Scribbles and sketches

Table sketch

2012-02-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

Collage with Clara

2012-01-31T12:59:00.000-08:00

I wanted to get away from mark making with media and introduce Clara to collage. The materials in this piece were simple. Torn tissue paper, wax paper, glue stick and black pastel paper. I assisted with the glueing a bit, but she tore the pieces and did the arranging herself. It's a simple an inexpensive way of crreating art with your child.

At the car dealership

2012-01-24T12:42:00.000-08:00

I was glad I bought along my sketchbook last Saturday. It can be interesting people watching and when you are sketching them the time goes by quickly.

Clara's art

2012-01-20T13:01:00.000-08:00

Finally! An artist that doesn't take her work so seriously! I don't give her direction (besides lets draw which she usually says no! )and always leave out a sketchbook and oil pastels, markers, and slix sticks.

At the table

2012-01-18T21:07:00.000-08:00

Clara interacting with the Ipad so I can sketch the moment.

From the Sketchbook

2012-01-16T19:49:00.000-08:00

Clara Art : Purple Princess

2012-01-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

Clara is starting to name her scribbles or describe objects within her work. This piece is named "Purple Princess".

2012-01-06T21:26:00.000-08:00

The bouncer is an old memory now that Calem is crawling everywhere and was a great help in keep Calem entertained while trying to do a house chore, task or chasing Clara.

From the Sketchbook

2011-12-31T20:21:00.000-08:00

Here's my New Years post. This sketch isn't necessarily one of my best, but it is one that is succesful in conveying an emotion of particular moment. Last September Helen was placed on strict bedrest due to some pregnancy complications. It was a trying time for our family. We had just moved to D.C. from Baltimore where Helen began a new job, but with the pregnancy complication had to be on bedrest. Her income ceased and what disability payments she did receive paid for our health insurance. We had to take our house in Baltimore off the challenging real estate market while living with Helen's parents. The constant uncertainity of the health of the baby weighed on our minds. Fortunately we were able to welcome a healthy son into the world on New Years Eve day.

What I like about this drawing is that it reveals a sense of struggle and despair Helen felt being on that couch. She lost her independence and was dependent on others. She could only get up to go to the bathroom. The drawing doesn't sugar coat the feeling of discouragement.

From the Sketchbook: Vegan Apple Pie

2011-12-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

Our good friends from New York City left Monday after staying with us for few days. We shared laughs, stories, and watched our children interact with each other. It made the holiday special. And more unique is our good friend Cynthia happens to be a vegan and wonderful cook. They left some food items behind for our enjoyment particularly a vegan apple pie which is in the drawing above. More and more I'm finding table arrangements interesting to observe. They change frequently and reveal details about the people that put the food on the table. It's almost a portrait of sorts, I guess.

Cynthia's website can be found at Pure Vivante

From the Sketchbook

2011-12-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

I like how the line of the light shape in the right corner melts into the recling chair. I managed to get Peeky into this sketch on the furniture.

From the Sketchbook

2011-12-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

Calem days in the bouncer are over but this sketch from las September brings the memory alive.

Clara Art : Fire and Ice

2011-12-08T18:57:00.000-08:00

2 pieces by Clara using Crayola Slick Stix by Crayola on paper. (11_8_11_ I titled them Fire and Ice.

From the sketch book: Calem and Clara 9-15-2011

2011-12-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

I usually manage a drawing of the kids interacting right before nap time, which is usually right after lunch. Clara likes to call this playtime, and its a been a routine we try to visit each day. (Pen an ink on 6 x 9 paper drawn from life)

From the Sketchbook

2011-11-29T20:59:00.000-08:00

Our dog Picaso, loves being in the backyard barking at the stray cats.

Clara drawings

2011-11-21T12:34:00.000-08:00

I really love these 2 drawings by Clara. They were completed back in June when Clara was 29 months. The unique color palette, and freedom of mark is vsually treating. A link of more of her work is here

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos?hl=en&tab=wq#photos/111928261320349397647/albums/5567449780329495729

Giraffe painting

2011-11-20T18:51:00.000-08:00

This piece was submitted to my daughters preschool silent auction and fundraiser. The painting was well received.

From the Sketchbook

2011-11-11T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is a 5 minute sketch where I was in a rush to get Calem out the door and pick up Clara from preschool. When I saw him sleeping I had to stop for a moment, reach for a pen, and forget about getting out the door.

