Summer Gorillas

I wanted to do a smaller version of my gorilla painting from 2011 finding the same impact and using larger sized forms.

Starting with sketches from zoo visits.

Using reds, gold and burnt umber.

Looking at these photos now I wish I had stopped at this phase - or the previous one.

Not completely satisfied, I stopped here. July 2013

In October I was thinking of textiles and repeat patterns and William Morris and reworked this painting. - that's how I thought of it. Looking at it here - seeing it with the previous photos - I have to say I painted over it instead of reworked it.

 24" x 30", acrylic on canvas. 2013.

Elephant Diptych

Progression shots of 2 panels (24 x 36") together - making a bigger painting surface from prestretched panels rather than painting on canvas tacked to the wall. Sketches of elephants from a trip to the Toledo Zoo this summer.

I wasn't happy with the results and left the canvases facing each other (maybe too hot to do in the summer; they stuck together) against the wall for a few months. I turned the left canvas on its side and painted this elephant over it (I had started this painting earlier and liked the elephant's lines so I painted it over the other canvas.) I left all the color from the first painting on it and so much of the yellow showing is from the first painting.

Then I added more color - and it was almost my only goal: to use lots of color. I used Liquitex heavy body acrylics in colors I don't regularly use. 

Impressionist Summer

What I was thinking on this day that I wasn't thinking on other days? Was it the light or my palette? It looks like I've stumbled into Impressionism.

The Pines

Pine trees at the very back of the yard - they are intriguing all year - their shadows on the snow, their silhouettes and sunlight between the branches with different colors in every season.

Flower Meadow

We planted a perennial flower meadow in our back yard 6 years ago. In the summer it changes color every week. In the winter I leave the flowers standing for the birds - and for me - the echinacea (coneflower) is beautiful in every season. I paint it throughout the year - that and the pine stand behind it.

Summer Landscapes

Every day this past summer (2013) I painted small (6" x 9") landscapes on paper. I used paper so I could concentrate on the composition and color. When I work on canvas I paint and repaint for days and instead I wanted to look at my day's solution and move forward with a response in a subsequent painting.

Elephant Murals

Two murals. Abstract elephants from zoo sketches. 4' x 4' and 4' x 6'.