Current Directions


Since returning from Germany over six weeks ago, I can finally say that I have re-adjusted to life in Huntsville and work at the studio.  I realized this was a particularly good time to become more organized and establish some new goals, so that is probably the best way I can describe what I have been up to lately.  I am working on plenty of commissions as usual and am open to more for the fall and winter season, but I am also trying out a few new things and focusing on learning more.  From plein air work to signing up for workshops and just-for-fun projects between commissions, growth is on my mind.  I feel as if I owe it to myself and my clients to take the time to learn and grow and experiment.  For instance, the painting at the beginning of this post is a 16X20 portrait of a small ceramic figurine.  I first read about The Traveling Chicken quite a long time ago on the Facebook page of Kimberly Kelly Santini, an artist whose work I rather enjoy.  The concept was simple; artists around the world send each other a chicken figurine (often traveling with a group of other ceramic chicken friends) to paint in their own styles, thereby connecting and sharing their work.  The appeal of this, beyond the pure whimsical nature of the project, is seeing the creativity with which artists around the world approached the subject and trying to say something new with my own addition to the collection.  I have written a light-hearted account of the chickens' visit to Huntsville here.


The portrait of the lady with the red lips and pearl earring was painted in an ongoing workshop with Huntsville artist Robert Bean.  I also recently participated in a composition workshop with Robin Roberts.  I see these workshops as a chance to broaden my repertoire as I think over my visions and goals for the future.  The painting below is a recent commission I did of Lowe Mill of which I am extremely proud. . . I suspect it represents the future direction of my work.  My interest in architecture and expressing thoughts and feelings through architectural scenes and lighting conditions persists, and that is something I would particularly like to keep thinking about and working on.  This is a busy season, so I may not have much to say on this blog for the next couple months, but I continue to have great expectations.  Stay tuned. . .


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