Clara drawing

2011-11-07T10:45:00.001-08:00

Here's a drawing Clara did today. I always leave colors out and accessible to her when she feels inspired to make marks in her sketch book. Clara used Crayola brand Slick Stix which is similiar to oil pastels and has a soft feel like lipstick when applying the medium to a ground.

From the sketchbook: Mommy Giraffe

2011-10-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Our involvement of school fundraising activities is upon us. Clara's preschool is having an auction and Bazaar, and asking parents to donate time to sit at the Bazaar or contribute items such as baked goods. I've offered to submit a 18 x 36 inch Giraffe and mother painting for the auction. This is a concept sketch. I don't know that I want to paint it, I like the sketch but anywho I like it when I can offer my creative talents to avoid being somewhere in person. The painting will fit well into someones nursery or childs room.

From the Sketchbook

2011-10-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

We try to get the kids to bed by 8:00 pm but sometimes it pushes 9:00 pm before I walk downstairs and begin cleaning up the aftermath of mess from the day. Its can be daunting after a day of caring for two little ones. The clutter in our lives like dishes about can offer intriguing relationships of line and space if we take a moment to stop, observe, and record.

Oncoming

2011-10-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

Here's an old illustration piece a found on a CD from a college project when I lived in Ames, Iowa. This image was around the east end of town near the business district. I remember how these tracks divided this part of town in half and it was sometimes a long wait to cross if the train rolled through.

From the Sketchbook

2011-10-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

I like this drawing a lot. The shapes start to become abstract wih line work that doesn't seem too forced.

From the Sketchbook

2011-10-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

From the Sketchbook : Two at Lunch

2011-10-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

Calem and Clara eating lunch - I'm happy with this sketch/contour drawing. The challenge is always
seeing the scene, forming the image in your mind, and getting down the marks down on paper in an efficient manner. The scene does not stay static with a toddler and an infant so you have to work fast.

From the Sketchbook : Clara and the diaper bag

2011-09-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

Clara loves to to raid her diaper bag contents and find the nearest stuffed animal toy or doll
to practice diaper changes. The problem is Helen and I can't often find the needed contents like wipes, diapers, and A&D ointment when we most need them.

From the Sketchbook : Calem in playpen

2011-09-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

Another drawing with continuous and blind contour.

From the sketch: Clara at the piano book

2011-09-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

Often I want to rework a sketch thinking the marks missed or don't look right, especially this sketch of Clara. But sometimes a drawing is more honest when the lines are left where you can see the artist struggle with the form. Rarely do you get the right shape on the first try.

From the sketch book: Mom and Calem

2011-09-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

We've been having a lot of sleep issues with Calem. He just always seems to want a warm body nearby - often Mom to sleep rather than his own crib.

Clara at desk

2011-09-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

Clara watches Dora the Explorer at least once a day at the computer.

From the sketchbook - no power

2011-09-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

This sketch was done during a moment of the day after hurricane Irene had passed and much of the neighborhood including ourselves were without power. This drawing employs a blind and continious contour line method, where part of the drawing you are looking at the paper and the other part of following the edge of the form witout looking at the paper.

Peeky on the recliner

2011-09-08T21:07:00.000-07:00

More modified and blind contour line work and catching the dog sleeping away on the recliner instead of his crate.

Clara in play kitchen

2011-09-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

This drawing is from a month ago, pen and ink 6 x 8 inches. I'm evolving my pen and ink line and this represents the old loose style. Drawing quickly is the name of the game as scenes like this with toddlers change quickly.

Solar prints

2011-08-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

I was at the Baltimore Art museum last weekend with Clara, and in the gift shop came across solar print paper which I thought would make a great activity to do. So yesterday Clara and I went outside and collected few objects and exposed them producing this image.

Here are the items we collected in the yard.

Clara's art

2011-06-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

I've been having fun making art with Clara. Here is an online gallery documenting our work. More to come.

https://picasaweb.google.com/jjwoodee/ClaraSArt#

From the sketchbook

2011-04-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

Calem in his bouncer, 5 minute sketch charcoal pencil on paper

From the sketchbook

2011-03-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

A quick 2 minute sketch of Calem in his favorite place - the bouncer.

