Abstract Impressionist Wooded landscape painting - mixed media

12" x16" 2009

Acrylic mixed media on stretched canvas



A "hidden painting" it only reveals it's landscape slowly. I liked the texture of this one so made the lighting a little more dramatic to show the shadows particularly in the white areas. I'm selling it at artbyus.com check out the window on the sidebar!

Etching

Dell 1993
Monoprint and Etching on handmade paper

This continues the explanation of my abstracts that began on November 10.

First a couple of quick explanations about the printing process:
Etching: A metal plate is covered with an acid resistant ground. You scratch your drawing through the acid resistant layer and dip in acid. Then rinse and remove the ground. Your drawing is now etched in. Then you cover it with ink and wipe. The ink stays in the lines and you run it covered with a piece of paper through the press. Voila, you have a print! You can make as many identical copies as you'd like.
Monoprinting: A plastic plate is used with either water color or another water-based paint. Cover it with paper and run it through the press. Voila, a print that was much easier to make, but you only get one.

I ran this print through the presses twice, first as a watercolor monoprint, then carefully matching the corners (both methods dent the paper around the edges of the plate) I ran it through the etching press. I made the paper of cotton and Iris leaves which gave it a very nice mottled brown color and texture.

The big ones - Abstract impressionist landscape painting

Natural Sextet 1992
Mixed Media 24" x 36" Panels

Ok, so if you've been following along for the past two weeks, here's what came next: The portals were fine, but needed a little color and I thought it would be interesting to be surrounded, totally emersed in the scene. If you stand about 10' from the center, the scene does now surround you from as far as you can see from the corners of your eyes.

Abstract Explanation Continuation (say THAT 3 times fast!)

Portals 1992

Acrylic and Mixed Media

on Board

Continued from last time's explanation.

I find it difficult to name paintings. I felt like last week's painting was kind of like putting a mirror up to the part of me that isn't normally visible. I liked the word "Lookinglass" better than "Mirror" so that's what it's called.





Then I started thinking about how Alice's lookinglass was a portal into a magical place. The woods were magical to me, particularly in the spring with the sunlight reflecting off the branches and certainly deserved a portal of their own, so yet another painting was called for.

"Lookinglass" was made with materials from the art supply store exclusively. This time I decided to go a little non-traditional so I used potting soil, coffee grounds and various other natural objects along with Acrylic paint and media to give it the rich texture I wanted. The acrylics stabilize and hold the natural objects into place beautifully.

When I was satisfied with the work, I bashed the edges to make them uneven - this is a portal to a place of untamed beauty so straight edges and corners just don't belong.

My abstracts - an explanation

I seem to have really confused people, so here's a painting and an explanation of why I chose to make it look the way it does:

"Lookinglass" 1991 36"x24" Acrylic Mixed media on masonite.

First a few things about me. I was born 2nd of 7 children in a large 3 bedroom house in Munnsville (aka the middle of nowhere) While my brothers and sisters are all wonderful human beings, growing up got really I mean really LOUD! Living in the middle of nowhere had the advantage that a small woods was very near our house. I would escape the noise there. Usually just sitting against (or up) a tree, breathing deep and enjoying the quiet. My abstracts are all wooded landscapes which try to capture that welcome feeling of quiet and absolute peace.

The above painting "Lookinglass" was the first of the abstract landscapes. It is an actual place, but I wanted it to slowly show itself - only those who can stay quiet and look for a while will see the trees, rocks and stream. It wasn't easy to stop before I gave it all away, but I feel like the picture you'll eventually see is like hidden treasure.

An interesting thing happened when I showed it to friends. Some of them never saw the landscape. One saw a tiny English village being bombed, another sees only dancers on stage. How cool is that?

If you see anything cool, let me know. I'm very curious about exactly what it is myself!

This painting made it into my first ever International Art Show and I'll probably never sell it for that reason, but clicking on the image will allow you to buy an inexpensive and good quality print.

when the lights went out

Wait for it!


The lights had gone out and my daughter was holding a candle. I thought the lighting effects were very cool, but the camera didn't capture it so I put it on photoshop and started playing. It was even cooler that way so I made this slideshow as I was working on it. creepy-cool!

Vandalism (?) in Stockbridge, NY

A Halloween tradition in Stockbridge, New York. I've heard of similar acts in other areas being referred to as vandalism, but here it's a minor tourist attraction dating back to at least the 1930's.

Beautiful, don't you think?