More images coming from the studio hours

More Developments

As I work on a piece, I reflect, and look, and glance at, ignore, move around, turn on edges and look some more. This is a new process for me: to study the elements and move on a decision. This often takes a piece in an entirely different direction. Who can say where the process becomes "the best" results? Trying not to overwork is always a dynamic. But to shift and reconstruct seems to work well. Here's an example of a piece I did in September and observed for these months. I started yesterday at 7:30 AM and by 10PM (minus lunch and my nap!) I arrived at "I See the Moon." I have a tinge of American Indian in my blood from my mother's side and I think somewhere deep within, this image was lurking for centuries! What started as a free-form contemporary piece has morphed into a folk tale.

The beginnings of a form and structure

I See the Moon
(A work almost complete)
48 x 48 inch watercolor on canvas
$5000

The Process of the Painting

Today, I came into the studio and reworked a piece for the third time.
The first image was to be a contemporary form and function color and shape.
The second image came from washing the first with water and then rubbing (lifting) the colors out in more traditional form.
I liked what was happening, but had seen a form in the piece when I turned it on its side.
I started developing that form and the third image is what came out!

I am calling it "Encore!" I think I'm going to leave this one alone! Just a few more highlighting tweaks...

What a process. This has taken almost 6 months to arrive at!

It is a 4' x 4' watercolor on canvas.

Thursday Inspirations



Guyton Christian Church 8 AM




The Old Depot




The Fillin Station

 Don't know what happened but I saw a few shots with my little camera and walked out and about and made them. Came back to do some photoshopping and came up with these. This is where I live and I have an affinity for the ramshackleness of the whole place. Time has forgotten us here.

January Musings and Updates

 

My favorite flower; Vincent's too 



Where does the time go... seems like yesterday and yet so far away, that I was sitting down to write about Stockley Gardens and that was October!... Since, we have had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Judy Hautala coming down and bringing/gifting me with the van that we have used for years to go to Hatteras and environs for vacations. It is a cherished piece of our family's history and I am delighted and blessed to have it. It is old, but it has very few miles... and while I hate to gut it for my art work, it will be my next "artmobile". Time with family during December holidays was warm and wonderful. Uche Ibe, our friend from Nigeria and London came for a week after his certification tests at Emory. He is a Cardiac Specialist in the English system and was recently accepted to London Business School so we are very proud of him. We also keep his family in our thoughts on the upcoming burial of his father... a real loss for the Nigerian people. Gail and I spent Christmas Day together, just the two fo us, and it was really a grand affair! For the first time in my gift-giving I scored a 100%! Every gift made her smile bigger and that gave me great pleasure. We celebrated New Year's at Tyler and Grace's Mini-Mansion in Augusta and had a marvelous time. That sweetie Grace is such a hostess! Down to the Russian chocolates next to our bedsides, she welcomed us as royalty. Tyler had just finished his tests for the mid-year in pre-Med so he was exhausted but we walked and talked and shared many moments that are now fond memories. I have to rein in my pride at my son and his wife. They are our best friends and we cherish them immensely! Okay, so these past few weeks have been busy. I was unable to paint for the longest time, perhaps from distractions, but more that I was so uninspired. However, I am back at it. So thankful for the energy and ideas... Here are a few shots from the studio...



Klimt Inspired Detail; "Hermione in the Parlor"



Another of my muse's ideas, "Klimt's Mistress"



The Working Wall and some of the newest pieces in progress



Love the lighting in this one..."Elizabeth Before the Show"

I am encouraged by the colors now working in the palette. There's a richness I have grown into. Also, the large pieces are coming together in a new way. I am taking risks and giving myself permission to try things and not be so anchored down to the habits and learning of technique my experience gives. I hope I get really old painting... More as soon as I have some more; I'm preparing for La Quinta (voted best show in America 2012!) so I'll hopefully have a new crop of images that will please.

Stockley Gardens October 20-21, Norfolk VA

Always an event, Stockley Gardens is the show I started doing in 1992 and have done continuously since... the only one I missed was the October after 9/11... that makes this coming weekend my 39th show! And the folks there have been more than supportive. They are my teachers and refiners and commentors and critics; they are my patrons and clients and friends. I remember Gail saying to me, "You can not frame another painting until you sell something!" and I replied, "Now where am I going to do that?" Her response was to hand me a newspaper clipping with the Call for Entries to the Stockley Show.. OMG how scared I was. I have the original pictures (no digitals back then) and in them you can see my toes! I would put the paintings on the floor, stand over the painting and shoot a picture... always I got my feet in the bottom of the frame! Not only have things changed and become so much more effective with discs and pixels and cropping abilities, but they have become less tedious and time consuming. What stress to take a shot and have to wait for Walgreens to develop it! I don't even know where my 35mm camera is now! In these last 20 years, I have seen children who were incubating, graduate from college! I have buried a few wonderful loving art buyers and friends: Lisa, Jim, Arlene... Some folks bought one painting and I never saw them again; others are working on their 18th and 19th pieces! It has been an amazing path. I am ever reminded of my great fortune to be able to take a blank canvas and begin to doodle on it, passing the hours in "the zone," music cranked to the hilt, and to arrive at the place where I say, "Now you are finished." The miles and smiles I seen! I wax poetic, eh?

A word about the new pieces... I have really been "discovering" images in my art. I am playing like I have never played before. I am allowing myself to start with masses and drips and washes of color and then to study the thing, find something of shape and form in it, and pursue that image to a place of cohesive unity. I get to a place with a piece and, in a quick glance, deem it fit for show. Something about the piece has to come together in its entirety... Here are some of those in various stages of the process, hanging for a "look see."

And commissions: These are the latest approved and ready for delivery...

Looking forward to seeing you at Stockley!

And don't forget I have new pieces going up in TLNorris Gallery Greenville SC and at Lee Designs Alexandria...

National Society of Fine Arts, Paris, 2012 Jury Selection Announced Today!

Again this year, I am accepted into the National Society of Fine Arts in Paris! The event will be held the third week in December and will once again be in the Carrousel du Louvre. The announcement came this morning from Benedicte LeCat, director. This year another American, Joshua Smith, joins the delegation.

Sally and Sadie is a 24" x 24" (66 cm x 66 cm) original watercolor on canvas.

Barry Glustoff at Digital Arts Services in Atlanta is working now on a limited edition print of the piece. It will be a 12" x 12" rendering, will be framed and archivally finished. I am only doing 25 of them and am offering them at $225 each. They will be embellished with my trade-mark gold drip, signed and numbered. Each comes with its Certificate of Authenticity.

I will have an Artist's Proof at Stockley Gardens Arts Festival Oct. 20-21...

Want one? Reserve it now! I'll take calls at 757.477.2599 and will check my email at info@tombarnesfineart.com for requests... I think these two will go well with their internationally experienced cousin, Clarisse!

A WORD ABOUT SADIE: One may see her as a dog or a cat; I have invented a new species in my work called "Doats" or "Caogs" so that I will be politically correct for generations! 

Oh Happy Day!