The California Grill

Mykonos (shaded drawing)

2006
9" x 12"
$175

Ye Olde Ship

Photograph Courtesy of Jeff

Passion in a Bubble

24" x 36"
2002
$1200

Fireworks without a tripod

Katy

For any of you that read my post about composition (It's in the May archives, titled "Ornamental Reindeer"), this painting shows a couple of the techniques I talked about in a pretty simple way. The diagonal line that follows the metal bar into the the bottom of her swimsuit helps to connect the foreground with the background. I also brought the contour of the mountains on the left of her into the strap of her swimsuit. I chose to define one of the mountain peaks to the right of her to help take attention off of her eyes. Eyes tend to command a lot of attention from the viewer, and many times they become too much of a focal point.

Psalm 119:105

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."


Photograph Courtesy of Jeff

Doctor's Office Art

Red-banded Hairstreak Butterfly

3 Course Meal

Cucumber Salad






















Neapolitan Porkchops






















Raspberry Cake

Psalm 118:24

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.




































Photographs Courtesy of Jeff

Flower in Museum Cafeteria

2001

KristyLynn

I just recently bought a painting from an artist that I shared a studio with at East Carolina University. I have always been drawn to the eerie peacefulness that I experience when viewing her work, and I also enjoy the way she incorporates drawing into her paintings so effectively. Click here to check out her website which showcases her paintings, drawings, collaborative works, and books that she has put together. She also has a link to her artist's statement and biography. Her prices are very reasonable; she lists her email address on her website, and you can inquire about a possible purchase there. Anyway, I really enjoy her art and decided to take the time to share it with you guys.

Hillary

This is a very large portrait, or triple-portrait, of my sister. It is made up of thirteen different canvases and depicts her in three different moods. Hillary on the left is in a good mood and easily approachable. I tried to show that with the way the canvases were split on that side. Hillary in the middle shows her in a vulnerable state that we can all relate to. Sometimes, we just don't feel like we've got it together and that's why the canvases seem to be falling apart toward the bottom. Hillary on the right is upset and unapproachable. I boxed her into a small square canvas and used larger canvases to surround her. Hillary was such a good sport about letting me paint her in three different moods that we all experience, sometimes on a daily basis. It's very rare to find a subject that is willing to be painted in their most vulnerable times.

I'm Sorry

I had Ms. Talora's first grade class in art today. This is one of the quietest, most well-behaved classes in the entire school. Ms. Talora doesn't let them get away with ANYTHING, yet they all adore her- quite a gift... anyway... While I was teaching, I became aware of some of them talking quietly amongst themselves. Even though this class never behaves that way, they were still acting better than most of my other classes so I let them get away with a little.... which I know I shouldn't. Eventually, I began making them "change their tickets." (A behavior modification plan that Ms. Talora has set in place for her students). At the end of art class, Ms. Talora came back into the classroom and informed the students of how embarrassed she was of their behavior. As I was wheeling the "art cart" out of her room, I heard her barking orders... After school, she informs me that she made them each write an apology letter to me.... and didn't help them in any way... which is probably why none of them spelled my name correctly, among other words. These are some of the funniest things I've ever seen... It took me FOREVER to decipher some of them, but I thought I would share a few.
























This first note was written by a young girl who is already showing signs of being an obsessive compulsive perfectionist. I honestly don't remember her talking during class, but she apologizes for her behavior anyway. And I did think it was quite amazing that with all the "chaos" in the room, she was still aware of my very hip threads... it's not every day that a first grader recognizes my awesome fashion decisions... and honestly... what DOES that say about my sense of style? hmmm.... well, It's still nice to know that my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt has not gone unnoticed.




























This next note might actually need to be translated for you:

"I'm sorry for talking when you were talking, but we are all sorry because we were all talking. Do you ever forgive us? We love you Ms. Lampson. Do you love us? I hope you'll like it?
Love, James

P.S. Where's your house?"

Apparently stalking begins at an early age.





























It also seems that self-discipline begins at an early age. Ms. Talora informed me that she has never asked this child to "write sentences" and has no idea why she did this.























And last, but not least, I must end on a very depressing note. I think this is another one that I must decode for you:

I'm very very sorry we were rude and disrespected you. We're very sorry Ms. Lampson. We're very very very very sorry. If we do it again, I'll cry and I'll never never never never stop.

Self-Portrait

2003

Boats

I can't help it... I love Jimmy Buffet-

Boats to Build
Jimmy Buffet

It's time for a change
I'm tired of that same ol same
The same ol words the same ol lines
The same ol tricks and the same ol rhymes

Days precious days
Roll in and out like waves
I got boards to bend I got planks to nail
I got charts to make I got seas to sail

I'm gonna build me a boat
With these two hands
It'll be a fair curve
From a noble plan
Let the chips fall where they will
Cause I've got boats to build

Sails are just like wings
The wind can make em sing
Songs of life songs of hope
Songs to keep your dreams afloat
I'm gonna build me a boat
With these two hands
It'll be a fair curve
From a noble plan
Let the chips fall where they will
Cause I've got boats to build

Shores distant shores
There's where I'm headed for
Got the stars to guide my way
Sail into the light of day

I'm gonna build me a boat
With these two hands
It'll be a fair curve
From a noble plan
Let the chips fall where they will
Cause I've got boats to build

Goldsboro Country Club

Tiger

The Tiger
William Blake

Tiger Tiger. burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye.
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat.
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears
And watered heaven with their tears:
Did he smile His work to see?
Did he who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger Tiger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Ornamental Reindeer

I finished this painting when I was a sophomore in Undergrad. I was in the midst of a class about composition taught by Paul Hartley- An excellent professor at East Carolina University- definitely my favorite... anyway... He had just finished talking about how artists have used many forms of repetition within a painting to help bring the work together with some sort of order. (He explained it much better). I was just beginning to grasp the concept... still don't fully have it... but I remember being extremely excited about repeating the shape of the holly on her shirt with her pigtail on the right. Although my use of repetition in this painting is anything but subtle, it's a lot of fun to look at other artworks with this concept in mind- trying to notice the unique ways different artist have pulled this off. For example, check out Guernica. Look at the horse's tongue- It's the same shape as the triangular things coming out of the light on the ceiling. Or- the horse's ear- It's very similar to the flame of the candle right beside it. These similar shapes keep the eye darting back and forth and moving about the painting. This device can also be used to take attention away from something that has become a focal point, keeping your eye from getting stuck there. Guernica is full of repetition, just like many of Picasso's works. So, for those of you that believe artists are only right-brained people overflowing with feeeeeeelings... you have something else to think about now.

Kindergarten Art

Edvard Munch's "The Scream" meets Casper.

Reflections

Happy Meal Toys from the 80s were so much fun!