Charles Keiger

Cotton Candy Painting

2011-11-12T10:23:00.005-05:00

"Where do your ideas come from?"...This is the question most often asked these days (used to be "What does it mean?"). I think it is safe to say that painters are image junkies, always on the lookout, radar up, for visual input to be added to our mental hard drives. So...here's the answer to the question based on the image above.

I picked up the circus tent from a music score my daughter was carrying around for her voice class, ("Annie Get Your Gun"). It was a small illustration on the cover. I copied it into my sketckbook and began doodling possible paintings..eh..nothing was coming up.

Couple months later...I was sitting in the stands at a Braves baseball game, just chillin'. My eyes caught the guy selling cotton candy, he was good, instead of just standing there, he would run from the top of the aisle down to the bottom, with the confection piled onto a long pole, clouds of pastel sugar bouncing in the air...bingo.

Now I had my two main elements, drew those onto the canvas. Next, what to add?, color choices?, mood?...etc. basically trial and error from here on. The couple was needed, balloons, very peaceful scene, so at the last minute I added the animals, borrowed from Edward Hicks.

Above:Circus (Cotton Candy) 35x30 oil canvas 2011

Dream Police

2011-10-29T09:26:00.016-04:00

Red Line Gallery in Knoxville, Tn. has a show opening Nov. 5th. called "Small Hidden Doors", curated by Lara Dann, the theme..dreams and their interpretation. I will be showing the 2 paintings you see in this post.

I've never been a big sleeper, 6-7hrs. is about all I am good for, but once I'm out I am gone. As a kid I was a bit of a sleepwalker and had bouts of "night terror" (not fun), but dreams or night travel as I like to say, are a feature of sleep I have always enjoyed. I don't try to analyze them, to me it's just a show, sometimes elaborate and lucid, other times misty and..well..dreamy. I have never painted my dreams but painting is a lot like dreaming, there is a freedom in the process of "making stuff up" similar to the subconscious storyline of dreaming. A painting has it's own truth, as does a dream.

Police hardly ever enter my dream world or my "waking dream world" for that matter..hmm..always loved this song by Cheap Trick.

Top:Night Travel (1) 11x12 (17x18 Fr) oil panel 2011

Bottom:Night Travel (2) 11x12 (17x18 Fr) oil panel 2011

Summer Roundup

2011-09-17T10:16:00.014-04:00

This summer has been very active, with few "studio" blog posts, so.. thought I would restock the image bank for those of you whose only exposure to my paintings is this blog. These slipped through the cracks, enjoy.

Froze my %&@# off at the Braves game last Friday night and my big box of Luzianne ice tea bags is just about empty..looks like summer is done.

Top: Campfire Song (Moon) 14x12 (20x18 Fr) oil pane

Middle: Sunny Stage 18x16 (24x22 Fr) oil panel
Bottom: Baptism In Song 14x16 (20x22 Fr) oil panel

Below: Velvet Moon (Sunday Evening) 18x20 (22x26 Fr) oil panel

Redid the cake painting, found it a nice home in Nashville

Nashville Skyline

2011-09-02T20:34:00.010-04:00

If you "googled" the Dylan album and ended up here, scroll down..

My show opens tomorrow at the Arts Company in Nashville, this will be my 5th exhibition with Anne Brown and the gang. Anne has an insightful blog post about my work, read it here, also "Nashville Arts Magazine" put me on the cover of the September issue (my second cover, thanks Paul), check it out here. See ya.. gotta pack... oh? the Dylan album..

"Nashville Skyline" was the "gateway drug" to becoming a Dylan fanatic for people my age (54). When he was putting out the classic '60's disks we were preocuppied with the Monkees and Beatles. Somehow "Skyline" got on the radar of my 13 year old ears. FM radio was cranking up then and the stations were an eyeopener, "Lay Lady Lay" was played often. I bought the album a couple of years later, wore it out (that Cash duet!!). "Blood On The Tracks" was next, I was hooked..still am.

Acorn Man

2011-07-23T09:45:00.012-04:00

This is an image that has been bouncing around my sketchbook for a year. Like many of my paintings, "Acorn Man" started as an idea for a sculpture (sculptures I never make), which is not a bad way to envision a picture. What kept me from putting him in a painting?..well... humor is a consistent element in my work, would this be skating too close to "silly" though? But it is summer, right, not a time for "heaviness" and this was going to be the last painting for my upcoming show in Nashville so, what the heck. I kept the landscape pretty bleak to counter the cute, kinda like a last man standing image. "But that squirrel?.. man" Hey, I like painting squirrels, couldn't resist.

Above: Keeper Of Acorns, 28x25, oil/canvas 2011
I noticed my face contorting weirdly while painting his face.

Art In Chicago

2011-07-16T09:05:00.012-04:00

A recent visit to Chicago confirmed something I have suspected for years; when it comes to the aesthetic enjoyment and the appreciation of viewing art, "context is everything". Well "duh" you might say, but many would argue that great works hold up regardless of placement. To make my point and to keep this post brief I have a few very bias opinions on what I observed at Chicago's Art Institute: Cubism, esp. paintings by Picasso and Braque (1910-15), couldn't look at them, they seemed to disappear from the walls (they look stunning at MOMA and in Paris), even Matisse caused a shrug (heresy!) accept his large "Bathers By The River". The Picasso that stopped me was his huge "Mother and Child", a neoclassical painting of heavy-set figures on the beach, amazing. Highly conceptual, contemporary art takes a hit in a museum such as the Institute (this work needs a whole separate building to do it justice). I tried reading the wall text that explained the photographs of curtains.. but there was a Poussin waiting in the next wing, sorry. What worked the best?, (besides the obvious, Seurat, Hopper,etc.)..late Philip Guston (above), almost a full room of them, not fussy or too cerebral, just raw paint, power and emotion, perfect for Chicago.

Top:Red Box, Philip Guston 68x96" 1977
Middle:Looking at Nighthawks

Below:An abstract painting of mine from 1985, relatives had it hanging in their house in Chicago, hard to believe I painted that, I must say, it looked pretty good there by the kitchen, nice to see it.

The Springs Mills Art Show

2011-06-11T08:58:00.013-04:00

This drawing is the first piece of art I put on display publicly. Every year the Springs Mill textile plant in Lancaster, SC sponsored an art exhibition, at the time ('73) if you brought work they would hang it. Prize money was awarded and the show drew decent crowds, (kind of a big deal in the SC Piedmont art world). At 16 I felt I was worthy. Mom had the piece framed and we drove it over. Wandering around the "salon style" exhibition weeks later, I had my first experience of those thoughts that enter the mind when you put your art on display; "Why did that win a prize?", "They hung mine too low!",,,etc. Makes me chuckle to think of that kid, get used to it pal.

The next year I entered a drawing of an antique coffee grinder, now I was a veteran, play it cool. Found my piece and there was a red dot beside the name tag. I looked at my parents "What does that mean?", A prize? No, those have stars, did a quick check around, didn't see any other dots. I was getting anxious, maybe I did something wrong? It was a bright red. Went to the entry desk and the smiling lady said "That means the work has been sold". What!! A month later a check came in the mail, $50, free money, I was hooked.

Above:"Ouch" (clever title, huh? love the weird perspective.)
I wonder if that coffee grinder is still on a wall somewhere?

The James Kalm Report

2011-05-09T10:46:00.008-04:00

"Why do young artist's leave Atlanta?", this was a recent topic over at the BURNAWAY website, a discussion that appears locally about every 6 years. I always enjoy reading the debate because it reminds me of the conversations I would have with studio chums back in my 20's, "We need to be in New York!", some left, all were tempted.

Those romantic notions have long passed for me, but I still enjoy taking a look at what is being shown in the galleries "up there", which brings me to James Kalm (aka. Loren Munk). James and his digital camera take you inside the scene, filming openings, art fairs and museum shows. James is an artist and gives you that perspective, zooming up close to the work, commenting on materials, technique and occasionally interviewing the artist, not much art critique but that is fine, I just want to look. There are hundreds of posts on three different YouTube channels. Enjoy a certain artist's work?, chances are good he's covered it.

To bring this post full circle, there is a great interview with retired UGA professor, Jim Herbert, who moved from Athens to Brooklyn four years ago.

Easter

2011-04-23T11:14:00.011-04:00

The sharp contrasts associated with this celebration are enough to make your head spin;Calvary/Easter bunny, chocolate/spiced ham, jelly beans/boiled eggs, life/death/life. As an over analytical/literal kid, these contrasting emotions were the cause for a lot of head scratching.Now, as an adult, I understand metaphor, its all good, accept for those pastel Easter eggs. I double up on the dye tablets, gives them a more"Baroque" hue, less "Candyland".

Above: Finished this painting last week, the Dogwood has a long association with Golgotha, thought this picture had the spirit of the season.

Yonder Wall

2011-04-12T15:14:00.009-04:00

The first four months of this year have been productive. The studio wall that was empty in December has begun to show some life and I have felt a calm burst of creative energy as of late. Can't point to any reason for this, nothing has changed materially in my world, so... I guess, in my head something has grown or broadened, that is vague, so how 'bout this.. "time" has been less of a factor in the painting process, that means, the eye and mind are not as distracted by what's ahead or the outcome. If I focus on what is before me at the moment the outcome/future will take care of itself, an ageless philosophy, that in practice, is so difficult for us humans.

