430 - String Theory, $250 (Mixed Media, 10" x 11")
Sometimes I think the best way to understand non-representational abstract art is to create some. "String Theory" was another investigation of the design element "texture". What makes texture so fascinating is that the shadow of the texture add to the visual expression and must be considered. This was a fun piece to create.
429 - Autumn Dreams, $250 (Mixed Media, 11" x 10")
One of my favorite themes to explore is fallen leaves. I like the all over patterns the leaf shapes make on sidewalks. With this particular piece, I had fun experimenting with the media to add texture to the composition.
302 - MsKitty & Toy Pony: Pounce, $250 (Watercolor and Gouache, 8.5" x 11.5")
Every once an awhile, I like to work with big, simple shapes. This painting is about contrasting the curved shapes of MsKitty and Toy Pony with the simple geometry of the horizon line. It’s also about the fun of play among friends.
289 - Still Life with Toy Pony, D34, $250 (Mixed Media, 8.5" x 13")
In this version of “Still Life with Toy Pony”, I wanted to create the feeling of something being gone. The candlestick is gone and replaced by a shaft of light. I am recalling the times in families when one person moves away. The presence is felt even one is absent.
288 - Still Life with Toy Pony, D49, $250 (Mixed Media, 8" x 13.5")
The items in the “Still Life with Toy Pony” series are surrogates for sisters. And one sister, “toy pony” is different from the others. In this particular design, all is quiet, harmonious and subdued much as it is in the evening time.
267 - Still Life with Dark Toy Pony, D11b, $650 (Mixed Watermedia, 14" x 21")
In both painting versions of design 11, I used the same to colors: Prussian blue and perinone orange. What is different is how the colors, lights and darks are arranged. In this version, I wanted to relate the main figure of the toy pony with the background. The other three objects are closely related in color and tone. By changing the background color and deepening the tone, I changed the mood of the composition dramatically. The toy pony is asserting its identity.
264 - Spice Kitty, $450 (Mixed Watermedia, 14" x 10")
Please meet "Spice Kitty", design 33 of my "KittyKitty" series. I have a real world kitty buddy I call "Spice". We visit each other on my morning exercise route. She often comes out to greet me and ask for pets. Then she swats my hand. I can't quite figure out this behavior. Spice is sweet, but there is some feline feistiness in her. I used the angles to depict her somewhat prickly demeanor.
259 - Totally Modern Kitty, $450 (Mixed Media, 10.5" x 14.5")
“Totally Modern Kitty” is stoic and cool. It’s demeanor contradicts it’s interest in you. Alert and interested, it might be talked into a good game of chase, soccer or catch.
256 -Sweet Kitty, $450 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 10.5" x 14.5")
“Sweet Kitty” is about a particular cat I know. It is about the sweetest kitty I’ve met. It’s voice is quiet; it’s demeanor gentle. Sweet kitty has the softest fur. And, it loves to get kitty pets. It’s a gentle soul.
253 - Patchwork Blue Still Life with Toy Pony D10, $450 (Mixed Media, 10.5" x 14")
With this design, the light and dark pattern became the subject. My intention was to link light shapes to light shapes. It gave the design a "cut out" look which I thought would work particularly well with a textured ground. The small bits of orange enhance the feeling of light and spirit of the pony.
252 - Still Life with Golden Toy Pony D17, $450 (Mixed Media, 10" x 14")
The swirl that is the lip and handle of the cup was the inspirational line of this still life. Early on, I chanced on drawing this line and built the rest of the still life around it. I thought the big, simple shapes would be suited for a textured treatment. But, most of all I like the regal, dignified golden pony.
243 - Festive Abstract IV Subterranean Blues, $450 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 10.5" x 14")
Sometimes compositions develop from a simple doodle, as is the case with this painting. I was experimenting with shapes and liked what I saw. It made me think of something reaching down deep into the earth, perhaps roots of an old tree or plant. Or, maybe itís a metaphor for my roots and links to the past.
242 - KittyKitty, $450 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 10.5" x 14")
This is a festive version of Ms. Maggie. If you look closely in the upper right corner, you see the words "kittykitty" filling the shape. I wanted to allude to a person, perhaps my Aunt, calling a cat. The cat is interested or curious. She knows it is not dinner time, so she is not fooled into getting up. The person is left to repeat the name without success.
235 - Spiral Gyre, $650 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 14.5" x 21.5")
"Spiral Gyre" started as an experiment in the figure to ground relationship. I took a drawing I did of sea shells and digitally cut out some shapes, added others and generally had a good time. I wanted to explore the relationship of dark and light ground verses dark and light subject. To simplify the composition, I kept the color primarily blue. As I painted, spirals kept revealing themselves. The title is redundant consistent with the repetition of the spiral shape.
