shared visions art

I spent last weekend doing reconnaissance for FCPAP (First Coast Plein Air Painters) in Melrose Florida. We are having a show at Mossman Hall there and we are doing Paints Outs in the area as well. This is just a wonderful little town, full of beautiful old homes. The art community there is fabulous. Their art walks are always hopping with many attendees. After taking lots of pictures to share with my fellow artists along with the locations, I finally painted my last afternoon down there. It’s a beginning:

Phase one of a piece that came into my mind while falling asleep and thinking of various things. In particular the fact that my older brothers and I never became friends. I had hoped it might happen at least with my oldest brother, but so many obstacle were in the way. Age difference, his depression, my depression, his psychological and emotional issues, mine, etc etc. I often have “visions” of art work. Sometimes they are spiritual, sometimes emotional, sometimes intellectual. It’s a wonder that I am depressed, having been given such a wonderful gift.

This is another reworking. I think I’ve mentioned before that I often get kind of frenetic in my mixed media work. This also often leads to my compositions being not so hot. I decided to tamp this one down and hopefully improve the composition. Is this piece done? What say ye? Phase one and ? Two? Or final?

Yup. Certain watercolors take some time. I’m not always patient enough for that. Sometimes I make the effort.

So a second piece that needed fixing has improved. Obviously I had a total brain fart regarding perspective in the first piece.

Well I would be done with this one if I hadn’t inexplicably put that school of yellow fish smack dab in the middle of the piece. Why?! It must be something about the human brain wanting an orderly and balanced world. Ha! Like that’s ever going to happen. Would we really like it much if it was?

“Factory Work” : Watercolors are still my favorite medium. They are more meditative and relaxing. They are hard too, but the difficulty is part of the therapy.

I think this will have one more iteration. The foreground area is suppose to be under water. I think I need to do something to make that more obvious. I need to add some more fish life. 

I’m definitely liking this one, though not as well as “Gratitude II” and “Thanksgiving”. I am working it up for a themed show and having that constraint is a wee bit bothersome. This is why I have never been inclined to do commission work. I prefer to work from my own inner inspiration. I don’t have far to go to complete this piece. Perhaps one more phase.