This work stems from my practice of using everything to its fullest potential. I had some design elements that I had used in making some greeting cards for friends and family, but always thought more could be done with them. The same was true for some hand drawn elements I had created.
After attending a lecture at the Kimbell about Georges Braque, I began to view collage and these idle components differently. “Lessons Learned-#1 and #2” are the first results of this part of my practice.
Although I reference Braque in this post, and artists like Peter Max in some of my graphic design, I had not thought about combining those two references in a single work until now.
This work stems from my practice of using everything to its fullest potential.
I have recently been utilizing old, worn down, or dried out markers to make alcohol inks. These I have used to make brush drawings as well as paintings. I have also employed them to paint on junk mail and junk envelopes. However, one of the most dramatic results occurred as I was testing these inks on discarded lotto tickets and store receipts. The chemically treated paper (or thermal paper) reacts beautifully with the alcohol, especially in the actual printed areas. The question then became what to do with this small mountain of little paintings, including copies of the painting “Some Doors Stay Open.”
After attending a lecture at the Kimbell about Georges Braque, I began to view collage and these components differently. “When A Door Is Not A Door” is a result of this part of my practice.
The translation of Isaiah 40:26 from the Living Bible (2nd printing 1985, published by Tyndale House Publishing Inc.)has always touched my heart where God is concerned, and caused me to favorably view the idea of additional translations of scripture.
This text states,” As a shepherd leads his sheep, calling each by its pet name and counting them to see none are lost or strayed, so God does with the stars and planets.”
To me, that says that God is not only big enough to create the universe and beyond, but also omniscient and concerned with ALL that universe includes. Not just to the planets, but also as other scriptures suggest, down to the number of hairs on each of our heads.
This image is the print of a painting which was executed with acrylics and pouring mediums (acrylic resin)
I am currently offering “Star Shepherd” as a limited edition print in a run of 20, 18″ x 24″ acrylic panels
These reproductions are printed directly onto the back of a 1/4″ thick sheet of clear acrylic.
“We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
There is so much that is outside of my abilities to control. In fact, considering that I am unable to control other people, places and things, or at best have limited ability to effect control over them, I am left with just one thing I have nearly total control over. That would be myself.
Unfortunately, I am not always in total control of myself. When circumstances apply overwhelming stress, or when I allow another person’s actions or behavior to get the better of me, I may lose what control I have over my thoughts and / or emotions.
It is at those times that I have a choice to make, I can either lose control of myself, or I can turn to a power source outside of myself to aid me in recovering that precious part of myself; my sanity, my serenity, my peace (of mind). I have come to believe that the latter is not only a better choice it is the only choice that works in my best interest. That is because I have found that this is the option that works due to the faithfulness of my higher power whom I call God.
May you find God as well.
I have portrayed Higher Power as an abstract Hieroglyph, primarily due to the abstract nature of the spiritual nature of God. Some refer to God as The Universe, as He, or as She. I prefer to think of God as greater than the created universe, multi-dimensional with multi-faceted personality traits, some male and some female. So, I sometimes refer to God as He, sometimes as She, but more often as They. In Christian theology, God is a trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In ancient Hebrew text the Spirit of God was referred to as She, or more precisely in the feminine form. (reference Proverbs 1:20 -33) So, I generally think of God as the Father, Mother, and Child, or the Holy Family. Since this is a bit much to convey in an image I prefer the economy of an abstract Hieroglyph.
This painting was created with acrylics and permanent marker on cold-press watercolor paper.
This digital construct, or digital painting if you prefer, was based on photographic work I did at an art fair. I captured images of some brightly colored earthen ware in spite of the scowls I received from the potter. I guess he thought I wanted to copy his work. I was more interested in his palette.
I brought the image into Photoshop, where I pulled and pushed the image of vessels (much as the potter must have done with his clay) into the shapes of surreal beasts. The resulting movement and colors have always been very energizing to me, and has continued to challenge me to re-create the same energy in my paintings with other media.
The small central image reminded me of the graphic novel character created by Neil Gaiman, The Sandman. So, in concert with the painting’s movement and surreal nature, Migration of Dreams seemed an appropriate title.
