Bluebird Of Happiness

Bluebird Of Happiness

6"x 6" oil on gallery wrapped canvas  $135.SOLD

Artist Note

I am so happy, happy to be painting birds,

nests, feathers and eggs.

What could be more appropriate than the 

Bluebird of Happiness!

Painted on a wrapped canvas 

which I do not usually use. 

The sides are painted a dark blue

If interested in the origins of the 

"Happiness" part

 here is a link to a safe site

bluebird of happiness

Workshop Demo

 Some Favorite Things

10"x 8" oil on canvas 

I am giving a

Fracturing Workshop

and this was today's demo.

I have an enthusiastic group

of artists, and I am

excited by the resulting 

paintings. They show a 

willingness 

to push themselves out of 

a secure comfort zone.

Artist Note

Last week I was lucky

enough to go with some 

artist friends

to Miami for 

Art Basel.

It claims to be the largest

Art show in the U.S.

Top galleries from

around the world pay a fortune

to display the work of their

artists in the

Convention Center.

Plus

Art Miami 

and Context

are nearby and equally

stellar.

I saw a wide diversity

of art. It was stimulating

and thought provoking.

Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Chagall,

Diebenkorn, Motherwell,

 mixed alongside some 

contemporary favs of mine.

I found I was drawn 

to some of the Chinese galleries

with their very accomplished artists.

Many artists of unknown 

pedigrees displayed.

some very interesting work

which kept me enthralled

and others, belonging to what

art critic Brian Sewell

humorously dubbed

the post-skill movement,

made me scratch my head.

Abstract and

non-representational

work were the largest category,

and I saw marvelous collage

pieces -  many of them

 were dimensional and 

the shadows created a 

wonderful extra level

of interest.

These made me think of a 

blogger I follow.

who is doing really

great collages. Check her out.

Libby Fife

(Libby, you would have 

had your nose right up to them) 

Some thoughts...

How will Globalization

change our perception

of art?

I was exposed to art from 

round the world,

 but saw many of the same 

imagery and techniques.

The easy access to media

sharing obviously has diluted 

the cultural influences 

which were 

unique to individual

countries. 

There appears to be a lack 

of an entirely new  

art movement.

 Everything I saw had 

a strong basis 

from previous movements. 

Installation Art is pushed by 

modern technology but is

still Installation.

Digital art is progressing 

and for the same reasons.

It appears most of the world is 

experiencing strife. 

Usually it emerges in art.

I will be watching for a new 

Guernica

Anyone have any thoughts 

to share on any of the above?

Nest With Dryer Lint

Nest With Dryer Lint

6x8 watercolor on Yupo Paper NFS

This nest is loaded with lint from the dryer, It is woven between the 

twigs, horse hair and grasses. What a beautifully soft

place for the babies to emerge into.

Artist Note.

This one is another painting done on the trip to the dentist.

It was painted by memory of a particular nest I have.

The Yupo lends itself very well  to this type of technique 

- just a few areas of detail with  lots of washes.

I am finding it is best to do the washes FIRST.

I place a few drops of oxgall into the water.

and let the wash dry before going back in with an 

almost dry brush for the details. 

Easy to lift off an area for light spots, but I also did opaque areas for lint

on top of the washed areas.  I went into a dark color next using a rigger

I had a very light touch and a flowing consistency of paint.

Still learning the "how to" of Yupo.

Nest, Feather and Eggs

Nest, Feather and Egg

oil on canvas panel.  SOLD

Day 17

This is a commission.  I usually do not do commissions,
but this is for a friend who arrived at the gallery where
I had my Avian Architecture exhibit, too late...
they were all gone.
So this is # 38, painted especially for a very dear friend.
And keeping in my gallery's good graces!