From painting

You Never Know Unless You Try

24 x 20 / oil on canvas / 2008
24 x 20 / oil on canvas / 2008

There’s no shortage of those stories of people who wanted to do something other than what they are doing, or did for the entire life, like writing a novel, learning to play an instrument, traveling, etc. So many things complicate life, preventing dreams from taking shape. Responsibilities, people and events all put the kibosh on passions. Subscribing to the simple philosophy of “just do it” seems almost terrifyingly simple, so brazen and lacking foresight. It’s as if people are happier if things are really complicated because that complication can help squelch the little voice in your head that reminds you that you once had dreams.

Profile of a Typewriter

24 x 30 / oil on canvas / 2008
24 x 30 / oil on canvas / 2008

This is a big departure from pears. Much more complicated, but a blast to paint. It’s an Underwood #5. Gigantic and heavy. My wife found if for me at an estate sale. It’s useless and entirely broken, but you can’t tell in painted form.

I once came across a piece of computer software designed for writers that has the intention of trying to somehow eliminate the plethora of distractions the computer offers. The idea is that if you’re a writer, sitting down to get some work done can be difficult when everything in the world seems like an easy double-click away.

Once upon a time writers had only either a pen and paper or a simple typewriter. A blank page was a blank page. Judging by the way things are now, it would appear we’re losing our ability to focus. Sitting in front of a blank page with no browser icon to double-click would have required tremendous focus.

Victor No.2

30 x 30 / oil on canvas / 2008
30 x 30 / oil on canvas / 2008

This is a recent commission I completed. I did a similar piece a few months ago, but this big difference is the light source. This has a crisp bright light which makes for an interesting shadow. With such a dominant shape as the horn, I was wondering how it would turn out. Hmm, I guess I’m pretty happy with it.

9:10, Vintage Clock & Antique Book

053_stott
20 x 20 / oil on canvas / 2008

I’ve been doing several small studies with these clocks over the past few months. This past week was spent working up, larger on this and another piece. A few years ago I contemplated a career in graphic design. I spent time admiring typefaces and layout. Hence, the obsession with the clocks. It’s the numbers that really do it for me. That and the golden edge of the book.

Three Espresso Cups and a Spoon

16 x 24 / oil on canvas / 2008
16 x 24 / oil on canvas / 2008

It’s only the beginning of September and I’m already looking forward to next summer. Perhaps I’ve been stuck in the studio for too many consecutive days. It’s my favorite place to be, but you have to stick your head outdoors every now and then. The past few active months have temporarily erased that “hermit” feeling I’m prone to. Perhaps that’s an occupational hazard. I imagine writers experience the same thing. Just the quiet solitude of the work. The funny thing is as soon as there’s too much activity, noise, chaos, the quiet retreat of the studio is what I long for. I guess balance is the key. Right now I’m completely lopsided.

Two Vintage Clocks

 

05
8 x 8 / oil on canvas / 2008

As I complete one painting, I wonder what it would look like in a oh-so-slightly different composition. I turned the clocks away form each other. There’s some sort of subtle message in this composition, but I can’t figure it out. I’ll leave it open to interpretation.