Never Mind

It is clear that a repeating topic of this blog has been the eminent demise of not just the blog itself but of my entire art career. Obviously I have issues. This has been a recurring theme in my life but now it shows up in print. I have worked in places where certain disgruntled individuals regularly threatened to quit. It could become tiresome as they seemed to be the ones who stayed the longest.

Seated Nude, oil pastel, 9" X 6 1/2", 2015

Maybe these false declarations help me keep going by providing a theoretical exit during difficult times. My aim is to continue drawing, painting and posting as long as they remain challenging and provide purpose and satisfaction. I anticipate the figure remaining part of the mix. So as Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say "never mind". Just ignore any future harangues.

Hiatus?

This entry (minus the question mark) was written six weeks ago with the clear intention of following through with its conclusion. Now I'm not so sure.

This is my 100th post on this blog. It appears almost exactly two years after the first post. For some time I have been contemplating how to mark the occasion and then the topic became obvious. Over the last couple of months I have been re-visiting some other subjects with my painting, still lifes and flowers mostly. So, at least for now, the figure has taken a back seat. This shift in focus makes it a good time to take a hiatus from these posts.

Reclining Nude, oil on canvas, 12" X 14", 2015

I have no way of knowing how long this hiatus will last. I am acutely aware of having only scratched the surface regarding the human form. Hopefully the challenges other subjects provide will prove beneficial to future figurative work. If a topic regarding the figure proves irresistible I suppose posting will also.

Splendid Isolation

Something has been happening over the last few months. My strong drive to work from the figure has been waining. Facing this realization has caused some trepidation. What could possibly replace the challenge and excitement of a live nude? It appears now that it wasn't just the subject matter losing its luster it was also the working environment. Apparently I needed some solitude.

Back room studio interior, magnolia setup

Magnolia XIII, oil on linen, 15" X 18", 2015

A couple of months ago the heat and noise of summer forced me into a back room of my studio. This was not an entirely unwelcome development. It provided a quiet more intimate environment than the street front room in which I had been painting. What transpired was a month long magnolia painting binge. Early morning forages to fetch subject matter. Then back to the studio for a spirited painting session with the quickly fading blossoms. My only company the radio and perhaps a wasp that had found its way in overnight.