"Grand Canyon"

"Grand Canyon"  23" x 30"  Oil on Hardwood

I'm currently painting some new pieces that I'll post soon. In the meantime, here is a painting I finished some time ago. It's a palette knife surface with lots of movement and there's that bold color selection again!  

You know that "to do list" of places you have to visit before you die. Well, the Grand Canyon was on my list. So, check. That's done!  Hummm, next trip on the list, Alaska!

"Gallup Park - Plein Air Sketch"

"Gallup Park - Plein Air Sketch,"   11" x 14"   Oil on Hardwood

I'm not a great photographer, but I try. Above is one of my photographic attempts. I can't keep asking my daughter Jill, 

a professional photographer with Up the Hill Photography 

to keep taking photos for me. (Check out her fabulous photos in her website and blog.) Taking photos of oil paintings can be a bit tricky especially the paintings that have been vanished with a glossy finish. Don't even attempt to use a flash. The varnish reflects the light and turns the photo white. I've been taking snaps using subdued light from two and three different angles without the camera flash engaged. It works fairly well, but I'm always concerned about the color and clarity of the snap. I use a digital camera. Once uploaded, the camera colors are converted to the color configuration on the computer screen. So as you can imagine, many factors contribute to the final look. I'm getting better with every photo I take, but some days, it helps to have a great photographer in the family!

"Beach Girl with Hat"

 "Beach Girl with Hat"  

24" x 30"   Oil on Canvas

Starting July 1st, Oakwood Hospital's Southshore Gallery in Dearborn, is displaying my paintings for two months. There are a variety of pieces including a few landscapes, portraits and some abstractions. The common threads that run through my artwork are color & surface. I use color to express emotion and I apply paint to the surface to express energy. When these threads are pulled together, my canvas becomes a playground for expression. "Beach Girl with Hat" is one of those paintings that the color really makes me smile. I hope my artwork makes patients & visitors to the hospital smile too.

Silent Auction of "Water Lilies on the Pond"

ESD's Silent Auction

If you remember my last blog post, I donated a painting for a silent auction to benefit the wonderful organization of the Engineering Society of Detroit. They had a fabulous turnout at their Annual Meeting and my painting sold to a terrific lady!  As you can see in the photo, the ESD really highlighted my work. It's like... 20 ft. high!  Wow!  I'm honored by their awesome promotion of this painting and I want to thank Jennifer, Darlene, Tim, Dave, Della, Cathy, Ron, Linda, Brenda, Todd, Fran, Jim and Leslie who supported my contribution. 

"Water Lilies on the Pond"

"Water Lilies on the Pond"  

13.25" x 13.25" framed Palette Knife Oil Painting on Hardwood

I donated this painting to be auctioned off next week at the Annual Meeting of the Engineering Society of Detroit (Wed., June 23rd.)  I'm happy to support an organization that has been prominent in the community for 115 years. The ESD promotes excellence in the engineering community throughout Michigan. Professional engineers and future engineers benefit from classes, competitions (like Future City), mentorships, scholarships and awards, as well as fellowship for engineers & their families, like me. I'm delighted to contribute this painting for auction to this fine organization! 

If you're interested in placing a bid on this painting, contact Jennifer Curtis Pearson at 248-353-0735 at the Engineering Society of Detroit before next Wednesday!  

"Drop Earring"

"Drop Earring"     24" x 36"   oil on canvas

Some days the painting process just flows. Drop Earring was 

one of those paintings. It was fun, it was fast, it is over, 

don't touch it again, don't dwell on it, don't look back, 

just sign it, you're done, move on.  Now where's my next canvas? 

"Chloe"

"Chloe"  12" x 12"  Oil on Hardboard

This great dog is Chloe. She has a fantastic personality! So lovable and sweet. Chloe is getting up in the years and she struggles with all those conditions of old age. Through it all, she always has a friendly greeting for me when I see her. Every time I paint a Golden Retriever, I think of Chloe. I painted this some time ago and thought I'd share her. 

Help, the Clutter is Winning!

