Oil Painting

I took a beginner oil painting class as a freshman at college, for non-majors. The instructor told us to bring an image to class and paint it. That was it. "But, I don't know how to use the paint." He didn't care.

Representational Still Life

Painted this in college. The second still life I've ever painted. A far cry from the first which you can find an a previous post. Naturally German Expressionist--remember? This is naturally, a lot more representational. An accident really. I was using a smaller brush.

Flat? Outlined? Yes. Cassatt was my favorite artist at the time.

Lost Art

This painting went missing, which was kind of nice, because then I didn't have to ever move it again. I moved a lot in college. I thought this blurry photograph was all that remained; Then I found the preparatory sketches for the painting in an old sketchbook the other day. I might attempt to recreate this work this summer. You'll be the first to know when that happens.

The Forgotten Painting

This painting has been in the closet for three years...in a box, because I've never been satisfied. In fact, this is the digitally altered version of the painting...still not perfect, but 100,000 times better than the actual work. It was in "A World Without Art"--it was created for the Center Street show, but after years of trying to forget it, and altering it to fit another show (some Religious Art Scholarship show) I've forgotten both Titles and/or meanings and the scripture that inspired the alterations for the second version of the painting. What can I say? Sometimes you've got it. Sometimes you don't.

One of my students thinks this looks like a man with a Mardi Gras mask and a white wig. Maybe I can be satisfied with that.

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.

What's There To Watch?