Continuing with the series!

As some of you may know, I have recently begun a series of paintings based on photos I took of trash washed up on a small section of beach in South Vietnam.  One of the purposes in my doing the paintings is to spotlight the disturbing accumulation of waste (most of it plastic) which is polluting our oceans and beaches.

The following image shows the second in this series.  I have not yet finished the piece.

                  

An idea came to me to create the third painting in the series with a background of different colored sand--with black sand.  I took one of my reference photos, played with it in photoshop, and created the following picture:   

                                       

This image was made one day before the occurrence of the devastating Japanese earthquake.  After I looked at the transformed photo, I realized that the flip flop appeared to have been made white with radiation--and the sand seemed dead.  

Here is the painting based on the above photo and it is not yet finished. As I work on this piece, I silently pray for the many thousands of people who have been traumatized by the earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear disaster. 

                      

Another Step Forward

Yes--many are stepping forward right now--standing tall for what they believe in.  Step by hopeful step--and I return to working on my painting--wondering what can I do to let my voice be heard?
So I continue putting brush to paper--glazing, spattering and choosing colors.  This second flip-flop that I am doing steps forward...is moving on.  
Today, I began to read an insightful book recommended by a very perceptive art teacher, gail McDaniel.  The Art Spirit, by Robert Henri, was published in 1923 and his words are helping me feel as though I am part of a greater group.   He says "through art mysterious bonds of understanding and of knowledge are established..."
I recommend this book to all artists and I plan to include more of his comments in future blogs.

Another step forward on my second flip-flop painting--days four and five!

Starting Again!

First day of painting with color

Second day with burnt sienna oil color added

Reference photo

Here I go again, painting yet another flip-flop based on one of my reference photos (shown above). This work is the second in a series of paintings I am doing that portray some of the trash I found washed up on the beach near Hoi An, Vietnam.  

I started this new work by brushing white gesso onto a 55" x 55" piece of 150 lb. watercolor paper and did a first pass of color with thinned ultramarine blue oil paint.  Next day I brushed on (with a huge fun brush!) some burnt sienna.  The dark spots you see in the photos are areas that did not have much gesso and as a result the oil paint soaked more deeply into those places.  I like the added texture!

Yesterday someone remarked that they liked my first flip-flop painting (see my February 24 blog) better when I had barely begun the piece--about the third day through.  Well, I did mention in one of my earlier blogs that I welcome all comments and advice!!! and I do appreciate the thought given to my work.   So I pondered the remarks and ultimately came to the conclusion that I felt the early stages of that piece were too decorative and lacked inventiveness and mystery.  As I continued to add more layers of paint day after day on the first painting, two footprints in the sand quietly appeared--indicating to me a sense of going forward and a desire to overcome tragedy.  Maybe that work ultimately is not as exciting at the end as when I first started it?!  I do not have an answer to that question.
Now I am on a new journey with this second painting of another poor, deserted and trashed flip-flop!  We will see what happens.

An Artful Heart

Love this heart!  I bought this wonderful work of art (which is approximately 6" x 6") at the Santa Fe, New Mexico, flea market from a vendor who only made creations using recycled materials.  Sadly, the last time I went to the Sunday flea market, she was no longer there.  Actually many of the vendors either closed shop or moved to a new flea market area.   I hope she is continuing to create and making more of these hearts saying "Life is Good...Art is Better!"