Thursday, November 19, 2015

The Mighty Ones Who Dwell Beyond the Stars

The Mighty Ones Who Dwell Beyond the Stars
14X18, Oil on Panel
 
 
I am actively trying to become more abstract with my landscapes and possibly a way to accomplish this is paint abstracts!  You think maybe that could work?  We'll see.  This one has been done for quite a long time but it took me forever to come up with a name.


Friday, September 18, 2015

Selah

Selah
12X24, Oil on Panel

I typically go weeks wondering if I have any clue as to what I'm doing.  Then suddenly, something like this falls out of the sky and renews my faith in myself.  Don't worry though, I'm already back to wondering if I have a clue.

"I think you think you know
what you're getting into.
I think you you think you're ready,
that you understand,
that letting go comes easy,
that it's second nature.
I think that at some level, we all wish this were true.
But we never really know how attached we are,
or how accustomed we've become
to having and holding,
to seeing and saying 'I love you.'
I think we spend so much time promising to never leave,
not because we think we would,
but because if we never leave them,
then they'd never leave us.
And I think it's safe to be honest,
the latter hurts more.
When they leave, they leave holes,
voids,
an emptiness that we believe simply cannot be filled.
I think it's true, what they say about time,
that time heals,
but it's funny,
no one ever tells us that time forgets.
I think it's because it isn't true.
You never forget their absence,
those significant days,
the ones you wish the calendar would simply skip.
We close our eyes to them,
but even in darkness we're reminded.
Things are complicatedly simply,
and all together different.
I think we think we know,
how to handle death,
how to stay present in the land of the living when the one we love isn't.
But I think if we were honest,
we'd admit we haven't a clue,
we'd just wake up,
and do it."

Words by This Patch of Sky, from the song "Selah."

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

To Be Relentless Like the Sea

To Be Relentless Like the Sea
9X12, Oil on Panel
SOLD


The black sand beach of Dyrholaey near Vik was one of my favorite places in Iceland.  The weather was pretty foul when we were there, about 40-45°F and spitting rain, but the place was still astounding.  This painting was accepted into the Arkansas League of Artist's annual juried show.  I have one final Iceland painting I have done.  I am sure I will return to it as a subject in the future but I am already started trying to get a jump on next year's solo show.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Onward, Till Valhalla

Onward, Till Valhalla
9X12, Oil on Panel
Available
 
 
This is Þingvellir in Iceland's Golden Circle.  It was such an incredible place, it made my imagination go wild.  One day I want to camp here and explore it in greater detail.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

The Water Whispers

The Water Whispers
6X8, Oil and Golden Opens on Panel
SOLD


This was my first nocturne produced with Golden Opens.  Obviously, I was able to overcome the issue with making nice deep darks using Ultramarine blue and Dioxazine purple.  I did make some touch ups to this in the studio with oils but they were not major.

Monday, August 3, 2015

As Fleeting As Morning Light

As Fleeting As Morning Light
6X8, Oil and Golden Opens on Panel
SOLD


This is one of my paintings from the backpacking trip I took a few months ago.  It got a lot of rework in the studio with oils using the same palette as the Golden Open plein air painting did on location.  We camped alongside Gee Creek in a beautiful wooded flat beside the Ozark Highlands Trail.  It was my first true backpacking experience.  Carrying paints and plein air setup really limited the amount of supplies I could carry and that will need to be resolved for future trips longer than one night.