It’s true, Chaos and Creativity go together. I need to get going on my next project, and I’m still looking for ideas. I have a deadline, which might bring pressure, panic, despair, and CHAOS. But wait! Chaos and creativity can be a good combination. If I go into the dark forest, I might come out with a rare… Read more
I went to Iceland, and I had a fantastic time! It was great to take time out from my current oil painting to sketch, explore and check out the arts in Iceland. This is my Iceland Report. Here am I, AKA “Stealth Sketcher,” practically in disguise. You can hardly see me, I have bundled up in so… Read more
How long will a new painting take, from start to finish? Update!! Click here to see my video on the entire process of completing this painting. By tracking my hours from the first day to the last, I can develop good estimates for this and future paintings. In this case, I am starting an oil… Read more
Vanitas paintings are about the shortness of life, and the futility of hanging on to things that change or disappear over time. Sounds kind of grim, doesn’t it? “Vanitas” comes from the Bible, Eccesiastes 1:2, which makes the point about futility in a few short words. Vanitas paintings were all the rage in 16th and 17th century Netherlands. By… Read more
Recently, as a gift for a friend, I painted a pineapple. Feeling inspired by botanical art, I gathered reference material, made pages of color samples and detail studies, bought a pineapple to observe, and composed the image with leaves, fruit, and stem. I chose to work in watercolor for this project, and began by experimenting with color blends and… Read more