The Whale and Water

A recently completed wall hanging meant for the purpose of relaxation. My client suffers from an occasional migraine headache and wanted this image done for something to meditate on during the bouts. All the imagery and color choices are favorites of theirs and soothing.
The painting is done on canvas that is hung by upper tabs and a 1" hem along the bottom to run another pole through to maintain a straight and flat hanging. 
Please click on the image for a closer look.
Acrylic and mixed media 4'1" X 2"

Edmonds Mural Society: "A Moment in Time" - EMERGING EDMONDS

   My recently completed mural for the Edmonds Mural Society. Depicting the movement of time from the sepia tones in the towns founding to the B&W of Vern Sill unloading feed for the feed store in 1919, the Cloud family on the 25th anniversary of being the editors of the Tribune Review in 1946, to present day Edmonds with the fountain and people walking her streets.
   Painting the mural had me discovering things about the town of Edmonds that I hadn't realized. I had also met great people along the way. For example all of the helpful people at the Edmonds Museum to people who visited with me nightly along their evening walk through town. There are some super people in the town of Edmonds.

The wall itself was a tough character however. It required a lot of micro scumbling  to cover all the extremely porous texture. So progress was laboriously slow. Accepting the surface finally as a challenge made the painting better. The whole experience was a blast! I loved the challenge.

The concept was to show the cyclical movement of time by using the sepia tone, the black and white, to the colors becoming more vibrant as time progresses. Using the framing as a design of movement.
Atlas Paints- Acrylics 16' X 12'   The whole surface was covered with a preservative sealant.
  Please click on the image for a closer look.

Guemes Island Ferry mural

A residential mural of the Guemes Island Ferry on the side of my client's home on Guemes Island. The mural includes the Anderson's General Store and the Ferry dock on the Guemes side. It continues to the right side also. Please click on the image for a closer look.

9.5' X 18' Outdoor Latex paint

Illustration Friday: Sitka Poster (Trail)

The Sitka Poster seemed like an appropriate image for the word "Trail" this week. The last time I was there, I had hiked a short trail for several miles which had a posting with the warning that Grizzly Bear had been seen on the same trail earlier that week. It kept me quite alert and had me singing to make noise while hiking it. Bears don't like being found suddenly, better to let them hear you coming.  I never had to meet any on my hike fortunately.

Please click on the image for a closer look.

24"x 16" Acrylics on Masonite

Illustration Friday: The Balance (Fearless)

 "The Balance" was created for a story about an old hare who decides to give himself up, after a long chase by the wolf. He decides to sacrifice himself because he can see that the wolf is very hungry and in need after a long and hard winter. He realizes that it is simply nature's balance for him, his life will go on in the sustenance provided to the wolf and his family.
Acrylics on Illustration board 12" X 17"

Illustration Friday: Transcendence ( Expired)

This painting was originally done right after my Father had died, as a reminder to myself that we are recycled energy. He was no longer in the form that I had known him in, though he wasn't completely gone either. The energy that had made him up had just changed form and was now among the place he had originally come from. The unzipped skull is a symbol of this idea, with the soul leaving the physical form and transcending into the universe again. The former body decomposes back into the earth's elements. The soul is represented by a Mayan statuette with also some elements of Egyptian design and is adorned with Nordic ruin symbols of power and strength. Which became fitting since I had ended up putting some of his ashes in a burial boat that had belonged to the Vikings in Sweden while bicycle touring. He went all over Europe too, his ashes left at many places where he had wanted to visit while living. Our last conversation was about the places in Europe we were going to travel to, once he got better. He made it, but not how we had expected.

Acrylics on canvas 15 X 20"

Mermaid cabinet on Guemes Island

This Mermaid cabinet that was recently completed, was done over a glass surface to cover the contents within to give it a less cluttered feel. The surface was heavily sprayed afterward with a urethane finish to prevent any scratching off of the paint that may occur while using the cabinet. The colors used complimented the existing colors already in the bathroom and my clients fantastic glass collection.

Please click on the image for a closer look.

Nouveau bathroom mural

My client was great for this job, in that she was very open to the ideas I had and was very trusting in letting me execute them. I am a huge Alphonse Mucha fan (the similarity to his styling is apparent) and had wanted to do something like this for some time. She is very happy with the final results.
The Nouveau design was kept in the same color scheme that already existed in the room. The sage green color was added into the background of the decoration to draw out the sage green within the tiles and emerald green jewels to also match the tile work. First the wall paper was stripped, then I'd done a textural surface treatment with a ragging off technique in tans and a light gray to create an aged feel. It isn't shown in these photos but the vanity cabinets were done in a similair way and incorporated the diamond shape on the light fixtures with a trompe l'oeil engraving on the drawers.

Click on the images for a closer look.