Above:This painting got pretty literal as it developed, I am debating whether to break it down for you viewers, maybe next post?

Business Noir

2011-03-26T09:58:00.017-04:00

The "Businessman Series" was an idea that came to me while sitting in traffic on Ga400, I looked over at the cars around me and everyone was urgently talking on their cell phones, dressed for work, just yacking away, (I kinda felt left out of the world they were involved in). Got back to the studio and started sketching out what I had seen on 10x9" gessoed paper, cartoony images that I would fill in with paint, it was cathartic fun. For the next 5 months (Jan-May 2001) I would start the day drawing up a few "cards" and work on them during breaks from paintings.

Moving from cars to the office, I began to feel that these were morphing into a homage to the work place of my Dad's generation ("Mad Men" without the ladies and fashion sense,,, a darker, lonelier version). As a kid, visiting my dad at work was always a surreal experience, I would stand outside his door and look in, he would be behind the desk on the phone, cigarette smoke billowing around a desk lamp, like some Wizard from Oz. Who was that dude waving me in?

Before I ran out of steam I was lifting images from the Wall St. Journal, and the characters were beginning to have a contemporary feel. What has happened in the world since then, I could never have imagined. Now, spiritually, I don't think I could get into this kind of exercise, the humor in "power" just isn't there for me.

I first showed these as a group (108 pieces) at the Arts Company in Nashville, October 2001. They have been boxed up in the studio here for a few years and now I am sending them back to Nashville. I thought this would be a good time to finally photograph the remaining 90 pieces and give them some internet exposure.You can see the rest of them, here on flickr.

The Happiest Color

2011-03-12T09:05:00.004-05:00

Yellow? Orange?...nope, it's Cerulean blue, the color of Disney skies and Vacation Bible School posters. I rarely use this pigment but I wanted to do a painting that had a light-cheerful vibe, just for the heck of it. Also, the image I had drawn out seemed to call for this kind of treatment. Cerulean was the base for a majority of the color throughout the painting. I did dull the blue just a bit with Raw Sienna and Raw Umber. Did my mood shift while using this hue?...kinda, due mostly I think to the airiness of the atmosphere, no heavy,brooding skies in this one.

Top:Song In The Wind 18x16, oil panel, 2011
Bottom:Detail (I think that's the best hair I've ever painted)

Studio Debris

2011-03-05T09:08:00.008-05:00

This is what happens when you get a new camera and don't feel like cleaning the studio, instead of throwing junk away... take pictures of it! I ask myself, is there anything redeeming in this exercise of "navel gazing".. possibly. Many years ago an artist was visiting my studio, instead of looking at the paintings I noticed he kept walking around the space poking at my stuff, checking out my books and various knick-knacks. Lifting papers to see what was under them,as if looking for some secret that would explain my creative process or who I was. So..I decided to make it easy for you, go to Flickr and poke around.

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Top: one of my wood sculptures
Middle: a stuffed Gar, harpooned from the Lake Wiley Dam by my late brother
Bottom: a mini water well, made by my neighbor "Dusty"

The Big Picture

2011-02-19T09:43:00.004-05:00

This is a one of those paintings that while I was working on it I could imagine it being much larger, huh..? It's like this, all the elements in this picture; horse, ocean and clouds we associate with grandness, expansiveness, the mind opens up before a scene such as this. So..I kept thinking, this would probably work great on a much larger scale. Timothy commented once "you do small paintings that read like big ones", I know what he means. I often ask myself do these need to be huge?..maybe, maybe not.

Above: Trojan Horse, 16x14", oil on panel 2011

Illustrator Donald Moss

2011-02-12T09:08:00.010-05:00

A good bit of the artists I admire (past and present) have spent a portion of their careers doing illustration work. Some like Edward Hopper looked down upon this period, never understood that. I admire great illustration, yes there is a different spirit involved but one that is no less enlightened or skilled than "gallery" painting.

While looking through those old SIs (see below) I came upon this spread by Donald Moss using Magritte as a template to illustrate a golf story. Donald worked at Sports Illustrated for over 30 years (50's-80's) and often used surrealistic/pop references in his illustrations, he was one of my favorites as a teen (uhh...duh).

Above: Donald Moss, SI June 11,1973, "Oakmont", Donald passed away last May, he was 90.

Super Bowl Betting

2011-02-05T18:50:00.008-05:00

90 million dollars, that's the legal amount wagered on the Super Bowl today, add what gets put down in the office pools, between friends and with the local bookies and that number jumps to 8-9 billion $'s, that's a lot of scratch. Besides the score, you can also put money down on various "prop" bets, such as; The coin flip, heads or tails? What will Fergie wear for the halftime show? What color will the Gatorade be that gets dumped on the coach? Use your imagination, there's a bet for it. Me?? I am taking the Steelers and the points, (that Gatorade is going to be yellow).

What's a Super Bowl without Joe Namath?? lame. Here's "Joe Willie" pimping Dingo Boots, I wanted a pair of those so bad as a kid, had to settle for Hush Puppies "D-boots".

Above:I got a huge stack of SIs from the '70's, spent some time with them yesterday, Joe's pants look like they were made out of a bath mat, I want one!

Scott Belville at MOCA GA

2011-01-29T08:40:00.009-05:00

"Trust", Scott Belville's exhibition of new work is up now over at MOCA GA here in Atlanta (through March 19th). Scott's got great technical skills and a fine color sense but his narrative take on the Southern psyche is what keeps me looking. If you enjoy what you see on this blog (we're fishing the same streams, just catching different fish) be sure and check out Scott's work today.

2011 The Optimist Theme

2011-01-22T08:41:00.003-05:00

Finished the above painting yesterday. As I was working on this picture variations of this painting/theme would pop into my head and I would jot the ideas down in my sketchbook. The theme being; a floor with a character in front of a backdrop. These three elements allowed for many possibilities, the backdrop could be anything; a scene, a painting, another character or object. What would be "real" and what would be an illusion? I thought "This could be fun, let's see how far I can take it", so I decided to do a series of paintings using this theme as a premise. I'm optimistic, let's see what transpires.

Above: The Last Optimist, oil on panel, 14x12, 2011

Week Of Ice

2011-01-15T09:40:00.004-05:00

Atlanta is returning to normal after the "Snowpocalypse" of this past week. Several inches of powder topped with 2 inches of ice shut the city down for 4 days, schools were closed all week. I tend to follow the family schedule so I stayed out of the studio and in the house till Thursday, its not like I needed a break or anything but I got into the spirit of the event; sledding on Monday (baking sheets work great but hard to steer) , movies on the tube (Ground Hog Day, Terminator Salvation) , games (Taboo). Not a bad week, no injuries and quality family time but man, what has happened to those mild Atlanta winters we have grown accustomed to?

Top:Grant Park
Bottom:The Atlanta Cyclorama, North view

2011 Back To Work

2011-01-08T09:52:00.004-05:00

After a 2 week break I was able to get back in the studio this week. As the holidays approached I knew I wasn't going to be working much so I left a picture unfinished on purpose, which allowed me to ease back into painting mode once the "hub-bub" was over, a slow but smooth transition.

Meanwhile... Nashville Arts Magazine used my Red Velvet Cake painting to illustrate a recipe of said cake by one of Nashville's top foodies, Nancy Vienneau, (check out her wonderful blog). The blurb appears in their January issue. That painting has a life of its own.

Above: as yet untitled 28x25 oil on canvas

New Year's Day "Greens"

2011-01-02T14:05:00.004-05:00

Out of the studio, back at the stove. They say... "Eat greens and blackeyed peas New Years Day for a prosperous upcoming year", don't know about that... but it does give me an excuse to have two of my favorites for supper. Yes, cooking fresh greens are a hassle but worth the trouble, here's what I did yesterday.

Gather the following; 2 bunches collard greens, washed thoroughly, remove middle stem and chop to bite size pieces, 6 strips turkey bacon, 1 large onion and about 5 cloves garlic finely chopped. First, cook bacon in a large pot till crispy, take bacon out and add 2 tbsp. olive oil, saute chopped onion and garlic (about 4-5 minutes), chop bacon and add to pot. Now add liquid, I added 1/3 cup white wine, heat that till boiling, stir, let cook another minute to reduce wine, add chopped greens and 1/2 cup water or broth of choice. That's basically it. Note: you want to steam the greens not boil! Now, you can add the seasonings you prefer; salt, pepper, 1 tsp red pepper flakes, tbsp hot sauce, splash of vinegar, whatever you like. Let all this cook for about 5 minutes, look in pot, greens will start to wilt, when this occurs stir it all up, cook another 5 minutes and stir again, keep repeating this process till all greens are cooked (they will be limp and turn a dull, dark, brownish green). Now taste... more salt, pepper, liquid,,? you decide. After adjustments keep cooking over low heat, about 20-25 minutes. That should do it, grab a fork and dig in, your riches are assured for another 365 days.

This looks like a great recipe for collards, courtesy of the "Diva", gonna try this next year.

