Last month I realized I was in the middle of reading five different books. They range from fun fiction, to an award-winning literary novel, to compelling nonfiction accounts of the flood in New Orleans, girls raised as boys in Afghanistan, and the criminally insane murderer who helped create the Oxford English dictionary. Apparently, my thirst […]
Claude Monet reportedly said “color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” With all due respect, I’d leave out the torment part. My love affair with color is absolute. Many artists struggle to use color more freely. Not me. Part of the reason I love painting with pastels is they are so robust. I paint […]
Did the image in that last post look familiar? Here’s what you were supposed to see! It may sound odd, but cooking, interior design and gardening – even getting dressed – and, yes, painting, are all similar to me. What I mean is they flow from the same creative process. In all cases, I’m dreaming […]
A long time collector of my art visited recently, and paid me what I consider to be quite a compliment. He told me he describes my paintings to his friends as “luxurious.” While I’m not into what most people consider luxuries – brand name clothes, new cars and such – that struck me as a […]
This is the rough block-in for the composition of a new painting. It’s also art therapy. It’s based on a favorite photo from my first trip to Venice, and I unearthed it at an opportune time. It reminded me what some people have to go through to do laundry. At least my clothes aren’t hanging […]
As in last year’s post about fidgeting and health, it appears there is solid research to support my notion that wandering helps creativity. Regular readers know my habit when traveling is to walk for hours, taking photos that later serve as reference material in my painting studio. And when I paint, my habit is to […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Color, cars, Cuba! I recently spent a long weekend in Havana, satisfying an urge that's been itching me for years. My hope was to immerse myself in a colorful, energizing place that would inspire a new series of paintings, and it did. What an experience! Nothing really adequately prepared me, though I read guide books and […]
