Detente

This painting is one of a series of montages comprised of different, seemingly non-associated, images. Sometimes the images are subdued in double exposure (try to find the smile of a young maiden and salute of a soldier to a fallen comrade) and other times up front and rendered in different styles. When I make these paintings, there is no set plan. I contemplate the work and add images as seems fit. When completed, a story emerges and, in turn, a title.
In this painting two elderly gentlemen are "at ease", which in French is "detente", against a turbulent historical backdrop. That is my reading. Yours may be different, which, of course, is a case-in-point of the idea that a work is completed by its viewers.

"Detente", 2007, 36"x48", oil on canvas.

The Hustler

Well, 2010 ended up with little production of art. Other "little foxes" in my vineyard have been quite the distraction. I did manage to produce this 40" x 80" oil on canvas painting for our billiard room. Those of you old enough, will recognize Jackie Gleason and Paul Newman. This movie is credited with generating renewed interest in billiards during the '60's. This was done with palette knives - no brushes.

"The Hustler" 2010, oil on canvas, 40" x 80"

Tempest: Fire and Rain

I have decided, for me at least, winters are not good times for art. About three months ago we started a small remodeling job. It's like we can't stop. Nearly half of our house is in some way impacted by this remodel. Alas, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We should be finished in about 3 weeks.

So, I have created this encaustic on panel specifically for a new space in the remodel. I call it "Tempest" because that is what my life has been for the last three months!

"Tempest", 2010, 48" x 18", encaustic on panel

Is This IS or Is This ISN'T?

Some years ago the venerable master, Chuck Close, made a series of drawings and prints using scribbles with a limited number of colors to create self portraits. To own one of these original scribbles would require a significant portion of my net worth! Why? Because when you own a Close original you own a part of his practice - his oeuvre. Also, quite frankly, he can get it.

I made this drawing using only four colors of pencils: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. I drew it using the same curly-q doodles featured in earlier posts. In doing this drawing I am investigating...
1. the monetary value of art and its relationship to creator vs. creation. Though my drawing is more detailed than Close's, it is not nearly as valuable - because it isn't by Close.
2. the role of appropriation in contemporary art. Often appropriation serves to comment on or otherwise subvert ideas in contemporary art.
3. the CMYK process in contemporary printing.
4. the artist (human) emulating the machine, as I am doing when I use the CMYK process.

So while this is a drawing of Chuck Close, it isn't a Chuck Close drawing.

"This IS - ISN'T a Chuck Close Drawing", 2009, 22.5" x 19.5", colored pencil on paper on foamcore

Memento Mori

Memento Mori is Latin for "Remember you must die" or "Remembrance of death." It's occurrence in Western art is pervasive from far past to near present.

In this drawing the skull is in the distance with the closer hour glass rapidly exhausting its sand. And yet the drawing is close cropped, non-revealing of the future to come.

This drawing is a doodle-drawing made of repeated passes of doodles to create it. I like the juxtaposition of the casual process against the serious subject.

"Memento Mori" 2009, charcoal on paper, 17"x16.75"

Process Drawing

This drawing was made using only four colored pencils: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. The colors blend visually to create the various colors and tones apparent in the drawing.

Also I drew it only using curly-q doodles, the kind we often absent mindedly make during idle time.

Here I am investigating how four color printing, known as CMYK, uses three colors and black to create realistic photos.

Click on the photo for a large image to better see how this drawing was made.


"Denise" 2009, Colored pencil on paper, 23x17,

Just For Fun

There are a lot of University of Georgia fans around here. This was a relatively quickly done painting of "Uga", the teams' mascot.

No heavy art theory here, just something for fun.

11/22/09 Update: Uga died unexpectedly on Nov 19th.



"Uga", 25" x 24", Acrylic on canvas