White Christmas

2010-12-26T18:29:00.003-05:00

Atlanta experienced it's first "White Christmas" since 1882, on that day 128 years ago, a third of an inch of snow was recorded, yesterday we got over an inch. OK... that's not a lot but we can't be too picky here, besides, it was fantastic to watch it fall out the window while making dinner. See you next year folks.

Art Reviews And Christmas Trees

2010-12-18T09:17:00.009-05:00

Atlanta's cultural sage and "wise man", Jerry Cullum, has a fine review of my current show at TEW, read it here at ArtsCriticATL.com. Art blogs have filled the gap left by the major newspaper's decreased coverage, (was it ever that much?). These bloggers' (see toolbar on right) thankless job is much appreciated by those of us out here making the stuff. Early in my career I believed a good review would propel me to stardom and riches but I quickly realized that tastes could not be swayed by words, art's too much a personal choice for that.

That cute kitty introduced in my video, is wrecking havoc on our Holiday decorations. Last year our extra large Christmas tree tipped over, breaking most of the ornaments collected over the years, now this little terror. It's hard to be angry though when it's so entertaining to watch.

Dali In Atlanta

2010-12-11T11:51:00.007-05:00

When I was 13, I received for Christmas a paperback book about Salvador Dali, it was my first "art book", not much text but great full color illustrations. Up until then my artistic output consisted of still-life and landscape themes, with an occasional copy of an album cover or Mad magazine character. This book changed everything, how?, It sounds simple now, but at the time it never occurred to me, "I could make things up", art didn't have to reflect the outside world, concept trumped copying. I was hooked, still am.

Most artists I know have been through a "Dali is a fraud" phase (mine lasted from 1979 to1991, those prints!). If you are still in yours, get to the High Museum in Atlanta before Jan. 9th 2011, it just might change your mind.

Photo by Laura Watson, Creative Loafing

TEW Galleries Opening

2010-12-04T10:22:00.006-05:00

"Qu'ils mangent de la brioche"

Last night was my opening at TEW and...yes, I baked 2 Red Velvet cakes for the patrons. My painting of said cake was on display and at the preview party Thursday evening, everyone I talked to made a comment or told a story that featured this dessert. So..why not bring the real thing. As the artist at a show I am always asked "What does it (painting) mean", but what I enjoy is hearing their thoughts, and sometimes they will offer insights that go way beyond what I had in mind.
How was 'biz"...well it's not 1998 or even 2008, the Atlanta market is very cautious these days, looking longer before making a choice, come on, hop off the fence, its ok.

Some of my ole college buds were in town for the SEC Championship game (Go Cocks!) and stopped by the show, haven't seen some of these knuckleheads in 30 years, what a nice surprise, (please, no collect calls from lock-up guys).
Left to right: "Tall Ted","Squeege", "Sal", "Cig"(me, don't ask), "G-helmet Do"

The Good Stuff

2010-11-20T08:57:00.004-05:00

So... this is what happens when an art dealer discovers the "Flip" video camera and Apple's iMovie software.

Timothy and I shot over 3 hours of interviews and "action" scenes, all to be whittled down to a 12 minute film. At first I tried to get involved in the decision making process; what to film or cut, what music to use, etc. but I quickly backed away, let him have fun. This was going to be his interpretation of what I do and am, which is always the case, whether its a critic writing a review or an author doing an article. The message gets spun as it leaves its source.

I did film all the scenery footage, holding the camera in one hand while riding my bike around the neighborhood, uhh...not safe, glad my health insurance was current. "The Good Stuff", where does that title come from?, watch it to the end. I just want to know...do I really talk like that? Yikes!

Watch the video here.

This Little Piggy Went To Market

2010-11-13T08:53:00.004-05:00

This will probably be the last painting to be included in my December exhibition at Tew Galleries, finished last week, it was the culmination of a process that started over a year ago. 365 days, that's about what it takes for me to create a new body of work for a show. Kind of daunting when you look at it that way, which is why I don't, to me its just a chunk out of a long line, a line that will continue next week when I start my next painting.

I brought 10 paintings to the gallery yesterday, they needed to go to the framer, who happened to be there at the time. I watched as they discussed moulding choices (an artist really shouldn't witness this process). I had to step back and let the march to the market begin, my job was done.

Above: The Piglet oil panel 16x14 2010
Below: Tim, Corky and Rannel (center) a framing wizard.
I mentioned in an earlier post about filming a promotional video for my show, watch a short intro here, more next time.

The Sky Is Falling And Other Madness

2010-11-06T08:50:00.006-04:00

I put this painting into my "pictorial pun-puzzle" category, (a companion piece to my blog header above, it would be fun to do a set of these, hmm..). It started as just a man holding a sign with a cloud backdrop, but during the drawing phase I just kept adding things. First a chicken, then a briefcase with mini clouds, the costume is old-timey how bout a wood sidewalk, it needs an ocean for more depth, put it in. I had an Abe Lincoln beard on my man but painted it out, thought it was too much. What does it mean?...a comment on climate change?...a response to all the election hysteria this past month?..take your pick, I just enjoyed painting it.

If you are curious about what the art biz is really like, check out Jim Kempner's (NYC art dealer, above) web series, "The Madness Of Art". Even though its lighthearted, clever and funny, each short episode holds more truth than most of us would like to admit.

Above: The Sky Is Falling 16x14 (22x20 fr) oil on panel, 2010

Halloween

2010-10-30T09:57:00.003-04:00

As a kid, "The Outer Limits", was my choice for quality sci-fi on TV. The beginning of every show had this famous intro, (really messed with my 8 year old head). YouTube has all the mind-blowing episodes, start here, watch one and you'll be hooked.

Above: A selection from my "Outer Limits" bubblegum card collection.

The Wonder

2010-10-23T09:03:00.002-04:00

I started this blog with the purpose of examining what I do as an artist, to take a step back and explain in words, (to those who might be interested), what goes into making my pictures. For a brief moment I place myself in the audience and ask "what just happened". This past week my Atlanta dealer was interviewing me, I was trying to give thoughtful insights into what was up there on the wall, after an hour I sighed and said "You are asking me to explain a narrative that started almost 40 years ago, a painting is just one sentence in a novel". This kind of response is a cop-out, I know, but most of what I do is second nature, I really don't think about it much, one step has led to the next and the path gets blurred by the "now". There are times though when I am caught off guard, I will look around my surroundings as if waking up from a dream and wonder, "How in the heck did I get here?".

Above: Tulip (The Wonder) 28x25 oil canvas 2010

Boiled Peanuts

2010-10-16T09:18:00.007-04:00

I spent the last week filming a video that will be used to promote my next show and I am tired of talking about "art", so... how bout peanuts.

Fresh dug peanuts (only use "green peanuts" for boiling) have a short shelf life, 3-4 days tops. This fact, kept this delicacy confined to the Southern peanut growing states until refrigeration was invented. By then no one else was interested so the soggy, salty legume, stayed home. The Fall is prime peanut season and I have boiled up about 10 lbs of 'em over the last month, (a batch lasts 2 days in our house). In 2006, the Governor of South Carolina declared, by law, that "boiled peanuts" were the State's official snack food, you should try some today. Here's my recipe: 2 lbs. green peanuts washed, 4 tablespoons salt (might need more, taste when almost done), put in pot, add water to cover the peanuts by 2 inches, boil the heck out of them for about 2 hours, taste, keep cooking if needed, when done (you'll know) let sit in brine for several hours. If you are adventurous, add some garlic cloves, fresh jalapenos or red pepper to the pot at the start. Next, grab a beer or sweet tea, and dig in.

Last Sunday we drove out to the State Farmers Market (needed more peanuts and some pansies), happened upon this vendor's mum display, wow, delicious color...now how can I work this into a painting?

Is This What I Had In Mind?

2010-10-08T19:32:00.004-04:00

Not exactly. As I composed this painting in my sketchbook I could visualize exactly how I wanted it to look. This is not unusual, most times before I apply paint I have a color scheme mapped out in my head. This road quickly starts being modified as I progress. So far, this painting has been puzzling, that yellow is being difficult, it's not the easiest hue to coordinate (uhh, make look pretty).

After a week it's starting to come together, the sky (the anchor for most of my pictures) has about 4 layers, and with a little tweaking should be fine. The key is the tulip, I got something in mind for that, I am curious to see if I it holds up. I have set up a challenging premise (for me) with this painting, if I can pull it off, could be nice.

Above: Tulip (The Wonder) oil canvas 28x25. I am psyched to paint that couple in the foreground.

Fall And Orange

2010-10-02T09:17:00.005-04:00

"Don't use orange in your paintings, it's a hard color to decorate with.", I have heard this phrase many times by those in the know, here in Atlanta. Lucky me, it's not my favorite color anyway, but occasionally I get a craving (usually in the Fall) and I reach for that ancient tube of Cadmium Orange. "What about that sage advice?" you ask, well...every painting of mine that has contained the offensive hue has sold.

Is it me, or does this guy have a strange resemblance to Springsteen, circa 1987? Bruce as a pumpkin rustler.

Top: Pumpkin Lake, 18x20 oil on panel 2010

Red Velvet Cake

2010-09-18T09:03:00.006-04:00

The more I worked on this painting the more I realized that this picture was not about a piece of cake but about a deep longing, nostalgia is always out of reach.

