Story Telling...

I’ve always had this interest in how I might be able to tell a story in my paintings, without having to layout every detail. This painting is a “work in progress” and for me it’s about distance. The two figures have adopted the same stance and maybe for different reason. Because they appear to be in the same location/room, they are together. I will find out what they are about as I continue to paint.

Still Life Paintings-Going Back In Time...

I mentioned in an earlier post my efforts to create my personal view on Still Life painting. These two paintings were done back in 1992 and have been hanging in my house for the last five years. I look at them every day but not from the point of view that I had painted them.

I have no recollection of my painting them or what it was that I was thinking at the time. I like them, they are rather direct with no effort to be an exact representation of the objects.

Reception for David Tooker...

David Tooker is the newly appointed Executive Director of the Scottsdale Artists’ School There will be a reception at the School on February 22, 2007 from 5:30 to 7PM to meet Dave. The school is located at 3720 N. Marshall Way, in Scottsdale AZ.

In Art, are we able to find Excellence in Scarcity...

In a recent interview of Tom Stoppard on the Charlie Rose Show, Stoppard talks about one of the main characters, a philosopher (I believe is the real life Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin) in his epic Play The Coast of Utopia who has the opportunity to live in France or Germany, countries, at the time where he could write and speak with out fear of being imprisoned (or worst). But he preferred to stay in St. Petersburg, where it was dangerous but where he believed his ideas would be heard. Big Fish Small Pond.

With the Internet, there are a lot of artist, in all categories, who are being seen. But we wonder are we being heard, is there just to much noise? Are we getting drowned out by all of the images that are available?

A post on Art and Perception ask the question on why is there such a focus in some art school on learning how to impress gallery owners, collectors and art magazine editors? What has happen to art for art sake? Are we pandering? Are we not willing to spend the time to go deeper in our work, putting in the effort that would result in art that gets to stand on its own? Martin Amis talks about the need to go deeper when writing, avoiding the expected cartoon version of life when telling a story. Forgive me but George Lucas made the same Star Wars’ movie six times (bless him, but).

When it comes to visual art, I wonder how many of us struggle with the need to go deep and to speak to something in our paintings etc that is not a cliche, but rather an honest interpretation of what it is that we see and want to say about who we are and how we lived. Question,If we went deep would we be heard?

Painting workshop – Miguel de Allende-Mexico...

Nancy Chaboun is conducting a workshop this May 13th to the 21st in Miguel de Allende “Painting the Figure Outdoors”. The cost for the workshop is $2,100. and includes hotel, breakfast, ground transportation, instruction and models. For more information contact Philiplevine@earthlink.net

Making a Still Life Distinctly Your...

I like looking at still life paintings but seem to get frustrated when attempting to do one myself. What makes my painting different? The problem I find is that the subject is so matter of fact, with out expression. It’s like playing tennis against a backboard. It never moves and never misses. You have to exert a lot of your self so that you show up in the painting. It’s a good challenge

Some more on what it takes...

I’ve been busy painting and have been challenged by my results.

Understanding what needs to happen in order for me to be satisfied with a painting is not enough. I’ve got to do it and do it often. I “believe” the more you work the better you get.

So in the spirit of creating rules, here is my list of most important rules.

• Paint or draw every day
• Complete at least one painting every week
• Start a new painting every week
• Acknowledge how fortunate I am.

I really wish that this was longer and more profound, and I could turn it into a best selling book, but life turns out to be simple.

I’ve noticed that when I am not painting, I worry about everything. When I am painting, I’m pretty happy. Bobby McFerrin had a point.