Challenging myself…

Before my recent accident I had just finished this 60 x 48“ underwater fantasy. Working this large is challenging because there’s so much more physicality in creating it and my studio is rather small…so critiquing and analyzing as I paint is difficult. I use two large easels during the process. It also takes a lot more time.

when I work on something like this it’s rather organic and how things are placed in the scene. First I put in the rocks and the coral. I started adding sea turtle and the various fish. Each fish or coral was chalked in, moved, and imagined before paint was added. Color combinations were considered as I progressed. I wanted the viewers gaze to flow around like the swirling currents.

With the thoughtful placement of various sea life, I am happy with the result, keeping it impressionistic.

Underwater Reef paintings

The recent commission for Tracey and Bill of the underwater fantasy, is not a new thing for me. I used to dive and remember the wonder of the reefs… the colors and the variety of fish and aquatic life.

20×16. sold

40” x20”

60”x48”

48”tall x 36”

triptych each panel 24×36” so total size 36x 74”

36×36”

36x36sold

Under the Sea

One of the commissions I worked on this summer was an underwater scene a couple in Palm Valley. I had to build a canvas from scratch because it was an odd size 60”x 28”. I haven’t stretched for years because I usually buy them pre-stretched it was a lot more work than I expected or remembered.

All three paintings are mine

Tracy and Bill have been so lovely to me over the years and I was happy to create this last commission for them. During the process I took it over to see how it looked with her furniture and then added more teal and little touches a beige.

Ocean wave series

during Covid this summer and staying home I’ve had a lot of time to explore different ideas in my art. I started getting up before sunrise, scootering to the beach and watching a sunrise with a girlfriend or two. …and sometimes swimming.

The mornings that the water was calm was super magical. To be swimming in the ocean with the sky the same color as the reflection on the top of the water felt like we were floating on clouds. so I’ve been working on the inspiration of trying to create paintings that reflect that experience. I also discovered that our water color in North Florida is not blue but has tones of greens and brown.

48×24”

36”

48×36”

I will continue with this collection as soon as I am able. If you or someone you know would like to put a little salt air on their walls, just ask. Thanks so very much.

Pause

Nearly 2 weeks ago I was at a stoplight on my scooter and hit by a car so I am laid up for the next couple months with a broken knee. Tibia plateau fracture.

Frida and i have to paint from bed…