Shank Shot

I'm not a particularly avid sports fan but for some reason sport/art metaphors keep finding their way into this Blog. While all metaphors are imperfect it might be that sports offer a degree of clarity for comparisons sake.

On Sunday afternoons I occasionally watch golf on television. (Don't judge me). The winner usually makes one or more spectacular shots. But almost always the primary reason for their victory is that they avoided making major mistakes. There is no redo for an errant tee shot. A disciplined consistent approach in all aspects of the game is rewarded.

Nude Study, oil on linen, 9" X 12", 2013

Painting also rewards a disciplined approach but a technique based on avoiding mistakes won't yield the best results. The richest paintings welcome missed brush strokes as a necessary part of the game. With oil paints in particular there is no line that can't be corrected, no area that can't be rubbed out or painted over. It is this search for the right marks that produces the most dynamic results.

The Unexpected

I have worked with a good number of models over the years. Certainly at this point I have seen thousands of different poses. I enjoy searching for the essence in the most ordinary of them. But it is easy to get lulled into formulaic approaches even in the charged environment of a nude figure session. So every now and then it is a welcome surprise when the model does something unexpected.

Drunken, Naked Cowboy, oil pastel 8 1/2" X 9", 2016

Fake Joints and Other Fixes

In the wake of my show last February I wasn't prepared to take on any new projects. I did, however, have a few "finished" paintings around the studio that had some issues. As a general rule I am reluctant to re-visit completed works as past attempts have yielded mixed results. But most of these paintings seemed eminently correctable needing only minor changes and clarifications. One work, a 17 year old still life, proved a bit more complicated.

Album Cover Still Life, oil on canvas, 18" X 22", 1999-2016

The birth place of this painting was a cramped dark attic studio in the late 1990's. It was apparent that I had been overly influenced by the environment and the result was a very dark painting. The value of whole areas needed to be lightened and of course one change necessitated another. Ultimately the project spanned several weeks and required recreating most of the original setup (including rolling a fresh joint - cigarette tobacco this time).  It is a lot easier to hit the "enhance" button on a photo app.

Seduction

All good art involves an emotional connection between the artist and the subject. The very best works, the ones that spark your passion, are the ones that seduce you. The work is calling you. From the moment a concept takes form you are in a very real sense helpless. When at the easel you don't want to leave. When away you can't wait to get back.

Nude Study, oil pastel, 7" X 7", 2016

I have experienced the joy of being seduced by drawings and paintings many times over the decades. It is a wonderful thing. However, one must be careful with longer term projects. A seduction can easily morph into an obsession. If longevity is even remotely ones goal it is advisable to maintain some distance and perspective in the midst of an amorous seduction.

Year Three

August 9th marks the third anniversary of this blog. Anticipating the first and second anniversaries I composed posts specifically dedicated to the occasions. This summer has been so consumed with painting outside that the date snuck up on me. So with no burning issues in mind as I start my fourth year blogging I will just share an early "warm down" drawing from my recent expectant mother sessions.

Seventh Month, oil pastel, 12" X 6", 2016

Compared to three years ago I am in a very different place with regards to both my art and life in general. The fascination continues to be that each new door I pass through seems to invariably lead to more doors.

Only the Flaws

I'm sure many personality traits common to painters transfer positively into their everyday lives. A good painter must be focused, disciplined and dedicated. But what about traits that have negative consequences? Topping my personal list would be a tendency to be overly critical. I approach art (not just my own) with a heightened critical eye. I gravitate to the flaws.

(Don't look too hard at the baseboard trajectories in this 2009 figure study)

Male Nude, oil on canvas, 8" X 10", 2009

Without this flaw radar it is doubtful my work would ever improve. Problems arise when it encroaches on ones personal realm. I am a multi-flawed individual as are we all. Collectively we form an imperfect world. But going through life primarily focusing on what's wrong with ourselves, other people and the world in general is not an optimal way to live. Accepting, maybe even embracing, some of life's imperfections is a better course to chart.

A New Life

On rare occasions something out of the ordinary and wonderful comes your way. A month or so ago I received an e-mail from a women in search of a figurative artist. She was seven months pregnant with her first child and had in mind an original artwork that would capture this special time in her life. She knew other women who had gone to photo studios for this purpose but was looking for something more personal.

A New Life, oil pastel on toned paper, 13 1/2" X 8", 2016

I avoid commissions like the plague but this request struck a nerve. I have had the good fortune of working with pregnant models several times over the decades. The first time in college. Every one was a special experience. My main trepidation in this case was that I didn't feel up to the task. I had been working outside on a cityscape oil the last two months and my figure drawing skills had atrophied. But this project was so compelling I tossed aside my fears and offered to make an attempt if she was agreeable. The warmth and joy this expectant mother projected was contagious. The experience exceeded anything I might have imagined.