I cribbed the landscape from this vintage postcard I found at my parents house. I've got a stack of them, all from the 30's and 40's, collected by my Dad's Mom and Aunts, I look at them quite a bit. In my next painting I'm using the boat, it's going to be hauling a giant pumpkin. Is it Fall yet?

Underpainting

2010-09-11T08:37:00.005-04:00

Back to painting on board this week after 2 months of canvasses. I also returned to using acrylics for the underpainting (I kept the ones out I used for the violin). Four layers of an ultramarine-raw sienna wash were first applied and then the loose painting you see above. This initial step knocks back the bright white of the gesso ground, since I paint in thin layers the underpainting allows me to start building the color and light right from the get-go. This will be a moon lit scene, with a piece of Red Velvet Cake hovering over the lake, this should be fun.

ReTune Violin

2010-09-04T08:54:00.011-04:00

This week I finished painting the violin (see post below) for ReTune Nashville, once I decided on a concept the process was all fun. I had to hold the violin while painting so I switched to acrylic paint, wow! does it dry fast, it took a few hours to turn off my oil painting methods and adjust to the new technique, not much blending with this stuff.

This is the back, that's the Ryman Auditorium for the top of the ark, with musicians exiting below. To paint the tiny details I used an old brush I found that had about 4 hairs left, worked surprisingly well.

Foam egg cartons make a great palette for acrylic paint.

The benefit is Saturday, October 23rd. in Nashville, go, buy something.

Land Of Roses

2010-08-28T09:44:00.004-04:00

Last week brought the first subtle hints that Fall was on the way, lower humidity and softer lighting. The sluggishness that seeps in during the summer was starting to lift, time for production. Yesterday I completed the painting you see above. This was one of those pictures that leads you along as you work, you do "this" and now you have to do "that", very natural. There was no conflict between what I thought I wanted and the reality that was before me, (hmm...that's probably not a bad way to live life).

Above: Land Of Roses, oil on canvas, 40x35
Bottom: Detail (it took me about 4 hours to paint this dude's face)

ReTune Nashville

2010-08-22T17:12:00.004-04:00

ReTune Nashville is a an organization that provides relief for uninsured musicians affected by the Tennessee flood. They have come up with a really cool and unique way to raise some cash; take flood damaged instruments and have artists turn them into artworks, then auction the pieces off at a benefit concert (Oct. 23rd.). Anne Brown at the Arts Company contacted me and asked if I would be interested in participating?... you bet! I got the above violin several weeks ago, put a coat of gesso on it, now I am ready to start painting, got a great idea, check back and see how it turns out.

In Production

2010-08-15T13:04:00.003-04:00

Started this painting last week, just about a quarter of the way through. The roses are going to get a "creamier" look, less pink more pale frosting, like the ones you see in the Martha Stewart magazines. Worked on the landscape all day Friday, don't know if it was the color or the setting but it was a very calming process. For over a year now I have been studying the landscape painters of the 1800's, Inness and Bierstadt in particular. Never paid much attention to them in the past but their mythical take on American scenery has my interest. Wonder what effect this will have?

Above:Land Of Roses, 40x35 oil on canvas

Roadtrip:Graceland

2010-08-07T10:57:00.016-04:00

This was my second trip to Graceland, the first being over 13 years ago, and a funny thing has happened since then, irony has left the building. Gone are the snickers in the Jungle Room and the finger pointing at all the "tacky" elegance, this was a museum now and not a sideshow. The covetousness was palatable as the tour progressed, "Man, I would kill for that sofa, outfit, ring, etc."

On the day we went the southern drawl was outnumbered by a variety of foreign accents, all fellow pilgrims, there to soak up what we could of the Elvis phenomenon. You either get it or don't, I understand, but if you are not a bit moved while standing in the final "Trophy" room as Vegas Elvis sings "An American Trilogy" on the big screen, well....

Top:living room table top, William Eggleston took a similar photo
Middle: Living-Music room, Peacock stained glass and 15ft. white sofa
Bottom: Long live the King
I have more photos on flickr check them out here

Plan your trip now and be sure to stay at Days Inn Graceland, guaranteed fun, also dine at Central BBQ for your Memphis Q fix.

Dogwood Apparition

2010-07-24T09:11:00.005-04:00

The new painting (above) was started about a month ago, the idea was to have the background resemble a black and white photo, with the action and dogwood providing the color in the foreground, sounds simple, right? The problem was with the gray tones, the formula for that color was a mix of; ultramarine blue, chrome green, raw sienna and burnt sienna. With that many colors in the recipe it was nearly impossible to duplicate the hue on a consistent basis. I could have changed the formula but I loved the gray this combo produced. By week three I had it down and painting progressed smoothly. I might have to make a few adjustments but for now I think its finished. What next?... after staring at these muted tones for so long I am craving a big gaudy clown painting... "hand me that cadmium red".

Above: Dogwood (Apparition) oil canvas 40x35

HOT PAINT!

2010-07-17T09:46:00.004-04:00

Even with my AC window unit cranked the studio rarely gets below 85 degrees during the day, which is not too bad, but what really bothers is what this heat does to paint. Hot atmospheric conditions wreck havoc on what gets mixed on the palette, within a couple of hours my colors are usually a gummy mess. This gets scrapped off and mixing begins again. If I am applying a glaze it will start setting up within minutes, gotta work fast. The subtleties of oil painting can never be learned from a book, experience is the only way. There are times when the paint seems to have a mind of its own and I am just a sorcerer attempting to coax magic from tinted dirt.

Above: The Magician (20x18 Fr) oil panel 2008, (one of the rare paintings of mine that has an interior setting) available at TEW Galleries Atlanta

The $10 Tomato

2010-07-10T09:48:00.004-04:00

Every year about this time "I swear I am never planting a garden again". Calling what I attempt to grow "a garden" is a bit of a stretch, for the past several years mine amounts to a few tomato plants and some herbs. Our small city lot has been taken over by decorative shrubs, the studio and shady trees, no space for crops. This was not always the case, in the '90's I had a nice 5 by 16ft. fertile plot where, depending on the year, yielded tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini and okra. That space was abandoned several years ago, no sun. My new strategy?, large pots I could position depending on the sun, accept for the herbs, not much success. This year I bought one super-duper hybrid tomato plant, quality potting soil, plant food and was determined to get fresh tomatoes. With careful watering it was looking good. I had about 12 fruits in various stages of development when I picked the one you see above. Came out the next morning, destruction, squirrels had decimated the plant, green tomatoes, flowering tops all gone, thus my $10 tomato, and it was delicious.

4th of July

2010-07-03T09:18:00.012-04:00

Americana (noun plural): materials concerning or characteristic of America

I get what this holiday is all about,The Declaration Of Independence and the founding of a nation. That's cool, but what really floats my patriotic boat are the features unique to this land and the spirit that surrounds this concept of America: Coney Island and Graceland, the Grand Canyon and the Okefenokee Swamp, Jazz, Hip Hop and Rock n Roll, Norman Rockwell and Jeff Koons, Eastwood and De Niro, Ella and Beyonce , cheesesteak and corndogs.....,this is a long list. It's not always pretty (understatement), and when the monuments have all crumbled Little Richard will still be playing in outer space, "a wop bop a loo bop a wop bamm boo". They don't "hate us for our freedoms" they hate us because our bar-b-que kicks ass. And those outside the borders that look upon us with fondness and support?, it's because of that list above. You will know this great experiment is in decline not when we stop making Chryslers but when we can no longer produce a Steve Jobs or a Bob Dylan.

Top: One Man Band, 24x22 oil on panel 2007 (private collection, I think)
Bottom: 2009 fireworks Centennial Park, Atlanta
Today? I'm going to the Braves game, fireworks will follow, might have to bust out Dad's red, white and blue stripped polyester pants.

Father's Day

2010-06-20T09:50:00.003-04:00

Above: That's me in front with the big watermelon head, brother Jimmy standing and Dad, chillin' in the backyard, Asheville, N.C. July 1957.

The Wall

2010-06-12T08:55:00.005-04:00

Leaving the studio Thursday night I glanced back at the wall where new paintings go and with a reassuring nod thought to myself, "not bad". I have been working toward a fall show and that night I felt the first indications of an emerging theme. "What is that theme?" you ask, well....um...I'm not sure, could be the color palette or the imagery (which has a late 1800's flavor with a surreal twist). At this stage I have no desire to "lock-down" an artist statement, ugh.. those things are the worst, intuition drives the train and the paintings are beginning to feed off themselves, that's what you want.

A few posts back I brought up the subject of, value and art, that week over at "artnet.com" Matthew Bown published a fascinating article on the same topic. It's a long read but if you are into this kind of discussion be sure and check it out.

Top: the wall
Below: Morning Developer, 32x23 oil canvas 2010

SPILL

2010-06-05T09:09:00.008-04:00

To put it mildly, this oil spill (gusher) in the Gulf is a hot mess."Save the Planet;" that slogan has always puzzled me, the Earth takes care of itself, and nature shows us who the real boss is time and time again. It is humans that are in trouble, because what is the environment but a reflection of the state of Man? From the looks of it we're not doing too good people. We treat our natural resources as if they were a cross between a "big box chain store" and a toilet, The Gulf of Mexico?, a giant dipstick. No one is sure what the future impact this spill will have, at the moment I'm not very optimistic.

