Painting is always happening around this house and studio, but the subject matter and style can differ from week to week. Or day to day. Sometimes the motivation is internal, sometimes external. I get my own ideas, or directions are suggested to me. A gallery or client can be a significant force in the latter. In the work that follows, it was the occasion of being accepted at a new gallery, one that deals with the interior design trade exclusively. As such, color harmonies become paramount, and the usefulness of painting in themes. For this reason, my most recent paintings have been in series. And for this moment, acrylic on paper.
Yellow Sign, Acrylic on Paper, 11×16 (Click on images for larger view)
You may remember this one. I did it with a number of others last fall and shared them in an e-gallery (see Works on Paper in the “Recent Posts” section at right). It attracted the gallery owner’s eye and she requested more along the theme.
Short Jeans, Acrylic on Paper, 11×16
It’s only May but summer will be here soon enough to enjoy a few beach scenes. For the one above there was a good deal I had to make up. In the photo, it was just the girl and a whole lot of sand. A little empty, composition-wise. So, the rest is abstracted in. Is that that same yellow sign from the first painting? Maybe. And all that other stuff is just that, other stuff.
Lookers and a Surfer, Acrylic on Paper, 11×16
The challenge in a painting like this one is the multiple figures. Each one of them is basically a “life drawing” challenge, getting all the proportions right. Putting two together in a painting is a risk. While one can be right, the other can be wrong. Or the wrong size for the perspective. Or, or, or. In my photo the surfer was on the right but I moved him over to the left for the composition, and to give the girls something to look at. Thus, they’re “lookers.”
Organic Beach, Acrylic on Paper, 11×16
Here’s a study of earth and water, with the person between the elements being a combination of both. The photo was from an Hawaiian beach break, with a lot of energy right at the shore. The girl, chameleon like, is almost part of the sand. Thus the title: Organic Beach.
Ballerina 1, Acrylic on Paper, 15×11
Then, with the same creative burst, I returned to the dancer theme, though ballerinas this time instead of my more typical flamencos. My photo resources had them all in blue settings, and sometimes with other things going on. But selecting and adding and changing is part of the painter’s prerogative. Each needs to work within itself, or within its theme.
Ballerina 2, Acrylic on Paper, 15×11
The fast drying acrylic paint affords a scumbling effect (paint brushed lightly over another color) that can be quite delightful. And the slightly textured paper has a nice tooth for the drag of the brush. Not sure “drag” is the best word there, as it all happens with quick spontaneity.
Ballerina 3, Acrylic on Paper, 15×11
In this one, my photo had a full forest of dancers. Really quite impressive, but in order to read it, I selected just three. The trick is in emphasizing certain things, de-emphasizing others. The red is added just because. There’s not enough red in the world so I’m doing my part.
Ballerina 4, Acrylic on Paper, 15×11
This line of dancers trailed off to the stage door but for me, these were enough. And even then, those in the background are just suggested. These paintings should have the look of having been easy to do. And in a sense they were…the first time, and maybe the second time, or the third.
I’ve also been doing a series of abstracts for this new gallery…just studies in color and design. We’ll feature those in some future e-gallery. Meantime, thanks for taking a look at this one. May your day be like the art: full of freedom, color, and even elegant movement.
Upcoming Events
In a week I’ll go to Paraguay, right in the middle of South America. The occasion is a number of commissions I’ll be painting for Su Rufugio, an extended complex to include an orphanage, a church, a feeding center, a sports complex and more. I’ve already done the first painting, shown here in miniature (click to enlarge). At 6 by 7.5 feet, it’s too big to ship. I’ll be hand-carrying it down on a bolt to stretch it on location. This trip is part for that, to present it publically, and do photography for future paintings.
7:45 am
I love the piece with the girl laying in the sand, still but lots of motion.
7:49 am
Wow! What a wake up call! Your work is truly inspiring! Time to kick it into high gear!
I am blessed!
8:11 am
Organic Beach seems to have a special element/ambience that keeps drawing me back to gaze at it. Perhaps because I love the beach… and volleyball! Another beach scene that is worthy of your talent. Blessings to you on your Paraguay adventure.
8:26 am
Hi Hyatt,
What wonderful work. Keep it going. Loved the descriptions. Sounds just like you. Brings back lots of wonderful conversations we had while at WBT.
We’ll be traveling all summer so if you could hold the emails, it would help.
Catch up with you in Sep. Luv, gw
8:26 am
Hyatt, Love the energy and loose work! The Color is bold and yet free. Thank you for the update. Steven
8:29 am
Ican’t wait to see what you are going to bring from down there. You will have plenty of subjects to paint!
Enjoy the journey!
8:35 am
Do you ever do workshops?I love your work
9:06 am
the girl in the sand is like an element of the landscape, I love it.
9:35 am
I especially like the “Parrilla Boy.” May the Lord bless your time in Paraguay!
9:43 am
You are now my best teacher since art school. With this latest display and the accompanied thoughts I feel like I have picked up more practical solutions than ever before.
Tony Joyce
11:03 am
Hyatt,
I enjoyed reading your comments regarding your paintings and thank you for posting your paintings.
Where do you buy your paint?
Donna
11:14 am
Hyatt,
You ooze creativity and inspiration. Thanks for sharig your thoughts and ideas. It truly is an imspiration to me to live a little “outside” the box and how to be daring and keep on trying new things and explore. If it doesn’t work -so what!
Keep on painting – you are doing GREAT!
11:46 am
Hyatt ~
Thanks for bringing this beautiful art into my day.
Have you ever sent any pics of your paintings to the Orange County Performing Arts? I think that the dancers would be of particular interest. Anne’s work would probably be well received, too.
I cant wait to see what comes of the trip to Paraguay!
Blessings & Godspeed on your return ~
Kris Patton
2:46 pm
Hyatt,
Your paintings are beautiful. Enjoy your trip to Paraguay and bring back more beautiful pictures. I like the little boy you are taking to South America. Be back in time for your Mom and Dad’s anniversary.
Becky
3:00 pm
Love Organic Sand!
10:27 am
Always a surprise, and always a joy to see your latest!
Thank-you!
10:35 am
thank you HYatt, for continueing to send me your progress with your beautiful and inspiring art works ….foreve yours as artists network their lives as parners in crime to embelish our blessins to city dwellers our gifts of art. allow all the paints to flow through you as i learned alot from you since San Clemente and still like the artistic life and over view. I’m hoping soon you can view my website. Thanks again with love and sincerety and Yeshuashelp J.C.’s hands… Eileen
12:10 am
Hyatt and Anne,
Wow..it was refreshing to see your prolific work Hyatt,with the same freshness and verve. With the dancers, Degas came immediately to mind. After 5 years in Germany at Black Forest Academy and travels to the Louvre, Musee de Orsay along with Venice and Rome, I came back to Sydney Australia, an educated man..it took a while.
Anne’s studio along with her evocative and poetic work is captivating. I would love to come for a workshop..pity we are so far apart.
Somehow I felt like i had connected with you both again.
Shalom,
John