Skull II

You will likely see this skull in other paintings because I love it so much. It lay partially buried in red Oklahoma clay for a long time and there is still clay packed in its nooks and cranies. The staining from the soil as well as weathering have given this skull a sense of time long past and a mysterious, almost spiritual aura. The staining along with all the internal folds and slopes make it difficult to paint the subtle changes of color. The internal shadows change the color ever so slightly, requiring a new mix of paint.

Yesterday's pelvis and today's skull relate to my earlier postings of red fruits on red backgrounds. I really enjoy trying to blend the object into the background at the right point so that the differentiation almost - but not quite - disappears. I'm curious now to paint a white skull on a bright or dark background to learn how that affects the way I see and apply color.

This painting is oil on a 16x20 linen canvas.

Horse Pelvis

It has been far too long since I have blogged - and painted - but I'm now getting back to work. The June-July show at the Performing Arts Center at The Depot was wonderful and the sales were most gratifying. I apparently had not posted all the paintings I thought I had before the show so will play catch up for a few days.

Bones have always had a special attraction and interest for me and my favorite bones tend to be pelvises. I think in part this has to do with their kachina mask-like structure as well as the beautiful curves that create the harmonious whole. I also love the subtle color variations in the material itself as well as those created by cast shadows.

It is always tempting to paint the pelvis as a symmetrical form, but it never is. As you can see in this painting and in the skull I will post in a day or two, the two sides are not the same. Just like our faces, each side has its own distinctions. The wear and tear of weathering on the bones contributes to this. Human actions also come into play and I have borrowed a cow's skull which is oddly asymmetrical due to an uneven dehorning process. I will start working on that painting in a few weeks and will post it when complete.

Meanwhile, this painting and the next few I post were part of The Depot show. I hope you enjoy them. I certainly loved painting them.

This oil painting is on a 20x20 linen canvas.