Street artists have been quick to express their views, above is Agent Provocateur's "Slick Dude" stencil.
Speaking of street art, and to lighten things up a bit, go see Banksy's film, "Exit Through The Gift Shop" before it leaves the theaters. Documentary or hoax?, who cares, it's great fun. Watch the extended trailer here (the cool song that opens the video is by Richard Hawley, nice).

Top: Man With A Fish, oil on wood, 2005 (private collection)

Barnyard Scene

2010-05-29T08:22:00.008-04:00

Finished the above picture last week, hard for me to believe but my first painting featuring a pig. I like pigs and most farm animals in fact, but my experience with them has mainly been through the anthropomorphic creatures encountered in storybooks and TV shows, (Wilbur in "Charlotte's Web" and Arnold Ziffel of "Green Acres" being two favorites). The pig is a loaded symbol for sure, waste, greed, pity, humor can all be projected onto this animal. In the sketchbook mine started out as the typical "top hat with cigar" variety, I kept playing with this version until I got the idea to put a chicken on it's back. Now I had a slim narrative, no more hats, breakfast. The bacon strip was added last, tough decision. The kid's thought it was weird, but to me it added a bittersweet quality and stretched the narrative just a bit, so it stayed, plus I really wanted to paint some food. Whadaya think?
Above: Friends Contemplating The Future (that was the working title) 20x22 oil on panel 2010

For a brief moment, when I recently walked by this church sign in the neighborhood, I thought they were promoting a Bar B Que fundraiser or something, had pigs on my mind I guess.

Art=Value?

2010-05-15T08:42:00.008-04:00

A recent article in the Wall St. Journal highlighted the winners and losers of the spring auction season, some artists trending up, some down. The soaring prices at auction are a fantasy to those of us out here in the suburbs of the art market, (a fantasy that is hard to shake). This Friday, collectors in Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, New Orleans... went to openings and purchased works of art. They won't express it openly but in the recesses of their mind there is the notion that what they bought will increase in value, maybe even spectacularly. Over the years dealers have mentioned to me the whispered complaints of their clients, "Why isn't my collection worth more?". A touchy subject indeed, so lets be honest, 99.90% of art produced and sold, in any market, will likely end up just being wonderful decor to be passed down to lucky family members, but don't let that thought stop you from buying. My advice to the "local-collector", avoid the trendy hybrid, educate your eye to spot an original and most importantly, buy from the heart, passion versus investment strategy. A work of art you love is life enriching, (believe me, that is valuable). Your tastes will change and so will the ever evolving art market, plus, you never know...

UGA Grad

2010-05-09T13:21:00.012-04:00

This Saturday over 40,000 friends, relatives and proud parents crowded into Sanford Stadium to honor the 225th graduating class of the University Of Georgia, the first ever under the lights. A beautiful day, an entertaining commencement address by Alton Brown and a fireworks display to end the ceremony, our daughter, Bailey, had become an alumnus of UGA.

Top:The Processional

Above:3+ hours later, fireworks

The happy grad. A job?, that is a discussion for another day.

Baroque (adjective)

2010-05-01T08:45:00.006-04:00

Emphasizing dramatic, often strained effect, bold curving forms, ornamentation and the overall balance of disparate parts.

I had this term in my head as I began this picture. The painting started off much lighter though. So, to the background I kept adding a mix of earth tone glazes ( black, raw sienna, burnt umber), with a brick red highlight thrown in for dramatic effect. I rarely employ glazes in my painting process but picked up a better understanding of their use while working on this one. That handy knowledge will benefit future pictures. The only problem, dust! the oily mixture attracts it like ants to a spilt co-cola.

Above: Tulip (Baroque) 28x25, oil-canvas, 2010

Festival Season

2010-04-24T09:01:00.009-04:00

This time of year, across the South, you cannot drive 30 minutes without hitting some sort of street festival. Today, just around Atlanta, there are 7 events vying for your attention, you can head up to Marietta for the Sweet Ps Arts Festival or the Buzzard Blast in Louisville. Me, I will be biking over to my favorite, the Inman Park Festival.
These street fairs play an important role in the art market food chain. I know artists that got their start by selling their wares on the festival circuit and I wonder how many young collectors bought their first painting or sculpture from a booth at one of these events? I bet most. At the larger fairs, like the Inman, you can find work that would not look out of place hanging on the walls of most Atlanta galleries, (for a fraction of the price). So, don't turn up your nose you "art hipsters", grab a funnel cake or some Dippin' Dots and join the fun.

Top: Inman Park Festival 2010, an artist I admire, Mr Hooper, had a booth this year, check out his work here.

Earth Day-Torrit Grey

2010-04-16T20:20:00.008-04:00

Each spring in honor of Earth Day, the folks at Gamblin gather the pigments that have accumulated in there air filtration system and create a tube of paint they call Torrit Grey (available the month of April and free as a promotion). The color is named after the Torit air filters used in their Portland Oregon factory. From a dove grey to an earthy black, the color varies depending on the dominate pigments used in production that year. The "color-geek" in me wonders if the resulting hue symbolizes the mood of the populace. Out of the tube, this year's Torrit is almost black, as you add white there is a slight hint of red...uh-oh, have at it Mr. Beck.

Above:The 2010 edition, I picked up mine at the Utrecht store on Peachtree. Do a better painting than above and enter it in there Fall competition, win prizes.

Roadtrip,Chattanooga

2010-04-10T09:05:00.011-04:00

This past Thursday we took a day trip to Chattanooga, home of the "Choo Choo", Tennessee Aquarium, MoonPies, Walnut St. Bridge, and The Hunter Museum of American Art. Walked the bridge (despite the threatening clouds), bought some MoonPies for the ride home (thumbs-up for new peanut butter flavor), but spent most of the afternoon at the Hunter and the surrounding neighborhood. The museum is located in the Bluff View Arts District, scenically perched on a rock cliff 80 ft. above the Tennessee River. The collection is outstanding, ( thanks for the suggestion Clayton), you can preview it here. The following are just two of the many works I studied at length, (family patience was appreciated).

Thomas Hart Benton,"The Wreck Of Ole '97", 1943, egg tempera on masonite, 28x44, fantastic color and narrative.

This painting is a mystery, date and artist are unknown, they gave it the title of "Oh!". What is going on here?, the scale of the basket items are whack, the men in the background, with the coordinating arm gestures, are involved in some sort of incident, I love it.

Top: The Hunter Museum, original mansion on the right, new wing on the left.
Bottom: View of the Hunter from the Walnut St Bridge. I have more photos on Flickr

Spring Cleaning

2010-04-03T08:20:00.011-04:00

I initiated a personal program last month, I call it the, "Throw something away everyday project." My name is Charles and I am a "pack rat". You reach a stage in life where the junk starts cluttering up your mind, the rationale of I can fix or use "that" begins to nag. This liberating exercise has picked up steam as I have begun to recognize its value. Luckily, in my neighborhood, whatever you place on the curb miraculously disappears by the end of the day; a TV set, lamp, lawn mower, chalkboard, metal pipe, books, shoes, VCR tapes, bathroom fixtures...gone within hours. Who picks up this stuff up?..wait, that used to be me!

So far, my only snag has occurred in the studio, specifically, what to do with old paintings? I have attempted weeding out the racks before, but as I start the process I get caught up in "looking", I know the story behind these pictures and there place in my development, nothing gets tossed, yet.

Above: one from the racks, not bad, WESTERN SONG 22x18 oil canvas,1998

4G Picture

2010-03-27T09:14:00.007-04:00

Above, the finished painting I started chronicling here and here. I thought this would be a good painting to demonstrate the development of a picture, but turns out I had it nailed from the beginning. Most time was spent on the landscape portion, it's a leisurely scene, leisurely painted, in contrast to the exploding tulip, I like it.

My daughter took her first visit to New York City this past week. She was there to sing with the award winning Grady High chorus, sightseeing and a Broadway play were also on the agenda, came back with an ever so subtle air of worldliness about her, New York will do that to you.

Top:Untitled, 28x25, oil on canvas 2010
Middle: Times Square and atop the Empire State building
Bottom: Madison, Battery Park, NYC
Also
Click here for TEW Galleries latest video, it features all the info you will need to join the fun April 1st, hope to see you there.

The Pink Pearl

2010-03-20T09:14:00.010-04:00

I spent last Thursday drawing up a new canvas, which really means, I spent the day erasing. I only use Pink Pearl erasers (above). This eraser, first manufactured by Eberhard Faber, uses a unique formula of rubber and Italian volcanic ash to give its eraser a softer touch and excellent cleaning properties. The geniuses at Eberhard Faber were the first to put the eraser on the end of a pencil, which is only popular with pencils for the American market, hmm.

Speaking of pink, our Japanese magnolia or Saucer magnolia, as my Mom called it, is in full bloom this week. This tree, which dominates our front yard, is one of the largest I have seen in Atlanta. If the wind is just right these fragrant blooms are noticeable from a block away. Mid March is kinda late for this tree to flower, late January being the earliest. The heavy rains and consistently cold temperatures we experienced this winter should make this Spring a monster, I can't wait.

