Studio Latest

54" x 48"

I think maybe hide this somewhere, while it still has some of the fresh pearl peach base showing through.

Obligatory Snow Post

At around 12" deep, it's our 7th largest in one day, so here it is.
It's so futile to try depicting snow 'quantity' in photos. The camera takes off 6 inches, easily.
Rear wheel drive, and the city usually does not plow my street, so I'm a snow trudging pedestrian for a few days. Anyone feel like plowing 17th Street? Just for one block...

litandart.com

litandart.com has posted "Art is Bullshit", an interesting two-part review of Harry O. Frankfurt's book, "On Bullshit". The first part is a pre-read review, based on Art and Lit's expectations of the book. The second part is written after reading.

More Henri - Style vs. Brand

Henri Art Magazine has added two more artist's posts to their "Style vs. Brand" series. Steve Durbin and Charlie Clough. I'm surprised by the wide range of thought so far represented. I'm still processing.

Studio Happenings

Today's plan was simple. Work on this all day.


Add a couple minor elements to this.


Hmmm. It was too bold and too intuitive and too in the moment for me to feel anything but good about this.
It did get me thinking about Star Trek (Next Gen) characters. What a fun series that would be. I went back and forth between this referencing "Q" or "Laroxanna Troi".

LOL CATZ

Ricky and Alan are debuting over on "Can I Has Cheeseburger". Vote 'em on up to stardom.

Henri Art Magazine Essay

I have been invited, along with other artists, into a discussion over at Henri Art Magazine. The topic is Style vs. Brand, and it's being addressed in interesting ways (though I got off track a bit, my is essay here). "Henri" is forever generating original and well-reasoned thoughts, and I'm grateful to be included here.

Image is from fellow artist/ contributor Hans Heiner Buhr's notes.

Steven LaRose

Oregon artist Steven LaRose, web site and buy here site.

Tomato Can--Can

I can't believe I never posted this. Painted for Edibles in Irvington, late last summer.

Rosanna Hardin Hall

I just came across this excellent plein aire work by Indianapolis artist Rosanna Hardin Hall. This work is currently linked to her old site, here. If links become broken, then her site has moved and the first link should have her work.

I'd seen the name before, and skipped over thumbnails of her work. It's amazing sometimes what you find when you slow down a bit...
Deep Life Indy.

Tire Balancing

58" x 48", oil on wood panel

See the little swath of color on the left edge? I hate this sort of decision. I started adding edge shapes along the sides to address the edges and balance the composition, not as an integral part of the entire piece, but in the crudest way. It's a tacked-on "fix". I kept pretending I was dealing with the painting, but there's something almost shameful about caving to this type of convention, in such a conciliatory manner.

But a composition which locks into place supports all the loose ends. It allows more chaos. The mark-making and imagery can almost fall apart, in a good way, when it's manacled compositionally. The passages can be more arbitrary, the juxtapositions more ridiculous and illogical.

Compositional integrity is a beneficial tool. I just hate when it becomes rule or obsession-driven.

Then I noticed how this painted edge shape resembles a tire balancing lead, both visually and functionally. That seemed very funny at the time.

This painting is DONE

58" x 48", oil on wood panel

Hala Maloki 1

8" x 8", on panel, artist Hala Maloki