Has it been three months already?

Well here goes. This time I'm going to show three new pieces that are somewhat different. The first is based on an old photo I found in my files while searching for inspiration. I had filed this away some years ago thinking it might work at some time. I simply call it Water Lilies. It is so serene that I felt very relaxed while painting.

After finishing that one, I began searching for something different. During a less than stellar round of golf I began watching the airplanes flying in and out of our local airport as they cross over the golf course. The more I watched the less I paid attention to my dismal score. I began to think that some interesting paintings could come from what I was seeing. The first one I named Wings over Amelia.

I especially liked the silhouetted planes against the summer cloud formations. 

 

When I finished that one, I decided that another was in order. I painted a horizontal wider scene and called it Par for Landing. The plane coming in over the fairway just called for that title.

Next time will be some different subjects. Keep watching.

Once again another short turnaround at the gallery

Only got two new ones finished in time for the quick change out. These are both a little different from the most recent entries. The first one I call "Sweet smell of Jasmine". One day as I was exercising I looked out my window and saw the jasmine on the wall was in bloom. I could almost smell that sweet smell without even going out. I hope when someone views this painting that they too can imagine the sweet smell.

The other one is from a visit to London a few years ago. After touring Churchill's war room, I began wandering the neighborhood and came upon this lovely park. I named this idyllic scene simply "A Walk in the Park".

I am well into creating another different piece which I will place in the next show. Hopefully I will have time to produce two or three more before the next show.

Short Turnaround 

It has only been a couple of months since the last rehang of the gallery, but the group decided to move up the next new show in order to have fresh work for Spring Break and holiday visitors. Unfortunately, that meant I only had a couple of new pieces finished. The two pieces are very different from each other. One has some humor attached and the other is rather pastoral.

Who's in Charge
 Based on a photo of one of my daughter's newest cats, this is a light hearted study on determining who is the Alpha.

 

 

 

 

 Planting Hay

The other is  from my other daughter and son-in-law's "rural" property in Maryland. Each year a local farmer plants and harvests hay on some of the land. The bucolic country scene spoke to me of renewal and replenishment.

I have been frantically working on another large piece, but it won't be finished in time for the rehang. Look for it in the next posting.

More from the Galapagos

 The trip we took this past summer to the Galapagos Islands gave me a wealth of inspiration. I have completed three more paintings for the next gallery show. Hiking through the rocky terrain on one of the islands we came upon a number of marine iguanas. After they come out of the water, they climb on the warm rocks to rest. They seem to have no fear of us. This guy seemed to be saying hello. I decided to call this painting Welcome to My World.

On another island we took a tour to a farm where the giant tortoises congregate at that time of year. There were hundreds of them all around us. This one was resting under a tree. Hence the name Under the Lemon Tree.

 The third piece was from a different island. There are a lot of unique birds in the Galapagos, but I was especially moved by this scene of a pair of swallow tail gulls nesting in the sand. His manner of caring for her--protecting--feeding gave me a title Devotion.

Bucket List Trip and another (plus one)

This has been a busy travel year. In May we went to the Puglia region of Italy and had a great time using an "Agri-resort" as base to explore the region. Then, in August, we finally took a trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands that I have had on my bucket list for years. As always, these journeys spurred on the creative process. Two of the paintings from Italy were in the last posting. A third one is this which I simply call Biking Italy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The other two were from the travels through the various islands of the Galapagos. First is of three blue footed boobies I encountered during a zodiac excursion. I named this one  Three Amigos.

                                                           

The last was on a beach on one of the islands. The dominant male sea lion can be quite vocal in giving orders to his harem and to visitors that encroach on his territory. This one is titled Just Sayin'.

 One other piece that I just finished was a rush commission job for a long time client. They wanted to present a departing neighbor with a painting of the house they were leaving. They only had a couple of weeks before departure. Due to the short tie period I had to choose watercolors for quick drying. Rushing through painting, matting and shipping, I neglected to photograph the final piece. However, here is an earlier study I did in the planning stage.

Two Antiques and Another Memorial

 A recent family vacation in southern Italy led to discovery of antiques that inspired two new paintings for the next gallery show. The first was a very old photograph that made me think about doing a value study with only one color…raw umber. I thought that would give a similar look of an antique photo. I was very pleased with the result and named it A Study in one Color.

                                                                            

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The second inspiration came while wandering around the barn area on a farm resort. There were a number of old wagons there, but the one that caught my eye was a unique bicycle delivery vehicle. I conjured up a scene where it would likely have been used. This one seemed to name itself Essential Transportation.

 

 The final piece will not go to the gallery as it is a commission. One of my fellow artists who happened to see me working on it decided that I should be known as the memorial artist as I have done a number of these for folks who have lost their furry family members. I find that I really enjoy working on them and the reactions that the final piece brings…smiles, tears and such…provide me with longer lasting value than any money received. I call this one Mutual Love.