Visiting an Old Painting

I was online checking hours at the North Mountain Visitors Center here in Phoenix when I saw an old friend. The city purchased a big painting of a saguaro for the center. It now is hanging behind the gift shop counter. I need to go visit it in person again one of these days.

Some Mixed Media Pieces

I have been playing with some mixed media pieces today...

Collages

I have been doing some collages lately. They are a ton of fun. They have often been the start of a painting for me. There is something therapeutic about playing with the juxtaposition of random images. They start to take on meanings in the subconscious. They can sometimes feel familiar, like from a dream, or another state.

Suggesting Not Telling Painting

Painting the model the other morning I was trying to just suggest, but not tell everything in the painting. I lost edges if things got too defined...When you add a hard edge it often flattens the image instead of letting the form turn. Also I really love when the brushstrokes seem to accidentally suggest the information. When they stay loose it is so much more fun.

Secret Comission Painting

When I was in the last City of Glendale plein air competition I painted a scene including this shop. There is a father and daughter who own it. They passed me as I was painting and the daughter contacted the city about the painting. The city had purchased it so it was not available. The daughter contacted me to paint one for her dad's 89th birthday as a surprise. I was delighted that she thought of this special gift to celebrate their partnership. Shhh it is a secret!

Playing It Safe

Out painting the other day the palo verdes were in bloom and a great spot was in the parking lot. The park manager thought we might need some cones just in case! We felt very "official"!