Abstract?

I've always been rather disdainful of abstract paintings and photography in general, but the other day I came across some photos that would have knocked my socks off (if I had any on, of course) by a really fine photographer named Mary Mansey (find her here: Mary Mansey) - so - i had to try it:

First Stage:  the ocean floor

 Final: light and sky reflections

Honokohau Harbor Bottom - 16x12 - studio oil

AND IT WAS LOTS AND LOTS OF FUNNNNNNN!!! 

It didn't have to look like anything and it was just like kindergarten all over again - hahahahaha - I'm going to do lots more of them!

Practicing with a Plastic Crutch

Nice title, eh?

I don't do this very often - probably not often enough, but I was hesitant about painting a lot of foam on top of what was a pretty complicated piece of deep ocean - easy enough to do a wipe, but that never leaves the underlying painting as fresh and clean as it was - so . . . I used a clear piece of plastic sheet for practice.  Here I used one of those clear envelopes that we use to protect prints for sale:

showing the crutch

with the crutch painted

Of course the problem was I really liked the plastic sketch and as far as part of my mind was concerned (there's not that much left) I had finished the painting and it was time to go on to another one.  Months later (two days ago) I finally got it done:

Leo's Backyard2 - 11x14 - Plein air oils

and I like it better!

New Studio Work - Stage One

Starting with a yellow ground ("summer squash" exterior enamel) on loose canvas I applied color with a brush and wiped back to the yellow with a cotton rag to give a resemblance (dare I say "Impression"?) of the sea bottom - there are some drippy green things in the upper left hand corner that I'll call "sea weed" and I'll call that long ropy thing a piece of hose. Next stage is glazing to develop the color of the water, and then the application of opaque color to describe the top interface of the water - fun.

under Honokohau Harbor - 12x16 on canvas - studio

New Show at Living Arts Gallery in Hawi

Off to The Living ARTS Gallery in Hawi for the show "Island Landmarks" coming up next month - visit, it's a wonderful place with friendly people and lots of good art:

Kahalu'u Calm - 14x11 - plein air oils

I really love this little beach but especially the life guard shack (yeah - I loved them in Joisey too) - the chinese red displayed against any color is outstanding!!  and these people are just a bunch of happy paint blobs (well - I think they look happy).