Poolside II (in progress)

Do I ever get sick of working on the same projects for days or weeks? Yes, which means that project usually find its way to my drying rack and stays there (great examples: portraits of Amy and Mark). In this way, I can be almost a slave to my emotional connection to a painting. This isn't really a good thing for me as an artist. Isn't making art about expressing yourself and how you are feeling? We should love each painting, right? Well, yes...and no. My art is an expression of me, of beautiful things or places that lifted my spirit, and overall, I love creating each piece. But, painting is a struggle. Sometimes I really don't love the piece I am working on. It's not working, the colors aren't right, the angles just won't line up, this is not what was in my head... But that is the way anything satisfying is - we have to figure out the problems, overcome the frustrations, put in the time...before we can feel the accomplishment and really love our work. There is a stigma that painting is fun. Well, it is... but, it is also work. And it sure feels good to step back and have that very troublesome painting (and colors, angles...) work.
And no, this painting is not yet finished nor is yet the subject of any real frustrations - just problems to fix.

Resurrecting the Trees of Life

Tree of Life #1
36 x 36
Sold

A year ago, well more than that actually (time really flies sometimes) I finished this painting as part of a series, The Trees of Life. As of now, it is still the only painting in that series. After some good advice and pulling out my old sketches, I am re-inspired to finish. I don't know if I am the only artist that does that (starts one idea, then another and another, then finally goes back and finishes). Anyone else do that?
This series sprouted out of taking anatomy and painting classes simultaneously. I have always loved the mixture of complexity and simplicity in the body, the grace of the figure, and the incredible functionality of how it all works together. The human body is just beautiful. I was really excited while examining the dissections and diagrams by the surprising number of "trees" that exist within the physical body. It wasn't long before I was sketching and painting them. This 36" x 36" painting was the only finished large scale drawing that emerged, mostly because I graduated, moved, and got distracted by other projects. It is time to finish.

Kudos to anyone who can figure out what "tree" each painting represents.

Poolside II (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

Blue Plateau (in progress)

Poolside II (in progress)

Mountainside (in progress)