The highs and lows of creating a new series of work

The last month I have been working on a new series of forms that have a ribbon effect. I create each form and carve the bends one at a time so that the highs and lows vary in the right location on each. I am particularly interested in the profile of these forms where the high and low curves create this motion of riding a wave. Speaking of riding a wave, this is how I feel when creating most works. There are these moments of inspiration and ah ha's that create an emotional high. Then there are the low moments when you can't seem to make a decision or you question the entire piece. I can't speak for other artist, but I willing to quess that this emotional roller coaster is common to most creative processes. Sometimes pieces just flow together nicely and other times you just want to chuck them out the studio window. So far on this new series, I have decided that they are keepers. Often I have to remind myself, the struggle is all part of the journey.

Two new wall sculptures are born!

Moving on to more pieces for the to Expand show that will be at the
Madden Museum in November. These are paper templates that will be traced on wood panels. My head is spinning with so many new ideas. I only hope that I will be able to create all of them!

The horizontal piece will be 25" x 82".
The vertical piece will be 94" x 33"

Each piece will be built, carved and painted. These pieces can be interpreted as layers of stratification, tall blades of grass, or simply organic abstract lines. The color and gentle curves are the key to success with these pieces. I am currently building pieces. Hopefully painting will start happen soon! Probably not for another few weeks. I will start painting on my River Runs Through It piece. Then move on to these. I have my work cut out for me!
These pieces are a new concept and I am so excited to bring them to life.

Watching the Waves

This is a new piece I am working on for the Madden Museum Exhibit, To Expand, opening this November.  I know you are thinking working already for an exhibit 7 months away... indeed.
I have big plans to expand, stretch, push myself to create some new sculptures and wall reliefs that will hit it out of the ballpark! I've started with the smallest piece to get the wheels turning. This piece consists of 4 panels each is 48" x  12". The inspiration comes from waves of water and a winding river. Cropped into closely from a bird's eye view, the waves of the river wind through all four panels. I like to juxtapose the wave patterns against each other creating constant motion. The river will appear flowing as I begin to paint.

Creating new work for an upcoming show

I have started working on an upcoming show that will be at the Madden Museum of Art in November 2012. This piece was inspired by a close up detail image of one of my leaf sculptures. I am taking the shapes of the veins of a leaf, enlarging them to 36" high, and transforming them into abstract wavy blades. First I cut them out of varying depths of poplar wood. Then I sanded the sides. Next I will make all the background pieces to fit beneath. I will keep all the pieces and parts separate so that I can carve and paint each one individually. This will be a very long and involved process.  I am currently working on more than one piece. This will surely take me months to complete!

New Leaf series

Inspired by yet another form from nature, I created these 3 large leaf abstracts.
They can be interpreted as other objects as well. Which is the reaction I enjoy the most.
Having the viewer decide what they are. What else can they be?

First Day of Fall

Today is the first day of fall. It's cloudy and cool. While I miss the warmth I truly welcome winter.
I am working on another piece in the Tree Ring Series. I am using fall colors, I just noticed.
The Tree Rings series will be showing again at the Space Gallery on 765 Santa Fe Drive in Denver
through the month of October. I am looking forward to the opening on Oct. 2nd because it is first Friday and the gallery should be packed. It is a contemporary gallery with great energy. I'm upstairs in a smallest space along with 4 other painters. I am also carving away on a 7ft. totem.
I have been wanting to try a new finishing process and now is the time! Set a few goals for 2009 and trying new processes was one. Time is ticking towards the end of the year so I'm getting after it!

It's Show Time!

Hard to believe that it's time for my show at the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder. After six months of preparing I will have 5 new pieces. I used a new process on the piece called Drip Drop 2. My drawings where put into a CAD program then routed out on a CNC machine. It was a long process to get it right but the end result was well worth it. This is a group show called Enso the Circle. The other three artist are all amazing painters. My work deals with circle patterns in nature. I have not shown in Boulder so I am excited about the opportunity. I really feel good about this new series. Also I've open the door to a new direction with the CNC machine process. Now I'm on to create totems for a new gallery in Carbondale, Colorado. It's been a busy and productive summer so far. Looking forward to taking a few days off for hiking and biking soon!