New Oil Painting: The Conflict

This is my latest oil painting, titled "The Conflict". I love the idea of a dual self-portrait showing different sides to a personality. On the surface this painting represents a conflict between two people--or is it the same person?

I've thought a lot lately about the risk that many people take in supporting unpopular ideas or revealing a very personal side of their life, often risking rejection and ridicule. So often we are conditioned to take the safer route and cover up our thoughts and beliefs. In the end, who is taking a bigger risk?

A Few More Watercolor Sketches

I have a few large paintings in the works, all at different stages, but none I can actually start painting yet. In the meantime, I wanted to try out a few techniques I saw from the Charles Reid book I just read. One thing that is very different from most watercolor painters is that Reid starts with his dark areas on the face first, then moves on to the lighter. Definitely makes for a better shadow area, but you better know what comes next quickly, before the edges dry. Not my strong suit. As you can see with the painting of my son, a little struggle here, a little fussing there and it's easy to kill a painting. Back to work!

By the way, I added this nifty new "followers" gadget to the right. (I feel so techie-geeky right now.) I think it's so much easier to check in with my favorite blogs by just clicking on their photo. So, if you would like to add yourself as a follower, I will in turn follow yours.

Article on Art Economy in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Kurt Shaw, art critic for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, wrote an interesting article, "Artists Take Measures to Ride Out Economic Downturn" in Sunday's paper. I was interviewed for the article, along with gallery owner and artist Mark Panza, about what we are doing, or not doing, differently in light of the economic times.

It is not an exaggeration to say that things are difficult in Pittsburgh right now for artists, but this could be a good opportunity for many artists to take a fresh look at their business and work on skills or other areas that they may not have been able to before. This can be a time of real creative growth for many of us.

What about you? Has the economy effected the way you are doing business or creating your art?

My View of the World This Week

Thank you all for your good wishes!
Surgery went well. All that's left is to rest this baby and hopefully be back in action next week. This has been a great time to organize my computer, clean off all those old files and backup my files and images. My family has been great, so helpful. Yesterday, however, I was stuck in my bedroom and no one downstairs could hear me calling. Thank god for cell phones!

Also a good time to catch up on some reading. I received a Charles Reid book for Christmas, "Watercolor Solutions: Learn To Solve The Most Common Painting Problems". Great book, as usual, from a great painter. Can't wait to try out some of his suggestions.