June 21, 2012 - Clouds

It's a minor miracle that I finished this one on time.  Over the past few weeks I got really
busy and kind of stymied about what to paint next.  And actually, this one really isn't even a
painting- it's  pastel on canvas.  I like the way it turned out but my procrastination level hit an
all-time high with this one. I did it at the last minute and didn't put as much time into it as I
would have liked.  I probably shouldn't admit that, but sometimes I say too much.  In my
last post I spoke about wanting to move in a more imaginative direction but when faced
with what that would be I found myself stuck.  I feel like I'm on the cusp of some kind of
turning point in my art but haven't formulated what that's going to be yet.  It's like I can feel
it, but can't see it.  In the meantime, I've been thinking of doing a cloud study so that's what
this is.

Painting #11
18" x 24"
pastel on canvas

 

June 7, 2012 - Night Sky

I really enjoyed working on this one.  I liked it because I did it from imagination and memory rather
than looking at an image. While I enjoy doing representational works derived from photos, it
was refreshing to do something different.  It put the fun back into it for me.  This one is based on my
recollection of how on a clear night where I grew up, the night sky would teem with stars.  It doesn't look like this where I live now by the beach.  Too much marine layer and too many city lights.  The
nights simply aren't as dark here- artificial lighting is everywhere.  For instance, if the shades are open in my bedroom- I can literally read in bed with no lights on.  Artificial lighting is not necessarily good for us- it messes with our circadian rhythms.  Sometimes you'll hear a bird chirping at 3am-they're confused because the streetlights are so bright that it could be morning.  When I go home to  visit my parents, I'm struck by how dark and how quiet it is.  The only light comes from the moon, and the only noise you hear are the sounds of nature, which are soft and subtle instead of street noise in the city. I have to say though don't really mind street noise- I'm so used to it that
I find it strangely soothing.

After finishing this one, a friend and I set all 10 paintings out the other night and looked at them together as a group.   It was an interesting thing to do.  Even though I consider this one quite
different than the others because of the way I did it, it still looked like my work.  I'm wondering if this piece may be a turning point in this series for me.  I've been wanting to move into a more imaginative direction so maybe this piece is a bridge to that.  I have no idea what my next piece will be, but I kind of like that- it feels like freedom.
 
Painting #10
18" x 24"
acrylic on canvas