ANOTHER VERSION

Lucy and I went for a walk in Lincoln Park in West Seattle before we settled down into the studio to work. Lucy went straight to her job of watching the driveway, on alert for cats, squirrels and other vermin.

I started in on my 'work in progress' that I posted in the last blog. So, here is where I stopped after several hours of revisions. I changed the shadow, fixed the biker, removed the tree and more or less finished that left side. I changed some of the colors and finally decided I had to quit, it was making me crazy.So, I will leave it like this for a while and look at it and think about it. I would love to hear from you all. What do you think? Any suggestions?

Here's how it looked before I started today, so we can compare.....

BOILER WORKS PAINTING

Here's the painting I've been working on.

It's a building at 6th & Lander, this is what it used to look like before they 'remodeled' it. It lacks charactor now, unfortunately.

The above image is my initial laying down and blocking in. After I got it done, I began to wonder what I found interesting....I hate it when that happens! I began to despise the horizontal bands on the buildings. I began to question the composition. The only thing I like was the sky.

I took the painting to my friend, and instructor, Julia Hensley. She liked it and urged me to continue. She says all the verticals from the utility poles offset the horizontal bands and to forge ahead.

After talking with her I found I was interested again. In the painting below, it shows what I've accomplished so far. I'm not done. I need to do more work on the biker and the big foreshadow, and I still haven't figured out what's going on on the left side around the corner. This is acrylic on a 20"x30" canvas.

I'd love to hear your comments.

Thanks!

NEXT ONE

Here's the next one in the series. This is a little bigger, and a little less abstract.

This is acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12".

Now that I see it posted here - I can see some things that need fixing...

ON HOLD

Well, its back to work (my paying job) for me. I work one week, then I'll be off for a week. So, I'll resume my series next week, when I'm not working.

Here's my car at work today - yes, I work in a scalehouse. And, yes, that's about five inches of snow on my car - and yes, it's March-freaking 9th for godsake!

FOURTH IN THE SERIES

Oh, this one was difficult...

It wasn't the painting, it was life that was difficult today.

I was feeling a little disoriented in my life this morning (for reasons I won't go into here) . And then the sun came out and the day turned just beautiful, but still cold. I occupied myself until late morning, hoping it would warm up a little, and then packed Lucy-dog into the car and went out for a nice brisk walk at Fort Dent in Tukwila. It never did warm up.

Lucy loved looking at the Canada Geese that were hanging on the soccer fields. I wish I could let her loose so she could chase them!

When we got back I was finally able to go to the studio and paint another one.

This is Spokane #3 - 8"x10" acrylic on canvas.

PS. 4/20/2009 - I changed the name to 'Confluence'

TODAY'S PAINTING

Here's today's little painting.

I'm on a roll! This one is Admiral #1 - 8"x10" acrylic on canvas.

NEW SERIES

Well, maybe a continuation of the Freeway Series in a more focused way.

I've agreed to hang some of my work and a friend's annual Art Show and Sale at her home in April. So....I think I need a group of small canvases that I can price at an affordable level.

I stopped at Daniel Smith's here in Seattle on my way home the other day and picked up seven 8x10" and three 9x12" canvases (on sale!).

One a day, just one a day...that's all I need to do!

Here's yesterday's: Spokane #1 - 8"x10" acrylic on canvas.



And here is today's: Spokane #2 - 8"x10" acrylic on canvas.
To be continued..................

STAMPEDE of the OX

They are on their way....finally!

I took a big pile of envelopes to the Post Office today (54 I think), I had to go to the counter to get overseas stamps. Luckily, I went early and beat the crowd.

Here is this year's Year of the Ox postcard exchange for Barenforum. It's from a doodle-type drawing I did while thinking about this year's exchange and decided what the heck, why not?

It's an etching I did on copperplates. The first time I've used copper. I made three plates, but ended up using only two, I didn't like the one that was for the background. So instead, I went with heavy plate tone. I've always liked a good plate tone!

I tried coloring the horns a la poupee', with varying bad results, so I switched to chine colle.

I used some colored papers I already had for the horns on the rest of them. I also tried several different color combinations.

I'm not a very good printer - I'm always experimenting and have a hard time making an 'edition'.

I hope you enjoy them, and Happy New Year!

Year of the Ox, a year of Prosperity through Fortitude and Hard Work.