A Diptych

2011-03-11T13:22:00.000-08:00

Japanese Pot with Silene or "None so Pretty"(left)

Japanese Pot with Cosmos (right)

I completed these paintings a couple of years ago as part of my painting everyday challenge completing a 100 small 5 x 7 acrylic paintings. This object happens to be a Japanese sake pot that I purchased when I was in Japan in 2000. These paintings when viewed side by side make a great diptych. The painting 'Japanese Pot with Cosmos' was painted in the natural daylight, the other Japanese Pot with Silene was painted ina black box with a light source.

These days with caring for Calem and Clara both I don't have a lot of time to mix and apply color to canvas.

Clara's first finger painting

2011-03-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

Here is Clara's first finger painting at 23 months. During our earlier painting sessions with the paint brush I discouraged her from touching the paint. So when I initially got out the finger paints and explained to her that its OK to get this on your hand an make marks accordingly she was thrilled. I enjoy the balance of colors and marks in this piece. It has that great feeling of energy and enthusiasm that Clara brings each day.

From the sketchbook

2011-02-11T14:46:00.000-08:00

This sketch is from one of those late exhausting nights, where I force myself to draw. Sometimes I'm lucky and I do something that I consider a success but more often not. I like this drawing, although I could have been better about the sighting and have greater range of values. But this study is something that could springboard into the painting. I think leaving the face without detail adds interest and intrigue.

Clara's first official painting

2011-01-21T12:13:00.000-08:00

This is Clara's first official painting. I introduced Clara to painting with a brush last week.She was excited to try something new and to mix paint for the first time. It took some careful set up of my easel, dropcloth, and putting on Clara's paint shirt. I noticed the smell of the paints, a nontoxic crayola brand, took me immediately back to my elementary art classroom. It's amazing how the sense of smell can renew fond memories.

Mural, mural on the wall - almost finished

2011-01-03T22:17:00.000-08:00

Well our baby boy arrived on New's Eve day and I didn't quite get the mural finished to my entire liking. I will have to somehow find the time to complete the work.

Progress on the mural

2010-12-30T11:08:00.000-08:00

This is a "work in progress" shot taken last week. It's almost finished.

From the sketchbook

2010-12-20T11:33:00.000-08:00

The drawing on the left was completed the day after Helen was off and bedrest and was able to return to her old favorite activity - checking facebook or watching videos with Clara.

Mural, mural on the wall

2010-12-16T15:57:00.000-08:00

The drawing in laid out on the panels. Now time to paint it. Hopefully I can get this done before the baby boy arrives.

Monkey Mural design

2010-12-07T20:33:00.000-08:00

I have the design finished for the mural. I've included a panda (Clara's favorite animal and our dog Picaso.) Now I need to complete it before baby boy comes along. With my 20 month old and another, I don't know where I'll find the time for these endeavors.

Monkey Mural

2010-12-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

A few sketches from my mural. Our boy is on the way and will be born anytime now
so with the room all painted, I'm taking on a 60 x 60 inch panel to a closet as mural.

more right side, left side brain talk

2010-11-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

Here are two drawings of Clara, one using a blind contour method(upper left) the other an observed study( bottom right). It's interesting to note the contrast of styles.

Drawing on the right side of the brain

2010-11-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

I recently finished up a drawing class session with DC Sketchers. I enjoyed navigating the DC metro to different sites and drawing on location in areas like the National Botanical Gardens, Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery, Mt Pleasant, Pleasant farmers markets, and African American Heritage Museum.

Our instructor pushed blind contour, a method that encourages letting go of individual safe and established drawing techniques by drawing without looking at your paper and following contours of observed objects. I struggled with the lessons earlier on but by the final class I began to achieve some success. The 2 drawings in this post are a result.

A birthday Scribble

2010-10-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

My daughter, now 19 months doodled these marks on my birthday. I call it fire.

Helen on the phone

2010-09-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Helen is often on call by phone a few nights a week, following up on patients so her job follows her even at home. Her favorite spot, the couch or big comfy chair makes for a great sketching opportunity for us paparazzi

sketch artists.

More drawings from Clara

2010-07-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

Clara is getting more curious about Dad's drawings. She often grab my charcoal pencil while in the midst of the drawing and demand my sketchbook. She is becoming more adept at controlling the pencil, although it will still find a way to her mouth. Once she gets past the mouthing stage, we'll move onto making work in other media besides charcoal pencil and paper. It will be fun.

Here are 2 drawings I wanted to share and talk about their similarity to artist and abstract expressionist Franz Kline, May 23, 1910 – May 13, 1962. The first drawing is the full scale version, and the second is an enlarged portion, the area I consider the greatest amount of energy and tension within the piece.

