One Artist's Journey

There is still time to get in on the free twitter painting giveaway. Initally, the drawing was going to be done tonight, New Year’s Eve. However, because the article will be in the Sun newspaper on New Year’s Day, I decided to wait until Monday, January 4th at 12 o’clock noon to do the drawing.

All you need to do is follow me on twitter, then tweet your favorite painting (tweet, not message).

For detailed instructions, visit my twitter contest page.

Sunset - 14" x 18" - Acrylic, house paint and gesso on Masonite - $300

This was the last painting of the 100 painting challenge. I took a large panel, all the paint on my pallet and on my family’s pallets (from our class) and just started smearing it on this panel. Then I squirted the black pant and smeared it around.

I now have no more acrylic paint except what is in the tubes. I have kept a running pallet for 100 days in a container with a lid. To not have any paint in that container is kind of symbolic for me. I am done with the challenge. I have used up all my paint, all my gessoed panels. I am done.

Abstract #27 Moonlit Night - 16" x 20" - Acrylic house paint on Masonite - $300

This one was done on raw panel because I have run out of gessoed panel board. This is the smeared image of the previous painting. After I took this impression, I added paint to the other one, but this one was interesting as it was with the raw wood background.

Abstract Expressionism - 20" x 16" - Acrylic house paint and gesso on Masonite - $500

This one was fun to do. I guess when it was original, it was quite groundbreaking. When Jackson Pollack was working like this, people noticed. Once someone is able to say, proudly, that these squiggles are art, then it is art. The first person to come up with the idea… Wow. That took guts and determination.

Now, to do it, is to be an “also ran”. However, to come up with a new angle, or a new aspect would be cool. Then it could be new again. It sure is fun to do. Squirt, smear, repeat.

Origin #1 - 14" x 11" - Acrylic house paint and gesso on Masonite - $300

Here is another set of squirted paint paintings. I guess it is as with all art. If I believe it is art and can convince my viewers it is art, then it is art. Right?

Somne of the stuff you see in the art magazines nowadays is incredible. the resto f it I think, My kids can do better than that. I know that is closed minded, but really.

Origin #2 - 14" x 11" - Acrylic house paint and gesso on Masonite - $300

However, if you look back to all the great art movements through the ages, no one appreciated the new style when it came around. Now one liked Van Gogh’s art when he was alive. No one liked Henri Matisse’s fauvist art at first. He finally had a few people that appreciated it and then other people followed suit, but at first, people didn’t get it.

Abstract #25 - 14" x 11" - Acrylic house paint and gesso on Masonite - $300

I only need a few more paintings. I joked in my interview with Michel for the newspaper article that I might resort to Abstract Expressionism if it comes down to the wire.

Well, that is exactly what I did, but I am really happy with the results. I might explore this more. Just because it has been done before, doesn’t mean I can’t do it again, right?

When I got down to the studio after our family art class, I got some black and blue house paint and put them into squirt bottles. I squirted a panel and started to smudge it with my hand. Then I had the idea to put another panel on top of it and smoosh them together. It worked out well.

Abstract #26 - 14" x 11" - Acrylic house paint and gesso on Masonite - $300

The photos didn’t turn out great because the paint is glossy and really reflected the flash. I took the photos without a flash indoors at 10 p.m. Maybe I will get around to taking pictures outside, but I needed to get these up so people can see them on New Years Day. That is when the article comes out.

Still Life Cooper - 14" x 11" - Acrylic, and gesso on Masonite - $25

This is Cooper’s painting. He did a great job. His still life ended up kind of small in the middle of the painting, so he decided to do an “abstract background.” It took him a while, but he got it done.

Yes, I am a proud father that my 8 year old even knows what “abstract” means!

Still Life Spencer - 14" x 11" - Acrylic, and gesso on Masonite - $50

This is Spencer’s painting. He finished very quickly and said that he always finished first in his art class at school. He did a great job.

Still Life Orson - 14" x 11" - Acrylic, and gesso on Masonite - $50

This is Orson’s painting. He really had a great time and did a great job. He kept trying to get the splotchy, faded look I use. I think he did well.

Still Life Christina - 14" x 11" - Acrylic, and gesso on Masonite - $300

Christina took a different tack and I really like what she did. First of all, her perspective was completely different. She cropped the picture to only include the tops of the bottles. Then she played with just a silhouette and then changed that up a little. She did a great job.