matt mays

Just finished the first 2 hours of painting this one. (yes... for all you Matt Mays fans out there) 

A nearly perfect evening for me - the paints, a good size canvas (18" x 36"), a glass of wine, and good music. Doesn't get much better than this for me. I look at basic shapes & values when i first start a painting. Where's the light coming from, where are the brightest whites, the deepest shadows, etc. The first sitting is always fun for me, but like many artists, the mistake i often make is not knowing when to stop painting. I love this raw look but I often end up over working it. I'll try really hard not to do that this time. It feels nearly done now - but not quite. I'll post the finished painting soon - if it's not overdone. :o)

diamonds & gold

guitar man

to the sky

Haven't posted for a while - technical difficulties. I have, however, still been painting & writing. Spring has sprung. I took a nice walk on the beach this morning (before the rain) and sketched a few things in my notebook. Nature is such an inspiration for me. Especially when the ocean is as calm as it was this morning. The joys of a flexible work schedule... and living near the water. :o)

an off night...

girl bleue

I love paintings done in the same tone. Or close to the same tone, just in different values. One really needs very little detail. Funny how certain moods almost warrant a lot of detail, while other moods beg for a few simple strokes of color. Van Gogh had his blue period, as did Picasso, Renoir, and Goya (only his was a black period)... I guess you could say this is from my blue period - except I'm no longer blue, and I don't have my period. :o)

abstract awakening...

the suicide tourist

I am an advocate of euthanasia. I was a supporter of assisted suicide before the documentary (the suicide tourist) on the life and death of Craig Ewert, and I am moreso now. Craig was a computer science professor who was diagnosed with ALS in 2006 and chose to end his own life, but had to fly to Zurich (Switzerland) in order to do so - where assisted suicide is legal in some cases. Away from his home, away from his bed, his books, his music... I don't understand the world sometimes. We lack compassion as a society if we deny someone like Craig Ewert the dignity to end his own suffering peacefully. We as a society, have no right to tell others how to live their lives - so why do we feel we have the right to tell them how to die?

vibrant aura

I really didn't like this one when i first started it last night in my cozy little blue room. The marker sketching in this one turned out pretty bad, so I figured I'd cover some of it with paint. In this case, a lot of paint. :o) But whether it's the bright colors, or the subject matter... it's kinda growing on me. Most of my painting is done in the blue room, where i simply leave everything out when I'm done. I think that's the key to creating. Having your own little sanctuary somewhere in the home. My own secluded space. It doesn't need to be a huge space - it only needs to be yours. So some mornings when I get up, after a few hours of painting the night before, I shuffle into my blue room & take a peek at my journal. Sometimes, I wonder what it all means, but most times, it just gives me a sense of fulfillment and makes me smile. 

blue face

Just when you thought I may have disappeared off the face of the earth... :o) 

Things were a little off, but I'm slowly finding my way back to good - as I always do. I've been painting - just not posting. But I'll be getting back into the groove, so stay tuned for more silly sayings & paintings within the next few days. I may even find the time to post something else later today. oh, and just a little reminder: carpe diem.