Blog

Warner Hornsby

7/28/2011 9:39:19 AM

Presidents of these United States throughout the years have appreciated this Republic's natural beauty and sought to preserve same.  Smith Lake in the Free State of Winston County, Alabama is a perfect example. 

I love painting at Smith Lake and am always amazed when I look up from a canvas to see at least 20 folks milling around throughout our cabin.  One of my favorite visitors is Warner Hornsby.

Warner has a keen eye for good painting.  His youthful 20+ years bely a deeper soul.  He has walked through the screen door and made a simple comment on more than one of my paintings; a comment which invariably makes the painting better if I choose to listen.  And listen I do.

The painting I have entitled Warner's Boat, appropriately so, was one of those paintings that was missing something as I closed in on the end of the day.  Warner sauntered by and said he'd like to see a thicker sail and more shadowing and lighting on the boat itself. 

I later saw Warner standing in front of the canvas smiling; he said he'd like to be sailing on that boat.

Bicycles

7/27/2011 6:23:05 PM

Webster's Learner's Dictionary defines a bicycle as "a 2-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing on foot pedals".  It makes me happy just typing those words!  It should be no surprise, then, that painting bicycles brings me great joy.

The Yellow Bicycle reflected on the home page of my website, made public with this blog, is a small painting, only 8 x 8. Painted from a photograph with clarity of angles, light, creativity and movement, the Yellow Bicycle seems poised to ride.  I thank Cary Baker, fellow artist, for granting me permission to paint from her photograph.

George Sarris, entrepreneur worldwide in successful restaurants, importing olive oil, acquiring the freshest, best seafood for our area and beyond, also has a catering business named The Yellow Bicycle.  It is with George in mind that I painted The Yellow Bicycle.