2.

Kline, inspired by artist William De Kooning de Kooning used a picture enlarger to enhance his art and emphasize the mark making to a larger scale. An example:

Painting Number 2, 1954,
The Museum of Modern Art

Perhaps Kline is breaking down to the most elemental type of mark. Marks that are not preconceived or prejudiced to a particular style or genre. It is onlt a style or movement when the critics and public assigns them a style . Kline's and Clara's work allow a bit of randomness, freedom, and boldness that we as adults find so hard to achieve or find in our lives.

Helen sleeping by lamp

2010-06-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

My studio in the basement is slowly becoming filled and overtaken by empty cardboard boxes. My art supplies and still life objects will find these boxes their new homes for a few months stowed away in a storage unit. I have a lot of artwork to be packed crated in a few crates built by a master carpenter friend and artist in Seattle. These crates have proven their worth.

Anyhoo, this painting is of Helen sleeping after putting Clara to bed. These few hours of evening are full of quiet peace and contemplation from the labors of the day. Since we soon will be in a new location, moments like this will soon be a forgotten. However the the moments captured in the right sense on canvas are also the most memorable, and I found it important to paint this image.

Clara first drawing

2010-05-11T11:03:00.001-07:00

Clara created artwork for the first time, experimenting with some of Helen's crayola markers. As a father her first lines make me proud, and as an artist I look at the feeling and energy of the work. Jackson Pollock, No. 14 (Gray) comes to mind. Both pieces display a variety and flow of mark making with each line and dots expressing its own individual personality. Each has a similiar energy level.

Helen described Clara carefully making each dot, and mark. Let's face it, Clara is not Jackson Pollock, but the piece to me is a memory created through this work. I'm sure in the future we'll catch her now with marker in hand, playfully coloring our walls of the house. I better have some magic eraser and touch up paint on hand. Or better yet leave the marks, they add so much more life and character to our living space. After all isn't that what the cave famous paintings in Lascaux, France are all about?

Reaching sketches

2010-04-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here some gesture drawing done in ink. The main idea of gesture is to get the movement and feeling of the moment, not detail. Clara is not quite at the walking by herself stage but getting closer. She likes to reach for books, or anything that looks interesting.

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2010-04-07T12:13:00.003-07:00

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2010-04-07T12:13:00.001-07:00

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From the sketchbook: Clara almost walking

2010-03-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge)
Clara is not walking on her own yet, but getting closer. I managed do a quick sketch that I like today right before naptime. We just celebrated her first birthday and I'm beside myself when I think about the past year and how fast it has gone. I've been documenting her through sketches and photographs, which will be fun to look at in a few years.

Brutus at night

2010-03-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

This is thumbnail (value study) of our neighbors house across the street. This is at night, at the moment when most are getting ready to retire for the evening. Their dog, Brutus, a staffordshire terrier or commonly known as pitbull, would sit outside on the front porch. He appeared intimidating, but a sweet pooch at heart.

What I love about sketch is the sense of glowing light on the dog and illumination of from the artificial sources-windows and porch lights. The color scheme is reminiscent of an Ed Hopper featuring deep red and glowing yellow-greens. I have to work on that study next.

This scene is no longer, however as the family (they had their share of problems) have went their seperate ways while the house will soon be up for sale. I'm glad I did this study as it is a reminder of the scene I had wanted to paint for 3 years now, but more importantly how in life circumstances change faster than the weather.

From the sketchbook - nappy time

2010-02-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

I never realized how easy it is to keep drawing if you keep your drawing materials assessible and away from mouthing infants(at least in this stage of my artist's journey). :) Keep a sketch pad ( 4 x 6 inches) with pencil and sharpener on each level of the house or room and make it a practice to sketch something in 10 minutes or less. Here's a more successful sketch.

From the sketchbook: Hand, Hands and more hands

2010-02-03T12:11:00.000-08:00

I'm participating on this website with few artists and illustrators drawing a 100 hands in a week. Repitition, particulary in drawing, is great practice for understanding any subject matter.

From the Sketch book: Randoms of C

2010-01-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

Here are a few sketches of Clara at the high chair and sitting. She is using her body more and more to gesture and get around. When you are sketching a fast moving object such as Clara, you have to lay down marks and pull out the pose from memory. You do enough of these studies, and they get easier but you end up having a lot of bad sketches but I a few good ones will come along as well.

