Dragon Spring

The initial idea behind the golden background of Dragon Spring is the medieval icon imagery in which gold represents the spiritual ideal.  At least that is how it began.  I am a student of tai chi the Chinese martial art form, and the flow of movement and the gold also brings to mind paintings from asian cultures. The bright colors on the gold background were an experiment that really worked.  They pop right off the canvas and remind me of vines of flowers - flowers that never fade. I see lots of little dancers twirling through the air. I call the painting Dragon Spring because I finished it at the New Year of the Dragon.

Forest Reflections

Forest Reflections is the first in my series of acrylic paintings that depict the woodlands that I see around my studio. I live in the coastal forests of the San Francisco Peninsula surrounded by redwoods, oaks, firs and madrones. In subsequent paintings in the forest series, I concentrated my design along the lines of a particular species of tree. In this one I mostly experimented with the colors. It is one of the first paintings in which I used metalic gold as an accent to show sunlight. As an avid gardener, I see a lot of garden images as well.

Falcon Strike

Silver beak extended, eye intent on its prey, facing west and the Pacific. Feathers fly.  This is the direction I painted this painting for the most part.  I always rotate canvases to take advantage of my right handed painting style, so I saw all the angles, but only recognised this one after the first layer of silver.  Silver started this painting, and I did not add any silver shapes after the first sitting.

Falcon Strike, acrylic painting

Antlers

Caribou antlers splashing through icy waters.  Silver eye, brown nose facing east. A sense of urgent flight.

Caribou Flight

Terrier on the Scent

Coppery brown fur, windblown, ears alert, facing east.  This small, loyal dog is clearly tracking a scent in the currents of the sky.

Terrier on the Scent

Islands in the Sea

Volcanic peaks reach up from the blue ocean, reflections wavering in the waves. Or an osprey emerging with its prey. The motion in this direction is definitely up, up and away.

Islands in the Sea, acrylic painting

Tree Series: Madrone in Spring

This painting is 4 feet high and 3 feet wide and vibrates with color. It is almost completed, except for final layers of green and details. Each green shape has at least 4 layers of acrylic paint on it, which have to dry before the next layer. Green is the most fiddly color to work with, in my opinion, but looks great once I commit to smoothing it out. I see lots of birds and frogs in the leaves and undergrowth. The irises bloomed as well!