The Aboriginal

My very first attempt at figure painting.

Frog

This is my very first untrained attempt at realism.It was painted during a very stressful time in life and it's creation had me in tears on several occasions. I called my artist father for help. He said, over the line, "No matter how much you paint it, it still will only be paint on a canvas. It will never be a frog." I guess it's true. While I was finally satisfied with the image, it disappoints me that I did not give any thought to the subject. What was I thinking? As if I was designing Earth Day T-shirts for elementary school children.

Still Life

This still life intrigues me. I created it before I ever considered studying art. I took a beginner oil painting course, and, as beginner art courses at the university level go, I wasn't taught a thing--Not even, really, how to use the paint. Later I was shocked to find the similarities between this and early German Expressionism, and I am pleased with it's refreshing naivete. I agree with my seventh grader's interpretation of Picasso's work: He could paint like a master as a child, so he painted like a child as a master. That's what I need--I need to resurrect that fountain of unbridled creative expression. I need to scribble all over the walls of the upstairs hall to the bedrooms with crayon. I need to do it now.

Figure Study

Figure Study