Timothy Tew's Top 25

2010-03-14T09:47:00.005-04:00

Tew Galleries in Atlanta (my hometown representative) has a unique exhibition opening April 1st. "Timothy Tew's Top 25". The show will feature 25 of Mr. Tew's personal favorites from the gallery collection. I will have a painting in the show, don't know which one, he is being real hush hush about the selection. Why don't you let Tim tell you about the top 25, by watching his latest video on YouTube, it's very entertaining, I promise.

Above:Timothy Tew, rocking some fine jewelry.

I Blame...

2010-03-06T08:30:00.005-05:00

..."This Old House". The PBS series (circa 1986) with host Bob Vila, was the rage when we were looking to buy our first home. It looked simple on TV, but those romantic notions that swirled through our heads as we signed the contract on a "fixer upper", soon slammed into the crumbling plaster wall of reality. Kids came and money flew. Now our 1920's era bungalow has a multiple personality disorder. Some rooms are finished to contemporary standards and others, not so much. Our bathroom had become the main eyesore, (I once saw a mushroom growing behind the toilet). The past 12 days have brought that to an end. Thanks to the experts, (these days I am just a go-fer and trash hauler) we now have a full functioning "green" bathroom.

Creativity and painting take a hit during a renovation, art posts will resume soon.

Painting:Stage Two

2010-02-20T09:07:00.006-05:00

This painting is surprising me, I did not think the color scheme would hold up, not my usual palette. The pigments that make up the reds, blues and greens are derived from the phtalocyanine chemical compound, called Phthalo by the paint makers. These are modern pigments, very intense in color and tint. Beginning painters abuse these pigments, seduced by the bright color they provide. I rarely use them but this painting might change that. I have added raw sienna and yellow ochre to tone down the phthalos. What next?, I'm thinking the tulip might lose some of the pink, leaves on trees?, do I need that swan?, we'll see.

Snow Scene

2010-02-13T09:55:00.005-05:00

I have never painted a snow scene, the frozen stuff is just not a part of my visual vocabulary. Atlanta gets a few days of snow each winter, yesterday was one of them, nice.

Above top:Outside my studio yesterday afternoon.
Bottom:The next morning, the melting has begun.

The Super Bowl

2010-02-07T10:01:00.002-05:00

The Super Bowl is not a sporting event, it is a television event. If you boiled down the whole 4+ hour broadcast to just the action on the field, the running time would be about 12 minutes. A majority of those gathered around the big screen today will only be interested in the chicken wings and the other 228 minutes. I enjoy it all, now pass the cheese dip.
Above: 1969, Joe Namath, quarterback of the NY Jets, in Miami before Super Bowl III, the catalyst of everything we'll see today, thanks Joe.

The 104 Million Dollar "Walking Man"

2010-02-06T21:05:00.006-05:00

This past week Sotheby's sold Giacometti's bronze sculpture "Walking Man" at auction for, $104.3 Mill. (foreground above). It was the top price ever paid for a work of art. What I always wonder is, what would the artist's reaction be if they were alive to witness such a phenomenon, would they feel pride or disgust? Giacometti spent a period in his career unable to finish anything. He would carve his plaster pieces with a penknife to the point where he could carry around his sculptures in a cigarette pack. Eventually the whittling reduced them to a poof of dust, gone, nothing. Yea, Giacometti would probably feel a bit of disgust over such an obscene sum.
After the sale writers were speculating that this could be a signal that the art market was bouncing back. No, but "blue chip" artists at auction are and definitely Giacometti, the rest of us will wait for the "trickle down".

A Painting: Initial Phase

2010-01-30T11:28:00.007-05:00

These past 2 days I have been putting the first layer of paint on the picture you see above. During this phase I can flirt with being an impressionistic painter, detail is not a concern. What do I want to accomplish with this initial pass? Most important, develop a color scheme (I had in mind "70's prep", do they still make the pink shirts and ties with green whales?), establish the dark and light areas, shadow and light. What's going on in my head right now? The sky is a big question, how do I treat the clouds, will I tone down the color, how am I going to coordinate all the green hues, hmmm? After so many years in the studio, this stage of uncertainty and possibility is what keeps me at the easel. Check back for stage 2.

Supreme Decision?

2010-01-24T14:34:00.005-05:00

I try to keep politics out of this blog, but a decision by the Supreme Court (Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission) last week has caused me to make an exception. This 5-t0-4 ruling, lifts the ban on the amount that corporations can contribute to those running for political office. I am not naive, our politicians' wallets are tight with cash from "special interests", but this opens the floodgates, say goodbye to the grassroots "paypal" candidate. Defenders of the ruling are proclaiming that this is a victory for those wishing to exercise their rights to, Freedom Of Speech, (are you kidding me). The CS Monitor has a reasoned view of what just went down, for a dimmer outlook there is Keith Olbermann. Let those in office know your opinion, email your Congressperson or Senator, they will enjoy hearing from you.

Back In The Saddle...

2010-01-16T10:21:00.002-05:00

...well sorta. I didn't get much painting done over the holidays and as usual after a layoff, the urge to paint was pretty high as I got back in the studio last week. This craving; to mix color and slap some paint around presents a problem, before painting can commence at least a day of drawing and preparing the picture plane are required. That wasn't going to cut it, so I got out the watercolors (my medium of choice in the 90's) and after an hour of sketching I was ready to go. Three days later I had a painting. Itch scratched.

Above:"Untitled Study", watercolor on 140lb. Arches Hot Press (my favorite paper)

Year In Review

2010-01-04T16:23:00.010-05:00

I enjoy reading end of the year reviews and lists. The authors tidily sum up what's been going on for the last 12 months.The psyche can now move on with a clean slate, resolutions in hand. But '09 is not playing by the rules, the uncertainty and disillusionment that was rampant for 12 months seems to cling to our "new year vibe". The "wait and see" hangover will not subside. Anyway,here's my stats for '09: Sales were off about 22%, (I can live with that, for now). Oddly, the average price per painting sold was up 20%, (this tells me the casual buyer has left the building). Resolutions: Clean brushes everyday, more ipod less talk radio. The year ahead? Stay tuned, right here.

Above: 2 more from the "Business Noir" series, oil on paper, 10x8", 2001

Merry Christmas From...

2009-12-24T11:27:00.002-05:00

Above: Bailey, home from college, going old school with the Etch A Sketch ,the I-Pod Touch of its day. Top 10 of all time favorite toys, what's No.1? Big Loo, check it out.

The Word For '09...

2009-12-20T12:59:00.005-05:00

...Monetize, as in "How do I monetize it?". This was on the minds of many individuals I encountered in '09. Here's the scenario: You've got a skill or talent that produces a product or service, the dismal job market has you thinking; maybe I can make a living off this music-painting-writing-consulting... I have been doing on the side. The website and blog are up, you have been "tweeting" and "facebooking" this new venture, maybe your YouTube video has gone viral or the song posted on MySpace is drawing attention, now, how do I take these "freebies" and monetize it? Sorry, I can't answer that question, but you have stepped onto the road, see where it takes you.
Discouraged?, read this article in the NYTimes about Carmen Herrera, who sold her first painting at age 89, after 60 years of steady art making, now that's patience and faith.
Above: 2 "cards" from my BUSINESS NOIR series, produced over a 3 month period in 2001, oil on paper, 10x8", (I should do a post about these)

Gift Idea, Jon Gnagy

2009-12-13T10:01:00.004-05:00

When I was 9 my parents gave me a, "Jon Gnagy, Learn To Draw Kit" for Christmas. I had not asked for one so it was a surprise. At the time what I knew of the "art world" I had learned from the set of World Book Encyclopedias we had at home. Looking at the box, with the name I could not pronounce, I figured this guy was right up there with Rembrandt and Van Gogh. The kit included the instruction manual you see above, pencils and exotic drawing supplies such as: block charcoal, shading stumps, sandpaper (for sharpening) and a kneaded eraser,what the ****!? Intimidating, you bet, but I loved it. Many hours were spent attempting to master the drawing lessons and materials therein. In hindsight though what I learned was not how to draw necessarily, but something more important, an idea, the idea that being an artist might be a future option, and that those close to me felt the same.
Above: the 2009 version, why don't you get one for somebody here.
Check out this video of Jon drawing a clown on YouTube, awesome!

This Is A Horse

2009-12-06T10:18:00.006-05:00

I have spent the past two days painting a horse in a small picture (10x12") I will be sending to my dealer in Santa Fe. What you see above is my palette after completion. The main pigments used were; zinc white, mars black and raw sienna. The mixing of black and raw sienna make a beautiful dark brown, and an endless spectrum of grey hues when white is added. I wanted to keep the greys warm so I introduced a bit of burnt sienna as the white was increased. I think more time was spent messing around on the palette than actual painting, (this happens often).

Below: the unfinished painting with said horse.

Thankgiving

2009-11-26T10:36:00.007-05:00

5,000... the average amount of calories to be consumed by each diner today, bring it on.

Above, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade,1937,see more here.

Edward Hicks

2009-11-21T09:49:00.005-05:00

Edward Hick's, Peaceable Kingdom (above) is a painting I have always enjoyed. What the casual art observer might not be aware of is that he painted over 60 versions of this subject and a majority of the elements in this painting; the figures, animals and landscape, are based on images he saw in popular prints and paintings of his time.The beauty and vision occurs when these cribbed images are filtered through his mind and hand. He makes them his own.

