The New year!

cheers!

impression #2

Koi 5.5' x 8' all rights reserved by the artist
1985
oil on canvas
commission
( very loose up close,
looks very tight
from a distance)

I was taking a break and tiptoeing through the paintings and came across some high quality hyper realists, not in the old term of the 70's and 80’s, yet that venue of contemporary realists. Lovely craftsmanship, yet i was left chilled, all emotion gone, almost sucked from the very image.
I think what struck me so when i saw Duane Keiser's work was it had some emotion without being contrived or forced; at least it feels that way to me. I did see this. Almost cannibalism of ideas, I do not know where it started, was sort of shocked to see a painting almost exact composition I did at 15 and similar tones though mine was a study in black and white as directed by my teacher. The subject a dress on a hanger. I have done a few of these and plan to again ~i see someone lovingly has made them a theme of their work, yet i felt as if I was looking at a dead dress. I think that is it, all emotion removed.
And it's good to see some homage to the Dutch painters, reminds me of my again student work, though again when i approach these subjects i try to imbue life in them rather then, Remove it.

It is a stark contrast to the many people who think painting is just putting color to canvas and attempting to render something. Usually without training or eye, or a studied hand or hows of real practice and disciplined devotion.
The in between area or craft and emotion. Of truthfulness and. resonance, of observation and gift to the viewer is what i seek, what i appreciate, there are a few very few i see who are willing and able to do that...
Most interesting revelation, sad to see "designed" work supersede true painting, and that so many who just scratch think they are painting. Painting is joyful and yet a painful process at times, revealing much of your soul to yourself when you’re in fact painting!!!! Not just copying or designing in paint to some marketing limited lane of subject matter and expression. It evolves takes you as the artist and viewer. It engages, it's a conversation that is silent yet penetrates...in my humble opinion.
This is why i am so enthused about this venue. (I must pack 3 more weeks i am out of here and free to begin again ;) (!)) And what Duane Keiser has wrapped around that view and the resonance it has called to any of us who engage to be that intermediate between the creative process, the artist's expression and the appreciative viewer.
I do not know Duane Keiser, yet after seeing what is happening currently in the world of contemporary painting my first impression again renewed.
And the building passion within me to let that creative explosion to be let loose is increasing in divine pressure an a bit of frustration but i must remember the coming blast of light as i pull back the curtain.

Today's painting

It was all in my mind as i watched this amazing scene unfold before my eyes this afternoon. A father two children girl age four or five, the son maybe three, the little girl unbridled running to watch the magnificent dappled grey Arabian as the trainer put him through his paces, the setting sunlight rimming the mane of the horse and the girls dark curls, turning them on fire, an impossible red halo surround her crown.
As i am struggling with a noisy neighbor, longing for my quiet and own land again, the freedom to be out of LA proper on open spaces, old Indian land, i had to take a respite with the trees and horses.
And was reminded of the amazing beauty tend miss in our daily lives of struggle. I adore the smell of paint; i am yearning for the old familiar stains on my hands. For the endless hours of concentration of me canvas, brush and color. As my dear friend said remember to pull back the curtain there is blasting light there.
I long to paint that light so soon, i can taste it smell it:) though, i won't lick my brushes like Van Gogh or Fetchin.
Off to more packing

egg number 2 • 1991 • another painting a day

i loved theses two pieces so much that though i had friends who wanted to purchase them i kept them.
(i might be convinced to let them go though usually the first one of new series ends up being precious to me).
They are well loved were in my kitchen, slight splatters on the raw linen showing.
That was one thing that happened~ i loved the grey texture color of the primed linen so much i used it as a tone itself, as if i was doing a pastel.
very fast, very impasto. the light in the shadow was my focus and color as you can see and with the fewest strokes how could i define this form, usually for warm up and fine tuning i paint white on white (those will be coming.. white eggs, onions on white table clothes, sometimes accented by a dark object, like a bottle of wine.. here i had brown range free eggs and was craving the form, painting an egg is so sensual, as it curves in such a beautiful manner. and if you don't look an pay attention it doesn't feel solid , or well formed. also i was playing with the angles, these were painted on fine portrait linen ~ i like how the smoothness shows the strokes. 9x11", oil 1991.
& as with all images on all my web pages and sites, all rights are reserved by the artist

My original Eggs "a painting a day"

Painted in August 1991 in my studio in Westchester California, a beautiful home once overlooking the Playa DeleVista Bluffs, before homes were built. I was so touched by a now rare stretch of empty land that had foxes and birds and all manners of wild life still thriving there. That I painted the egg, symbol of the beginning of new life, very appropriate to the changes in my life now as well :)

First Oil Painting

The road I will see and paint. It's a painting with every view ~ endless subjects, endless beauty.



