It is quite an honor to be included in this year's Spring/Summer 2015 issue of Premiere Magazine, the Orange County Magazine's supplemental issue highlighting the visual and performing arts. Thank you to Liz Goldner, writer of this article and author of the Contemporary Art Dialogue blog.
I am indebted to my friends Bill Theis and Claudia Theis for putting this video together.
I was the first Sunday morning demonstrating artist at the Festival of Arts, and rather than choose something "easy" (for example, as my friend Suzanne suggested..."how about a bowl and two lemons?"), I opted to go full bore with a fairly elaborate still life and rather poor over light. I was determined to give viewers the full experience of painting a still life that had all the elements of a beautiful composition: balance, rhythm, and harmony. The sky was somewhat overcast that day and the surrounding roof and walls of the structure lent a bit of a somber note to the scene....not my usual inspiration. But when I get to finishing this painting, I hope what emerges is a sense not of somber, but perhaps of quiet peace.
So many, many thanks to dear Claudia and Bill! You're the best!
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I "saw" this painting in my head--after seeing an iphone photo of her holding her bow and arrow at the ready--about 6 months before I started it, beginning with having her pose outside in a beautiful southern California hillside setting with all of her archery gear.
And then there was an additional study, painting the surrounding vegetation when the "post spring rain" green had diminished a bit to the more usual color.
This painting summarizes an ideal, but one that is achievable: This young girl is strong, unselfconscious, feminine in her skirt, practical in her boots, focused, and determined.
She is a real "girly girl".
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