499 - Just Groovin', $450 (Watercolor & Acrylic 15" x 14")
"Just Groovin'" was based on a study I did a few years ago, #364. It's about the dialogue I had between shapes, colors and lines. I like to think of this type of work as a dance with the paint, paper and brush.
233 - Two Coffees Cream and Sugar, $650 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 12.5" x 22")
"Two Coffees, Cream and Sugar", is one work in my espresso cup series. In this design, I purposely overlapped the figures, going from lower left to upper right. I wanted a festive, exuberant feel to the compositions. The coffee cups can barely be contained! I like coffee! This is the larger version of "Two Coffees, Cream and Sugar".
232 - Fractured Espresso Cups, $850 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 18" x 29")
Another in the espresso cup series, this composition is about two eight sided cups we have. I have drawn them several times. Then, I did a "what if" drawing - what if I were viewing these cups through a prism or kaleidoscope? I like the energy of the composition, sort of like a good, caffeinated cup of espresso. This is the larger version of "Fractured Espresso Cups"
230 - Red Ribbons, $175 (Water Color, Watercolor Pencil, Pastel, 6.5" x 9")
I started this piece using watercolor pencil. I was playing with ribbon shapes. I added an isolation coat (Golden soft gel gloss diluted with water), followed by pastel ground. Then, I applied multiple layers of colored pencil. This experimental piece was fun and I like the surreal world of the ribbon shapes.
229 - Two Coffees Cream and Sugar VS, $175 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 5" x 9")
"Two Coffees, Cream and Sugar VS", is one work in my espresso cup series. In this design, I purposely overlapped the figures, going from lower left to upper right. I wanted a festive, exuberant feel to the compositions. The coffee cups can barely be contained! I like coffee!
227 - Festive Kitty VS, $175 (Watercolor and Acylic, 7" x 9")
Sometimes, I just have to "bust loose!" I feel an idea and need to explore it. Festive Kitty is the latest in such an exploration. The attitude of the face revealed itself on paper. Kitties truly are superior beings!
226 - Three Broken Shells VS, $175 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 7" x 9.5")
Three Broken Shells are part of my series on sea shells. I am particularly drawn to the broken shells. They reveal interesting curves, loops, spirals and twists. The folds of the napkin I laid the shells on reminded me of the rhythms of the waves.
223 - Kaffe with Awning in Orange and Gold, VS, $175 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 6" x10")
Another in the espresso cup series, in this composition, I added shapes of fluid gold acrylic. I wanted to bridge the flat shapes of the composition with the gold grids. The gold grids also relate to the irregular grid composition. But, mostly, I wanted to show a cafÈ on a hot summer day.
219 - Three Broken Shells, $650 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 21" x 14.5")
Some of my favorite subjects are the broken shells found on the local beaches. I like being able to see parts of the underlying structure of the shells. I arranged these three shells on a napkin and the folds reminded me of the waves of the water.
217 - Unstrung, $450 (Mixed Media, 15" x 11")
"Unstrung" is about line, color and texture. I enjoy doing a non-objective abstraction every once in a while. Itís a challenge building the composition without trying to paint "some thing". The paint is truly the subject.
214 - Tulips and Clover, $450 (Colored and Watercolor Pencil, 15" x 11")
"Tulips and Clover" is another variation on the theme of tulips. The gesture of the upright tulips symbolizes the frenzy of spring to me. I imagine the plants expending energy to quickly grow and bloom. Itís a strong statement about life and survival. The clover inserted itself into the picture, just as they do in many gardens.
212 - Café, Espresso and Daisy, $650 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 12.5" x 22")
"Café, Espresso and Daisy" is one of a series of paintings exploring the theme of coffee and an espresso café. The daisy was inspired by a particular arrangement I saw in a Portland, OR, café. The cups, chairs and composition come from my imagination. I tipped the table top up for fun and because of the shape. "Café" is the French spelling for coffee.
203 - Sea Dragon in Sea Weed, $450 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 11" x 15")
I had so much fun painting the sea dragon once I had to paint it again. This time, I imagined suddenly encountering a sea dragon among dark sea weeds in a cool ocean. Iím sure we would both be surprised.
175 - Fall Trinkets and Treasures, $250 (Watercolor with Wax Resist, 11" x 15")
I composed this painting around the frog carving and the crab shell. What exactly they're doing in the same painting is a mystery. Would either animal eye the other as a possible dinner? Mainly, I liked composing with an odd assortment of shapes: shells, leaves, pebbles and a stone carving of a frog.
171 - Flowers and Lace, $250 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 11" x 15")
This painting is about alternating lights and darks and the lace created from stems and stalks. Perhaps the dark, rich colors allude to the bouquet sitting on a table at night, waiting for someone to enjoy itsí joyful blooms.