So, as you can guess by the context of this post, Migration of Dreams is not exactly new work. It is presented here to celebrate its lucky 13th anniversary.
I am currently offering Migration of Dreams as a limited-edition print in a run of 20 18″ x 24″ acrylic panels. For additional information on these prints follow this link.
Our thoughts travel faster than light.
Our imagination visits far away galaxies and returns that same afternoon.
It’s like having the whole of the cosmos in our backyard;
not to mention that new neighborhood nebula that just opened up.
A New Neighborhood Nebula is an original mixed media painting on paper.
(Acrylics, Acrylic Resin, and Alcohol Inks)
It has been digitally formatted for large scale printing.
I am currently offering A New Neighborhood Nebula as a limited-edition print
in a run of 20, 18″ x 24″ acrylic panels,
priced agreeably with consideration for the upcoming holidays.
These reproductions are printed directly onto the back of a 1/4″ thick sheet of clear acrylic.
For pricing and additional information, please continue to the linked sales page.
Considering how we, the human race, continually transport ourselves between dreams and various realities it seems inevitable that some of the doors between here and there will stay open.
Depending on your thought life that can be a good thing, or not so much.
This painting was originally executed by painting with alcohol inks, and then digitally edited for larger formats. The painting technique employed is an exercise in abstract expressive redaction, or erasure and replacement, which leaves a something like ghosts behind where the original mark or form was obliterated (painted out) then remade, if not precisely then with a close facsimile.
I am currently offering Some Door Stay Open as a limited-edition print in a run of 20, 24″ x 16″ acrylic panels, priced agreeably with consideration for the upcoming holidays. These reproductions are printed directly onto the back of a 1/4″ thick sheet of clear acrylic. For pricing and additional information, please continue to the linked sales page.
It seems to me that the human condition is such that our species always suffers tragedy both self-inflicted and imposed upon by other men and nature.
Some believe, in fact, that it is in our nature to suffer. I believe that it is in our nature to endure.
Some claim that our lack of relationship with a higher power makes us all too vulnerable to these misfortunes.
Others point to the fact that the “rain falls on both the just and the unjust.” I believe that if, in fact, we are “broken children” we must be about the business of learning from our brokenness.
Regardless of why these mishaps occur many are afflicted, destroyed, or brought low, and yet man persists.
These woes only seem to make men stronger; more apt to show gratitude for their life.
So that when the next disaster strikes, even if some are not spared, men endure, and yet, still smile.
AND YET, STILL SMILE, was originally executed by painting with alcohol inks, and then digitally edited for larger formats.
The painting technique employed is an exercise in abstract expressive redaction, or erasure and replacement, which leaves something like ghosts behind where the original mark or form was obliterated (painted out) then remade, if not precisely, then with a close facsimile.
I am currently offering And Yet, Still Smile as a limited-edition print in a run of 20, 20″ x 16″ acrylic panels, priced to make you smile.
These reproductions are printed directly onto the back of a 1/4″ thick sheet of clear acrylic.
With all the excitement, and sometimes fear, about the rise of Artificial Intelligence I have found myself wondering about how, or if, these machines will ever comprehend art, beauty or more interestingly, our emotions?
In these early stages the short answer is “they will not.”
As more sophisticated programs evolve, perhaps they will develop their own code for such things as how to interrupt a Monet painting of water lilies.
WATER CODE is a painting originally executed in alcohol inks on thermal paper, and digitally formatted for large scale printing. Perhaps that is where the machines will come in contact with the concept.
I am currently offering Water Code as a limited edition print in a run of 20, 18″ x 24″ acrylic panels, priced agreeably with consideration for the upcoming holidays.
These reproductions are printed directly onto the back of a 1/4″ thick sheet of clear acrylic.
For pricing and additional information, please continue to the linked sales page.
With all the excitement, and sometimes fear, about the rise of Artificial Intelligence I have found myself wondering about how, or if, these machines will ever comprehend comprehend art, beauty or more interestingly, our emotions?
In these early stages the short answer is “they will not.”
As more sophisticated programs evolve, perhaps they will develop their own code for such things as how to interrupt the reflections of the sky in the rippling of water of a pond.
