I've been a bit crazy busy this weekend. The kids go back to school tomorrow, and Steve and I are off to Atlanta on Wednesday. As I prepare for our trip, make school lunches, and help find backpacks that haven't been seen in over two weeks, Steve has offered to do a guest post on my blog. Since many of you have admired his artwork, he felt that this would be a perfect topic to write about...
Steve here, making a post for a change. I want to thank all of you who commented on my artwork. I thought it might be interesting to take you through the evolution of the creative process behind my art.
I have done many sketches that turn up in the background of our homes. Brooke likes this one..
I'd also done a little watercolor sketching years ago. They were mostly painted while traveling...
Last year, I had a goal to learn how to paint with oils. I had never used oils before, but I figured that I would do 100 paintings and see where that got me. I had a vague image in the back of my head of wall sized canvases.
Starting something new was a challenge. The first one painted off the rear deck at Oxnard was pretty lame. I realized quickly that I hated painting houses.... too much like work.
Painting 1
I tried painting boats for the second one. This one turned out a little better, but the water was more fun than the boat.
Painting 2
Then I worked my way into a still life. Just some plants on the deck. I loosened things up a bit.
Painting 3
Then some landscapes started showing up (isn't that what you are supposed to paint?). This one was done from a photo. The smoke and mist was kind of cool, but I still hated the building.
Painting 4
Then I took one of my favorite antique oil paintings that we had around the house and just copied it. I learned a lot doing that one. I really liked the sketchy quality of it. The depth of color. I realized that it was a lot easier to copy than figure it out.
Painting 5
Taking in what I learned, I tried to get a bit more photographic with things. Sometimes photos are just better, but the water and sky were interesting.
Painting 6
So, I started painting the sky, letting it be a bit abstract and sketchy.
Painting 11
Then I painted the water in the pool. No pool. Just the water. This seemed a little weird at the time.
Painting 12
Then I did a bunch of paintings at the beach. It was very relaxing to paint at the beach. I just took all of the people and buildings out and abstracted things a bit.
Painting 14
I did a few paintings of the evening sky. This one was pretty cool and will probably turn into a whole series, eventually.
Painting 16 (12" x 9")
I was still drawn back to the water: The change in color from the horizon to the beach. The transparency as it reaches the shore.
Painting 21 (12" x 16")
The sunlight on the water. Breaking waves. The sand. But after painting number 23 fell into the sand, I decided to go back to painting on the deck!
Painting 22 (18"x24")
This time I just painted the water, the same water that was in Painting 2. The boat was just off to the left. Still working on the transparency up close and the reflection in the distance.
Painting 33 (9"x12")
Another one of the same piece of water, just letting a bit more color in.
Painting 31 (16"x12")
I stopped looking at something to paint and just made it up. It was more about the process, the relaxation, the movement, the total lack of subject matter, the no right answers. This was really appealing to me. I did a bunch of these in different colors.
Painting 32 (22"x30")
The paintings started getting bigger and looser. I actually like this one a lot.
Painting 37 (30"x40")
Some were a little cloudy. There is a look of the air and clouds when you are flying at 30,000 feet that was really appealing to me.
Painting 38 (30"x30")
This is the latest one. I painted the same piece of water, but a bit moodier.
Very late in the day, the reflection of the sunset begins to show up.
Painting 49 (36"x36")
Well I'm almost half way through now, and we just hung a lot of them up in Oxnard.
I still see those wall sized canvases in my head.
Fortunately, there is a lot of great white wall space there, a lot of blank canvases in the garage, and a lot of ideas percolating in my head. We'll see where I end up! - Steve
Thank you Steve for sharing the process behind your art! To see more of Steve's artwork click here.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
xo
Brooke
