Waking

bwakey copy

12″x12″ oil on canvas

I’ve been weighing thicker and looser oil painting technique against thinner and more exacting.  The former seems to push my color intensity to match the density of the paint. Despite the thick paint, I’ve glazed in places, joining a technique I’ve used only with thin layers, with a near impasto. A wake-up for my senses, or at least a new passage and practice.

 

Falling and Dancing

bfall1

That’s what I’ve been doing-falling and dancing, dancing and falling.   I’m painting with a fervent urgency.  In the past month, I have worked through eight oil paintings.  Four I’ve discarded, four are still in play.  I’ll share with you what remains viable when I finish.

The transition of seasons reflects my process, lately.  I’m hoping that pruning work that fails to stretch me this fall will result in stronger work come spring. Hope the new season inspires your creativity as well.

Lots of Layers

 

b8-27laughing copy

This one is more tightly wound than I would like.  I was so enchanted with the light on the hair and face, that I got carried away.  I should have gone alla prima with this. Instead I blocked it in (thinly under painted hues and values), and kept refining to achieve more detail, in order to work all those little hairs.  If I were to paint this again, I’d let go of the detail, keeping the painting looser, in order to capture the feeling of joy and abandon. Instead, the expression took a back seat to all of those tiny little hair highlights.

Alla Prima

ballprima1 copy

I’ve been oil painting almost exclusively lately, weighing different techniques against one another. I tend to paint tight more detailed work only when it feels right to me, depending on what I’m trying to achieve. But, I must say that working alla prima-direct to surface, wet into wet in one session, like the painting above, is loads of fun.

Painting Women Slide Show

A fabulous slide show of the Women Painting Women Fifth Anniversary exhibit at the Principle Gallery, South Carolina, USA.  The show runs from September 5-30th.    I won’t be able to make it to the opening, so it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to view the work of each especially terrific participating artist.  Principle Gallery has also published a gorgeous catalog.  Kudos to each and every artist and also to the gallery, who has been nothing but supportive of the Women Painting Women movement!

Women Painting Women

Divide1

12″x 12″ Oil on Canvas

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that my painting, Divide1 will be part of the Women Painting Women show at the Principle Gallery Charleston.  I’ve had a look at some of the excellent work in the show, created by some wildly talented women artists, and I’m honored to be a part of this inspiring exhibition! Have a look:

‪#‎PaintLikeAGirl‬ ‪#‎WomenPaintingWomen‬ ‪#‎PrincipleCharleston‬

Young

 

bjim copy

A new series.  I’m not sure how many pieces I want to make or how far I want to take it, but this series is pretty straight forward.  It’s about being very young-on the brink of adulthood. It’s not about nostalgia, but instead an unflinching look at the close to the surface intensity of older teens and very early twenty somethings. I’m only painting cropped heads, and facial features, asserting the unfiltered expressions of these hauntingly beautifully fresh faces.

Drawing from Life

bobservation copy

 

A sketch drawn from nature’s bits and pieces, strewn about my yard, while I delighted in the breeze.

Lively Yellow Warblers

w1

These petite yellow birds dashed playfully about the swamp at such speed, that focusing my camera was much like a playing a video game. As you can see, I was unable to capture any sharp images, but thought I’d give you some idea of their delightful exuberance.

w3

w4