SKY CODE is a painting originally executed in alcohol inks on thermal paper, and digitally formatted for large scale printing. Perhaps that is where the machines will come in contact with the concept.
I am currently offering SKY CODE as a limited edition print in a run of 20, 18″ x 24″ acrylic panels, priced agreeably with consideration for the upcoming holidays.
These reproductions are printed directly onto the back of a 1/4″ thick sheet of clear acrylic.
For pricing and additional information, please continue to the linked sales page.
With all the excitement, and sometimes fear, about the rise of Artificial Intelligence I have found myself wondering about how, or if, these machines will ever comprehend comprehend art, beauty or more interestingly, our emotions?
In these early stages the short answer is “they will not.”
As more sophisticated programs evolve, perhaps they will develop their own code for such things as how to interrupt the splatter of color and light from a heavy rainstorm.
STORM CODE is a painting originally executed in alcohol inks on thermal paper, and digitally formatted for large scale printing. Perhaps that is where the machines will come in contact with the concept.
I am currently offering Storm Code as a limited edition print in a run of 20, 18″ x 24″ acrylic panels, priced agreeably with consideration for the upcoming holidays.
These reproductions are printed directly onto the back of a 1/4″ thick sheet of clear acrylic.
For pricing and additional information, please continue to the linked sales page.
There is a thin line between speaking out against those involved with oppressing others, hating others, or doing violence to others; and entering that darkness to do battle with them ourselves.
Yet, we cannot be silent when evil is encountered.
Instead of darkness, let us clear away all confusion. Let us listen with open minds. Let us speak with calm and truth. Let us see with discernment. Let us act with a generous hearts.
Let us create instead of destroy.
“Instead of Darkness” is a digital composition comprised of photo and scan segments from different paintings, then manipulated with software into multiple layers and various levels of opacity.
I am offering this image as a limited edition print in a run of 20, 18″ x 24″ acrylic panels.
The idea of multiple universes may be a matter for the linguists, or poets rather than the scientists.
Strictly by definition the word universe refers to the total of the cosmos, and all matter, energy, etc.
However, theoretically it has been suggested that there can be an infinite number of universes, sometimes called alternate universes or extra dimensions. This is a complex abstract, especially considering our limited scope of vision within time and space.
It is less difficult to imagine if we consider our dreams in the discussion. There seems to be many worlds just below the surface of consciousness.
Some have even suggested that an infinite number of possible universes are created by the simplest of decisions. We turn right and continue in the current creation, but by deciding to turn left create a new universe.
A New Universe was created as a digital composition with photo segments of different paintings, and multiple layers in various levels of opacity. Exquisite algorithms allowed me to manipulate these like clay into what you see here.
I currently offering this image as a limited edition print in a run of 20, 18″ x 24″ acrylic panels.
“What The Caterpillar Told Alice” is a digital composition comprised of elements from several of my paintings rearranged in layers of various opacity.
My take on the interchange between Alice and the caterpillar from Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” is one of perception, and of knowing oneself.
Alice is unable to give an answer to the creature ‘s simple direct question of, “Who are you?” She is too distracted with her current circumstance, and only seems to know she’d like to be a “bit larger.” So, Caterpillar eventually leaves after giving her sound advice about keeping her temper, and pointing her in the direction of the mushroom.
Though often depicted as a drug related conversation, perhaps because of the hookah, and the eating of mushrooms, this is actually an exercise in learning to know what you want.
There will always be distractions and circumstances of life to cloud the issues of self. As the caterpillar showed Alice, it is best to look past the veils of confusion and hone in on what one wants badly enough to endure being thought of as too small or otherwise to obtain that goal.
This 12″ x 12″ abstract painting was executed on stretched canvas with alcohol inks. It is an example of the wet in wet process.
As I have imagined and remembered being below water, while looking up at the sky above the surface, I have sometimes experienced a certain dread that something would bar my path back to fresh air. In this inky water which is most common in the “fresh” bodies of water here in Texas, I get to exercise my faith that the surface and the sky are not too far away, and nothing is hiding within the murkiness to impede me.
