Recurring Cycle - Dragonfly

Section from a new painting.

I like the transparency of the wing veiling the face of the dragonfly and the almost fragile appearance of the legs. I tried to repeat the gracefulness of the wings and the fragile quality of the legs in the grasses. The background alludes to air, water, and time-the recurring cycle that is nature.



Dark Horses

 

Dark Horses (section)

This is an image that I have struggled with.  My current working process involves intuitive image making, letting myself be led by the color and ideas until the image resolves itself. The horses are from a photo that I took of horses hanging out near a windmill one hot arid summer out west.  I wanted to capture some of that feeling in the work. Last summer I did two backgrounds with the horse painting in mind and finally got as far as painting the horses, but did not finish the work. This summer I was working on the painting above not knowing what it would become.  Then I just happened upon the horses that I had painted on rice paper last summer. They became part of this image. I will probably work some more with the idea because it still does not feel fully realized.

Duskywings

Duskywings and Gold leaves, Fluid Acrylic on WC and ricepaper, 14x10 inches

Duskywings and Cloudwings are somewhat unremarkable butterflies except for their evocative name and the beautiful cloud shapes on their wings. I love the earthy browns and the idea of wings with cloudspots. I paint the idea of nature and may not always do it justice, but the love is there.

Winter Moon

Winter Moon, Acrylic on composite board, 24X18 inches

I began this painting late in the winter as a class demo on using modeling paste for texture.  When I began painting, it was clear to me that it would be a night scene with moonlight and tree branches. A few nights earlier I had awakened in the middle of the night. There was a full moon which revealed a cool but brilliant landscape.  I had forgotten about it, but after starting the painting I discovered the picture I had taken from my kitchen window on my cell phone.  My subconscious artistic self remembered.

Obelisk

Obelisk, Fluid Acrylic, 14x10 Inches
I like dragonflies, birds, and butterflies. They are creatures of  the earth, the air and also water.  I have several varieties of dragonflies around my backyard pond. This pose I have learned is called obelisking and  is something dragonflies do to help stay cool by presenting less of their mass to the sun.

Green Dreams

Green Dreams, Fluid Acrylic, 14X10 Inches

I love the colors of early spring.  Some greens are so bright they almost hurt your eyes and some are more brownish.  I began this painting in early spring and finished it recently. The greens seem highly saturated so that the air almost look greenish gold.  

The Gift

I Dreamed I Became the Light
First Wash

I Dreamed I Became the Light
Step 2

I Dreamed I Became the Light
Finished Painting