Imaginative California Landscape

Mountain Fantasy

 

After a train excursion I painted this landscape in my studio, I remembered glimpses of landscape during that adventure and the patterns of the hills. It usually starts with trees, they all have different personalities and then the mountains, sky, and color.  I tried to make the strokes of the painting as expressive as possible.

During the process of painting I was listening to the news in the background.   Somehow the original color patterns I started with changed, I think the colors and texture where influenced by the sounds I heard.  Breaks in the news cycle can be full of drama….and hopefully not to much misfortune.

It’s interesting how all are life experiences, even the subtle sounds can come together in your artistic process.

Ink Play

While taking a figure drawing class, students discussed the cost and lack of availability of figure models.  The teacher pointed to the outside landscape and said paint a tree.  He wasn't trying to be sarcastic but was serious while he shared his feelings about nature.   The teacher shared that trees have weight, curves, and  personality...



I think our forests, backyards, and urban sidewalks are filled with resilient "spirits" that have helped many artists including me with their journey.  I call these paintings "Ink Play."  The first painting was a combination of a large brush and heavily loading it with ink.  The work on the bottom was completed with medium brushes and dragging a partially loaded brush against a dry surface. 

I've always enjoyed the beautiful work of Chinese and Japanese calligraphers and painters.  I love the pictographs.  My art journey is always a combination of nature, memory, and absorbing different cultures...







Do You Paint What You Dream?

I think the above collection of work has many artist's dreams. I know of artists that have journals by their bed side and write down insights and inspirations after sleeping. It's a great concept and tool. I keep more of a folder of inspiration and ideas...

Original Impressionist Painting Garden Wild Roses

"Out of the Dark"

I found these roses while walking toward the San Clemente Pier. I thought I'd be researching possible future seascape paintings and instead I found theses wild roses. They looked like they were fighting to survive and come out of the dark. The vibrant colors against the dark have an intimate quality.

One of my favorite artists and I have many is Pierre Bonnard. He created these intimate/psychological visual stories with vibrant colors . . . I like the idea of not only making a statement with your subject matter but also with the color, value, composition and brush strokes.

Painting Motivation, Inspiration and Hope

I thought I'd give a little insight into my past, motivation, and why my art inspiration comes from nature. I'm a retired victim/witness advocate. I worked with survivors of crime & other trauma for about 20 years. During that period I saw how the process of creating art could assist survivors in their healing journey.

Not all survivors became artists but many had a cathartic experience through art in its different forms. I truly believe people don't forget a traumatic and painful occurrence. They acquire tools that help them survive and become stronger.

After witnessing arts benefits, I began reading art history books, created my first stick figures, and was on the road to my own art education and journey.

My subject matter on the surface is not about crime and pain. I do understand artists that share their emotions on canvas and it can be beautiful. My work is more about capturing nature. The motivation is to capture life's natural tenderness. I like knowing "mother earth" gives us hope.

”Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end of the day." -- Winston Churchill.

Original Watercolor Painting Chrysanthemum

Let me introduce you to a member-flower of my friend Tom’s Garden. It’s become my latest Asian Inspired painting with my California twist. Tom has a slice of a garden that has a multitude of plants and flowers. When I walk the neighborhood, I take my camera and just photograph my favorites.
These images become the resource and inspiration for some of my later paintings...

The Chrysanthemum is a “fall-flowering plant.” I’m told in the Chinese culture it represents “strength and triumph over misfortune.” I like that idea... It's wonderful when something delicate becomes a source of strength.

Finding Art Inspiration

Do you ever have a lack of inspiration or inability to create. I call it a slump or a basic lack of "mojo?"

A few years ago while in Palm Springs I went to the B. Lewin Gallery. This Gallery had a collection of Mexican Modern Art. (I think it’s closed now.) The masters I remember were Rufino Tamayo and Alfaro Siqueiros. I remember walking in and feeling like I was in a Mayan cathedral something inside just hummed with excitement. The exact same thing happened when I went to the Chicago Art Institute and saw the legends of French Impressionism. I remember seeing these work's of art in person, and thinking it was a visual gift. I just wanted to jump around and say thank you. I would have looked a little silly.

Although I don't paint like these artists, these totally different venues of inspiration both accomplished the same thing, a love of art. So on the occasion my artistic "mojo" is not flowing, I go to the nearest art museum or remember those wonderful venues from the past that first inspired me.

Shop Talk and Curated Etsy Treasuries:

See my curated Etsy Treasury "Harmony and Strength" in blue. It's filled with the work of talented artists and artisans.

Orange Crush by ArtdeJoie is another sumptuous collection. It's a wonderful collection for fall.

Green with Envy by Backyardphotos gives a respectful nod to the beauty of green. A Wonderful collection of fine art photo, fashion, and accessories.

New Painting and details...