Contrary to popular belief, getting emotional is not a bad thing. Which emotion, and, more importantly, what label you put on it when your brain decides what you are feeling, is what matters. The ability to identify, harness and express those feelings at the appropriate time, in the appropriate amount, to the appropriate person, constitutes […]
There are arenas where creativity is welcome, even necessary. Cooking, gardening and teaching come to mind, and, of course, painting. Nobody needs me to do a completely realistic painting of a scene when everybody has cameras in their phones. A touch of creativity is needed to recapture the energy and wonder I felt. Other areas […]
Whether on a baseball diamond, in a courtroom, or with slights from someone, you know that three strikes indicates a line has been crossed. Quite probably repercussions will follow, and hopefully a lesson has been learned. What does that have to do with pastel painting, you might ask? Well, for me it’s about my preferred approach […]
Some people travel to relax on a beach, to try famous restaurants, or to ski and hike. I travel for inspiration. The best trips stimulate both my brain and my creative juices. It seems I need this kind of travel to be able to paint. This past year, we experienced Havana, London and the Greek island […]
My paintings are normally quite vivid, in keeping with my preference for a high energy, colorful life and my desire to share that with others. Sometimes, however, a place to rest the eye, and a sense of wonder about life's smaller gems, is needed. That's perhaps particularly true in these turbulent, stressful times. So I found myself […]
Recently returned from Greece, I'd like to offer a few reflections. This will help clarify my thoughts while sifting through hundreds of reference photos and deciding what to paint. If forced to summarize, I'd say the ruins were spectacular and the number of smokers was appalling. The Acropolis Museum in Athens is a jewel, well-designed to […]
Every once in a while I really struggle with painting and am reminded that it a) requires intense concentration, b) is hard work, and c) makes me very hungry! That was true of a recent painting in my Havana series, when I was under a deadline for my current exhibit, so I decided to share its evolution. […]
People often ask what style my paintings are and I sometimes stumble to explain. Expressionistic colorscapes is the phrase I've coined, but it usually requires clarification. In a nutshell, I try to show how a particular experience or place felt, versus simply showing what my camera saw. Expressionism ls a style of art, like Impressionism or Realism. Impressionism uses […]
This year's trip to Havana, Cuba, introduced us to a beautiful (though deteriorated) city, filled with color, music and creativity. We had the opportunity to visit artists' studios and learn about the gallery scene, exhibit opportunities and their challenges in obtaining supplies. One artist's Seattle-raised fiancee explained her "Walgreens Rule" to us: if you can […]
Besides the obvious benefits – fascinating cultures, scenery, architecture, history, art, and novel experiences with story telling rights – travel can also be good for you in the food department. Who knew? It's a bit counter-intuitive, but an article in my MD's newsletter convinced me I can vouch for at least Europe and South America – no diet needed! Got […]
