April 1, 2008 -- Just returned from a refreshing trip to Chicago. My kind of town, Chicago is. Great to see old friends and old places. The snow was even a joy to experience. A highlight of the trip was the current show at the Art Institute: Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper. Incredible watercolorists; well composed landscapes; the oblique light; the attention to color. I saw it twice and I still feel like I didn't fully grasp the breadth of the work presented.
I had expected to come back with several pieces to post, but unfortunately I didn't get that part of the planning accomplished. I soaked up a lot with my eyes. Of course the show, but I tried to remember the city as well. The spaces between the street and the EL; the profile of the horizon; the luminosity of the night sky; the sky's thick stew of cloud and moisture; and the bands of color fading in the distance... all melting together in my mind.
I did purchase some new watercolors: full pan, travel size. The hope is that this smaller palette will free me to make more on-site watercolors with greater execution speed.
Lastly, I posted a few new landscapes finished right before the trip. Of course they're of Old Salem, and I believe that the group is getting stronger.
March 11, 2008 -- Observational landscapes have continued to top the time chart. The size is perdominatly small: 4"x6". If you happen to stroll the Old Salem neighborhood, you might see me there, say hello. In addition to my normal schedule, I will be there for a special day of events: April 19.
January 31, 2008 -- Landscape is becoming more prominent in my work. You may have noticed a new series developing in the gallery: Old Salem. Architecture is a big player in this development. I have to confess that I prefer organic shapes and rythms, but this has been a good learning experience. Drawing buildings has really allowed me to explore the relationships of proportion in composition. That last phrase is a succinct description of my fascination over the past 2 years.