Seattle, WA. residential mural - Latex paints

I.F.: Inner Path (Infinite)

The Inner Path was done originally for PanGaia Magazine. The name of the issue was "Healing Paths" and was exploring different alternative cures and therapies. It seemed appropriate for the "infinite" theme this week and reminds me of the Thoreau poem:

Direct your eye right inward
and you'll find,
a thousand regions in your mind
travel them and be,
master of home-cosmography

11" X 15" Acrylic paint on Illustration board

The Citrus Sisterhood

On an earlier post I had mentioned that I would like to complete the set of Citrus Sisters by creating a Lime Sister. I had attempted to do one, yet I had never liked the other Sisters as much as I had liked the original Orange Sister. So with that I have decided to use the original as a template to adjust the colors in Photoshop and making the Lemon and Lime. Here are the Sisters reunited!

Muhammad Yunus

Professor Yunus (Bangladeshi banker and economist) is the 2006 Nobel Prize winner for his founding of the Grameen Bank, which started making microfinance possible. His belief that credit is a fundamental human right has helped many people escape poverty by teaching them sound financial principles and making microloans.
Pencil sketch with Photoshop manipulation

I.F: Nature's Path Foods Eco-Pacs (adapt)

Here are the spot illustrations I'd created for the Nature's Path Foods Eco-Pacs a few years back. There hasn't been a theme as well suited as "adapt" for the chance to display them on the blog. Nature's Path did adapt to the idea of producing less packaging by using these biodegradable bags without the need of a cardboard box.

Copyright 2003 Nature's Path Foods Inc.

Seasons

"Live each Season as it passes, drink the drink, taste the fruit, resign yourself to the influence of each." -Henry David Thoreau

Each Season was done on a 12" x 12" canvas in Acrylic paint

Chinese Zodiac

Happy Chinese New Year! The New Year animal order starts with the Rat, to the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, Dragon, etc. (the way that they are facing). The Chinese Zodiac is by the year instead of the Western Zodiac which is by each month. The story of their order is that the Buddha called a meeting of all the animals and they arrived to the meeting in the order that they are placed. The story also says that there was suppose to be the Cat but it had missed the meeting by sleeping through it.

Just today on NPR I'd heard that it is the year of the Earth Ox and that Barack Obama has the Earth Ox as his sign.

Rat: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Ox: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Tiger: 1938, 1956, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Rabbit: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Dragon: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Snake: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
Horse: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
Sheep: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
Monkey: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Cock: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
Dog: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
Boar: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Acrylics on canvas 23.5 X 23.5" with Chinese New Year Paper collage around the border

Illustration Friday: Cowboy George (Vacant)

I'm using this illustration of George W. for "vacant" since he will soon be gone! The idea of vacancy applies to him in more than that though. The time for his leaving office has finally arrived....his reign of eight years has been very long indeed. Corporate America may miss him but anyone with sense wont or anyone without the wealth to receive his tax cuts. Yes, some intelligent people supported him but that just proves that intelligence isn't wisdom. Good riddance Mr. Bush.
Note America as his sucker.
10 X 13" Acrylics on Illustration board

I.F.: Flying Lessons (Sail)

This illustration was created for a Children's Story about the value of not giving up and continued perseverance to attain your goals. A young bird is learning to fly and learns something new from each of his failed attempts. Eventually he is able to fly due to his stamina toward the lessons.
15 X 20" Acrylics on Illustration board

Illustration Friday: Lemoncello (Sour)

An illustration created for a Lemoncello label. The Citrus post below (May 2007) was also used for an Orangecello label. They are both intended to be as if Elizabethan era portraits. I still would like to create a Limecello illustration to complete the set.
This painting will be showing soon at the "Mellow Yellow" show in Lynnwood, WA., at the Lynnwood Library. 19200 44th Ave. West 98036. September 26th-November 13th.
Acrylics and Colored Pencil on Linen Canvas 7.5 x 12"

I.F.: Snailherder (Forgotten)

The legendary and heuristic Morphologist, Herbalist and Entomologist; Dr. Elms Schmettelinger McMothkin. The deeply wise Dr. has long been forgotten by the world at large. Though he is an almost mythical cult hero in metaphysical and pagan theological sects (among Gnomes) in Holland and Denmark. He is depicted in this painting along his annual snail herding expedition.
This painting is now showing at the 30th Annual "Arts of the Terrace" show in Mountlake Terrace, WA. at the Library Complex. 23300 58th Ave. West, 98043. September 27th- October 4th.
Acrylic paint on canvas 15 X 20"

Illustration Friday: Baby

These are some illustrations that were done for a Reproduction Clinic's brochure.