From the Sketchbook

2010-01-18T19:39:00.000-08:00

This sketch was completed on morning walk when the weather was nicer while Clara was napping in the stroller. When I'm out in public drawing, someone inevitably comes up to me to strike up a conversation " Are you an artist?" , "Are you a student at MICA?".

With this particular sketch one man came up to me to give me a bit of history about what I was drawing. Apparently this is an old water tower in restoration. There were other details the man offered but of course I can't remember the specifics. Next time I'll write them down. :) I often find going out sketching for something to draw will often attract the curious as well as the local historians.

From the Sketchbook - Clara and I at the easel

2009-12-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

This was a sketch I did holding Clara with a mirror nearby. I remember doing an earlier drawing of her and I at the easel but she was like 2 months old. Then, she was less fidgity in my arms and lighter in weight. With this sketch my arm got tired within 10 minutes or so and I had to put her down. Hopefully I captured feeling of this moment.

From the sketchbook

2009-11-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

A neighbor and I were attempting to coordinate a sketching session for her granddaughter last week. This was becoming especially difficult because Clara's schedule is not always consistent, Helen is not home until the evening and this sketch is a surprise for the neighbors daughter.

This particular Friday afternoon Clara had a longer nap and knowing the grandaughter was home, I called the grandmother. "Send her over,...I got mayber 1/ hour left on this nap." This is the result:

Clara Drawing

2009-11-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

Time flies, and I am reminded of this cliche when I see the last post to this blog. Anyways. I've been drawing and sketching daily. Anytime I manage to find a moment, I'm sketching something-usually Clara. I've realized that I have gotten along in my artistic life with average drawing skills, and its time to focus on getting better. Whatever that means but progress is slow and you only further your skill by practicing daily.

From the sketch book: Graveyard

2009-10-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

Although I did this sketch, I thought it would be appropriate to post today given that it is Halloween. We'll likely have about 500+ trick or treaters come by our house.

Great Halloween Lantern parade

2009-10-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

I'll have a booth in tomorrows Great Halloween Lantern parade near Patterson Park. Small object paintings, art cards, and originals will be on display and for sale.

Lantern Festival 3-9pm! Line-up 7pm, Parade & Show 7:30pm
w/ Live Music! Beer Garden! Hayrides!
Due to rain in the forecast it has been rescheduled to SUNDAY October 25th

Here's a link:

Parade

From the sketchbook

2009-09-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

Clara is getting better about sleeping. Her times for naps are more consistent, and she can sleep thru the night. For instance today, I placed her in her crib around noon. I went down to the fridge to get some milk only to come back upstairs to find her peacefully sleeping.

This sketch, however, reveals her movements before she falls asleep which sometimes isn't as rapid as it was today.

From the sketchbook

2009-09-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

I like the sense of form in the head, and was able to render only 1 arm due to Clara moving and awakening. But overall happy with the sketch...

Another Clara sketch

2009-09-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

I've done quite a few sketches of Clara, and they some get better but not where I want to be. For most artists it's hard to be ever satisfied with your work. One cool thing is through drawing any subject you gain a greater understanding and perception. You must maintain an open mind, and be ready to change your mark and viewpoint. Drawing is all about problem solving which translates to everything we do in life such as taking the resources around us and making something beautiful or functional. The greater your experience or open mindedness, the easier time you have solving life's problems.

Thawing breastmilk

2009-09-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

This is has been a common sight the last 6 months, warming breast milk. We know breastfeeding in the best choice for an infant. Although we occasionally supplement our daughters diet with formula, we both feel better about allowing nature to nuture Clara. It has been the easiest choice, as my wife balances her work with consistent requirement of pumping milk to keep up the supply. My morning routine after waking at 4:45 am to walk the dog is to grab a few bags from the freezer for the days supply of milk.

about 5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$80 to purchase, email jjwoodee@gmail.com
Paypal accepted

From the sketchbook

2009-08-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

Lately, it's been difficult finding the time to paint. So I've been drawing as much as possible. One of my sketchbooks I take along with me on my morning walks around the neighborhood. I've been using an ink pen that allows a loose mark.

