Sunday, December 16, 2012

Untitled Abstract 4x4

 I had so much fun painting this abstract design. The more I painted.....the more the shapes became defined. Artist, Peter Max alqays has had a big influence on me. I can see some of his style through these whimsical shapes

Thursday, December 6, 2012

New Painting I am working on...

I am having fun with this simple design. The leaves can be any color. I need to add another layer of paint and then fill in the background. I love to paint.
Holiday Gift Gallery 2012
November 9 - December 22, 2012Open Late for Shopping: November 9th & December 14th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
during the 2nd Friday Circuit of Art
 
This is myself and Sally. She works hard to keep all the artwork from the different artist's straight. I have supplied the Firehouse with glass angels for about five or six years now.

The Firehouse Art Gallery is located at 444 South Flood Avenue, Norman, Oklahoma 73069
Angels sell for around $25.00. Hang them on the tree, tie them on a Christmas Package....

 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Took a break from painting and created glass crosses.

 Red Cross -  When I broke this bowl, it broke into some beautiful shapes, however it took me quite a while to figure out how the shapes would fit to resemble a cross design. The locket provided hangs in the center of the cross. I decided to add three long narrow pieces in the back to reinforce the image of a cross. I decided to add a few accents from the peach colored Jell-O bowl on the ends and added some fuchsia red mini glass gems around the center to emphasize the center.   I placed hooks in the back to hang it on a while, and a hook at the top (with chain) if you want to hang it in a window.
 This is the bowl I broke to make the cross.
 Red Cross in the sunlight.
 Peach and Purple Cross -  The peach bowl broke in various pieces, some were peach in color with deep ridges and others were of the edge of the bowl which had colors of fluorescent peach/pink. I matched this with glass in a comparable purple color and added some fluorescent glass with purple/green colors. The orchid piece is the focal point of this cross. I added rustic peach colored glass gems around the center. I had to make sure when I soldered the pieces of glass with ridges, the pieces all went the same way  but still were balanced.  I placed hooks in the back to hang it on a while, and a hook at the top (with chain) if you want to hang it in a window.

 This is the peach Jell-O bowl I broke to make the Peach and Purple Cross.
 
Peach and Purple Cross in the sunlight.  You might notice I later added a chip of the edge of the Jell-O bowl on the left corner of the cross to help balance out the shape.   

Friday, October 19, 2012

Are these all individual paintings?....No - learning all the time....

 I really had fun working with these colors...lime green, violets, purples, peaches, oranges, and reds. I painted the image of the flowers in the vase beginning in the center of the canvas. I didn't like it...but didn't know why. As I was taking photos - I realized that an image can look good even if  half or more is not completely displayed on the canvas.

 I also learned that I could paint a series of this flower and vase using these photo images as ideas for other paintings and that is what I am going to do.  I so enjoyed working with these colors - I could keep painting with them for awhile. I also have really enjoyed blending the paint colors.  

Can you see how I even blended a little of the lime green around the edges. Note the texture. I painted some modeling compound on the canvas before I put any colors on. I like to build texture...I am loving this learning process.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

More Flowers...

 I had already started another flower painting and needed to finish this up. After that last project of pastel colors, peach, turquoise, and violet, and I had to delve into some bold orange, read and pink bold colors.
 A few more close up photos. I have got to have texture in my paintings. This was the first time I used modeling paste and black gesso on the canvas before I put in paint colors on it.   
 After the paste and gesso dried, I dribbled paint on the surface adding another layer of texture. After all that had dried, then I began using paint.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Painting more flowers

 Here is another flower painting I have been working on. I am getting restless for a different subject matter, although flowers will always be something fun to paint.   
I am just going to keep practicing every chance I get. It is relaxing and fun to learn about a different medium other than glass.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Two Private Commissions Completed....

 This Red Cross is heading to California. It is 21 inches tall and 15 inches wide. The customer really liked one of the red crosses I had made for The Walden Gallery, in Taos, New Mexico. (It has sold already).....but he also had some special requests. Being a religious and spiritual man, one of his hobbies is collecting crosses. He wanted me to consider incorporating them into the design. I said 'sure". He also had some antique nails that he wanted to add if possible.  
 Red glass is the most expensive color to buy. I purchased two kinds of red glass with two different subtle textures. I built up the center with broken plates that had colors of brown tan, black and gold. I decided to hang each small cross in the design so they would dangle freely on the design. Can you see the trinity cross in the center in the photo above?
 In these images, you can see the tiny silver cross dangling from a red glass gem at the top of the cross and another small silver cross dangling from the bottom of the cross.  I added antique nails up the center of the cross and out on the sides. They were rusted with age and I loved working with them.
The broken pieces of glass came from Shawnee, Ok. Hannibal, Mo. and from a big red broken glass lamp purchased in Redding, California.
 This is the second Red Cross I made for a customer here in Oklahoma. She liked the same cross that sold at The Walden Gallery. She liked lots of red, so I took it easy on adding much tan, (only in center and for accent at the bottom). Then I used red textured spectrum glass throughout, but added a touch of a darker red down the center of the cross and out to the sides.
 When it hangs in the natural light, all you see is red.
Here is the Red Cross hanging from a wall inside my home. It looks totally different and is very dramatic. It is 19 inches tall and 15 inches wide. Both crosses were made with two ways to display. There is a wire attachment in the back to hang on a wall and another hook at the top, so you can hang it in a window.
 
This is a close up photo of the center of the first red cross. I wanted you to see how the cross hangs in the center of the design.
 I enjoy private commissions and look forward to the collaborations between artist and customer.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

I like to paint too....




 I have really enjoyed painting these flowers. I could keep going with different shapes and colors.
 "Oklahoma Native Sun" has been officially wrapped up and will be heading to Ardmore, Oklahoma.
 I painted this yesterday. I like to paint big signs with simple messages and then put them in places for a lot of people to see. Don't have a lot of time for this...but this is my fifth public sign.
I finally finished this commission which will be heading to Colorado.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Glass Collages


This trilogy of Glass Collages are on display at The Walden Gallery, in Taos, New Mexico. They are part of a larger event happening in September called the, Walking on Glass Tour. Each piece is eclectic in design encompassing all sorts of things that are red, green, gold, silver, and amber.    
There are glass gems, pieces of terra cotta tile, amber lead crystals, tiny Christmas star ornaments, gold gems, and vintage jewlery.  

They almost resemble shields. All three looks beautiful together.  


The more you look the more you see. Below, check out the terra cotta tile, glass gems, and amber colored lead cystal. All the crystals hang freely from the design, which gives it extra motion.


With the light reflected behind the glass collage.