Octopus in Seagrass

19"X14" Framed

I am fascinated with Octopuses.  Empty Bowls is a event in Naples, Florida to raise funds for the food challenged.  To date I have painted 3 different octopus on platters to be auctioned for the charity.

This is the only octopus painting that I have in a frame.  At our grand opening in my new studio, there was a lady who kept staring at this painting almost a loving way.  I asked if she needed to take this one home.  Her response was that she wanted to eat it.  Her favorite food was octopus.  Her family caught and ate octopus regularly, when she was a child.  That lead to a discussion on these creatures, with her answering many of my question about the octopus.

Jane in Sun Hat

           Jane in Sun Hat

         I think this painting is done.  It has been out of the frame a couple times.  The eyes had a major rework an well as how the hair effected them.  The light reflected and the shadows on the face was a real struggle.   How the hair effected the left side was one of the last issues.  Finally I think the right combination of elements exist.  

This painting has received a lot of interest in my studio.  I will get good photos and then put it back in the frame.  Let's see how it is received in its 'finished' state 

Pelican Takeoff

Pelican Takeoff

11"X 15"

Incomplete

This painting is coming along.  Most of the woke is the background.  Must use the water to strengthen the composition.  

And It Rained

18"X14" Framed

In Oklahoma there is a hundred mile bike ride.  One year the weather turned really ugly.  Trucks were sent out to pick up the bikers and the ride was canceled.  When they had their yearly banquet donations were requested for an auction for the charity.  I painted this and offered prints of the painting.  Many of the riders also bought prints from the galleries or outdoor shows.

I painted a group of bikers. The lower part of the painting was created with Josh Groban's song, "Raining Down," in mind.  The rain was created by using the sharp end of a paintbrush to made gouges in wet paper.  Dark lines are formed with paint flowing into the lines.  Scratch a little harder and the paint is removed to form the lighter lines.  The subdued tones in the trees added to the rainy mood.

Jelly Fish

Jelly Fish

30"X31"

This painting is almost a square.  When a painting is reversable, the choices are between portrait and landscape presentations.  This is the first time that maybe a painting could be hung turned completely upsidedown.  If a painting is reversible I will sign it on two sides and install two wires.  The wall options are not changed because this is a square.  The option would be preference of view.

Friends from my neighborhood visited my gallery at the November show.  I explained that this painting was based on a photo taken in an aquarium.  The jelly fish seem to hang heads done in this setting.  Not sure why.  When observed in outside bodies of water their heads are on top.  That is when someone suggested the painting could be hung upsidedown.

????

What do you think?  which way would you hang this painting.  Should I take this painting out of the frame and sign it on the opposite side too.

Wading Great Blue Heron

Wading Great Blue Heron

37"X27" framed

Hanging in Art2Amazae, 6210 Shirly Street, Suite 108

Naples, Florida

These are magnificent  birds.  You will find them many places around the country.  This one hangs out south of the Naples, Florida pier.  He has posed for my camera quite often.  The pelican has always impressed me even from childhood.  The great blue heron is my second favorite shore bird.  

This painting took several sessions of work over many months.  Once on display in a gallery where I also work and teach, I often find it useful to live with the painting on the wall.  Over a period of time, what bothers me begins to speak to me from the painting.  It comes off the wall for more work. 

The light in the sky and water as well as the distance suggested by the rocks were issues.  The original photo did not give me any useful background information.  I chose the rocks close to Gordan Pass as the backdrop.  At this point, memory and other photos were an inspiration but the background was totally fabricated as well as the lighting in the sky and water.  This would be a sunrise painting because the bird is lit from the shore.  The size of the rocks as well as the stick had to have believable sizing.

  Every time the background was changed the bird had to be adjusted with the 'light against dark, and dark against light rule'.  Photos can give excellent information for a painting but very seldom tells the whole story.  

At this time I believe this painting will not come out of the frame again.  It is finished.  

ww

Pelican Takeoff

Pelican Takeoff

incomplete 

This painting is nearing completion.  The left side needs more development, and I am considering leaving the accidental splashing in the image. I will matting angles into the studio tomorrow to lock in what to included for framing.  Not pushing this painting too far and knowing when to quite may be very crucial with this one.  Hope to have an update on progress tomorrow.