Acrylics on Illustration board - various sizes: around 10 x 10"

I.F.: Working Wisdom (Wrinkles)

A boy has gone to the Council of the Wise to seek their guidance on what his occupation should be when he grows up. They are wisely instructing him to seek the answer for himself by exploring the things that give him the most satisfaction and pairing that with a way to serve others. Earn your wrinkles through smiling!

Acrylics on Illustration board 15 x 20"

I.F.: T-Rex Barbecue - ( Primitive)

Here's a couple of friends who have gotten together to enjoy some extremely rare steaks. Tex (the one at the barbi) brought the meat and his friend brought some brews for the occasion. It may be primitive times but they are advanced predators.

Acrylics on Illustration board 15 x 20"

I.F.: Croquet with the Queen ( Fail)

Alice is supposed to play croquet with a flamingo and a hedgehog!? She's certain that this idea is going to fail. The Queen seems undaunted by the proposal though and has apparently done it before!?

Acrylics on Masonite 56 X 24"

Tea Party

Alice has just started to realize that the Tea Party guests are not quite right in their heads! She would dearly like a cup of tea and some cake, however it may be for the best that they are behaving as such inattentive hosts. Was the cat sitting there the whole time? (Click on the image for a closer look)
45 x 26" Acrylics on masonite

Mermaid mural

I completed another mural this week of this Mermaid on the outside of a shower. The photo was taken from outside through the window when I finished since there was very little room to get a shot otherwise.

Latex paints 3.6 x 6.4'

Illustration Friday: Growth

Acrylics on Canvas 27" x 36"

I.F.: Modern Life (Extremes)

10.5" x 13.5" Acrylics and Colored Pencil on Linen

Immaculate Evolution

Replacing the Theory of Evolution in classrooms with "Intelligent Design" seems to me the equivalent to replacing a Biology course with a study of Mythology. While mythology can be an interesting and useful way to interpret the world (the collective unconscious as Jung had said) it isn't the same thing as understanding the world through science. The idea of Creationism in a homogenized Christian form is also an extremely narrow version of the story. There are a multitude of stories on Creationism beyond that. Teaching Theology is one thing and probably a comparative studies class is a fine idea considering the misunderstandings between cultures involving belief systems. It seems the problems arise when there is an insistence on one version being the only way. Theology is not a replacement to Science and vice versa.

I'm personally unsure as to why there is any problem with the idea of being related to the primates?! I find the idea endlessly fascinating! Can you not believe them both? I dont think that mankinds lineage detracts from any teachings about how to lead a loving life.
The classroom is a place of knowledge and Evolution belongs in them. There are aspects of the world and beliefs in particular that Science seems unable to quantify, hence the need for spirituality. Science may not have all of the answers but it is far from being an irrelevant form of understanding.
Acrylics and Colored Pencil on Linen 10 x 12"

IF: Consumerism (Missing and Emergency)

This is a painting I've recently finished that can apply to the "Missing and Emergency" themes. There is a missing piece of the planet and I suspect the mass consumption which America is obsessed with seems to stem from the sense that something is "missing" from their lives (our advertising influences help this ongoing trend too)!? Since it is so applicable to "Emergency" also, I've submit it again this week!

Acrylics and Colored Pencil on Linen Canvas 10 x 12"

Illustration Friday: The Dream (Moon)

A painting that was created for and donated to the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center's Annual Auction.

Acrylic on Canvas 2.5 x 2'

Illustration Friday: Asia Tapestry (Discovery)

The Asia Tapestry that was done for The Morning Star Boy's Ranch has been chosen to represent this week's "Discovery" theme. The tapestries were done to give the boys exposure to different cultures around the globe and convey a sense of discovery. Asia and China in particular is responsible for many discoveries that have influenced the world at large (hydraulics, gunpowder, metallurgy, bifocals, etc.). Three more in the series of five tapestries can be seen below in an April 28th posting.
Acrylics on Canvas 8 x 5'

I.F.: The Painted Perception Sign (Twist)

This sign has been created recently to represent my work at a market. Since the banner is twisting around the brush, I thought it was appropriate for this week's Illustration Friday theme "twist".
Acrylics on Masonite 25.5 x 48"

Tropical Moon Mural

This week I went to Guemes Island to paint a tropical landscape mural in my client's living room. It incorporated all of the existing colors in her home. I'd aligned the horizon line with the ledge of the kitchen opening to keep the flow of viewing smooth. The foilage on the right side of the mural was kept monochromatic to be able to keep the flowers colors without the area feeling too busy.

Indoor Latex paints

An upstairs window for Cafe Louis

The Cafe Louis mural has been posted before but just today I finished doing a window and ornate ledge with potted plants above the original mural. My clients have had the paving stones added to the patio surface now and the fountain is the next project. The installation of the iron gates that will lead to the patio will follow. Their own vacation to France by walking into the backyard!