Wednesday, July 29, 2009

PAPAYAS

It's a beautiful morning, the heat not quite so intense, a light tropical breeze blowing. My son just headed for the beach to go kite-surfing and I would have joined him (not to kite-surf myself -- too extreme of a sport for me!) but I've got several paintings going, half finished on their easels, so I'd best reign in some self-discipline and get to work. Sometimes it's like that, you have to be your own task-master.

And on that note, I'm off to paint ... 'til next time, happy brushstrokes to all -- E.

Monday, July 27, 2009

BLUE RIOT

Hello to all -- Looking at BLUE RIOT, a field of white daisies against a blue background, you might see bits of red glowing through here and there. I used cadmium red as an underpainting and it seems to glow through in spots, giving it a wonderful luminosity. It's a remake of an old and faded painting (at the client's request). Good luck friends on all of your painting endeavors -- until next time, E.
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

DOLPHIN SUNSET


Hello everyone -- this oil painting I polished off in very little time in one layer, avoiding the over-use of mediums as I'd become prone to do. Cracking is an issue when layering and it can trip you up (at least it does me!) if you don't pay very close attention to the right mediums and the quantity used.

Here's a cool link to an article that explains different types of mediums and their uses, working in layers utilizing mediums for fast or slow drying. Here's a clean up tip for your brushes: use baby oil! Make sure your brushes are thoroughly clean.
Stay tuned -- E.

TREETOP CONFERENCE - SOLD


Hello again. I love to walk and often take Coco my dog out in the early dawn or right at sunset when it's not as hot and use that time to connect with nature, my personal connection with God. On those walks, tropical nature never fails to amaze me with it's palette of colors and textures. So much to see on a grand or magnified scale: a sloping palm tree, a single dewdropped leaf, two or three wildflowers wavering in the breeze.
The painting of the lovebirds above was inspired by walking under a palm tree and seeing a crow perched on a branch... I thought, why not lovebirds, and "Treetop Conference" was born.
More to come -- E.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

SPOTLIGHT

Hello readers! This is a close up on a spotted jaguar, part of a larger piece I completed some time ago in oil on canvas. The jaguar was as sacred animal to the Mayan culture which is apparent everywhere one goes here, especially at Chichen-Itza near Merida about three hours to the north of Cancun. The animal is carved in stone and painted on a variety of surfaces, very prominent as a religious entity.

I enjoyed the challenge of painting the spots. This spotted jaguar was done in stages using a layering process. Before I began I researched exactly how a jaguar's spots are distributed on its body, the likely position of it's body as it lay on the ground, the expression in the eyes and proper coloring. I wanted the viewer to be drawn in by the jaguar but at the same time not allow the jaguar to dominate the entire work. You can view the entire piece on one of my art sites listed in the upper right corner of this page.

I have three cats who loll about my studio as a rule. They do this to avoid contact with the great white beast, our lovely and charismatic siberian husky who has the run of the lower floor; my studio is on the second. Their tranquility lends itself to me, all characters in their own right providing me with a calm, peaceful vibe.
All for now, back soon -- E.

Monday, July 20, 2009

THE BIRTH OF PARADISE STUDIO


Hello to all -- over twenty years have passed since I made the transition from living in a cold, wet climate to this exotic locale amongst people of a different culture. Perhaps some of you readers have also done so and are curious to see how your experience differs from mine. I had already lived in Mexico for many years pursuing a demanding career before I decided to pick up a paint brush and chase the fulfillment that creativity brings to oneself. In doing so I rediscovered a lost passion for painting, one that I'd cultivated in my youth before leaving it behind as my life so dictated.
I am mostly self taught and still learning. I had studied art and applied design in high school and excelled at both, but never pursued a career in either. Back in the day I had little guidance as to what kind of careers were available to artists and it was largely assumed that artists ended up as poor bohemians, struggling to get by. Hindsight and foresight aside, life takes us where we're supposed to go, so it took me a while to get back to the roots of my original passion. I started painting again about five years ago. Cancun is expanding at an alarming rate and now has a more diverse variety of art supplies available, but when I first started, materials were quite limited. I went to the Papeleria Cancun, a large warehouse-like structure that caters to business, scolastic and artistic needs. There I bought my first set of oil paints (I'd always used water-colors), brushes, canvas, mediums and easel. Since I'd never attemped oils before I began to research on the web, educating myself as to technique. I have since then produced all manner of paintings from plein air to layered works completed over time so as to give them luminosity and depth. And recently I've taken up acrylics as well.
Here is a link to one of the web sites I'm associated with. You can view some of my paintings and if so inclined, order an original or a print.
If any of you have questions about the life of an artist here I'll be happy to answer them to the best of my ability... just leave a comment. I'll be posting my latest works regularly so come back soon for more snippets about life on the outskirts of the rat race and the artwork I create inspired by the magnificent Caribbean ocean as well as the people and culture of the region. Bye for now -- E.