163 - Windows & Fences, $225 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 10" x 11")
"Windows & Fences" started out as an experiment in "frame-in-frame" design. Sometimes when painting, I reach the point where brain and paper dialog and I am at the sidelines. This is one such painting. After putting the painting away for six months, I see fences and windows, or perhaps an expression of my minds eye.
159 - Peggy Jo's Red Gladiolas, $185 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 8" x 10")
My friend Peggy Jo Klumb brought in a glorious bouquet of red gladiolas from her garden for our local drawing group. I instantly knew that I would enjoy doing a painting of the flowers on a bright red table cloth. This painting is unique for me in that it started with a layer of fluid acrylic. I switched to watercolor, working the background wet-on-wet. I "sealed" the painting with fluid acrylic medium then came back with more acrylic. The result is a vibrant painting of red gladiolas.
156 - Primordial Soup, $350 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 16" x 20")
"Primordial Soup" alludes to the mixture of primitive elements that might have been around at the start of life. I have included geometric shapes that refer to benzene rings, double helices, and peptide chains. The painting is as much about having fun with the elements of painting as it is about imagining what the primordial soup must have been like.
138 - Blue Rhythms, $250 (Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 15" x 11")
Sometimes I like to design abstraction based on how I might interpret the geometry of music. In "Blue Rhythms" I was thinking of jazz and improvisation. I started with leaving areas white and painting to dark blue. I added a few sections of "improvisation" I spattering watercolor pencil much as one would regular watercolor. The layers of shapes and their edges create divisions yet are aligned to weave together for a whole. The result is a painting that may suggest rhythms, or a deep forest, or something new.
137 - Blue Espresso Cup, $250 (Mixed Media, 11" x 15")
"Blue Espresso Cup" started with an idea. I had a linoleum block already carved depicting an espresso cup. A few years ago, I had done a still life study of espresso cups with a sugar bowl and milk pitcher. I thought I would assemble the shapes again. This time I used acrylic on the linoleum block and applied it to the painting surface painting the positive blue espresso cup. Then, I cut out stencils of the other items and painted, sponged, splattered the other shapes. I liked the idea of the blue cup being a painting within a painting.
123 - Star Gazer, $250 (Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 12" x 16")
The title "Star Gazer", alludes to the expression of the cat, she looks like she's star gazing. The assorted paint splatter adds to the feeling of stars and gives the cat a "new age" sort of setting. I had fun working with this cat.
122 - Kitty Buddies, $250 (Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 12" x 16")
"Kitty Buddies" is essentially a play on Cubist-style faces of kitties. The cat staring face forward also has a stylized, profile face. I find cat expressions fascinating.
120 - Young Forest, $275 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 12" x 16")
I call this abstract "Young Forest" because of the feeling of activity and movement in the painting. Plus, I associate alders with young forested land. In this painting, I wanted the feel of the Northwest forest.
118 - Four Peeps, $300 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 14" x 20")
In "Four Peeps", I again paint one of my favorite shore birds. The "peeps", the small sanderlings and sandpipers that inhabit the coast of Washington where I live, are an endless source of fascination. The color of the painting is as much about the joy of seeing the birds as it is about a time of day.
93 - Backyard Birds Along The Fence Line, $250 (Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 11" x 15")
"Backyard Birds Along the Fence Line" was inspired by the variety of song birds that come and go in our back yard. We often see ravens, jays, warblers, robins, flickers, chick-a-dees, and thrushes. I liked the contrasting shapes of the sharp fence line opposed to the bird shapes.
92 - Hubs and Spokes, $230 (Watercolor and Acrylic, 10" x 14")
Motorcycles are the motif and inspiration for "Hubs and Spokes". The painting is done on a transparent, acrylic ground. I mentally blew apart the structure of the motorcycle and painted the shapes and parts that immediately come to mind.
71 - Spirals, $275 (Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 12" x 16")
"Spirals" is another exploration of one of my favorite subjects: sea shells. I had fun working the colored pencil and watercolor together. I believe that both media are equal partners in contributing to the painting. The result is an interesting texture and expression that could not have been captured the same by using only one of the media.
68 - Patchwork, $210 (Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 9" x 12")
"Patchwork" was an adventure in opague, wet-on-wet watercolor paintings. It has a nostalgic feel for what I remember best about the 60's and 70's: flower power and wild colors.
47 - Hoodoo Kings, $175 (Watercolor and Watercolor Pencil, 7" x9")
"The Hoodoo Kings" is a study of the hoodoo formations in Bryce Canyon, Utah.
21 - Joy, $210 (Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 9" x 12")
I started this painting by drawing like I did as a child. I simply drew, then developed the painting by adding color to shapes.
20 - Fur Bag, $210 (Watercolor and Colored Pencil, 9" x 12")
This painting was inspired by a cat and her favorite hideout.