La Boca Tango

"La Boca Tango" is my memory of the colors of La Boca district, the birth place of the tango. Mixed media watercolor, gouache and pastel on paper 29 1/2" x 22". This is my center piece painting for my May exhibit at Sam's Station in Corvallis.

The evolving Obama Presidency Paintings

Yesterday I volunteered at the Corvallis, Oregon Democratic headquarters. My task was to enter data into computers with the aim of tracking the phone calling so all voters get one call. And the undecided get further information. While volunteering I was happy to see the number of young voters and senior citizens volunteering.
I looked over the graphics at the headquarters and judged them as strong. The portraits of Obama in red white and blues were symbolic of the message that skin color matters less than patriotism. I thought the other banners with slogan words were doing the job of creating an energetic atmosphere. The addition of any more art would lessen the general effect. The idea of using them as a fund raiser is not a good one because of al the logistic problems and the prospects of getting a very good return.

Playfull Basketball is Practice Teamwork

Obama practiced teamwork in high school basketball. The same basic obstacles encountered in the game parallel adult entanglements.
As I wait for the results of the Manifest Hope Gallery competition, the pressure is off and I feel free in my painting.

It is also time to prepare for a hands on demonstration of my travel accordion books at the Albany Air and Art Festival next Sunday.

New images appear in my dream of Obama becoming President

Friday I will post more dreams of the where with all talent of Obama facing our nation at home and in the world. I am painting on wood cradled boxes 12" Squre by 1 1/2". These are not for sale but I am planning to sell a portfolio of reproductions on demand.

Watercolor from Nevada's "Canyon of Fire State Park"

This 9" x 13 1/2" watercolor was marked out in pencil on the trail and finished that afternoon in camp. For sale $200

Completing Four Panel Modular

These four squares and frame just flowed for me. I was pleased that creating a circular movement in the middle worked when I rotated the individula squares. There are many possibilitiies in creating new connections in changing the panel possitions. I have one more modular of nine squares and I will just show the final results Friday, January 18. In the mean time I will attempt to publish a new blog - "From Then to Now" to reveal a thread that connects my ever changing path in my paintings. I have taken a different course trying many directions with the belief that I would be more creative. But I am not sure if I am a positive example or one that others should avoid.

First day of four panel modular

The combined four panels make a circle composition because I thought rotating the individual panels will make many possible different combinations. There is too much activity already. I plan to remove some paint and paint over areas with more absorbant ground. This window painting reminds me of my earliest abstract painting from from about 1959.

Rethinking the Resolution of Modular Frame

It is interesting to see how a more intense frame around the squares changed how the squares relate. Now there is more contrast in the background frame and the squares are becoming more subtle.

Walking Softly: Carrying Big Canvas

Rain's blog http://rainydaythought.blogspot.com/ had an entry about things to do and see before I die. Her blog was linked with http://www.nobodyasked.com/ My dream is to walk softly barefoot in the sand and create an energetic canvas. Seeing as an artist and creating your own vision is what I do and dream I will continue doing. This is also the twelfth dream in my "When I Get to be Older" book posted on my second blog. Walking softly: Carrying Big Canvas is a new vison of a painting I did two years ago. It is acrylic on museum wrap canvas 2' x 3'.

Sunset Blue Blue Birds

Here I can not tell you how many times I have painted over this one begun on the banks of a stream in Glacier National Park four years ago. It was once totally abstract with glitter to add texture and sparkle. After showing it around I became tired of it. The glitter is now covered. I am enjoying the texture and running my color saturated brush over it. The acrylic painting is on hard board (Masonite) and is 16" x 20".

The Rain and I Painted

Today it rained at near record amounts. I was still eager to go out and see what emotions could be stimulated by the mood of the day. I painted with Max, an oil paint so refined that it mixes with water. So I tried painting during a light shower. The rain made the thick oils run a little. Painting this way I needed to put down the idea and then react to the changes made by the soggy day. I feel that the pressure was on to express the feeling I had right away without getting bogged down by detail.