I haven’t done much iPad painting over the last year (carpal tunnel issues), but every now and then I see a subject that’s compelling enough so I can’t resist. These two pieces were inspired by grandson Max’s toys: Buzz Lightyear (perched on Max’s dresser) and a red robot whose name I never got. Do you know who he is??
As with all of my iPad art, fine quality prints are available at reasonable prices.
Buzz Lightyear. iPad.
Red Robot. iPad.
I am delighted that my neighbor, Dr. Charlotte Jensen, has invited me to exhibit some of my paintings in her offices, C2M Chiropractic, in North Bethesda, MD.
Dr. Jensen is displaying some of my iPad paintings, printed as giclees on high quality archival papers in archival inks. In addition to a series of veggies and flowers recently showcased at Brookside Gardens, these landscapes are part of the new exhibit.
The prints are scheduled to appear in Dr. Jensen’s office gallery over the next year.
After struggling (really, procrastinating) for over one year, I have finally finished a large oil painting, Mary’s Orchids.
Mary’s Orchids. Oil on linen, 2′ x 3′.
My sister Mary asked me to paint this work, requesting orchids, cherries, and a piece of pottery by Walter Anderson, the wonderful artist who lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast near our home. She also asked for it to be sized at two feet by three feet. Gulp.
I bought the canvas panel, arranged the elements in dozens of compositions before settling on this one, roughed out a drawing on the plastic wrapper of the panel, and then STOPPED. I was intimidated by the difficulty of the composition and its sheer SIZE. I hadn’t attempted anything that large since the portrait I did of our dad for his 90th birthday three years ago.
I have at least four pots of yellow orchids hanging around the house. As each orchid lost its flowers, I’d buy another pot in the expectation that I’d be starting ‘soon’. This went on for so long, the original orchid re-bloomed! So I decided I better get cracking, especially after passing the one year mark.
Finally it is done, about to be varnished and shipped down to Mary in Houston, TX. Whew.
If you’ve got an extra minute to spend, check out the site of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, MS. It’s a fabulous museum, built with my dad’s help, honoring a fabulous artist.
Today’s Maryland edition of the Washington Post showcases our new Kentlands Exhibit in its Going Out Guide. Congrats to Nancy Butler on the use of her beautiful painting, Difficult Run, to represent the work of the Seven Palettes! Come see this lovely exhibit anytime through September 5th.
Downpours and tornadoes couldn’t wash out our opening reception for ‘Brushes with Nature’, the summer-long exhibit by the Seven Palettes at the lovely Kentlands Mansion in Gaithersburg, MD. Our 50 pieces of art were beautifully hung by the staff of the Gaithersburg Cultural Arts Advisory Committee and at least 50 people braved the storms to attend the reception. Here are a few scenes from the festivities.
I made this flower study during a recent workshop with Duane Keiser. He plopped the vase down on the table one hour before the session was to end and suggested we paint quickly! I was slinging and slapping that paint around like mad. I completed it in the allotted hour. Actually, it’s more accurate to say I ‘stopped’ at the end of the hour! Duane encouraged me to go for the bright blue background — which the composition had in ‘real life’. I was about to tone it down to something insipid. I’m glad I followed his advice!
Red Roses & Frilly Purple Things
I’ve never had a ‘comfy’ relationship with painting flowers. Like to look at ’em but shudder when I think about trying to paint them. I’m going to post one of my efforts here and will post some others as the days go by.
This one says ‘spring’ to me.
Yellows & Pinks for Spring
Here is a portrait of my grand-nephew Les, younger brother of Ceci, whose portrait was featured in a prior post. You’ll see that he, like Ceci, was captured with bright sunlight flooding over his head and spilling down onto his eyebrows, nose and cheeks. These are unusual poses, but were great fun to paint. Sweet sweet children. In the meantime, another baby brother has joined the family. Once he gets a bit older, his portrait will be painted as well.
Les. Oil on Linen.
One of my nieces and her husband asked me to paint portraits of their two children. Being a big chicken, I procrastinated for quite awhile. Finally I dived in. Here is the final of their daughter Ceci. Here are some some of the steps along the way, if you’re interested.
