Beauty in the mundane

Some of my most favorite paintings are those of (to most people) seemingly boring subject matter. Compare one of Sargent's masterful portraits to a painting he did in his hotel room. There is an honesty that you just don't get from his portraiture. Maybe that's why he said "...no more portraits". I believe the mundane things have the most story and mystery. They make me feel as if I was there in that moment. It's similar to what animators say about acting, the hardest part is the quiet subtle moments of emotion, not the big action sequence.

Here is my mundane moment. Acrylic 6x8 sketchbook

Trying to find your place

I have been on this artistic journey ever since I hit school, well I guess it started along time ago, maybe it was the self-portrait from 1st grade or the drawing of my cat or it could have been the comicbooks. Regardless I have been struggling to find a place to squeeze myself into. A place that I can commit to for a career in the arts. I am so torn about what to give my main focus to. I love painting tremedously, but I know I can't resist the call of awesome graphic novels and cool cartoons. I feel like I need it all to be fulfilled. That's the dilemma though. The catch 22.

How can you become of a master of anything if you are so torn between your interests? I've sometimes wished I could be one of those guys who just knows what he wants and sticks to it, but then I'd be missing out on all the other wonderful art and ideas out there.

Anyone have an opinion?

Plein Air

I have to thank Julia for some awesome shots from a painting session this past Febuary. Brian and I were freezing our tails off up in the hills of Palo Alto. The clouds were difficult to contend with as they changed the light on the landscape so I had to stick with an earlier decision and hope that I could pull it off. That is the joy and pain of Plein Air. You are capturing a fleeting moment of light, color and shape. 9x12 oil on masonite.