Flowers and Lemons

"Flowers and Lemons" Pastel 5" x 3.5"

Small still life in pastel...I'm calling this style "contemporary."  It doesn't depict any real objects, more a sense of a familiar scene with a focus on simple forms, color, and texture.  My favorite happy accident in this piece: the way the two strokes of yellow on the bottle begin to suggest a label.

The original artwork, all framed and everything, can be yours for as little as $12!

Geyser

"Geyser" Pastel 3" x 6"

A small abstract landscape in pastel, just sort of playing around with colors and the different results I got as I layered them together on my textured surface.  I like how the little bit of rust color peeks out from the olive areas.

Tangle

"Tangle" Charcoal and Pastel 6" x 4"

A small, abstract drawing in charcoal and pastel.  Like most of my non-objective pieces, it began with some random scribbles.  Eventually they developed into something that reminded me of a tangle of branches.

Folding Fences

"Folding Fences" Charcoal 8" x 8"

An abstract drawing in charcoal.  I'm not sure exactly how or why one would go about folding fences, but I perhaps this is what it might look like...

Maybe I was thinking about the final scene in the movie Poltergeist (spoiler alert!), where the house folds in on itself and disappears in a tiny spark of light...could happen...

Blue Abstract

"Blue Abstract" Pastel 8" x 8"

I'm starting to take the abstract drawings out of the sketchbook now!  This is a monochromatic, non-objective pastel drawing on paper.  I suppose I started thinking about windblown grasslands and nests when I was working on this one.

Red Flowers

"Red Flowers" Pastel 3" x 6"

My current work is going in two main directions: non-objective/abstract work and still life subjects constructed from my imagination with a contemporary style.  This is one of the latter, of course.

After being tied to photographic reference for so long, it's very liberating to work more intuitively...its quite magical, really, creating scenes and objects from nothing.

This piece is available for purchase via auction at Daily Paintworks.  It is matted to fit a standard 8" x 10" frame.

Strata

"Strata" Pencil Drawing

Another non-objective pencil drawing from my sketchbook.  By non-objective I mean that I don't have a subject in mind when I'm working; I'm not representing a specific thing in the piece.  It's sort of art about nothing...Seinfeld fans should love it!

As I develop these drawings, they do begin to suggest forms, objects, or scenes.  This one reminded me of layers of rock, that one might find in a canyon...

Upcoming Show: Less is More

"Pear" Pastel 4" x 5"

My pastel still life, "Pear," will be on display at the upcoming juried show "Less is More," in Annapolis Maryland.  If you should find yourself in the area, I highly recommend checking it out!

L>M

less is more: small works in a great space
The Mitchell Gallery - St. John's College - Annapolis, Maryland
May 29-June 15, 2014
Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday. Free Admission.

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This exhibition of small works, no larger than 8 x 10 x 4", includes 272 pieces of art by 186 artists from across the nation. Distinguished juror Domenic Iacono selected paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, artist's books, collages, mixed media, photographs, jewelry and small sculptures. Domenic Iacono is the the director of Syracuse University Art Galleries. In addition to having curated several exhibitions, and written numerous print catalogs over the years, Iacono teaches in the graduate museum studies program at Syracuse University, where his area of special interest is the history and curatorship of prints.

All works will be for sale and can be viewed in the online gallery http://themitchellgallery.org/sales. Online sales begin May 29.  All proceeds benefit the educational programs of The Mitchell Gallery.

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Premiere Opening - May 28, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Guests of the Premiere Opening have the first opportunity to purchase the original artwork on display at the exhibit. Tickets are $100 per person, with special pricing of $75 until May 15 for St. John's College alumni, exhibiting artists and members of The Mitchell Gallery.
 

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Reserve tickets: http://community.stjohnscollege.edu/lessismore-2014
Visit us on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/the-mitchell-gallery/200905343310822

Reflections

"Reflections" Pencil Drawing

From the sketchbook, a small pencil drawing that began with the stone shapes, but they were a bit too...direct?  Specific?  Anyhoo, I took my eraser to it, which suddenly suggested ripples in water.  I just love those happy accidents when I'm working!