Hello All,

 

Rome was not built in a day.  This age old adage applies to my paintings.  The photo below, taken in early October of 09 shows the first brush strokes of the Santa Cruz Harbor painting in progress.  This week it is the summer solstice 2010 and the finishing touches were applied a few days ago.  I never hurry a painting, but channel the flow of paint until the day arrives when I look at it and realize there is nothing more I can do to improve it. On that day I say to myself,  "Wallah! It is done."

 

This week. while painting a life size figure, I recalled a technique a classmate of mine used in college some 30 years ago.  He applied strips of color to the human form until all the color changes were in place.  Using a blending brush he then blended these color strips into a cohesive form with amazing results.  It still works today.  I am wondering about what other little secrets I have yet to discover. Maybe I will watch more Bob Ross episodes. Hee hee

 

An artist has a finite time in which to interpret their existance and culture.  Since I was in college I have painted non stop for 23 of the past 33 years.  I talk with old college friends who have early works of mine. This  includes a cow standing on top of the Lincoln Memorial.  He was wondering what I was thinking 30 some years ago.   I too am wondering what drove me in those days. It had something to do with hitch hiking to Washington DC around 1978 for the Cherry Blossom Parade and peace protest. Another collector from the early days is have an old classic restored.  His x-wife had him keep it in the barn all these years as it did not fit in with her country home taste. It will now hang proudly in his new batchelor pad.

 

On another note: My girlfriend Laura and I had dinner out last night.  We hiked up a rugged portion of the Yuba River to a spot where the entire river shoots through an eight foot wide opening in the towering rock walls. Here we dined on grilled marinated pork, vegetable saute with wild mushrooms, tomatoes and asparagus. Fly the wonder pooch had a special treat as well.  It was a rejuvinating experience.

 

Enoy your summer.

 

Cheers,

 

Jude

 

PS: My web site was recently updated with the latest work.