"Cetona Flowers"

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things but their inner significance" Aristotle
I'm still struggling with images from Italy. The experience was so wonderful that I can't seem to make my images equal the feeling of the trip. I worked on this one yesterday, wiped out half of it and reworked it today but am not satisfied. I feel like I'm totally missing the point. Aristotle has the right idea, but why can't I seem to even get close to that.
Frustration.

"Cetona Flowers" 10" x 7" on Wallis sanded paper

This is closer, but still not there. It's a poor attempt at realism and shouldn't even be realism. It should be expressionism or abstraction.

"Cetona Flowers" - close-up

And yesterday's question. Which drawing was plein aire and which was studio created? "Cetona Pink Pants" is the studio piece. I bet everyone guessed it correctly.

"Cetona Streets"

"Ain't nothin' like the real thing, baby. Ain't nothin' like the real thing." who sang that?
So here's my dilemma. I created 30 plein aire drawings on my trip to Italy, but to me they are the essence of my trip and I won't sell any of them. However my 5 friends and I are having a show of our work and I'm creating new pieces for the show.
Here are my two drawings. Can you tell which one was drawn on location in Italy and which was was drawn today in my studio with the reference photo as my inspiration?
The answer will be in tomorrow's blog.
Which one do you like better?

"Cetona - Pink Pants" 12" x 8" pastel on Wallis sanded paper

"Cetona Backstreets" 12" x 8" pastel on Wallis sanded paper

"Daffodils"

"I am no greater for one man's praise, nor less for his criticism." anonymous
One art fair down and 11 more to go. Let's hope the others are better than this one, but I always say, I'm there advertising my work and you never know when someone will think about something they've seen and decide they can't live without it; buying it at the next fair.
So here's little piece of cheery spring from 2010. I'm looking forward to getting back into plein aire drawing in the coming weeks.

"Daffodils" 8" x 12" on Wallis sanded paper. Plein aire drawing

Day 60 "Corn Rows 4"

Pray for Japan and all the people who are suffering. They are amazing people. If you wish to give money be sure it's a legitimate website. There are always lots of scammers out there during a crisis.


I made it. It's day 60 of my 60 days of "Pastel a Day" and it's the last day of work before leaving for KYCrafted the Market. Wholesale days are March 17 & 18, and retail days are 19 & 20 at KY State Fair and Expo Center in Louisville, KY. 
Talk to you all next week.

"Corn Rows" 6" x 6" on La Carte sanded paper

Day 59 "Piggies 4"

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." Scott Adams
Continuing the "Animal Quilt" series is "Piggies 4"
No time tonight for writing.... how did I get so behind to be ready for KYCrafted?

"Piggies 4"

Day 58 "4 Chics"

"There are no days in life so memorable as those which vibrated to some stroke of the imagination." Ralph Waldo Emerson
With the "Quilt Animal" series I want to create colors that vibrate.
I'm heading to the end of 60 days of "Pastel A Day" with 60 new pastel drawings as my goal to have ready for KYCrafted the Market. 
"4 Chics" is part of the small series of drawings to fit into 10" x10" frames. Although creativity is an essential element of the creative process I also have to be practical because this is a business which partially supports our family. I have five 10" x10" frames that need new images, so the smaller version of "Quilt Animals" series is born.

"4 Chics" 6"x6" pastel on salmon colored La Carte sanded paper

Day 57 "Hiking Among Giants 2"

"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere" Carl Sagan
Olympia National Park has 3 biospheres within one park. My drawing depicts the southwest corner of the park around Quinault River. This area contains the world's largest Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Western Red Cedar.
I wanted to depict the enormous size of these trees in "Hiking Among Giants 2". This is a large pastel and I've worked on it on and off for a couple of months, but finally it's finished and ready to go to KYCrafted The Market.

"Hiking Among Giants 2" 24" x 18" pastel on Uart sanded paper with oil wash