The fifth of this series of portraits of my brother Mike* is a bit different than the others. Mike would often display fits of rage, directed at himself. Some docs thought he was Tourettic, others thought it was a behavioral issue. The point is, Mike could be frightening. I weathered the storm and didn’t believe […]
I almost left the doctor’s office without taking a picture of the sign. It’s not the worst door instruction sign I ever saw. The worst one read: “Keep Door Closed at All Times.” I’m on the lookout to photograph that one if I ever see it again. This one almost qualifies to be entered into […]
I began this fourth portrait of my brother Mike*, with frisket squiggles to sketch out an eye and lips. Jarring the paper side to side and up and down created traces, traces that have meaning. This is almost a double portrait. Possibly it is a portrait of the space between two people, the channel that […]
I began today’s study with compass and ruler, Kandinsky’s work in mind. Usually I have a couple of paintings going at the same time, so I had not planned this one to be part of my current portrait series. I’m not quite sure how it became one. I drew on symbols and visual elements I […]
I get in a creative rut every now and then. I can’t seem to think of anything new to paint or draw. Sometimes, looking at my books about art by my favorite artists, and essays by knowledgeable critics, gives me a boost. What I seek from my readings and reproductions of art from the masters, […]
Today’s composition began with a latex masking (frisket) design. I complied with my practice of the past few compositions, of shaking my paper while the frisket was still wet, causing it to streak. I dripped ink onto the paper in different places and blended those spots with watercolors. I continually inspect the image that arises […]
I walked by the passion fruit vine again this morning. I couldn’t resist the delicate orange ovoid fruit, so I took a couple with me. In addition to its nearly perfect egg shape, its tendrils came very close to circumscribing perfect circles in the air (hard to see in the still life below, but it […]
The idea of intersecting free forms is the basis for this study. I had no plan in mind when I began. I used a dip pen with several different widths. The rough tooth of the paper caused the wider ink traces to look a bit rough. Yellow was the first pigment I laid down, emphasizing […]
I like this double portrait. I kept the lines simple, as I imagine Paul Klee would have done. I think I was able to capture some emotion in this portrait.
There were long shadows this afternoon. I took the opportunity to set up a self portrait on one of the posts in the parking lot.
