Sketching to music, Gandalf Murphy and the The Slambovian Circus of Dreams

Theatrical lighting and good live music often move me to let go and attempt to capture the musician's movement and energy. I really enjoyed Saturday night sketching madly and listening to Gandalf Murphy & the Grand Slambovian Band at the Kate theather in Old Saybrook CT. I totally lost myself drawing in rhythm to their wonderful music. I highly recomend hearing and seeing this band, especially live. Listen to the band's music at either of the following sites.

http://www.slambovia.com/

http://official-slambovia.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-audio-players-from-grooveshark.html

Blue Dog

15" x 13" Monotype Print

Sometimes I like to let go and just paint quickly on the printing plate. I use a variety of materials for my plates - usually acrylic or copper - with Akua brand water based intaglio inks. Akua's intaglio inks are nontoxic and thicker than regular inks; I enjoy using them to create monotype prints. On the other hand, the material I use for the plate usually doesn't matter to the process for me.

This Great Dane symbolizes spring energy to me on two levels.  There is the obvious visual energy of the dog's pose and movement; but also the speed at which I created the print.

Marina Door/New London

8" x 8"

Doors are very interesting to me; they seem to reappear as focal points in my paintings. Closed they offer interesting possibilities and questions as to what is behind them and where do they lead to? Also, the closed door becomes a canvas for light and cast shadows to create interesting patterns.

Braking Horse

8" x 8"oil on panel

Enjoyed finding simple shapes and playing with the paint on this one. When I did this painting, I had been looking at art works by Fritz Scholder and Richard Diebenkorn.

To see some of Scholder's work go to: http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/scholder/introduction.html and to see one of Diebenkorn's paintings go to the link below (scroll down about 3/4's of the way on page)

http://www.wildenstein.com/exhibits/noma/noma.html

Musical Sketches

Pen and Ink

Had an enjoyable night sketching and listening to the Rivergods and Black Marmot at the Bank St Cafe in New London, Friday evening. Both bands consisted of really good musicians and I found it exciting and relaxing to sketch and listen. It is definitely a challenge to draw quickly and get the gesture of the person performing.

You can check out both bands at their websites:

www.therivergods.com/

http://blackmarmotband.com/