Month: September 2013

Museum Etiquette

For me, standing in front of a painting is like listening to a concert or attending a play. I try to meet the artist on his terms and I open myself to the work to discover its secrets. Most of all, I enjoy looking at paintings; it gives me intense pleasure. So, if you see…

Review: Augusto Bordelois at CSU

The Cuban-born, Cleveland-based artist Augusto Bordelois is showing some striking works at Cleveland State U. The exhibition, titled “Based on a True Story,” is filled with large-format paintings full of bold colors and simple shapes that burst their frames and overflow the shallow space, as in the accompanying photo. The designs are strong although simple;…

Update to Oil Paint Brands

I continue to update the survey of oil paint brands. I have been using a lot of paint from the small producer Blue Ridge Colors. I am constantly on the lookout for reliable day-to-day paints, that is, paints that are good quality and reasonably priced. In this pursuit, I’ve recently used Rembrandt, Winsor Newton, and…

In the Studio 9/16/2013

Here is a photo of paintings I’ve worked over the last several days. None are finished, although the bottom-most is nearest to being done. I’ve spent a lot of time on the drawings for 4 large paintings (for me–40″ x 50″), but I won’t show them until the drawings are done to my satisfaction.

Tip: Closer, Farther

Have you ever struggled with a passage even though you know the colors and tones are right? One corrective, especially when the tones are extremely close, is to ensure that closer forms are painted over those farther back. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen works spoiled when things farther away are painted over…