Right now, organization is a big problem in my painting space. So today is clean-up day. I like room to step back from my work and it's difficult when painting supplies and canvases demand space. My biggest issue is finding a place for my work to dry. Presently, I hang or lean them on walls, but I'm running out of wall space. To add to this concern, I'm constantly worried the kittens will get into the space and reck havoc with the work on the floor. Yesterday, I found a wire shelving unit and bought it. The shelves are deep and airy to let air circulate around the paintings. I'm going to construct a few separators on each shelf to help stand up my work. This I believe should help ease the clutter or just tidy-up enough so one could invite their Mother to enter without being scolded!

"Golden Retriever"

"Golden Retriever"   12" x 12"   Oil on Hardboard

I created this painting because of the encouragement 

of a few Golden Retriever lovers. I think they're a wonderful breed. I haven't met one I didn't like!  I 

think I'm going to paint portraits of all the dogs in the neighborhood. There's a Great Dane named Penny across the street I'm dying to capture on canvas. 

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, 

contact Dawn Sgriccia at dsgric@sbcglobal.net.

Work in progress - Golden Retriever

Trying a new approach isn't always easy. I've been wanting to try another textural style in my work. I really like paint strokes that are visible. I'm using a small brush on this dog. It conveys the multi directions of the fur very nicely. Frank Stella, known as a movie star in the art world, once said, "Everyone knows that the future belongs to surface and color." I think this surface application is interesting & fun.  It should be finished tomorrow.   This 12" x 12", oil on hardboard painting needs a title. Still working on that.

Alumni Show 2010

Rooftops - Houses of Ann Arbor   28" x 22"  Oil on Canvas    

It's time to start thinking about art fairs, funnel cakes and tall lemonades! The Ann Arbor Art Fair is the 3rd week in July. To coincide with the fair, the University of Michigan School of Art & Design has planned an exhibit called, "Interstices, the Spaces Between," the 4th Annual Alumni Show 2010. There has been a huge response from alumni, so the artwork will be at two galleries, Jean Paul Slusser Gallery & WORK Gallery. For more details click on Alumni Show 2010 here. It runs July 16th thru August 6th.

For this show, I dropped off a painting I'm really fond of, Rooftops - Houses of Ann Arbor. I painted this work from the top of a parking structure on Thompson Street. I opened the tailgate of my van and painted the scene. Included are the U of M blue & gold parking signs in the lower left side of the painting. I entered this work for two reasons. First, I believe this scene matches the theme of the show, Interstices. As you'd expect from Victorian Style houses built in the early 20th century, the spaces between the houses are compact, yet charming. And second, the houses are on Division Street near Blimpie Burgers. A well known favorite landmark of students & alumni, great burgers. I hope you can see this show. It promises to be a good one!

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, contact Dawn Sgriccia at dsgric@sbcglobal.net.

New York City

Times Square

I haven't posted anything the last few days because I've been in the Big Apple! New York City baby!  I saw two fantastic shows, "Billy Elliot" and "American Idiot." Loved them both. 

The museums were wonderful, especially The Museum of Art & Design. The featured exhibition was "Dead or Alive."  It was really cool; a "must see."  Inspiration was everywhere. I'll have Ground Zero, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, F.A.O. Schwarz, Times Square, The MET, MOMA, Guggenheim, MAD (Museum of Art & Design), Natural History Museum, and two terrific Broadway Shows on my mind for some time. : )

Well, I'm back and painting in full force again. I'll have some finished paintings to post soon. Several are in different stages of drying. As soon as they're ready to share, I'll post them. 

Ocean Blue in progress

Ocean Blue in progress
9" x 12"  Oil on Canvas Board

I thought I'd share a painting I started when I was at the shore gazing onto the waves. Now that I'm back in the studio, I don't know where this painting will go next. The choppy waves are lush with paint, but of course, it needs something more. I've considered taking this canvas back to the beach to work out it's direction, but I've also thought about a surreal approach. Maybe create a vision that's fantasy & fiction. I've often thought an unexpected element would create a humorous response. I think I'll put this painting aside for a bit before I place brush to canvas again. What direction would you like to see this painting go?  How would you like it to progress?  Send your ideas (and your thoughts on a title) to Dawn Sgriccia at dsgric@sbcglobal.net. Your suggestion may light the spark to help me finish this painting!