Painting Greece

Oil on Canvas

I started a series of angel/sprit guide paintings for a small exhibition for an open house at a yoga studio in Thessaloniki this month. Unfortunately, strong southern winds kept me stuck on the island. No ferries ran for 2 days. It was difficult for me to let go of not being able to go. There is a saying here that says “every obstacle is for the best”. The only good I can see so far is that this gives me more time to let the paint dry and check for possible cracking. I’m using a new medium mix which I am not entirely sure of yet. Will have to wait and see.

Colors used are the 3 primary colors. Cad red and yellow, ultramarine blue and Titanium white. I wanted to stick with the ‘essence’ of color and not use too many mixes. I think it brings a certain vibrancy to the images and life to the painting.

Be well…..

Oil on MDF

50 x 70 cm

This work will soon be in Trish’s wonderful home. Thank you so much!!!

It’s been a while since I posted anything. So I thought I’d put up my current work. This isn’t any particular beach. It is a “soul painting” which means that I am not copying from a photo or painting onsite but letting the painting unfold and grow from the gessoed blank support to the finished product. I have my easel in the living room where I can see it all day long. This is helpful to me because in many ways the paintings seem to talk to me (no I do not hear voices and I’m not nuts). While going about my day, or opening my eyes from a prolonged asana, I’ll understand what needs to be done next, or what needs to change. This also happens when working from photos but the difference is that there is a comparison between what the physical eye sees in the photograph and the painting versus what the inner eye sees as the painting moves toward creation.

I will say that my natural surroundings obviously influence what comes out of me… the colors, texture and overall feel. I am very lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

Be well….

Oil on MDF

45 X 60cm

The cliffs below our home are ever changing in swirls of color and light. They are ever inspiring and I love to paint them.

I am still working on this one. It is drying now and waiting for the next layer of paint.

Here is another work in progress…. .

“Gathering Poppies”

oil on MDF

60 X 90 cm

This one feels special somehow. Everything fell into place… the colors, the composition, the light spring feel to it… it is one of those “spirit” paintings where you come to the blank canvas/board and the painting seems to fall from inspiration right onto the canvas. Perhaps that is why I love this one so much.

I don’t think I’ll refine ti too much from here, but there are some things I need to do. The thing is, I won’t know what it is until the brush comes to the canvas. It is so much fun painting this way. The freedom of it is almost intoxicating and is the direction I feel I need to go in my work….

Have a beautiful day….

Be well….

Finished:

BID  starts at 100 dollars

Work in Progress:

oil on gessoed hardboard

18 x 24cm, 7 x 9.4″

After attempting a portrait I needed something light. Lemons are not at all light-weight, but at least I don’t have to worry about capturing (or not capturing, in my case) someone’s subtle expressions. Lemons are bright, juicy and tart. Just thinking of them makes the mouth water, but again I don’t have to capture the slight pucker of the lips and the twitch of the eye of someone tasting the lemon. Yes… lemons are lighter.

Be well…

Oil on gessoes hardboard

18 x 24cm,  7 x 9.4″

Maria was my Yiayia (grandmother).  I found this photo yesterday and thought I’d give it a try.  She’ll need some drying time before I can go back in and make some adjustments in skin tone and some of the features.  Kudos to those who can do portraits easily.  I find it very challenging and exciting.    It’s not even getting the features exactly right, but the subtlety of expression that gives the portrait life.  It is like writing.  In creating the character, what comes alive is not what the character looks like, but the little quirks and mannerisms of that character that ultimately makes the character breathe.  If I don’t completely mess up the next stage of this portrait, I’ll post her.  If I do mess her up, I may even post the flop.   It would be a great excercise in ego-dousing.  The thing about any flop is that all the chance for greatness lies in the mistakes.  Noticing the mistakes makes you more aware and so you seek knowledge and thus learn.  It may take a while for the new knowledge to manifest into good brushwork, or the right curve around the nostil, or a believable skin color,  but it is bound to happen.

I continue to strive for a post a day.  With the summer season coming fast, and tons of work outside, I may only get to post a few times a week.   I have been struggling with this the past week  when I saw that I didn’t have a painting to post.  I’m letting myself off the hook.  I realized yesterday, as I was painting Maria, that I am more interested in the process of painting rather than painting just to get a post up.  It is my way of nurturing integrity in the artistic process.

Be well.