Original Acrylic Still Life by JC Strong

"Brent Gave Her Roses"

I hope everyone had a good weekend. Initially, the painting began with a lighter middle valued background but it just didn't seem to do the roses justice.

The roses were a fun and fabulous gift and they had lots of oomph. So I tried making the background luminous with darker values and color. It seemed to bring out the roses and give them more spirit and punched up the golden tones in the roses.

I'd been reading a book about the artist Robert Motherwell
an American abstract painter. His images have big blocks of color, texture and they are huge. I think his strong color sense kind of slipped into this painting.

Original Acrylic California Seascape

Some days, riding along Pacific Coast Highway from Laguna Beach to San Clemente, California, you see beautiful coastlines. I always wonder, what did the coastline look like fifty years ago? (One of my favorite places in Laguna Beach is the Laguna Art Museum... (The museum has a breathtaking exhibit of early 20th Century artists. These early artists documented the coast line of long ago.)


So, today the sky is blue and the waves are aqua green and smooth. I’ve enjoyed a walk to the San Clemente Pier. It was easy to imagine a “Retro Summer."

Shop Talk, New Curated Etsy Treasury, and New Team:
See more details regarding this work and other paintings in my Etsy Shop.

I've stepped out of my comfort zone and made a sale to an international buyer... It was scary new territory. The scary part was international shipping but it went well. Thanks so much!

MysticSilks has curated a colorful Treasury it has a great selection of fine art, ceramics, and fashion, take a look:
The Autumn Leaves Drift By My Window

Scarfooldesigns has curated an homage to the season with fine art in different mediums called:
Black with a Pop of Orange for Halloween Season

I'm a new member of the Etsy Group AWE Team, looking forward to their "first Friday art walk" events...

Light and Dark Influences in Art

The Sun is out. I’m glad. The “June Gloom” is ended.

Beside the Sun, another favorite influence of mine regarding dark and light is the Italian artist Caravaggio. It seems whether you have studied in an academic setting or is self-taught we’re all influenced by nature and art masters that have come before us . .

I guess it’s a continuation of yesterday’s comments. I love art history. Art masters and their lessons live on in their paintings. Note: This is an Liquitex acrylic painting on a canvas panel.

The Sea and Abstract Art Influences

I had been thinking of this seascape for a while. The underlying influence’s is the sea and abstract art. I appreciate art history and made a connection with the “fields” of color within the ocean and abstract interpretation of color.

I can remember years ago seeing Mark Rothko’s huge abstract paintings. When I saw them, I felt like I was in a church. I don’t know what it was but I had one of those “Aha” moments.

Well, this is my original small format interpretation of nature and respect for the abstract artist’s that have come before me. (Acrylic on RayMar panel)

Original Acrylic Walking Landscape in Corona Del Mar

Walking in Corona Del Mar and caught this scene. I didn’t paint it on the spot. I did my usual took notes and digital photos and reinvented the design and composition later. Trees are great to paint they have spirit...

It’s wonderful it can be a grey day outside (not complaining) but I can paint a bright sunny day and invent my own colors. I’d been painting with ink the last few days. This high key painting was a nice change. This painting was done with acrylics and something new for me a RayMar "Plein Aire Panel."