Dawn: Part VI

Today was magic. Ever have one of those days where things click? I love them. I played ball all morning and came home as a storm rolled in - a perfect chance to hunker down in the studio. I had some mellow Pearl Jam on, the playlist ended, and I was left painting in my tippy-top attic room in silence with just the sound of the wind scuttling the leaves across the street outside. Magic.

As you can see, Dawn is coming along. The intense red strip across the horizon has given way to the lighter colors, but the pieces of the dark red that show are important forms. I used to have a dark blue across the top but it felt too heavy, so this light turquoise has lifted the sky perfectly, and it is such a strong color. The water will start as a gray.
I added a close-up below of the words "I swim" so you can see how they show up in the water. (Remember, I added the phrase "Dawn is coming, so I swim, I swim, I swim" to the water area.) That's my metaphor for life: when things suck, swim for your life and eventually you'll make it. Dawn comes!

the view outside my bitty window

Who can't love this? She likes to watch me work.

Angst

18" x 36" oils

contact Xanadu Gallery for details about purchasing this piece

It has been a rough day. A perfect day to finish and post Angst. No matter how hard things get, just remember the old adage that says "that which does not kill us makes us stronger." So true, so true.
Wind and Dawn are next - look for them to be posted within the week.

Thank you to my collectors out there who have made October and November good months so far - it's refreshing to know that when economic stresses weigh on consumers' minds, there are still those out there who buy art. Awesome. I am blessed to be able to do what I love.


Thanks for the comments guys - here are some texture close-ups for you.

Wind: Part III

Wind is coming along. The ground needs a swoosh brushstroke and the sky is frustrating me. I will paint the sky back to how it was at the beginning - a composition that better fit the portrait orientation. The next time I paint this theme, I will do a panorama orientation and then these long and stretchy clouds will feel grounded. My real problem is that I want to work on Dawn, but the thick layer I just added yesterday likely needs another week to set and dry. "I hate waiting." (Best said by Inigo Montoya...)

I should spend the rest of today cleaning my disheveled studio...thank goodness for iPods and docking stations.

Dawn: Part V

OK. Today I reached the point in the painting process while working on Dawn that I know it will turn out: the "soul" as I like to think of it came to life. As you can see, I totally covered the water area and am starting over there. Thas' cool - it's part of painting. The red band will not be as vibrant when all is said and done, but the strength underneath will be important.

You can barely see, but I've written the words "The dawn is coming, so I swim, I swim, I swim" into the ocean area. If you don't know what that means, think about it with the idea in mind that when you are down and all is dark, the dawn comes and you just have to push and push to make it sometimes. BUT - the dawn does always come.

This painting is going to rock.

Dawn: Part IV

Today I tried yellows and blues and they weren't working, so I used the pinks and grays that were nagging that "idea" part of my brain. I stopped fighting the urge to add a broad pink band on the horizon. That felt good and I like the look, too. The piece feels more "early morning" but there is something still missing; the water is not yet alive. Below is a close-up of my favorite water area.

And below is my palette, which looks like a painting on it's own.

Dawn: Part III

I've been working on Wind and Dawn.

I want the water dark in the distance and am working on adding depth to the sky. This one is not being very easy. I will probably change the sand's color and profile. I want this painting to be very grounding and calm.

Should I take the sand out completely?

My Article in Southwest Art Magazine

Thanks to Courtney Carpenter of Southwest Art Magazine for interviewing me and featuring Red, White and Blue on page 41 in the October issue. What a dream come true for me. The featured painting has sold - I encourage collectors to look at my other barn paintings. Click here to see them; they are available through Xanadu Gallery.