Two new works on paper

All Day
acrylic on rag paper
6"X12"

Slimy
acrylic on rag paper
6" x 12"

Back on the abstract track

Haven't made many paintings lately. I've been busy painting a haunted house and preparing to do a live mural at the Highball Halloween in Columbus Ohio.

But I did just finish this painting. "Remembering Magic Eye at the Mall" is the title. It was kinda nice to do a little abstract painting again since I've been doing the skulls series. I often found myself letting my eyes cross to see where it needed more of what color. It reminded me of looking at MagicEye posters when I was a kid.

"Remembering Magic Eye at the Mall"
Acrylic on canvas
16in X 16in

Cobble's Knot

This is my Cobble's Knot. The Cobble's Knot is from a novel entitled Maniac Magee.  


"Maniac Magee is a novel written by American author Jerry Spinelli and published in 1990. Exploring themes of racism and homelessness, it follows the story of an orphaned boy looking for a home in the fictional Pennsylvania town of Two Mills. He becomes a local legend for feats of athleticism and fearlessness, and his ignorance of sharp racial boundaries in the town."

"His final effort to gain acceptance is by untying the famous Cobble’s Knot (a huge, grimy ball of string with a year's supply of pizza waiting for its vanquisher.) After finishing the task he is praised by everyone as confetti is thrown into the air."

I often feel there is a Cobble's Knot in my head. So it was good to get it out on canvas.

Quinacridone Crimson

Three Inch Brushstroke In Quinacridone Crimson.

Detail of the above painting.

This new painting is "three inch brushstroke in quinacridone crimson." I am very happy with it. Reds are tricky things to approach due to their tendency to turn pink when highlighting. Quinacridone crimson is one of my favorite colors to use. Yet I didn't know what to expect when I used it as subject matter. It turned out very well. I am very pleased with the warmth and tension of this painting. I also started using some new color tricks. I employed simultaneous contrast to really make the strokes pop up off the back ground. Using sap green as my initial dark tone, I was concerned that the red/green christmas effect would come through. It did not. My green reads black enough. and because your eye (nor mine) cannot see both red and green at the same time, the edges of the subject actually resonate visually a littlebit. I hope you enjoy it.

In other news, I just finished my submission for an exhibit at the Cocoran. Cross your fingers and hope I get in.