New Year's Day culling the herd

"No" on the left, "Yes" on the right.

With 534 paintings to sort through, my annual "culling the herd" day took a long time. Every New Year's Day I go through the work I've done the previous year and decide which paintings are successful (the "Yes" paintings) and which will be hosed off (the "No" paintings).

The "no" pile is always larger than the "yes" pile.

And that's okay with me. It means that I am trying things that don't always work out, but I continue to stretch for what is beyond my reach. An artist's reach should exceed her grasp, at least I think that it should.

2013. It's gonna be a great year!! "The Beat Goes On" by Patricia Barber, don't you know?

summertime abstraction near Hope Island

7 x 11, pastel on Rives BFK

Temperatures at home are nearing 100 degrees, but on the water it's just sunny with a breeze and about 85. Summer time is full of color, shimmer, and glow. Especially on the water.

Patricia Barber "Summertime." A heaping of smooth to go with the shimmer.

what adds up

7 x 7, pastel and gouache on paper

7 x 7, charcoal and gouache on paper

working out an idea

There are many roads that lead to successful abstract paintings. I have been playing with some shapes and ideas, some colors and designs to move things out of a literal place in my mind. It's like an inchworm who no longer needs to measure marigolds, don't you think?

And, it's like I think I know the song, "Inchworm," and then Patricia Barber shows me I know nothing! What do you think?

long term pose

I love using charcoal for figure drawing. It's the perfect, forgiving, medium for drawing, and I can make all kinds of luscious marks with it.

But, when it comes to the 30 minute poses, I also like to experiment with color. Here I did the initial drawing with charcoal and then painted in some of the shapes with watercolor.

Speaking of figures, I am crazy about the work of Dan, Danny, and John McCaw! Have you seen their work? Take a long, lingering look at it here!

And, speaking of lingering, take a linger with Patricia Barber. You will be glad you did!