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"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."
                   ~Twyla Tharp~

Big Bear Meadow
Acrylic painting on Arches paper

MORE FOUND THINGS

Cleaning my studio keeps turning up old projects.



Our cat Bailey - Acrylic on Arches paper

 Teri's Garden - Acrylic

EARLY FIRE SEASON

The heat and wind in Southern California over the past few days has given us early fire danger warnings. We certainly don't need another 2007 when wildfires forced evacuations here in Big Bear.

Big Bear Fire - Acrylic on Arches watercolor paper








Self Portrait - Why So Serious

SUMMER AROUND THE CORNER

The weather has been fantastic here on the mountain. It's time to start getting the boats ready for the lake.



                                               

 Coolin' - Acrylic on Arches paper

NEW CARPET

I had my studio carpeted yesterday and had to move all of the things there myself. I have way too much sh*t! I did find some art that I hadn't seen in a while.

Family - Acrylic painting

SPRING

Because Big Bear, very often, doesn't see the last of snow until after Mother's Day, we are careful about saying spring is actually here. Keeping that in mind, it has been beautiful in our little valley. Left and below are two acrylic paintings I had done of flowers in my wife's garden.

BIG BEAR ON HIGH

Acrylic painting on Arches watercolor paper. I can make the watercolor paper work, just not the paint!!

A LITTLE BIT OF ME

I can't help but try and ponder

  as I trace my dream

Are the lines on my paper

  really what they seem

The lines are there for all to see

  they try and tell my mind

But when the others look at them
  I wonder what they find

I see the colors there on the page
  they seem so bright and clear
But maybe I'm the only one
  that's my real fear

Do the others really understand

  the shapes seem bold and fair

Maybe they can't comprehend

  or worst they may not care

The things that touch me oh so deep

  are there in black and white

I've put it down for all to find

  It's right there in plain sight

From these works and all I give

  you'll find the real me

All the things that mean so much

  please take some time to see

BURIED TREASURE (AT LEAST TO ME)

I mentioned in my last post that I needed to start getting my studio back into some kind of reasonable order. I am now in the middle of that task with some rewards uncovered with my effort. I had a stack of paintings and various prints that had grown over the years to a pretty large collection. Many just needed to move on to a final resting place (fireplace), but others were fun to revisit. To the left is an acrylic painting I did of my wife and a friend when we were staying on lle Verte Island near Quebec a few years ago. It was the off season and we had the whole island to ourselves (literally). Reminded me of what a beautiful place the island is and what a wonderful and peaceful time we had.

HAPPY HOLIDAY

Big Bear Lake and the Forth of July. Definitely the good and the bad. One of the best fireworks displays in Southern California happens over the lake. With that comes masses of people looking to take in the show and escape the heat down below.

Speaking of the lake, most of our waterfowl have returned to the valley. Below is an acrylic painting I did a few years ago.

Lunch Time - Acrylic painting on Arches paper

CHATEAU FRONTENAC

A few years ago we made a trip up to Canada and, more specifically, Quebec. My father was born in this part of Canada and I have relatives that still live in the area. While there we visited the Chateau Frontenac. Built in the late 1800s', it is truly a spectacular hotel. Below is an acrylic painting I did when we returned to California.

WILDLIFE CALL

One of our local Big Bear resturants has contacted me about displaying a couple of paintings during the summer months. Since we just received another 5 inches of snow last night, I'm not sure that summer is that close yet, so probably no hurry. They are looking specifically for wildlife subjects. I have this acrylic of a cougar from our local zoo that worked well for me. Also an acrylic of an eagle that reminds me of paintings done on velvet that I've seen south of the border, but other people have given me good comments on it. Just being kind I'm thinking.

J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM

The link below is to a great site if you're short on time but want your friends to think you're part of the museum smart set. The website lets you explore the museum's art collections. Also techniques, conversations and videos.

http://www.getty.edu/art/

Somehow, the acrylic painting I did of my son was excluded from the museum's collections.

ACRYLIC PAINTINGS

My watercolor shortcomings have been mentioned in many earlier blogs. So many failed attempts, yet when I work with acrylics I manage to get close to the result I hoped for. Though I love the look that can be obtained with watercolor, I think I need to embrace the great qualities of the acrylic medium. The painting on the left is an acrylic done by Justin Beckett, a Canadian artist and photographer. Below are two of mine that turned out the way I pictured.

ARTIST TOOL KIT PLUS ONE OF MINE

Here is another informational website plus an acrylic painting I did of an old historic cabin here in Big Bear. The Artist Tool Kit is filled with the basic concepts used in creating art. Animated demonstrations show many art principles including color, balance, line and shape and much more. Also has videos of artists at work.
http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/index.html

COLORADO PASTEL

Spent the last couple of nights working on a pastel from one of the pictures of Colorado. My plan is to use it as a value scale for a larger acrylic painting.

ILE VERTI

I was looking through old photographs for subject matter for some new art, and found some pictures from a trip we took to Quebec a few years ago. Part of our visit was spent on Ile Verti (Green Island) on the Saint Lawrence Seaway. It is an island that few people know about but it has great history and beautiful views. We were there late in the year and almost had the whole island to ourselves. Ihad already done a couple of acyrlic paintings after our return home, but now I would like to try a pastel or two.

MY WATERCOLOR NIGHTMARE

Making yet another attempt at painting with watercolors. I think I have become my own worst enemy in this area. I am thinking this thing to death. Kadinsky said "...lend your ears to music, open your eyes to painting, and...stop thinking! Yeah...bite me!!

GREAT LOOSE WATERCOLORS

I have mentioned in a few earlier posts how much I love and enjoy artists who paint with watercolors in a very loose and non-constricted style. Herry Aifin has a wonderful website that shows this type of style at its' best. On the site he explains why he paints and shows a few demos of his painting technique. Great use of color and values.

http://www.herryarifin.com/

NEW AND OLD

I tried a quick monoprint last year using the 'subtractive' technique, something I had not attempted before. My other prints were done by painting (with water soluble ink) onto a sheet of plastic and then printing onto damp paper. This print was done by entirely coating the plastic with etching ink and then bringing out the subject by wiping away parts of the ink.

The other picture post is an acrylic and color pencil painting of my wife's cat that I did a few years ago.