Sunset Mirage

Acrylic on archival mat board 8 by 10, $ 75.00 

 Its a beautiful day here in SC the kind you wait for all year.  Too bad I had to clean out my aquarium, house, pool and do books for most of the day.  Maybe tomorrow I’ll go to the lake and let the dogs swim.  It may be one of the last times this year for  the dogs to swim in the lake.  Once it gets cold  only one of my dogs will  even get into  the water.

 I planned a play date for them, isn’t it funny to actually have a play date for dogs?  Well if you want to get a lot of work done its best to wear them out.  It takes a lot to get themso tired they lay down for the rest of the day.  Its one way to get things done without having too many winey complaints.

Wild Acres at Dusk

8 by 10 Acrylic on Illustration Board, $75.00

This is another painting  called Wild Acres but this time it’s later in the day and this painting has a pinkish glow to the whole piece which makes it appears as if it’s just about dusk.  Its actually a little darker than this appears.   I painted the painting then painted a magenta glaze over the entire painting, wiped some off some of the grass.

Monet’s tribute #10

  Acrylic on  gallery wrap canvas $300.  This is another painting from the “Monet’s tribute” series…  This piece is a bit larger  than my other pieces in the series.  I also  used a different palette.  I like it, it has a bit of gold mixed into the paint which gives it a special glow.  This was painted with the new Golden Acrylics which look and work very much like oils.  These new  Open acrylics are great and if your considering trying them I encourage you to do so.   The process is very much the same as regular acrylics but there is a special medium which extends the already long drying time.  Also there is a thinner which you can use to actually remove the paint from the canvas.  The real key is to never use water.  Water only makes these acrylics look dull.  The mediums makes them glow.

Wild Acres

8 by 10 Acrylic on gessoed illustration board 75.00

“Babies” In memory of Barbara Haukenberry

8 by 8   $50.00

Barbara  passed away yesterday, choosing to take her own life.  The pain was too much for her for a long time now and she wasn’t going to be able to live without the help of others.   Both of these things were unbearable for her and I can only say I’m happy that she isn’t suffering any more.    She used to say that for brief moments of each day, she could look at art allowing her mind to take her to a place where she didn’tfeel the pain or see her broken down body.   Art could elevate her to another plane, one where she was well again.   Remember that the next time some one says Art isn’t important.  It was very important to this person and she surrounded herself with art work.  

  She loved my koi and purchased at least twenty Koi paintings.  She and I would discuss the “correct” way to paint the eyes.  She only like round eyes and didn’t care for the humanized eyes so often painted.  She had her opinions and wasn’t afraid to let you know.  She told me that the tail of the Koi was the most impressive part of the Koi and I too often didn’t paint them, which was terrible.   

I tried… for her, to put in a few expressive tails but good composition can’t be compromised for content.    This little painting of Baby Koi was painted in her memory as she loved the “Koi babies”  I painted for her and last year she had a grandchild which seem to lift her spirits for a time.  She really thought that little boy was the greatest thing on earth. 

  Barbara, rest in peace , may you never feel pain again. and wherever your spirit lives, I hope it soars.

Just me

  “Just me ” 6 inches by 9 inches watercolor on paper. $75.00

I love color and I like to basically paint people using all the emotion of color.  Its speaks volumes.

Reflective Lake

 

Watercolor on  gessoed covered wood.  8 by 8 75.00

The weather is cooler and the nights seem longer,  & the solstice is right around the corner!