trying out some new color pieces

In order to move into some new areas of work I have been studying the color theories of Josep Alpers and am trying some out in a very small format of 12 x 12 and 16 s 16. I am pretty excited about these. It is my goal to keep growing and pushing my limits and it should be every painters' goal. I have certain skills and they are pretty good but I always am looking for the defining personal statement and that is what I work everyday for find.

It goes on

Searching for the moment when your skills are in total synch with you inner vision is the great goal of an artist. For me it drives me to paint more and more trying for new ways to say the things I want to put down on canvas or paper. I do think that there are ways for the artist to be unique even if some will say it has all been done before. But remember even if it has been done before it has not been done by you so keep pushing and painting.

Some days you just show up and do your job. I worked for the same reason today that most painters do it is what I do. I wanted to call in sick but I think my boss, since I a work for myself would have told me to get to work or I was fired. I read in the Rotko biography by Breslin that he painted all the time not because he had to but because he just new that something miraculous might happen anytime so he painted waiting for the miracle.

Finding a subject to get involved with

I am beginning to understand why Motherwell always stated that a painter enjoys his work like he enjoys the body of a woman. Either you are totally involved or you are not a painter. The subject you choose to work with determines itself as you begin to paint almost ast if the medium has a mind of its own. I try hard to work out a painting with much frustration and then without a moments notice the subject is there before me on the canvas. Sometimes I say that is too easy or been done before but I must say it hasn't been done by me. I have several struggles in the process of painting and today I feel okay because the demons are quiet and I have a purpose in my work. My point here is that I like the absolute beautity and simplicity of statement of black and white but I am afraid to follow my instincts and leave the painting be when it is just a black line on a piece of canvas . I fear rejection or ridicule that it not enough and any fool can do it but it has taken a few years to get to that wonderful mark. I am making the the mark.

today I worked some more on the acrylic paintings I put up the other night as you will see they begin to change considerably as I work on them I am pretty happy with both although I know I will continue to work on them.

Well I had a show opening this weekend two nights and lots of people. It was great fun and not as cold as trying to sell painting in the rain and cold at Bethesda several weeks back. Much easier to get comfortable with the client when it is warm. I only sold 2 paintings at the reception but that is probably a really good record with people holding on to their money these days. One of the things I am shooting for is to begin to sell paintings to persons who are not in my social circle buyers from outside who love the work and find what I am doing to be exciting and creative. I feel like this show is introducing me to a bigger less familiar audience. By the way although I am not driven to accolades it does help the ego when people who I don't know walk accross a crowded room to tell me my work is spectacular and unbelievably good. Enough patting myself on the back because the next time they might be saying it is drivel so I have to keep painting what I believe in.

I am working on a couple of new works and I am posting the one painting in progress to show it to you as I get it moving towards resolution. I really have no actual compostion plan I am just working on it trying to make it happen as I go. It a little similar to the action painters of the 50's and 60's the painting subject was the painting not some subject that you brought to the work. I am also posting 2 small black and whites which will be the studies for a new series of big black and white pieces.