On the Cusp

On the Cusp 12"X10"
Oil on Canvas Panel

For most of the week I have been shackled to my computer trying to get a handle on QuickBooks.  The business side of art, I could do without. my procrastination and avoidance caught up with me but I am taking the books in hand and showing them who's boss.  

The only time I got to paint this week was last night at my friend, Russell Recchion's studio.  This delightful young man is 15 years old. Look closely and you will surely catch  glimpse of the man he will soon become. He was an enthusiastic and responsive model.  It was a treat to make his acquaintance.

I took on a bit of a new challenge with this one. Most of the head is in the light with very little shadow.     

My goal was to create volume and turn the form with temperature.  I am happy with the result and definitely will try this again. As usual, I ended up with "a painting of a person where something there is something wrong with the mouth". A Sargent reference for those of you who may not have heard it before. I find it comforting. 

Now I need a quote about leaving fingerprints in wet paint. Does that mean I don't need to bother signing it?

The Independent

The Independent 14"X11" Oil on Canvas Panel

So I am back from Colorado and before I can unpack I get an email from one of my painting buddies letting me know that he has a model at his studio Thursday. My "to do" list is a mile long after being gone for three weeks, but I decided the paperwork could keep one more night.

I was so glad that I went. 

It was great to catch up with friends I hadn't seen for months. The model, Bradford, is a regular chameleon who changes personae with his hats. Whatever the character, he is always fun to paint. I couldn't resist political reference to the blue and red background. 

Maureen and Elizabeth

Maureen 12"X 9" oil on canvas panel   

Every once in a while someone comes in to my studio that I connect with immediately. Maureen and her husband Dave are two people that I enjoyed from the moment I met them. Back in February they happened upon my studio while taking a weekend escape from the Denver winter. They filled my space with a wonderful energy and made me feel appreciated as an artist. They left with two small paintings and invited me to come to Denver to paint their daughter when I came to Colorado.

Well, I have been hanging out with them for the past two days in their beautiful Denver home. I had the pleasure of painting both Maureen and her daughter, Elizabeth. It was a great adventure to step into their lives for a brief moment and experience what creative and vibrant people they are.

I gotta do this more often!

Elizabeth 12"X9" oil on canvas panel

Silverthorne Sunset

Silverthorne Sunset

16" X 8"

oil on canvas panel

In case you hadn't noticed, my blog has been very quiet for months. This has truly been one of the busiest years of my life; packed with painting and travel. Things don't look like they are going to slow down anytime soon, so I have decided that there is no time like the present to start blogging again.

Right now, I am taking a break from the Tucson heat in beautiful Silverthorne,  Colorado. I came to the area at the suggestion of my friend and fellow artist, Joanne Hanson.  Joanne works very hard every year to organize the Continental Divide Land Trust's Wildflower Festival Plein Air event and I had the good fortune to be invited to participate.  It was great fun with wonderful people in a very inspiring landscape.

I will be posting some of my plein air pieces from the event later this week.

Meanwhile, this is my favorite painting so far. We have had rain every afternoon. Last Thursday the skies cleared around 8:00 and I took some reference photos of the glorious sunset. it was over fast, but I got what I needed for the painting. Mount Baldy was lit up with a fantastic orange glow that knocked my socks off. I definitely think I will be coming back!