New painting - Travel Trinkets

2009-08-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

I set up these momento items, an Indian Jewerly box with a bracelet. The box was bought from a persistant guide I had while in India. In India, you have to learn the art of haggle or as a foreigner you can be taken. Even simple items and trinkets can easily turn into tug of war like negotiation. These items are reminders of my adventure to that truly exotic country.

about 5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$80 to purchase, email jjwoodee@gmail.com
Paypal accepted

Practice with Blind contour drawings

2009-07-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

I've been reading "The Natural Way to Draw" by Nicolaides. The book is designed for both beginner and advanced drawing student or artist. A painter can never have enough drawing practice and this book is something I'm working on in between naps with Baby C. The first exercises "blind contour" is done by looking at the subject, finding and following the edge of the form by drawing slowly and meticulously with your drawing instrument. This is all done mind you WITHOUT looking a the paper. You gain a sensitivity to the edges of form while sharpening observation skills.

When I look at my work I'm fascinated with the varience and quality of line. Sure it may appear crude or childlike but the marks alone become a sensitive and interesting marks of expressions. I've joked by showing these to a few relatives stating, "Hey look what baby C" drew today.

Baby Shoes

2009-07-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

Although baby C is not large enough to fit in theses shoes, they provided a good subject to paint. The rate of Baby C's growth is amazing, and can only be appreciated through pictures. Especially those in her first day at the hospital, compared to recent photo images. Soon she will be able to fit in these shoes.

about 5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$80 to purchase, email jjwoodee@gmail.com
Paypal accepted

Keep it simple

2009-06-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

about 5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$80 to purchase, email jjwoodee@gmail.com
Paypal accepted

When I first started painting still lifes, my tendency was to grab as many unusual objects and cram them into a composition(the canvas). Take this example:

Each object in a still life is an actor in a play. Now that I look at this piece,the objects are competing. They could be supporting each other in more pleasing aesthetic way. One artist's feedback at acritique mentioned how the piece as being a bit busy. He was right.

Our culture says if you have a space, fill it with as stuff much as possible. Billboards, plates of food, sodas, and items your house are a few examples . Fill, fill, fill. I raise my hand in guilt. But is more better?

My latest painting features a more simplistic approach featuring 3 main elements. A dark background a daisy flower and bottle. Also, dont forget the highlight. The bottle cap is a supporting actor or faithful sidekick.

It's a struggle to think simplisticly in an ever busier world. I hope this work offers a bit of tranquility or reminder to slow down and think - it's good for you.

Random sketches

2009-06-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

Since I'm crunched with time taking care of Clara, I have been faithfully sticking to keeping a sketchbook. This is something every artist should do. An hour a day to simply clear the mind, record ideas or just draw things around you. Of course drawing is fundamental basic block of painting. With good drawing, usually comes good painting.

Bowl with yellow rose

2009-06-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

about 7" x 5" acrylic on canvas paper
$80 to purchase, email jjwoodee@gmail.com

Here's another painting. Of course, there are few things I'd like to change about the piece now that I see it on the monitor but I'd rather not go back and tweak it. Sometimes in a piece or in life for that matter, you just have to move on.

I like to paint flowers in the state of wilting, hence the separate rose petals. The shape of the wilted rose was hard to capture and I'm not quite sure I pulled it off to my satisfaction. I'm hardly statisfied, however with any work I do.

Bottle in the shadows

2009-05-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$80 to purchase, email jjwoodee@gmail.com

I managed to complete this bottle painting. Now that I'm surrounded with various baby objects around the house I thought this made a good subject. Lord knows that this bottle has saved me from screaming baby many a time.

Show in couple of weeks

2009-04-28T17:07:00.000-07:00

All my "little" paintings or rather 34 of the good ones will be on display at Artist Under Ground May 9th, 7 to 10:00 pm.

Here's a youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT_nuUY_xGc

Daffodil out of the darkness

2009-04-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

I plucked this daffodil from my garden. It's wonderful flower that brings color especially on those early spring, colder days. But now, at least today we may have turned a corner with the weekend weather being in the 70's. The daffodil blooms will soon fade, but this painting will not.

SOLD

Between diaper changes

2009-04-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

There's a new addition in my life and that is the birth of our new daughter. To see feel, hear, and listen to this little human being is surreal. The journey with her in my life has just begun.

Finding time and thought to devote to painting is more difficult these days, but I managed to complete this picture between all the mayhem and the calls of my wife.

SOLD

Back to painting

2009-03-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

Well my wife is due today, and I finally finished the baby room. I have my set up in the basement area of the house where I can control the light in my still life set ups. This piece is titled "Forbidden Fruit".

