Another Way Home

Acrylics and watercolors on canvas, 8" x 10".

This one took forever to come together, and almost claimed my favorite jeans along the way. But it's worth it. Eventually things arrange themselves, though it's surprising every time.

What You Looked Like Before I Met You

Watercolor and ink on canvas.
8" x 10".

Think of Me When Everything You Wanted Starts to End

Acrylics, watercolor, and ink on canvas. 12" x 24".

This is the first time in a while that a painting isn't better than the one that preceded it. Not that I don't love this one, but it's not perfect. I'll get it on the next try.

Aspirational Distinctives

Acrylics, ink, and watercolors on canvas.
12" x 24"

The end of each painting I do seems to come unexpectedly. I keep working on it, it seems to be going nowhere, and then all of a sudden WHAM!!!

Painting done.

I'm very proud of this one. It's my favorite painting I've ever done, and I'm inclined to suggest it's the best one as well.

Then and now.

Silent Tiny Pieces of the Sun
April 2009
Acrylics, ink, and watercolor on canvas panel. 24" x 18"

I finished this one over the weekend and I'm very proud of it. Many failed things all came together in a way that I never expected. It's further testament to my newfound conviction that any painting can be saved if you just keep at it.

It just so happens that I recently found the last landscape I did, and I'd like to present it in the spirit of comparing and contrasting:


Ice Cream Mountains
Spring 1998
Acrylics on canvas panel. 24" x 18"

The differences in paintings directly mirror the differences in me that have happened over the past eleven years. When I was finishing up high school in 1998, I was like the older painting. More certain about colors, a little glib, not all that interesting or varied. Like the newer one, I am now more subtle, interesting, complicated, and patient. The colors in my life became far more varied and uncertain, but make up a distinctly vibrant palette.

The brilliant stroke is that the painting I just finished was reclaiming a canvas panel from another failed painting of the spring of 1998. It sort of feels like I'm coming full circle in painting.

Marcia.

Finished product.

I didn't quite make it to my time goal, but I figured artificially bloating the time spent is a pointless practice. It's done when it's done. I'm very happy with the result. Marcia always seems to bring out the best in me.

Acrylics, ink, and watercolor on canvas, 16 in x 12 in.