Wednesday, February 22, 2012

A "Striking" Image -

During a recent winter visit to the Colorado mountains, I was drawn to this solitary fire hydrant on a little-travelled road.  I loved the solitary splash of red color against the dry sienna grass and blue Colorado sky.  More importantly, its presence reminded me that it was the sole protection for the area against wildfires, and that the very road I walked on was a few hundred yards from a massive fire a few years before.  I incorporated these associated thought fragments into the final painting; the dry grass has actual matches enmeshed in the tangle of grass strands. Enjoy.
Western Sentinel,  20" x 20", mixed media 2012 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Happy Birthday, Columbus!

This year marks the 200th birthday of Columbus, Ohio and the city is celebrating all year.  In response to the momentous event, I created this painting, Columbus Reflections.  It is a mixed media piece that juxtaposes the present and the past.  The city skyline is reflected in the Scioto River, with current events reflecting back in the newspaper clippings.  However, the past rural history of Cowtown is also revealed in the reflections, as the memory of cows suggested by clouds floating over the city. Enjoy.