New Graphic Design

It always surprises me when I switch media how many fresh ideas and approaches I have. I think some of the most valuable advice I got in graduate school was from a real working artist Mom who said "no matter what, don't stop making daily visual art decisions." So if your circumstances change and you can no longer paint large oil paintings then switch to small pencil drawings or something managable. It really pays to keep making those decisions, keep practicing, you will continue to grow.

Yummy New Paintings

"Cake", acrylic on board, 8"x10"

"Can I eat that?"

"Apple", acrylic on board, 8"x10"

King of the Yard

2013, King of the Yard, acrylic on board, 8" x 10"

I think this big guy would tell you that "it is good to be king".

With this painting, I am happy with the expressiveness of the brush strokes. Drawing is teaching me so much about being expressive and that really is my goal these days.

Young Children's Class

We had fun going "Into the Jungle" with Henri Rousseau. I look forward to going "Into the Garden" next week with Claude Monet.
I love studying about the artists, their lives are so inspirational. Rousseau didn't start painting full time until he was in his forties. He accomplished a lot by day dreaming on the job, he was essentially a customs inspector, and his weekend jaunts and painting. I was surprised to learn he never visited a jungle, just the botanical gardens and zoos in Paris and used his imagination to travel in his paintings.
Here is a good link to two of his paintings: http://www.nga.gov/kids/linkrousseau.htm

New Paintings

"Magnolia and Friends"

"Montpelier Snapshot"