I have been painting since I could touch my finger to the wall, my first oil painting was when I was three. I had discovered my mother's paint box, hidden in the garage. I was mesmerized but this magical tubes and began smearing the rich
Alizarin Crimson all over my hands and then the depth and vibrant Thalo Blue and Prussian Blue.
I then took off all my clothes and. continued to paint myself.
Once i was satisfied i ran through the house touching everything i could with these wonderful colors, my first conceptual piece. I was hooked though I was already drawing at1 and painting in watercolors at 1 1/2.
these jewels in tubes were now my passion and as you can imagine off limits to me as well for many years.

Packing a painting a day

4 seasons nyc
watercolor
7x10"
2004
(all rights reserved by the artist)

It's the middle of the night, I should be asleep yet I am packing the urge to be at the cabin in my studio and outside painting is so overwhelming. sleep will come later. I love the thought of having this dialog with with art lover's and collectors in a way that is more direct, less informal. Sharing a glimpse into an observant studied creative life that is part of the discipline of doing a painting a day.
This is a water color I did at the Four Seasons Manhattan.
The Met is one of my favorite places to be and I have come to love New York.

impression of the dayof "A painting a day"

Patterns of Life
36 x36" oil on linen
1986
sold~private collection
{all copyrights held by the artist}


As my life is returning to fine art full time once again and consequently as I was wandering along the Internet looking up old galleries, my teachers {Sergi Bongart and Del Gish}, so great to see they are now respected and known:) and researching post card paintings as I have had a certain concept I started in 1991 I wanted to now pursue…I stumbled upon very interesting phenomena which in my past experience makes perfect sense.

I give kudos to Duane Keiser and his beginning the marketing of A Painting A Day; I highly respect his work and the avenue he found.

I had been doing this in my own way for years including we share so many of the same subject matter, such a shock and thrill to see :).
I began painting single eggs on linen in a small format in 1991, Though small studies have always n been a part of my work, two apples on linen (I’ll post this later) was one of my scholarship pieces and I have done many such pieces since that first one, it began my fascination with painting apples.
Yet these are also common symbols and elements of our lives and human kind itself, basic principals…so it is why they also hit such a powerful cord.

I would sell small paintings to collectors friends as it is found most galleries would not carry the " gems' as they would, not fetch enough money for the valuable wall “real-estate” of high end galleries, unless very highly priced by well known artist’s.

I understood this, yet as much as I love panting large
{See other blog. Koi (66" x96")} a lot of my commissions and portraits are also usually large format as well s many other subjects including still lifes.

I have always used the daily work as a tool to make sure I am looking and observing as well it's a joy I can readily share as well.
And sometimes a large piece will take up to three months to complete, so a spontaneous creation is that instant gratification.
And this art I can share with many, in a way that is not limited to mass reproduction. My movie posters have been seen by millions over the years, yet I have been blessed to hear 9 I still dream of your paintings, or I can’t live with out t, it’s captured some piece of my soul.
And that hit’s the deeper meaning to me of why I am here on this planet, of what I struggled to learn my vocation, the sacrifices I made to be able to express the beauty in life.


Now I have to come to see there is this widely appreciated and growing audience of such little gems by good real artists and I enter the waters of this avenue with full joy and excitement.

I am currently moving from LA to my cabin to paint full time once again and It is a privilege and choice to paint ~ though sometimes I think we are born with this instinctive need to reflect reality creation the miracle of life around us. To point a focus of it, to share the shimmering reflection of our soul in away that communicates what we all share inside somewhere. Resonating spectrums strokes that capture some essence of a shared reality though with a slightly different perception.

I will begin posting my little daily paintings I hope very soon. These will be smaller than my gallery small pieces.
As soon as the move and things settle. So please return I hope by mid February to have my impressions available to share and for purchase.

Happy New Year and May a moment each day leave a beautiful impression in your life.