SUNFLOWERS IN THE RAIN

Gouache really does photograph well.

In the Rain, 8" x 4 3/4"

The radio went off. I listened to the thunder and the storm. No electronic manufactured sound background. Just painting, listening and looking out the door.

Three Blooms, 8" x 4 3/4"

This paper is sketch paper. It warps and swells with the water media. The flowers dance with the wind and rain.

BOOMING BLOOMING FLOWERS

The sunflowers are distracting me.

Glorious volunteers in my yard. Bugs are eating the basil and and marigolds. Wild Sunflowers ignore our bumper crop of pests.

SUNFLOWERS

This brownish handmade sketch paper is going to be the basis for my encounter with the sunflowers this summer.

IN PROGRESS - SELF 2016

I'm still working on the 2016 self portrait. Drawing for next painting has begun and I can't wait. Maybe I will just let this one rest.

2016 SELF, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 16"

 SMALL WONDERS by Barbara Kingsolver has inspired a desire to paint this natural world, The wild sunflowers planted by birds in this yard are starting to bloom.

 

GIFTS

In a corner at my house are artworks by  and from friends. Some bought, some trade, some gifts but all are joys in the universe. The lamp is some kind 1950's designer plastic article from knowledgeable collector Bill Alsup. Leaping woman is cast paper by Susan Grabel. The carved wood grill is an antique from Hyun Sook Kwon. The landscape is by Carmen Clements. The framed etching is by Maggie DeSanto with a frame by John Sager. The exotic woman is by Deby Childress. My house is full of art by others besides myself. I don't own many rather ubiquitous consumer items. Visual art is plenty.
 

TERM PROJECT

Encouraging the students to use their imagination plus grapple with anatomy, the assignment is to draw and label a life size skeleton, doing something. This semester I got a dynamite composition from Sydney Barker. One of the best I have seen. My photography skills don't do justice to her work. Here is my poor attempt.

TERM PROJECT, pastel on Paper, 39" x 88"

SELF 2016 STARTED

This is the start of my new 2016 SELF PORTRAIT. Imagine a person flayed. Very colorful without the skin. I have always started portraits with a lot of color. I do love the Fauves!

SELF 2016, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 16"

VAN GOGH DOCUMENTARY

I watched VAN GOGH, BRUSH WITH GENIUS yesterday. Stunning. It would be good to see it on a big screen. It is only about 40 minutes long. Concise, like poetry, or a good artwork. Now I do believe the man died of a broken heart. It makes sense. I start a painting and it is grand, exhilarating and frightening. When I finish a painting I experience a deep sadness, a let down and relief. Vincent painted 80 paintings in the last 2 months of his life. Tha's quite an emotional roller coaster!

Self Portrait 1889 Vincent Van Gogh

 I've started a new self portrait today. The last one I can find of myself is years old.

Self Portrait 2012 Melanie Hickerson

 I resolved years ago to paint at least one self-portrait every year. I've missed a few.

ART OF THE POT AND

I went to CLAUDIA REESE's studio yesterday as part of the Art of the Pot Tour and Studio Sale. A bit of rain plus my fatigue from grading end of semester work dampened my ambition to see real art on Mother's Day.

Austin Icon Plate #2

www.artofthepot.com

It was a grand treat to visit Claudia's domain, which is an art park and an architectural wonder in itself.

CAROL IVEY was a guest at that locale. It was absolutely joyous to see her and her art work visiting from Ft. Worth. Carol has an art history in Austin. Her paintings are full of awe and light.

After Claudia's location, the grocery store and then home was all I managed yesterday. I missed the other three locations on the tour. Seeing artists' studios is a treat but there is a lot to be said for gallery spaces. Centrally located art viewing.

TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK, BIRDS AND FLOWERS

This summer shipping two paintings to the Friends of Ceres exhibit, mid July to mid August.

GOLDEN CHEEK WARBLER, 22' X 28'

A bow to this endangered bird of Central Texas. It's rare, small and beautiful. Also a small 8" x 10" painting of sunflowers in my life.