All Paintings Contribute To The Next

Deep indigo-blue sky, silver stars, a chorus of crickets and tree frogs are the players in the Kansas musical that is about to entertain me as I lay out my sleeping bag on the rich green grass. In the distance a dog barks asking to be let into the silhouetted farm house that is surrounding a tiny warm glow from a lamp light. My own fire is near out. Only a stick or two show any signs of the fire that toasted my hot dogs. A lone star leaves the stage streaking across the indigo sky as I lay my head down on the pillow of grass I gathered. Headlights appear and disappear in the distance,  a buzz distracts me for a second from the lights dancing towards me. Then the headlights turn off in a different direction and are replaced by tail lights. A billion cottonwood leaves are awaken by a westerly breeze to join the chorus. A lot to see and listen to in my quiet little camp site. 

Taking in the landscape with it's sounds and smells is what adds to the experience of painting on the spot. Camping in the middle of my little painting enhances everything. Colors over looked appear and become important; the way grass is bending lends to the flow of my paintbrush. Like a conductor leading his orchestra with his baton, I lead my colors with my baton - my paintbrush. Singing leaves draw out the silver grey in the cottoood trees. A meadow lark draws my attention to the waves of grass.  All senses are in play, and in harmony .

The chorus from last night's musical is silent, still it is there in my hand as I place each stroke and each color.   

When I leave my little campsite I leave with much more than a visual record on canvas. I leave with the place being a part of me. Each place I stop to capture with my paints becomes a part of me, not all are remembered, but all are there helping me see with my heart and mind for whatever I am painting - whether doing a still-life or a figure, all paintings contribute to the next. 

From Model to Muse

It takes awhile for me to become comfortable with a model. Posing nude takes courage, especially the first time for most young ladies. Models usually begin working for me by posing for figure studies, nude figure studies. Besides honing my drawing skills these first sessions are my way of learning something about the person posing for me and for them to learn just who I am. Sometimes there is no bonding, no exchange of ideas, no friendly stories. When there is bonding, a step into friendship, a model becomes a muse, a person who inspires.

Models fit into concepts the artist develops before deciding on the type of figure they need. A muse inspires an artist to create a concept around them.

Kim has inspired hundreds of my paintings and drawings over the 21 years we have worked together. Her creative poses have challenged my skills of observation and how I handle a drawing. Kim is one of my muses, aiding me with concepts of multiple figures. Her grace, her understanding of how her body is seen by others at any one moment is an asset for any artist. She can move from one pose to another and interact with the first pose perfectly, even though there is no one to work off. All seven figures in "The Wedding  Planners" are Kim. Kim sees what I see before any paint is laid out on my palette. Years of working together has us thinking as one. Her jet black hair and dark brown eyes make her perfect for charcoal, a medium I am not crazy  about. To really do justice to Kim I took up charcoal after ten years of using other mediums for drawing. This is what a good muse can bring to a studio. There was the time she came to work with her hair dyed blonde. I tried to hide my disappointment but we knew each other so well by then she knew I was faking enthusiasm. Kim used to help me with caring for my brother, cooking him meals and just sitting and talking with him.

When I find a model I can really bond with I hold onto them as long as possible. Jordan, another of my muses, has adopted me as her daughter Josephine's grandpa. Afraid to attempt a painting of a baby for many years, Josephine proved to be too cute, so I threw my fears aside and did, I think, a fine painting of Jordan holding my little Josephine. Jordan, like Kim, has inspired many paintings. Our friendship has grown over the years, Jordan, besides inspiring me, is now my gallery manager. Our conversations during our painting sessions has educated me in the ways of big business and Jordan in the ways of Art. Jordan is the girl-next-door in many of my paintings.