Thursday, August 20, 2009

Older Works

When I was asked to have a show in the downtown Birmingham Public Library I was really excited because, not only do they have a beautiful gallery on the top floor, but it is in a location when all types of people in all walks of life come.  What a great opportunity to have this wonderful audience.
This was my favorite painting from the group.  It reminded me of all the people who would see it, of all their hopes and dreams and struggles.  I had all my friends pose for me in all sorts of garb.  The Easter eggs don't match, but it turned out just the way I wanted.
I might ad it won an award and sold at a juried competition.
This is a diptych total size 5'x7'.  It is part of a series of work I did on vulnerablity.  I used wolves a lot because they are either loved and want to be saved or they are a nuisance and need to be killed.  I think these paintings represent to me the fragility, the ambiguity of our lives.  You never know what lies around the corner.

Rush Hour, oil, 48x40

Here I am again with the wolves.  All of them rushing out of the office to go across the street and get a beer, relax, have a smoke, get away from it all.
Actually, I don't like to do any of those things although I never mind a nice sip of good wine in some very relaxing spot. 

Almost There, oil, 30x40

This is from my last show here in Houston.  It was the first one sold.  I've been kind of struggling with where I wanted to go with my painting and this is how I was feeling.  It seems like I always had a "cause" until now.  I guess life has just been too easy.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

"The Owl is Calling", oil, 30x30 SOLD

The idea for this painting came from a trip I took with my two daughters and my grandson.  My daughter's mother-in-law was with us.  It was about relationships.  I had just heard our minister talk about when the owl calls it means your time is coming.  Funny tho, it's been a while now.  Justin is a young man, the mother in law is 89.  The photo for this was taken at George Washington's home on the Deleware River.  I think I really caught what I wanted and still like this painting a lot.

"Accident of Birth", oil, 40x50 SOLD

I sold this painting as soon as it was painted.  My husband posed for both the man and the reflection.  The man who bought it moved away and then I heard he died.  I would like to know where the painting is now.  I got a great review on it and really felt I had accomplished what I set out to say.  At the exhibit I enjoyed watching people's reactions to it.  How nice to have created a piece that caused so much discussion, and sold, too.  Wow.  What more could I ask for.  Hope you like it, too.
Harper was my good friend's daughter.  This was really a quick study and I liked it unfinished.  She was wearing my younger daughter's high school graduation dress and posed for me in my studio.  Since then she's been married and divorced.  Maybe the painting knew what was coming.  Silly.  But I had fun with it and liked the result.