It’s been a productive month. After a number of “westerns” and “Idaho landscapes” the month before, many of the paintings of May went in an abstract or semi-abstract direction.

First, Strata of Promise, acrylic on canvas, 60×41, here pinned to a wall.  Eventually it’ll be stretched, frame optional.

Man of Mystery, acrylic on paper, 20×14. Works on paper can be every bit as enjoyable as traditional canvas. This one was a straight abstract then received an outline silhouette birthing a figure.

This one started out along the same lines as Man of Mystery, above.  As I looked at it, a face suggested itself, very subtle, but enough for me to bring it out.

If you compare the two you see just touches of where the face came from, a hint of lips, forehead locks and side, maybe a neck and shoulders. In any case, she’s complete now, or as complete as she’s going to get. Grace and Peace, acrylic on paper, 22×14.

Here is stage 2 of an underpainting. Actually I kind of liked it as it was, but I had other plans. What you can’t see is rows of alphabetic letters “painted” in with rubber cement over the dry paint. Then I added another layer of paint and, once it was dry, rubbed out the rubber cement.

Here’s the result. Symbolic Meaning, acrylic on canvas, 60×42. I’m happy to confess the original concept for this painting came from one of Anne’s works. I’ve often thought her pieces would look great really big, but there’s no press this size, and painting is an altogether different process from printmaking. Still, I’m happy with the result. And so is she.

A detail. The “alphabet,” of course, is completely made up, by Anne.  I merely copied.  I suppose in this regard, it’s another collaboration. I’m happy with that, too.

. This one started out as a purely abstract painting. That’s how I left it one evening; but the morning brought new ideas. That’s when the girl walked in and changed everything. Probably something pretty symbolic about that, too.  Into the Now, acrylic and oil, 58×40

This, just to greet you and to show the relative size of some of these pieces, still affixed to the studio wall.

Thanks for checking out the paintings; it’s a pleasure sharing them with you.