My Honda mini-van will be towing the 2400 pound, 16'6" trailer...wherever I get a wild hair. Want me to come visit you? Send us an invite! We'll be there with bells on...and I'll do your portrait!

Don't Get Caught...Without Your Road Map!

On the road to a new journey, you need a good road map, otherwise you're stuck with some guy who won't ask for directions, or some broad with a weird accent giving you bad directions...better known as a GPS. So on the road to any kind of painting, you need to know where you are going...or at least what you're aiming for. You need a road map.

Whether you want to paint a something or a somewhere, or just a big expression of feeling, the exploration of miniature paintings before going big...better known as the "thumbnail" sketch...can be a real life saver...or at least a paint saver!

I like to begin with a small value map, or a black and white tonal sketch, before I attempt to translate the colors into a thumbnail. The one shown above is about 3x3 inches.

I keep several pocket sized journals around to sketch ideas for future paintings. I may try a few value maps and then write in color notes to remember the mood.

Faced with this really large, 3x5 foot red toned canvas above, I quickly realize I need a clear idea of what I'll be committing to before I put rubber to road, or paint to canvas. And, the only way to do this was with thumbnails. I had only a sliver of an idea, a memory really, of what I could recall about what I wanted to paint from several years ago.

So, grabbing a few photo references of clouds to refer to, I then started something completely new for me...which was to paint from memory. I pulled out the watercolors and pastels and went after it until I'd found the mood I remembered and could commit to painting on such a large canvas. After all, I wanted to be pretty confident with that much paint at risk!

This was not quite the time of day I'm after...and the heart was too obvious.

 Time of day is better, but again not what I'm after.

Ok, I can say I tried this idea and ...no.

Hmm. I might be onto something here if I try other colors.

 Ok, nice and stormy...but I lost my inspiration which was the heart in the sky.

This is getting closer to what I might be looking for...Wolf Khan inspired.

Bulls eye. This is what I'm looking for.

With the final small color painting sketch in hand,
I have my road map and am ready to begin the journey
of telling this story!
Stay tuned for Part Two...