Thank you!

I just wanted to take a moment to tell my blog followers how much I appreciate you joining me. It gives me more incentive to forge ahead and stay on track with my plans. It helps me to be accountable for and achieve the goals that I write about.
So Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Coming soon: My newest panting, 'Coral-ation'

Featured Artist for The 2010 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair

The 'Good news' that I spoke about , or couldn't speak about, in a previous blog post is....speakable now.
I'm very happy and honored to have been asked by The Guild to be their featured artist for this years Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair is a show that I've wanted to do for a long time. Having changed my medium to oil in 2002 I have needed more time to develop my painting style to properly represent what I see in my head. Given that it can be a scary place at times I feel that things are going in the right direction. I'm increasingly pleased with the results and public interest and sales are growing nicely.
The visibility from this event will, I'm sure, be awesome. My painting titled 'Monkey Business' has been used to design their 2010 limited edition poster. T-shirts will also be available.

Hope to see you there!

Here's another Peek

(In Progress)
This painting allows the viewer to witness a chance meeting high in the thorny branches of the Acacia tree. A grazing Giraffe comes face to face with a Lilac Breasted Roller (not yet shown). The tree provides shelter for one and food for the other. This odd couple seems to show interest in each other or perhaps just an unspoken greeting. Check back to see the finished painting which is not yet titled. Suggestions anyone?

Just a Peek!

(In Progress)
While I'm working on several canvases at the same time I thought I would give you a peek at a few of them and their development in progress. This one is titled 'God of the Upper World' and this detail shows less than half of the painting. Why that title? The finished painting will reveal the answer!

Eco-Expressionism?

(click image to enlarge)

If you Google the term "Eco- Expressionism" you won't fine a suitable explanation for it. It is however a term that seems to be a good fit for the description of my style of work.
The definition of ecosystem is as follows: Living things — and the physical environment in which they live — that form a complex, interconnected web of interactions and relationships.
Each of my paintings represent a window into a specific world. My intentions are to create my visions of a recognizable environment using a vivid palette along with bold shapes, patterns and expressive life forms that nature provides. They are my expressions of reality. You won't find Photo-realism here.
It is the typical trait of Expressionism to present the world under an utterly subjective perspective, distorting it to obtain an emotional effect and vividly transmit personal moods and ideas.

While my intent is not to distort, Eco-Expressionism is my interpretation of the reality of nature as I choose to express it.
What do you think?

Finished Parrots

Above are the finished paintings from my last post. These are just two examples of what is to follow in the next week or so. Birds have always been a favorite subject for me both on canvas and in person. These two are of a series of at least five portrait style 8 x 10 paintings that I will display at the up-coming Rainbow Feathers Bird Club Expo in May in Romulus, Michigan where I will be their featured avian artist.

On Track

(In progress)

Though it's been over a month since my last post I can say with all certainty that I am on track.
My Colored Pencil workshop that I gave for VAAL, The Visual Arts Association of Livonia, was a hit with my students as well as the organization. My plans to spend more time in my studio has become a reality and I now have several canvases going at the same time. I plan to first complete five 8 x 10 canvas boards which depict a portrait style painting of a brightly colored Parrot on each. These are to be exhibited during a one day event in Romulus, Michigan at the Rainbow Feathers Bird Club Expo where I have been once again invited to be their featured avian artist.
There is more exciting news but that is another post!

Colored Pencil Nature workshop

Time is quickly approaching for my workshop at Vaal (Visual Arts
Association of Livonia) which is scheduled for February 4th & 5th
from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm each day. The magic will happen in room
14 at the Dickinson Center at 18000 Newburgh Rd. in Livonia across
from Laurel Park Mall . I will demonstrate my techniques of creating
fur, feathers and various other textures of nature.
Here are a few examples of my Colored Pencil work.

There are still a few spots available so don't wait!

Plans for 2010

My New Years resolution for this year is to paint more, eat less, exercise more, catch up on my house chores, organize the garage, spend more quality time with all the people that I care about and oh ya, more me time!
Couldn't the Myans have figured out how to stretch a day instead of when time is to end? That would have been more helpful.
But now that I'm watching The Secret as much as I can I'm only thinking of what I can do and not what I can't.
So this is what I can do. I can plan on two new paintings per month. I can have a successful Solo Show at LSG in Ferndale in November. I will finish writing and illustrating my childrens book this year and I will fit in some of that other stuff I mentioned earlier.

Don't say "if". Say "I can". Say "I will".

'Heliconia Hotel'

These Red Eyed Tree Frogs will stay
at only the best accommodations.
New this year, 'Heliconia Hotel' was a
fun way to exhibit the dramatic and
whimsical character of this exotic
flower which is a relative of the well
known Bird of Paradise.

The "Art Prize" Experience.

My good intentions to write about my experience in Grand Rapids for the Art Prize competition took an unscheduled detour. I've developed a serious condition called "Lazy-itis"! I believe I have it under control now so here it is. My time in GR during Art Prize was nothing short of amazing. It is fuel for my soul to be surrounded by other people, "artists", who live creatively. It was seven days of art, art, art. Every kind of art imaginable. Thousands of people emerged into the city to not only partake in the event but become part of the event. While there I fulfilled my scheduled obligations of painting on location in Rosa Park Square as well as the John Ball Zoo during ZooArt Day which was planned around my painting appearance. I spoke with many interested people at these events and enjoyed every minute of it. Each day I gave artist talks to the viewing public At Open Concept Gallery about my painting, "High Society" . While I did not return home the winner of the competition, I did win. My prize was the experience itself and one that I will always cherish.

The completion of "High Society"

The creation of "High Society" has overcome the difficulties of life's roadblocks and pot holes. The conception of this piece was easy. The stages of development from beginning through completion gave me several obstickles to maneuver through. The poor health of close family members, the death of another, a move and the usual orange cones of life such as work, kids and daily duties. When all was said and done I passed the driving test. My painting has been completed and is now hanging in Open Concept Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan as it should. Raise the checkered flag, the Art Prize race is about to begin! The opening of Art Prize begins at 6pm September 23, 2009. Please consider "High Society" for your vote. My voting number is 27641

High Society in progress

Four days on the count down clock. That's all the time that I have left to complete my newest painting "High Society". Six weeks ago I began applying sketches to my largest canvas to date. Even though six weeks have passed the actual amount of days devoted to this canvas is just twenty days!

A taste of High Society !

Here you can see detailed areas of "High Society" in progress. At this stage I have put down the first blocked in layers and am just beginning to add more ingredients. The entire canvas is filled to the same degree but I want to leave something to surprise. I will share future development as more of the recipe is revealed.

My Art Prize venue is.....

In my previous post I talked about the Art Prize Competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After Submitting a proposal for my intended work of art along with info about me and the entry the next step is to be connected with a venue to exhibit the work. Over 1500 artists are vying for only approximately 130 venues.
Open Concept Gallery of Grand Rapids, MI. has invited me to exhibit my painting, 'High Society', during the two week long event. This building features beautiful architectural elements that will enhance the experience of this exhibit and I'm looking forward to being a part of what is being called the biggest art competition in the world.
This competition offers a large amount of prize money and it is the public who decides the winners by way of voting. Voters must register at the event and place their votes electronically.
Please come to see this very unique event and remember that your vote for your favorite work of art can change someones life.
Click on the links below for more info about Open Concept Gallery and the Art Prize event.
www.openconceptgallery.org
www.artprize.org