This needs more work, plain and simple, but I resigned myself to working on it only an hour. I had to paint later in the day today, and I think that didn't help me. I've also been a bit preoccupied lately. 5x7 acrylic on fiberboard...

Chopin was the shit! I love listening to classical when I paint. Not always, but sometimes, it just captures a mood. Helps me focus. I'm a big fan of Yo Yo Ma's Cello Suites. Beethoven, Wagner. Music is so important to me. It helps my painting, and it's instrumental in playing a character in my acting career. When I'm acting, I feel that if I can find a character's theme song, or personal score, it really helps me understand who that person is.

Oh yeah, this is a study in red. 5"x7".

I started on a larger painting, and frankly, it really sucked. Muddy colors, with no direction, it was contrived and generally an ugly experience. I think that's why I headed into cooler waters with this one. 5"x7" acrylic on fiberboard.

Yes, this is a theme and color palette I've visited before, but that's okay. At least, that's what I'm telling myself as I publish this post. Kind of like a favorite t-shirt, it's good to pull it out from time to time.

I love talking with my Dad. Now, don't get me wrong. I love talking with my Mom too, absolutely, but I bring this up because my Dad is also an artist. One hell of a good one too, I might add, although you'd never know it because he doesn't show his stuff anywhere, to anyone, except family. But that's a story for another posting some other time. So I was talking with my Dad today when we got on the subject of this blog of mine. Dad reminded me of how little children paint, with no reference to things like composition, perspective, nothing, it's just very free-flowing, and loose. My Dad is very loose when he sketches, and so, I'm taking a page from his book today. A masterpiece? Hardly, but I think I moved into the direction of freeing up my stuff. This piece seems to me to be a little more open and airy. But what do I know? it's not my job to judge the shit, just to keep on doing it. Right Dad?

Not exactly easy on the eyes, it's another study... this commissioned piece... it vexes me!

It's tough to see it on such a small photo, but I'm pleased with the bottom left corner of this small piece. I wasn't really in the mood to paint today, and yet, pushed forward and pulled this out of my butt. I don't get it. It's kind of like running; sometimes I'm really in the mood to go on a long run, then I get out there, and I've got nothing. Other times, I'm really not in the mood to run, but I do, and then proceed to find some 5th gear. I won't say I found that elusive 5the gear with this painting, but the running was somewhat effortless.

This one's a wee bit bigger than the other jewels. This one measures 11"x15" acrylic on wood, and a work in progress, though it's nearly finished.

Okay, now, I finished this baby early yesterday. There was a problem with the blogger site, (at least on my end), and so I didn't get to post it until this morning. What started as a study for one of my commissioned pieces, (it's coming, Dr. Bee, I promise), ended as this. It's okay, though. I think I may have had an epiphany in regards to Bee's painting , and so, this little gem, although it may not look like it, could offer the key to finally finishing that piece. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it. All right, I've got to get going on today's painting...

Went back to the abstract well for today's jewel. I like this color combo and intend to explore it further. Last one for the week, though I may hit that commissioned piece this weekend, time permitting. An audition this afternoon cuts this post short.

This is a study for a larger painting, a commissioned work that I need to get busy on. It's an angel. I will be killing two birds with one stone in the coming weeks when I do these small studies for the larger piece.

I finished this piece late yesterday. It was D's birthday, and I got wrapped up in doing stuff for that. Just didn't have the time to post it. I will do another piece today.

Well, no post on friday. An early flight to KC will do that. This painting frustrates me.

"Speedy delivery, Mr. Rogers, speedy delivery!"

Have to make this short and (hopefully) sweet. An appointment in less than an hour. This piece is 4x6, acrylic on wood. A study using green.

This experiment became more graphic than I'm used to, but I only worked on it for an hour, a goal that I had set before I embarked on this one.

Is it just me, or does this remind you of a plaid shirt? Hmmmm... nothing wrong with plaid, I'm just not sure I want to be painting it. I'm still exploring this direction.

Today's offering. 5x7, acrylic on wood. I still haven't fully wrapped my head around the new style.

I gotta tell ya, I'm kind of excited by this one, and Dana likes it too. Actually, I'm excited by the direction this one took. I worked on it longer than I had first planned on, but I'm pleased with the result, and what's more, I'm pleased to come back and pick up where I left off on this one. I may come back and paint a larger piece in this same style. Originally, I thought what a huge departure this was from my newer stuff, but upon further reflection, I think it's a lot closer to my stuff when I first made the leap from my organic paintings with all the "squigglies" to the more linear style that is seen in my work since. This jewel is 5x7, acrylic on wood. I won't have any postcards up for the rest of the week, because we're headed to NY for a wedding. Why the hell am I telling you that? I guess I feel guilty already about missing thursday and friday.
SOLD

This painting began as a study in white...'s not really how it ended up. Ah well, tomorrow's another day, right? I don't hate it, but I'm not ready to propose to it either.