Edward Hicks popped into my head this week as I was listening to the radio, the commentator was lamenting the fact that we live in a "mash-up" world, culture was not progressing but merely remixing the past. Only a social critic would make such a statement, artists know better, "thievery" has always been a part of the creative process.
To learn more about Edward Hicks read this book.

Holiday Salon...etc.

2009-11-15T09:48:00.011-05:00

This Wednesday TEW Galleries opens it's "Holiday Salon". I will be contributing 3 new paintings, 2 are shown above. The show will feature new works by gallery artists and the recent paintings of Atlanta fave, Lucy Currie, plus Tim's jewelery collection. Go have a look and pick something out, the show should run through December.
Speaking of shopping, what was going on in October? Every artist/dealer I have spoken to recently (granted, its not been many) have reported last month as the busiest in a long while. I guess those rebounded portfolios, have eased the collectors' consciouses. In another world...the major auction houses showed some bounce, it's not 2006, but the usual faces got the usual bucks, "artnet" lists the latest results, here, always an interesting read.
And... the NYTimes had a great story about David Hockney and his recent landscape paintings. I admire Hockney's game, to use a sports metaphor, his use of hip technology to enhance what he does with paint and brushes has kept this 72 year old painter fresh and current, now that's a role model. Here's the article, don't miss the slide show and video, fascinating.
Above top: DREAM VACATION 28x25 oil canvas 2009
below: CONJURER 28x25 oil canvas 2009

Fall Color In Atlanta

2009-11-08T12:18:00.008-05:00

As a painter, I can not compete with the natural world at it's visual best. Occasionally I will take a painting I am working on outside to see how it holds up when not confined to the mysteries of the cave, (studio). If it appears lifeless outside...not a good sign. "You should paint that", I am often told, as the person points to a flower or sunset, my response is always a halfhearted, "yes, I should", but I know I won't. What I will do is try to translate that "feeling" I have when experiencing natural beauty, take paint and replicate those soul stirring moments, whether I am painting an apple or a clown's nose. It's an intuitive reaction that continually occurs during the painting process, difficult to explain and execute.

Above: A tree next to the Cyclorama in Grant Park, Atlanta Ga. What a beautiful day today, much fuel was added to my creative battery.

Halloween

2009-10-31T09:57:00.003-04:00

Above, Bette Davis in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte". I was 9 years old when my older brother took me to see this film, portions of which, I spent balled up in the fetal position on the sticky floor of the PIX Theatre in Rock Hill, S.C. Southern-fried creepiness at its best, check out the trailer here.

GENESIS

2009-10-25T16:11:00.004-04:00

R. Crumb has illustrated the Book of Genesis. Five years in the making, this 224 page, hardcover book was released last week and currently ranks #7 in sales at Amazon.com. R.Crumb and the Bible, not as odd a pairing as it at first seems. As a kid I always thought "Mr Natural" was kinda like a hip god. I think I will check this one out. The Sunday N.Y.Times has an insightful review here.

Many of my paintings' themes and imagery have their genesis in the stories of the Old and New Testament. Its impossible to shake the powerful archetypes contained therein. Below is the latest.

Above: Traveling Ark Song, 20x18 Framed, oil on panel,2009 (private collection)

Clown Painting

2009-10-17T14:27:00.010-04:00

On occasion I feel the need to make a "clown painting". Their appearance in a picture frees up space in my head, allowing me to make choices I usually don't consider. My clowns are not the kind with makeup, I imagine there condition as a permanent state, in there world, that's how people look. I enjoy being a part of that world for brief intervals.
Above: Arrival Of Fun, 20x18 (26x24 Fr) oil panel, 2009

Nashville Arts Magazine

2009-10-08T19:15:00.007-04:00

The October issue of Nashville Arts Magazine features a cover story about my paintings, check it out here. This monthly publication covers Nashville's cultural scene, with articles about a broad range of creative expression; stone carving to pasta making. The look of the magazine is polished but hip, professional but "open-armed".With over 90 pages of content it's available for free throughout the metro area, pick one up when your in town. Kudos to Paul Polycarpou for being the catalyst behind the magazine's recent revival.

Above: The Blackberries, 20x22 framed, oil on panel 2008 (private collection)

Sweet 16

2009-10-02T21:17:00.007-04:00

Above: Nick Jonas, Phillips Arena the Atl. Photo by Madison

ART SHOW 2.0

2009-09-25T20:28:00.011-04:00

From my student days to about the year 2000, the Kodachrome slide, was the medium used to promote my paintings. I would send out packets containing a sheet of slides and a resume to prospective galleries and curators with the hope of representation or inclusion in a juried show. This process was costly, time consuming and usually fruitless. Digital photography, in-house publishing and the Internet have swept film to the sidelines. Now speed is the new nemesis, "get it to me by lunch". My upcoming show came together with mind boggling efficiency. What would have taken at least 2 months; a magazine spread, updated website and printed invitation, could be accomplished in less than 3 weeks.

After 74 years Kodak has pulled the plug on Kodachrome film. Photographers will lament the passing, (you cannot beat the color and durability of the film) painters, not so much. I have read you can get a digital camera with a "Kodachrome" exposure setting.

The Fall Season: Part 2

2009-09-17T20:34:00.007-04:00

The Autumn months tend to be my most productive. The light and atmosphere begins to soften, as the natural world starts its inward retreat. Perfect conditions for painting, which is to my advantage as I have a show opening in Nashville on October the 3rd. This exhibition at The Arts Company will coincide with an article about my paintings in the Nashville Arts Magazine. More on these events in another post.
Above: Spirit Of The River, 26x24 oil panel 2009, sending to Nashville for the show.

The Fall Season

2009-09-13T10:17:00.004-04:00

Last Spring the key phrase whispered among gallery owners and working artists was " If I can get through summer, I should be fine". From what I see, surprisingly, most made it. What we failed to realize then though was that the summer is usually slow, numbers-wise. Your budget is not based on summer stats, the Fall season is when you make your hay. The new mantra is "I need a big Fall". This recent article in the N.Y.Times illustrates the mood of gallery owners up there and mirrors what I hear locally.
Above:THE GIFT, 18x16,oil on wood,2004 (private collection)

Edisto Island, S.C.

2009-08-29T09:51:00.010-04:00

At our house "vacation" means the beach, and for the past 11 years that beach has been Edisto Island, S.C. Fairly isolated by East Coast standards, it takes a good 40 minute drive to reach any type of major commercial development. The beach itself is mainly homes, private and rental, family owned businesses, and a condensed Piggly Wiggly grocery store. What the island lacks in upscale amenities is made up by a great beach and stunning scenery. It's not for everyone but perfect for my taste and sensibility.
The great American artist, Jasper Johns, purchased a home on Edisto in the early 60's, living and painting there through much of that decade. In college we were shown a film of him working in his studio, (which appeared to be a screened in porch). I tried to find it on YouTube, no luck. The above sculpture is a homage to his friend, the poet Frank O'Hara, a frequent guest. If you visit the island be sure to check out the BBQ joint run by his half brother, "Po Pigs Bo-B-Q", on Highway 174.

Summer's over folks.

The stunning photo at the top of the post is by Heath Cash, see more here.

Vacation

2009-08-13T20:13:00.006-04:00

Every summer my painting stops, the heat in Atlanta turns the brain to mush and my limbs to lazy noodles. I don't try to fight these lackadaisical urges, (which tend to last about 3 weeks). Time is spent reading, cleaning, and preparing surfaces to paint on. What a perfect time to hit the beach.
Above: Maddi's video of the birds on Edisto Island, S.C. 2009

Happy 21st Birthday Bailey

2009-07-25T10:45:00.007-04:00

Welcome to the adult world.

Painting Horses

2009-07-18T10:34:00.005-04:00

I am not a "horse guy", I didn't grow up around horses and can count on one hand how many times I have ridden one, but lately I have enjoyed painting them. The smooth surface texture fits my current painting style and the techniques I use to depict a horse match those I use to render a flower or cloud. The nostalgic element attached to a horse also jives with the inherent mood in most of my work. Featured in this post are 2 of the latest.

Above: SEAFOAM 17x15 (23x21 Fr) oil on panel 2008
Below: no title yet, 17x20 oil on panel 2008

Summer:Blackberries

2009-07-11T10:01:00.007-04:00

Despite the cosmopolitan trappings, Atlanta has never given up it's rural roots. If you walk the older neighborhoods in town you can still see glimpses of this past. Keeping chickens has become popular with young urban professionals these days, but long before this puzzling trend you could still find homes in my neighborhood with full gardens, and barn yard animals. Around the block from my house there was an old guy who had chickens and a goat, he grew corn, tomatoes, beans, blueberries, apples and blackberries. All that remains now are his blackberries, which run the length of the property on the street-side. You are allowed to pick whatever you can reach from the sidewalk and for the next month the labors of the past will provide refreshment after a jog.

Above: BLACKBERRIES, 18x20 Fr, oil on panel, 2007

4th of July

2009-07-04T10:40:00.006-04:00

Growing up in a state where fireworks were legal made the 4TH of July one of my favorite holidays. My Dad always bought a huge supply from the local Jaycees and we would light them up after a day of barbecuing. Dangerous but thrilling, burnt fingers and ringing ears were a given. Now I leave it to the pros.
Above: downtown Atlanta 2008

Maddi's latest cupcake creations, yum.

