Radish Bygone

Even as I was painting a few quick studies of radishes for a larger painting, I was surprised by how quickly the radish leaves wilted. Then, I got distracted by rebuilding my website and came back to my setup a few days later to paint more studies. But it was too late--the radish had shriveled up like a prune! I didn't expect that!

A Tribute to Great Artists: CCAA Juried Show

‘A Tribute to Great Artists’ is the interesting concept behind the current art show (Nov. 6 – Dec. 4, 2014) at the Chester County Art Association (CCAA).  I valued this opportunity to pay homage to one of many artists who has helped me develop my own vision as a painter. Because the Pennsylvania still life tradition has always attracted me and influenced my style, for this show I chose to pay tribute to Martin Johnson Heade. Perhaps Heade is best known for his lovely paintings featuring orchids growing in the wild; however, he also painted southern magnolias resting on a table. It is these paintings in particular to which my show entries relate. 

What most comes to mind regarding the process of these two paintings is the sight I observed as I gathered the magnolias in early June. In the bowl formed by each gigantic magnolia petal was a mardi gras of tiny bees and wasps rolling and buzzing around in a golden powdery fluff of pollen and flower parts. I would love to ask Heade if he too witnessed this amazing sunny celebration in the petal bowls of the magnolias. He must have!

 

The theme of the CCAA show reminds me of the invaluable legacy of past masters and great artists of present day. Their work inspires and challenges us, it answers our questions and poses new ones for us to puzzle over. Perhaps our greatest tribute to these masters is to strive to be the best artists we possibly can be, keeping their legacy alive as we forge our way.

One-Day Boot Camp For One

I was feeling the need to recharge my painting batteries, so I put together a one day painting boot camp for one. I did a series of studies each focusing on some different aspect of painting. This tiny (4 x 4") painting is an example.

Earlier in the morning I had gone out to pick three figs for breakfast and came back in laden with twenty figs, two green peppers, lots of string beans, and a handful of these charming red peppers--small, but hot!

Show: Carriage House Gallery National Juried Exhibition

Daffodils & Willow Cup, 14 x 12",oil on linen

I was excited to receive word that my painting Daffodils and Willow Cup was juried into the Carriage House Gallery National Juried Exhibition sponsored by the Chicago-area Oak Park League of Oak Park, Illinois. The show runs from October 7 - November 18, 2011. Click here to view the invitation for this show.

Show: McGuffey Art Center

McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, Virginia presently has a show of member's work, running through Sunday, August 14. This center housed in a former school, now a registered historical landmark, was built in 1916. The classroom's each serve as studios for several artists.

The painting shown here, Tulips in Blue & White Pitcher, 13" x 16", oil on linen on panel, is one of the paintings I have in the show.

On My Easel -- Sunflowers & Hazel Pears

I planted a wide variety of sunflowers and they are in full bloom right now. Shown here is the middle section of a 16 x 20" painting in progress of some of the sunflowers with hazel pears. Hazel pears, as seen in the painting detail, are wild pears that are about 1-1/4 inch round. Along with regular pears, they are the most reliable of the tree fruits. Alas, the economy would have to be really bad to include them on the dessert list!

First Decent Carrot

If I weren't so excited, I would be embarassed to admit that after over 20 years of dedicated gardening and  some market farming, I finally got a decent carrot--over 12 inches long and 1 1/4" wide. Veteran gardeners out there will no doubt scoff at that, but after years and years of misshappen gnomelike pest infested roots, to get even just a 12-inch carrot is an event worth painting. Here's a photo of the painting in progress. It is different now, but gives the idea.

Luis Melendez--Master of the Spanish Still LIfe

Last summer a friend of mine recently recommended I go to the exhibit of Luis Melendez at the National Gallery of Art. I didn't make it to the exhibit, but fortunately, the book showcasing the exhibit, Luis Melendez--Master of the Spanish Still Life (Hirschauer, Metzger, Cherry, Sesena), is fabulous. The book is a painter's treasure trove with full-page close-ups of the sumptuous paintings along with x-radiographs and microphotographs of the pigment layers of the paintings.  The style of his work may not appeal to everyone with its muted natural tones and frank realism, nevertheless Melendez deserves to be included on the list of great still life masters.