A little storm before the weekend

I am about to begin working on some more abstract pieces in the close future. To get ready for this, I wanted to try some outside mixed media along with some landscape themes.. This one is one of those.. Along with modeling paste type stuff, there is cardboard(you can see because of the glare) and also twine on this piece. I thought I would give it a try and it kind of acts like an abstract fence for the field. By no means is this a great work or ground breaking.. I just wanted to keep you in the frame of mind I am in, and let you know a bit of my process.

P.S.... Sorry about the glare on the added material.. kinda hard to get a good image.

"Low Clouds"
10"x20"
Mixed Media on canvas

Wood Blocks 1

I wanted to try something new... something different then I have ever done. I ended up using texture, washes, and rubbed on paint on wood blocks. I like the idea, It might just need a little refinement. I intend to do some more of this, so be on the look out for more of this coming your way. Wood is a great surface to paint right on.. no gesso, very easy. The only thing bad about this, is the image does not do the sheen and the textures justice. In person is is more vibrant and glossy looking. This is 4 4.5" wood blocks placed in a floating frame which is about 11" square.

"Wood Blocks 1"
Mixed Media on wood
11" by 11"

Renew The Rockies

Last year Kim and I were lucky enough to attend a fundraiser party for a great local charity, Trees, Water & People.

http://www.treeswaterpeople.org

We really enjoyed the music, Casino night, Free Beer, and the silent auction. You cant go wrong when you are helping out a great organization and you get free beer at the same time! This year's large fundraiser party theme is "Renew The Rockies" it is being held at the Lincoln Center on March 7th.

I have decided to help out this cause further by donating a painting to be auctioned off during the silent auction. I don't really know what to expect, but I hope I can help them out a little. If you are interested in a great party, a very fun evening, helping out a great cause, and possibly bidding on my painting/collage "Please toss me the ball, I love my ball" come to the Lincoln Center on the 7th... we will be there.

"Please Toss me The Ball, I Love My Ball"
11" x 11" framed with a floating frame
Mixed Media on canvas

Happy Valentines Day!

Not only is today Valentines day, but it is the 1st birthday for our newest member of our family, Kenai. It seems like only yesterday we adopted her from the Animal House Rescue. Its been a busy 7 months with heart surgery for her and tons of playful energy. We also like to feel that Kenai has changed some prejudices about Pit Bulls some of our friends and family have had. shes a great girl and im sure you will see her in a painting very soon.

This is a painting back in the vault I did a couple months ago. I finally got a decent image of it the other day when the sun was right. I'm having a problem narrowing down my focus of what I like to paint. I love abstract and also landscapes.. And on the other end, I am always attracted to portraits that have an abstract feel to them too, much like Todd White(linked on the side over there ---->

I hear that I shouldn't narrow it down, but every artist I enjoy viewing their works has narrowed their stuff down to something they really focus on in an attempt to better their craft..

Anyway, bare with me while I begin to narrow down my focus a bit more.. I'm still deciding which subjects frustrate me the least when I mess up on them ;)"Red Sea"

24" x 30"
Acrylic on Canvas

Detail.. Click on image to view larger

This past Friday, Kim and I joined our friends Matt and Jami for First Fridays gallery walk in Fort Collins. If you haven't ever done a gallery walk or visited any of the gallerys on first Fridays I suggest you give it a try. The selection might not always be what you are expecting, but its usually very interesting. Most cities have something similar. In Fort Collins, they open the gallerys till 9 every first Friday of the month. Some of them have snacks and wine also. Its a great way to take in the local culture and its free. I hope to make it down to Denver for their first fridays some time and visit some of the great artists along the Santa Fe Arts district.

For this one I went back to the usual Acrylic on canvas. Its hard to beat acrylics for ease of use and good color. Many people love oils, and I would like to use them again, I haven't since college. This painting is larger then the past few at 20" by 48".

"Rain Shower"
20" x 48"
Acrylic on canvas

Detail

I debated posting this image for the past few days. It isnt my best work, but it isn't supposed to be either. I am entering this in a competition for painting a mural at Medical Center of the Rockies. The painting(should it be chosen will be painted by me on a 9x13 wall in part of the Emergency Department's behavioral area). The competition will be tough, so im not expecting to win, but you cant win if you don't enter... right?... at least that's what I always hear.
I had a tough time trying to keep it simple, and not get too much gradient in it(the shading areas) because that will be very tough on the side of a wall to make it look good. anyway, big ares of the same shade are much easier for murals(i have a tiny bit of experiance. we painted one on the gym wall of my High School 10 years ago.) It will be a month till I hear if I was chosen, so don't hold your breath or you might pass out. Anyway, its simple for a reason, and they wanted something like " A soothing, natural scene, such as a mountain, beach, landscape, or other setting that is calming to the eye and soul". I hope your soul is calmed by this.

"Front Range Color and Calm"
10" by 7ish"
Watercolor on Canvasboard

Can you believe it... almost 70 degrees in colorado?.. anyway, back to the real reason for this post. A very talented artist located in Denver named David Castle sent me information on preserving watercolor works. He works on watercolor paper and then preserves it, and places it on gallery wrapped canvas... making it a whole piece, rather then framing it. I share the same belief that it brings the viewer closer to the work...

anywho... linked is his process on how he does it in case you ever wanted to try it, or was wondering.. David, thanks for the note and I appriciate the help.. you can view his blog by clicking on his link to the left, or clicking on the links below. http://davidcastleart.wordpress.com/2007/03/06/how-i-seal-my-watercolors-on-paper/ . or http://davidcastleart.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/mounting-and-sealing-my-watercolors-on-canvas-varnish-update/

The dry and brown winter Northern Colorado landscape gave way to a inner need for some color. Again, I used watercolor on canvas board. I am really enjoying this, and may actually try a large canvas in the near future with watercolor. I had been using small canvas boards because I wasn't sure of the outcome and vibrancy of the color. I think a larger size of 20/30 or so is in the near future though.

I am also thinking of varnishing these works to preserve them, also it will cause the colors to become more rich. Ive never varnished a watercolor painting though, so if you have any knowledge on this, please let me know. I sprayed fixative on them, and the next step is the varnish(I think?!?)... i just hope the colors dont run... Any experiance with this, email me.

"Balloon Trees"
12" by 9"
Watercolor on canvas board
Click on image for a closer look