I am close to completing a series of painting using very muted colors: greens, grays, blues, yellows.  The paintings represent a departure in color, testure and application.

I will post both the paintings and a series of photographs of old paint faded houses I shot in upstate New York, Alaska and on the Oregon coast.

It’s been too long since I’ve updated my artistic comings and goingings. I have another blog (www.bestofthebestdiningchicago.com) and it’s bee keeping me very busy, in addition to my day job.  That doesn’t mean that I have not been painting or clicking away on my digital camera.

Over the summer, I visited a few places that have inspired me.  I was in upstate New York (near Buffalo) and was able to view a potpurri of very colorful houses (yellow, orange, blue – both muted and vibrant).  These houses had not seen a coat of paint in many years.  But they were fascinating and I had a moment where I just knew that I have a growing fascination with “delapidated” houses.  So, you will see a collection of them being posted in my photography section.  In the meantime, here’s one to wet your appetitie:

 Oregon Blue House

The colors of these old houses had pushed my painting into very muted colors. Instead of my bold and bright colors, my palate has softened.  So, when I have a series, I will have them photographed and posted on the site.

I just returned from a trip to Alaska that was so amazing.  I was even more surprised when I returned to download the pics to view the incredible mood evoked by the moving cloud photos in the mountains. The majority of the time was overcast, but that led to incredible “peeks” of light coming through, and a certain mood that was evoked by the shades of gray. I never know how many shades of gray existed.

Here’s one example of the eerie view:

Another observation – I had no idea that ice coming off a glacier was bright blue pastel. What an incredible color. 

So, as we know, art, color, beauty are all around us.  I found some incredible examples of this.  It’s coming soon to the blog! 

 

On President’s Day, I fell right into an Oprah episode.  When my Tivo was working, I fell into Oprah when I decided the time was right (is this sounding like a Viagra commericial?).  Anyway, she did an entire show on the new Dr. Seuss movie that is coming out starring Jim Carey, Carol Burnett and Steve Corell. 

Jim Carey really is a magical person. He is spiritual, centered, and has AMAZING energy.  He had that audience in the palm of his hand. 

What does this have to do with art and painting?  Well, when he was alone with Oprah on stage, the discussion segwayed over to how he loves to paint.  And, he said “I just set up my stuff in the middle of my living room – and get up and paint whenever I feel like it.”  Just like me!  I have a studio/great room.  So, I love Jim Carey for that (and other zen and cool things).  By the way, it is interesting…my two fish really have an affinity for him.  They bang around in their bowls whenever he is around!