Now for something completely different…

June 2023 — Almost all my creative endeavors to this point have been realistic, representational, controlled (see below). If a finished drawing or painting looked just like the subject, I had an objective standard for whether or not it was “good.” That evaluation method is missing something.

From left (details of images): Sage, Backyard Autumn, Grant 1845, Bargue Drawing

In my new venture, “Landscapes in the Abstract,” there’s very little that’s actually recognizable. Layers of color, texture, and pattern create the kind of image I see when I squint and look off in the distance. Repeated viewings are rewarded with details unseen at a glance.

The exhibition is on display now at Theatre Salina. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to drop in and see it during box office hours (11:30a-5:30p M-F) and before and after shows.

The work can also be seen here on my website, and will be available for purchase there after June 30, 2023. Until then you can purchase the work at Theatre Salina and they’ll receive a commission on each sale.

The last of the yuccas

My glorious yuccas are officially spent. Here’s my final photo of the season, along with a drawing of a stalk with shriveled blooms that I did in my sketchbook. The drawing was done with a ball point pen, which I spritzed with water to make the ink run, then added some color. I particularly like the bloom at the top with the transparent yellow ochre.

NEXT TIME: An update on a new project: “Backyard Birding.”

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