Sun. Feb. 27, 2011

Here is a new one, still in process. I'm referring to it as "Pagoda Jellyfish" for the time being. It's got a long way to go although I don't want to overwork it either. Hanging back, proceeding slowly, looking and contemplating it a lot. Stand by, German art collectors. 36" square.

Sat, Feb. 26, 2011

And now for something completely different. Yes, horizontal stripes are sometimes hard to take. In previous paintings using them, I included symmetrical, Rorschach shapes. But a different approach insinuated itself this time. Oddly, these shapes seem to form a silhouetted pictorial event; I see things happening here that were never predetermined or, even, desired. The painting is still in process at this time but further changes will be subtle. Essentially, it is finished. 16" x 12"

Fri, Feb. 25, 2011

It is finished. The title is "The Way Through The Way Through." 30" x 48" It isn't a focused image; it's very amorphous purposefully. I really like this one in spite of the ambiguity. Or perhaps because of the ambiguity. Space, underwater, formation of life, emergence, cellular life. At any given moment my life is reborn.

Thurs, Feb. 24, 2010

Not such a great photo but better than nothing. This is the 9" x 12" symmetrical/asymmetrical painting that was just varnished. I even used a little metallic gold on it. There are many different kind of symmetries, yes? Opposing symmetries, imbalanced symmetries. complementary symmetries...

Weds, Feb. 23, 2011

Damn, I keep forgetting to bring my camera to the studio! There are a lot of things happening there. The big (30" x 48") blue and black painting, "The Way Through The Way Through" is officially done (see Jan. 22). A new 9" x 12" symmetrical/asymmetrical painting is done and just got varnished. A 36" square is well underway and a wild 16" x 20" striped piece is also moving along well. And it is particularly fascinating. Things are happening. Got to get pictures!

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011

Here is the finished painting (see Jan. 29). Very pink and light orange. You just never know what's going to happen with these things. It's fun to get into such an unusual color palette; it's like waking up in a foreign country, wearing a dress! Not that I would necessarily know what that is like. OK, time to shut up. Painting completed Feb. 12, 2011. NFS.

Weds, Feb. 2, 2011

Pontification 1:

I met briefly with painter Freddy Muñoz yesterday. He is a dedicated artist who is probably in his 7o's. Highly respectable and venerable; he has truly walked the walk. We spoke about his recent show, sales, why we paint and things of that nature. Concerns common to both of us.

All of which makes me want to address the matter of why I paint. I'm 60 years old (who ever thought they would live that long? It was comforting thinking I'd be dead by 40). Reflecting on life so far, it would seem that some of us were born NOT to fit into the world-at-large. As it should be. By referring to oneself as an artist, it is somewhat possible to distance oneself from many of the petty goings-on and absurdity of everyday life. But there has to be more to it than that.

What are artists doing?