thinking about art – don pelota

An oily transition

For decades, I’ve lugged around a crate full of oil paints. Several tubes were even left over from my college art student days. I had long stopped working in oils, but I knew I’d return to them someday. As soon as the baby began sleeping for longer stretches at night, I knew I was readyContinue reading “An oily transition”

Evolution

I know that some artists are loathe to let others into their studios as they want to maintain a process that is not unduly influenced by anyone else. But given that this blog gets zero traffic, I don’t feel that’s much of a danger! 😉 One of the challenges I’ve faced this year, as IContinue reading “Evolution”

Collage exercises #2

Collage exercises

After taking an online class that really helped me think about how I’m using color and composition (and all the elements that contribute to a compelling composition), I’ve started doing nightly collages. This allows me to practice the surprisingly difficult exercise of creating compelling pieces (define that as you will) with some movement, but alsoContinue reading “Collage exercises”

Richard Diebenkorn’s 10 rules

I love learning about other artist’s self-imposed guidelines for making art or living life. It doesn’t matter the discipline. Being a writer as well as a painter, I know that the two art forms share much in common. I’ve also picked up bits of advice that come out of improv and theater, which seem toContinue reading “Richard Diebenkorn’s 10 rules”

Gillian Ayres

Today, a fellow artist told me about Gillian Ayres. I had never heard of her, so I looked her up. In the 4 seconds it took me to conduct a Google image search, I knew I had discovered a new source of inspiration. I mean, just look at this painting. It’s a riot of color.Continue reading “Gillian Ayres”

What “monopainting” is

I started painting in college. I was a creative writing major who discovered late in my college career that my childhood tendency to draw tanks and spaceships was hinting at a deep desire to make art. What I learned, thanks to my mentor Dale Johnson, was to paint landscapes on canvas. I still love juicy,Continue reading “What “monopainting” is”

Hawthorne on painting

It’s a thin book that I picked up who knows where. Hawthorne on Painting (google books) is comprised of the collected notes of students of Charles Webster Hawthorne, a painter of some renown at the turn of the previous century. Hawthorne’s instructions were intended for beginning students, but they’re quite applicable to a modern artist.Continue reading “Hawthorne on painting”