Showing posts with label gouache. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gouache. Show all posts

29 October, 2021

Evening Cedar

Ending my long blog break to announce that Evening Cedar was awarded Second Prize in this year's Southwestern Watercolor Society exhibition by juror Ruth Armitage. Thank you, Ruth!

Evening Cedar
watercolor and gouache on gessoed paper
17 x 12.5 inches

This half-bare cedar tree backlit by the sun is another piece that was inspired out in the Big Bend. I can't wait until I go back again. Maybe next year?

16 November, 2020

BIG news




Big news about a big painting. Or a big reproduction of a painting, at least. 9x28 feet!

I'm happy to be able to share that a painting of mine was selected as the winner of The Catholic Foundation's Art on the Plaza competition. This is an annual contest with the foundation choosing a work of art to reproduce at mural size for their plaza. I'm very honored that my piece was their pick this year.

My painting, titled Continuo, was created especially for the competition. Normally, I don't intentionally do paintings with messages. But with the possibility that this one could become a piece of public art, and given the circumstances that we have all had to face this year, I felt I needed to respond with a piece meant specifically to create a mood of peace and hope.


This is my short statement about Continuo:

The soft focus and quiet coloring recall the morning light and new beginnings, while a gentle ongoing energy is evoked by the texture and rhythmic motion. The continual resilience of grass, able to recover from fire, drought, pestilence or other disasters makes it a symbol of confident hope.

The original painting was executed in watercolor and gouache over an acrylic gesso ground.

The mural will be on display for a year. The wonderful location at 2216 Flora Street in Dallas is in the Arts District, near the Dallas Museum of Art and directly across the street from the Myerson Symphony Center.

02 December, 2019

Clear Day

This is a view of the formation in Big Bend that is called The Window. Sometimes the sky is such a bright and intense blue that it is darker than the cliffs and rocks. This was a day like that, crisp and clear. I'll be going back to Big Bend soon and am itching to make some new studies there.














Clear Day
watercolor and gouache on gessoed 300 lb. rag paper, matted

24 September, 2019

Dorgan House Window

Thank you, Vlad Yeliseyev, for selecting this piece for an award in this year's Southwestern Watercolor Society's membership show. Vlad put together a great show, taught a workshop, and gave a demo for our group. I was not able to attend the workshop, but some of my friends who did were very pleased. They said Vlad really put everyone at ease, so that they were really able to absorb the lessons and take on feedback.

Dorgan House is one of the adobe homes that can still be found in Big Bend. What is left of them can still be found, that is. The windows of this house are unique: extra large with arched timbers above the openings. Through the window you can see what the family used to see. I kept the palette extremely limited and the value range narrow to enhance the still and quiet mood.








Dorgan House Window
gouache on gessoed archival paper
14.5 x 10 inches

16 September, 2019

Wilson Circle and Square

























Wilson Circle and Square
watercolor & gouache
12 x 12"

This is another piece based on an old structure that is still standing in Big Bend, part of Homer Wilson's ranch. I was attracted by the close proximity of the square window and small circular opening from this viewpoint, as well as the interesting arrangement of lights and darks.

SOLD

15 September, 2019

Adobe Corner



Adobe Corner
gouache
14 x 10.75

This is a remnant of an adobe house in Big Bend National Park. We humans love our right angles. They persist as reminders that we were there even after we've been gone a long time.

02 September, 2019

Pagoda Pine



Pagoda Pine
gouache
7x5"

matted

SOLD

Painted at the Dallas Arboretum

Verdigris



Verdigris
gouache
7x5"

matted

Painted at the Dallas Arboretum.

Rich Autumn



Rich Autumn
gouache
7x5"

matted

Painted at the Dallas Arboretum

Rain Puddle



Rain Puddle
gouache
5x7"

matted

Painted at the Dallas Arboretum

Gateway



Gateway
gouache
7x5"

matted

SOLD

Faun



Faun
gouache
7x5"

matted

SOLD

DeGolyer entrance



DeGolyer Entrance
gouache
7x5"

matted

A Woman's Garden



A Woman's Garden
gouache
7x5"

matted