Meadow Dreams

The summer of 2008  has inspired some magical meadows

One of my favorite themes are meadow scenes which anthropomorphically incorporate Figurative imagery inspired by the Mythical idea of  Female deities and Goddesses. The Shape of Flora and Fauna tessellate back and forth, commenting on the universal forms in nature.  In this first piece, Starmate's Meadow, I've used metallic pigments to depict a white gold mist flowing over a field graced  by silver and sable nymphs

Starmate's Meadow, 2008, Metalic Pigment, Sumi Ink and Acrylic on Washi Paper, 38" x 22"

This year I had the strange experience of meeting three people with birthdays just one day before mine. Since my birthday is the first day in virgo, all three of these people were just over the cusp in the last day of Leo. I'm not super fixated on horoscope lore, but pay attention and am often intrigued.  I painted this image of a magical meadow for one of these friends, the very gifted photographer, Anne Marie Simard, whose own rich black and white images of patterns and nature inspires me quite often.

Starmate's Meadow Detail

Meadow Sylph, 2008, Acrylic and Ink on Paper, 40" x 25"

In Meadow Sylph,  I've embraced the same theme while utilizing a  much brighter pallet of color.  This piece also includes something else that happened to me this year, Calligraphy!  I'm just beginning to explore this but I'm enjoying the ability to add textual elements to the work in an aesthetic and organic way.

I'm very intrigued by Calligraphy, its history and how it feels when I do it in my art. I must admit it took me a little mental adjustemt to write directly on the artwork, but in truth, the entire calligraphy experience is possible because I'm treating each letter as gestural stroke rather than 'writing a letter'. I'm fairly certain this engages an entirely differn't part of my brain.

On Vacation

I leave you with a pleasant image that will sit on my blog for a week while I head north to Canada for some much needed family vacation.

 

This image was inspired by Odilon Redon, one of my favorite painters. He lives on that strange transition zone from classical to modern, not quite impressionist, certainly not academy, but something in between.  I grew up with a reproduction of this Redon image on the walls of my childhood home. Little did I know then how to parse it, but now I find this painter's work completely compelling.  Use Google images to see a host of his work.  See you in a week.

-dan 

Bucephalus Dreams

I know dogs dream, cats too. So its a safe bet that horses dream as well.

 

I was just throwing paint around on this one and then I saw a horse in a splotch. I encouraged it a little bit and thought If I was a horse I'd be proud to have a dream like this. I would be a really exciting horse. If you were Alexander's Horse, fighting your way across Asia, you might have dreams like this. Do horses get PTSD? I can't answer that.

One reason I'm positing this painting is that what's going on in the details of the paint is similar to what I like about glass, its capability for chaos.

Summer Rains

As my latest round of glass heats up in the kiln, cool mist and cloud shrouded tree tops are the mood of the day. Nature Shines in all weather.

I painted these two pieces at the same time, probably inspired by a day just like this one.

Sumi Monday

Hot to Cool

 

 Comfort of the Vastness, Acrylic on paper, 22 x 30, 2003

 

We had a blistering hot weekend up here in the Puget Sound Region. Of course this was the weekend I chose to do a glass fusion class at a local glass shop. Not as hot as glass blowing but when all the kilns got up to speed I assure you it did not make the room any cooler.  I have never worked with glass before and I found it refreshing. When the instructor asked us if we had any experience with glass it felt great to be able to say "none!" Zero expectations, know nothing. Just teach me. I plan to blog some of the results from the two day glass later in the week. 

The hot weather turned blissfully cool today and I think this Sumi Painting captures the refreshing cool mist  spirit of the day

 

 Pink Blossom, Gray Moon, Acrylic and Sumi ink on Washi Paper, 2005

New Physical Alchemy

New Assemblage gallery added

 

Kubada Pagoda and River Maiden Symmetry, 2006, As they look on the wall

So what is Physical Alchemy?  When I was doing lots of the Digital Alchemy pieces I would often find myself in complex discussions with viewers trying to explain the layering process I used in the digital work. At some point I thought. 'I should just do a physical example of what I'm talking about as a visual aid. Little did I know I'd get so enamoured of the process. Traditionally pieces like this can be called mixed media, or more aptly, Assemblage. This is my least delved in genre by number of pieces, partially because they are very involved and take a while to do. This might be why they are often the most satisfying pieces when they're done. I've added a Physical Alchemy Gallery in paintings section.

I am acutely aware of the fact that I don't have an undo button when I'm working on these pieces, or if I do it usually involves industrial sanding, hammer work and maybe starting over from way back in the process.  No easy bifurcations here. One piece in the gallery, Chinese Summer, sat on my desktop for maybe three months in loose pieces, while I tried to figure out if I had the right combination of elements, color, proportion.  It's hard because once I get into the actual 'gluing and screwing it down' I end up improvising and changing, so I have to 'leave room' for that process as well. I've got a few half baked versions in this genre in the basement and in the garage, awaiting the sandblaster and inspiration.

 
If you think I'm kidding about the sandblaster, I've actually got one and it's great for distressing and deconstructing surfaces. In fact I'm threatening to get it out and set it up again.

En plein air

Painting outdoors when the weather is fine.

 

I've added a new page in the 'Art Journeys' section called Outdoor Painting. Here's a chance for a virtual visit to my outdoor studio. An indoor visit is in the works.