Just a moment's rest

Young Presley, pastel

My friends have a youthful boxer. “Presley” is growing into his body. He’s all play and investigation, cocks his head often as if attempting to know what you are saying or thinking. Presley is pretty adorable for all those reasons.

In this color-sketch I aimed to express Presley’s personality by placing his stance in a slight tilt, a bit off-balance to emphasize that rare moment of awkward pause in a youth’s frenetic pace.

A good-natured Josh

Josh Gagnon-Palick pencil on Bristol board, 8.5 x 11 (detail)

I sketched this caricature of a friend's grandson, Josh Gagnon-Palick, while the young fellow was here visiting from Minnesota. Josh is fun to be around, smart, kind, and with a good sense of humor. I think my rendering captures Josh. That was my goal, at least. I kept the distorting of features to a minimum, allowing the loose drawing technique to express something of Josh's happy nature.

Morning Road

Morning Road, pastel, 12 x 16

Working on a grey-toned pastel board, I first sketched my composition by defining the shadow areas of the landscape. For this I chose a rich, very dark blue-purple pastel stick. Following that beginning I purposefully reduced the number of colors/ values I applied in order to create this scene of a rural road in La Habra Heights. This shorthand approach demands more of the viewer, because it provides less visual information--for example, notice how the chain-link fence on the left disappears into the shadow cast by the tall trees across the road, and yet in our minds' the fence is there. The payoff from this practice comes in our engagement with both the painting surface and the painting subject; we see both in a new way.

Note: After posting Morning Road last night, I arrived at my studio this morning and felt the urge to fix something in the painting. This led (naturally) to my finding reasons to 'noodle' elsewhere: I added a cool green to the shadows of the orange trees, further defined and emphasized the hillside trees to the left and behind the citrus trees, and fiddled with both the sky and the shadows on the right of the road. All-in-all, improvements were made and without sacrificing too much in the process, but, again, that wisdom applies; The enemy of good is 'better.'

Emily's spirit

I see Tony at Starbucks most mornings. A photograph of his little girl, Emily, smiles out from the contours of his coffee mug, a pleasure for all to see. Emily had a kidney removed just a couple weeks ago and Tony tells us she is doing just great. I'm not surprised. Her grin, alone, seemed to guarantee that result.

I painted this portrait on an earth-colored background to compliment Emily's warm personality. The close-up detail is included so you get a second dose of her bright eyes and sweet smile.

Poets and muses

One summer morning Terry Davis introduced himself on his way out the door of Starbuck’s, a coffee in both hands. He stopped to express his appreciation for a painting of mine, a character study of a colorful, local fellow. Terry and I chatted about my art, about our community, and then he came back to the subject of portraits and asked if I could paint one from a photograph. That was when he shared about the loss of his son, Jimmy on July 3, 2007. Jimmy was 26. Terry seemed happy to share stories about Jimmy and before leaving me he explained he was on his way to the local cemetery where most mornings he has a coffee with, as he said it, “my boy.”

To create an expressive portrait it is always helpful to meet the subject, for much can be gleaned about a persona from a short chat and observations. However, without this opportunity in Jimmy’s case the best alternative was to ask questions and listening to stories.

Writer Ray Bradbury has said that when people talk about those things they deeply love, they become poets. And so it was when Terry and his wife, Candy, came by my studio to share a handful of family photographs of Jimmy and many heartfelt stories, stories that would inform and influence the painting I created for them.

Following their visit Terry quietly oversaw the project. His wish was to surprise Candy with the finished painting for the holidays. When the portrait was completed I rang Terry and had him come by to see it. Pleased and moved, for a long time he stood close to the painting studying it, smiling and admiringly explaining how he could see in the work Jimmy’s animating-bright spirit at many different ages and stages of his life. “That’s my little Boy” he said chuckling. That was sweet to hear.

Quiet understanding

Winter Solace pastel, 17 x 25

On the cusp of December and with winter near I had the urge to create a winter scene. As usual I began the task with a feeling in my chest and a friend or three in my thoughts. The creative urge mirrors our most basic impulse: the desire to be understood, to share, and just as hopefully, to give understanding back to the world.

In this work I wanted to express the quiet of a forest after a heavy snowfall. For added drama I made the scene at day's end, where contrasting light and shadows, cool and warm complimentary colors convey the challenges and beauty of life, even in extremes.

Across the universe

Joey pastel 13 x 10

This jubulant, young fellow at a local Starbuck's inspired a comparible painting approach: brisk and bold strokes of bright, rich colors. For me painting is always a curious blend of shape-making and emotions-venting with the aim of discovery. Making art is as basic as that, but I've discovered a universe there.

Detail