2009-06-26T17:58:00.004-04:00

Above: Jeff Koons "Michael Jackson And Bubbles" 1988 (life size: porcelain and gold leaf), sold for 5.6 million, Sotheby's 1991, collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Father's Day

2009-06-21T11:20:00.004-04:00

J.A. Keiger Jr. Hialeah, Fla. 1952, miss you Pops

Oxford American

2009-06-06T09:57:00.007-04:00

Oxford American's current issue features the above painting, "Sleepwalker", on pg. 44, kicking off the "Odes To The Best Of The South" section. Winners of several National Magazine Awards, Oxford American is published 4 times a year and features the writers, musicians, and artists that are influenced by this creatively fertile region of the USA, the American South. The Fall Music issue, with CD, is always a great read and listen. Now, get to know them here.

Shows End, This & That

2009-05-30T08:58:00.006-04:00

The TEW show came down this Friday. If you have not been by, Corky has rehung several pieces upstairs on the second floor landing.

Some observations from this last month: For the first time, the age range of buyers was closer to my own and even younger, (ok I'm 52). I made a conscious effort in this show to limit my visual themes, I thought this made for a focused viewing experience (this trend will continue). The largest painting was 44"x36", going forward, the urge is to keep increasing the size, (have the smallest works run their course? we'll see). The dominant pigments used in this group of paintings were, cobalt blue and raw sienna (my new fave).

Switching gears, the Atlanta art "blogosphere" has had an increase in activity as of late. Long time local art critic, Cathy Fox, joined the ranks this past week. She, along with several other AJC expats, Pierre Ruhe (classical music) and Steve Murray (film) have created artscriticAtl. Maybe I am being too optimistic here, but I am starting to feel something, shall I dare say, a synergy, or heaven forbid the "c" word, community. Atlanta's art scene has mirrored the sprawl we see around us, subdivisions, separated by economics, taste and terrain. Is the Internet dissolving these perceived barriers?

Artists vs The Economy

2009-05-22T17:08:00.011-04:00

These past several weeks the New York Times has been collecting stories submitted by artists answering the question, "What effect has the recession had on your life and work"? Hundreds of creative types have responded and you can read the tales of woe and triumph here. There is also a follow up piece, highlighting several individuals, accompanied by a nifty slide show.
Speed reading through the responses confirmed what I have experienced and heard from others. Times like these can spur creativity, an attitude of , "what have I got to lose" starts to develop, invigorating the work. Now, if you are a mature artist, with an overhead to match your success, stress can begin to dominate your psyche, there's a lot to lose.
A majority of my art world connections began their careers during the late 80's recession, it wasn't a great time to start a gallery or to quit your job and paint, but we did it anyway. Is this downturn a totally different animal, maybe, but what I do know is this, regardless of what is in their wallets, artists will continue to adapt and create.

What Inspires You?..

2009-05-16T08:37:00.008-04:00

This is the question I am most frequently asked and the one most difficult to answer. I imagine the majority of art patrons have this mental image of the artist that has been cultivated by modern literature and movies, the painter as "shaman-savant", and some aspects of that vision hold some truth. I have had experiences while painting that would reinforce this stereotype, but they are few and far between, and don't necessarily produce great images. Painting is an extreme pleasure and a task that I work long hours to achieve a satisfactory result, simple as that. But that answer is cheating the questioner, so I will continue this dialog in another post and offer this: At my opening last Friday, I was chatting with an individual and he wanted to know why I painted hydrangeas? I started scanning my data bank for an enlightening reply. When the silence was beginning to reach that uncomfortable stage, I sighed and said, "I have several outside my studio and I just love looking at them". He smiled and said, "thanks for being honest , I thought you were going to explain how they have this deep meaning and symbolize....,we started laughing and then continued the conversation, both with a bit of relief.

Top: Detail (The Prayer)
Bottom: The Prayer, 22x20 framed, oil panel, 2008, get it at TEW

Friday Opening at TEW

2009-05-09T17:41:00.010-04:00

Kansas
OZ
The Wizard
The work has been in the gallery for 2 weeks and on the wall for 10 days, there has been a private party at a client's home and a preview reception, a magazine ad was placed, many invitations and PR packets sent, several email "blasts" and studio visits, all this has taken place before the public Friday opening. I began work on this show over a year ago, starting with a plan that I wrote down in my sketch book, of what I wanted to present (I kind of followed it). Gone are the days of frantic production and stressful arguments with the dealer (sort of), that never worked for me. I enjoy the commercial gallery process, always have, it has it's moments of BS and financial uncertainty, but the personal interaction with the gallery staff and their clients is an enriching experience, fueling the creative side. To be honest, getting paid to paint my pictures is pretty nice, it's what I always wanted and as of Friday night, it looks like it will continue.

Directly above: Me trying to look like a stable, successful artist, (yikes, scroll down, have I aged that much in 20 years, the beard might have to go).
I put the show on flickr, check it out here.

20 Years With TEW

2009-05-05T20:29:00.014-04:00

I have been represented by Timothy Tew for 20 years and my 16th exhibit at TEW opens this week. When I first met Tim he was showing and selling paintings at a French restaurant in Buckhead, (Cafe Les Artiste) and looking to open a tiny space at the TULA Art Center. He had seen a painting of mine at a Post Properties show house, where my large abstract canvas was hung, (above the shrimp bowl and behind the buffet table, a choice spot). It caught his eye, prompting a phone call and a request for a studio visit, thus starting a relationship that, at the time, I could not have imagined. The evolution that took place in our lives and the Atlanta art world between then and now would require more than a blog post, but come by May 8th to view the 2009 edition and say "hi" to my friend Tim, and me, I'll be on the second floor.
Above: Charles Keiger,1989, 235 Forsyth St. studio, trying to look like a cigar chomping, hard core, abstract expressionist. Studio and painting lost in a fire, 1997.
Below: The first invoice-letter,click the image to read, (does anyone miss the typewriter?)
Note: I am going to increase the posts while the show is up, check back for pictures and maybe a few insights into what goes on during this commercial process.

Arts Company

2009-04-28T20:58:00.006-04:00

My gallery in Nashville, The Arts Company, has a nice feature about me on their blog, be sure to check it out here. Anne Brown, the owner, is one of the "pros" in the Southern art world; honest, friendly and knowledgeable. The gallery is a couple of blocks from the Ryman Auditorium and anchors the Downtown Nashville Arts District. On the first Saturday of every month there is a gallery crawl in the evening, with over 20 establishments participating. This event is great entertainment, offering a diverse display of creations and a hip crowd of participants. Go, you will not be dissapointed.
Above: Sweetheart Of The West, 20x18 Fr, oil on wood 2007
available at the Arts Company, Nashville

Modern Ark

2009-04-18T09:37:00.008-04:00

Two interesting articles in The Wall St. Journal this week.
Artists vs Blight was a report about painters and sculptors moving into boarded up houses and abandoned industrial areas in cities such as Cleveland and Detroit. Galleries, restaurants and latte shops are following them, (this is what we do).

The second article told of the construction of contemporary Arks, including one just christened in Hong Kong, that was built to biblical specifications, complete with fiberglass animals! Be sure to check out the slideshow. The story of Noah and the flood has always been an Old Testament favorite of mine. I have used the image of an Ark in several paintings, here are two examples.

Top: ROAD TO DAMASCUS 22x18 fr oil panel 2007 (private collection)
Bottom: ANCIENT BEGINNINGS 24x18 fr oil panel (private collection)

Spring Break

2009-04-11T09:36:00.012-04:00

Some random thoughts:
Spring in Atlanta can seem like a miracle (and a Chamber of Commerce's dream come true). Everyday there is a new shoot, bud or blossom. The parade of flowers that began with the forsythia, continues at a brisk pace: daffodils,azaleas,tulips,dogwoods,irises,and roses. The vibrancy of color and form, is very humbling for me as a painter. The weather does not disappoint either, this past week there was light snow, "Biblical" thunder storms, cold mornings and warm afternoons. It can all be very disorienting. The mind and body can not rest with all this evidence of rebirth and possibility (which might explain this rambling post).

My daughter, Madison, is into theme cupcakes. these are her latest creations. A great food blog, Serious Eats, has a disturbing post about deep fried "Peeps". I am tempted to try it.

As a spectator, baseball is my sport of choice. I live close to the Braves stadium, and the tickets are inexpensive, which makes it convenient to spend an afternoon at the ballpark. Growing up I played all sports, some were on organized teams, but mostly it was just grabbing your gear and hitting the field. That's what we did for fun. Now, as an adult what I enjoy, besides the amazing skill, is the finality of the results, you have a winner and loser, one is best the rest not. In the art world this is not the case, opinions rule, and everyone has one. In Grad school it was easy to start an argument just by mentioning that you thought,___, was a great painter.I learned early in my career that some will enjoy what I create and others will dismiss it, which is how it should be. All these differing views keep the physical product alive and ever evolving.

Above: DOGWOOD (Land of Spirits) 44x35 oil on canvas
I was informed that this painting was too "Southern", (see what I mean).