A Short Walk

Went to a local open-studios event on Saturday. Talked with a guy whose art he calls painterly abstraction. Asked tons of questions.

His process? Like going for a walk, he said, I don't think about my feet—they just keep moving while my thoughts keep moving.

I took a short walk with paintbrush in hand Sunday.  Caught a glimpse of the Jonesport barn en route.

What in Barnation!
6x6", acrylic on gessobord
abstract
2015
[not for sale]

Scotch™ Magic®

One of my favorite parts of painting on watercolor paper is pulling the tape off at the end.

No matter how good or bad a painting looks with tape holding it in place, it always looks better once the tape yields to a clean, crisp border.

Magic!

That Darn Barn!
3.5x5", acrylic on 4.5x6" watercolor paper folded card
architecture
2105

Ongoing Investigation

Conducted an out-of-control experiment in my studio yesterday with one constant—the barn—and multiple competing variables:

• canvas instead of gessobord
• close-up view instead of farther back
• different palette of colors
• a reference photo with appealing brushstrokes (the likes of which never found expression in my painting).

Then I put a brush in my hand and wondered with it.

Barn Again
6x6", acrylic on canvas
architecture
2015

Illiteral

Does an abstract painting have a light source and shadows?

Don't know.

How do I paint the feeling of what I see with my eyes?

Don't know.

How do I create a focal point?

Don't know.

For now.

Secrets of a Bayside Barn
6x6", acrylic on gessobord
abstract
2015

Foot off the Brake

What if that barn—the one nestled in a little hollow overlooking Englishman Bay in Jonesport—said, two days ago, Just kidding about slowing down.  What kinda juice ya got?

What if I went for just a quick impression? Maybe only 30 big ol' brushstrokes—or, at least fewer than 1000?

What if I had no idea how to have no idea?

Well … I'd put paint on gessobord and see what I discovered.

Same as every other day.

Gosh Barn It!
6x6, acrylic on gessobord
architecture
2015

Messing About

Isn't there a line in The Wind in the Willows about nothing's being half so much worth doing as messing about in boats?

… or is it messing about in paints?

I messed about yesterday. Without a care in the world. Three reference photos of pears on my laptop. Ideas in my head. Brush in my hand. Paints on my palette. Summer air dancing through the open window. Sunshine lighting the room.

If I hadn't jumped into doing a painting a day I would never have experimented nor played nor messed so freely, if at all.

I think I would never have started this painting—this painting which looks nothing like what I had in mind when I started.

I would have missed the fun of messing about with pear juice dripping down my chin.

Good Morning!
6x6", acrylic on gessobord
still life
2015

In and Out the Window

Some days I paint with large loose strokes, some days I fuss with details. In and out the window, I tell ya.

I started this painting making quick, impulsive choices. Then, that barn—a barn nestled in a little hollow overlooking Englishman Bay in Jonesport—asked me to slow down a little. So I did.

All such an adventure, all so engaging. All part of a much bigger picture than any one painting.

Evening Barn
6x6", acrylic on gessobord
architecture
2015