2009-01-12T15:01:00.000-08:00

"The Truth is simple, avoid complicating it." -random man at Jack in the Box, Seattle's Univeristy District

I came across an old sketchbook while cleaning out my studio. As flipped the pages this drawing grabbed me as I soon remembered hanging out on the ave seeking out something to draw. I came across this street musician and absolutely needed to capture the moment.

Green Pear on side

2008-12-23T16:52:00.000-08:00

I don't know if this painting reads as a pear, but I like the confident stroke and marks I am making is this piece.

Recovering

2008-12-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

I had surgery last Friday, and I'm finally getting back to normal. It is going to be month before I can do any lifting over 10 lbs. Thankfully my wife has been great helping me to recover. It humbles you to be so in need of physical help of the simplest things. But I'm seeing an increase in movement and desire to do more that should put me back to 100% soon. So, I havent been painting in the meanwhile. And since we have baby due in March, I made the desicion to take on the task of cleaning out my studio a week prior to my surgery. I want to repaint the room, so I have taken down the old plaster. This involves a ton of scraping and steaming but its fun. I plan to paint the room a cheery welcoming yellow, with some artsy paintings of Panda bears for the new one which arrives in March.

I'm still deciding whether or not divy off the room as 1/2 my studio and the other 1/2 nursery. If I can get the basement cleaned out, I may have to paint down there.

Cleaning out my studio

2008-11-19T13:49:00.000-08:00

I've been busy cleaning out my studio room in the upper level of our rowhouse. Amazing what two years of "stuff" an artist can accumulate. The room needs to be cleared out and become a nursery to make room for for a new addition to our family. We don't know the sex of the baby. It will be a surprise.

Title: Blue stone necklace and candle Holder
5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$100 to purchase + shipping and handling, email jjwoodee@gmail.com

Switching hosts

2008-11-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

I apologize for some of the broken links....I recently switched web hosts so there are some technical issues to be smoothed out.

spotlighting

2008-10-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting with spotlighting within my still life set ups. I use a light source and piece of contruction paper folded into a cone form. This cone from is then taped onto the light source. The light source now acts as a flashligt of sorts and helps add drama to the still life set up.

SOLD

A mug

2008-10-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

I've been painting steadily each day, although not sharing each one. I need to get better at that. Time within hte day seems to slip by so fast - an hour of this and hour of that along with walking the dog, and the day blurs into evening. Oh, and my wife is 4 1/2 months pregnant she reminds me today so the feelings of anticipation and fear linger within me. 5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$100 to purchase + shipping and handling, email jjwoodee@gmail.com

A meditative change of pace

2008-09-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

So here's a small study inspired by the work of Rothko. A voice my head tells me I'm abetter abstract artist than what I believe. When painting abstractly you are not confined by many of the rules of observation to make something look believable. However you still have to understand principles of composition, colr, line, and all the umpteen relationships that make an artwork successful. And even then, the battle to make something look truly beautiful to an artists internal liking is elusive at best.

Peach in a bowl

2008-09-12T07:12:00.001-07:00

I like how the bowl turned out in this piece. In a forum I often post in another artist commented about how the piece had a melancholy feeling. I consider a piece successful, despite the level of technical expertise, if it can communicate an emotion.

5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$100 to purchase + shipping and handling, email jjwoodee@gmail.com

Faded Daisy and medicine bottle

2008-09-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

I feel good about this piece. The more I do these studies, the more I find the hard work comes in the planning aspect. What to paint, arranging the composition, and value study is more difficult than the painting part. By the time I get to painting, that's easy.

Japanese Teapot

2008-08-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a piece recently finished in my ongoing 1 a day, 120 paintings series.

A lamp painting

2008-08-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

I felt inspired one late evening to paint this lamp. I had a bit of energy left in my tank, and knew I wouldn't like myself the next day if I didn't attempt to paint it. As an artist you have to pay attention to those moments that strike you and even if it makes you uncomfortable. This is done on cardboard.

Observations on Vermeer

2008-08-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

c. 1665-1666
oil on canvas
17 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. (45 x 39.9 cm.)
The National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Gift of Harry Waldron Havemeyer and Horace Havemeyer, Jr.
in memory of their father, Horace Havemeyer

I was able to pay a visit to the National gallery last Sunday for couple of hours, not near enough time to see everything so I focused on the Dutch Masters. Perhaps one of the most famous is Johannes Vermeer. His work is shrouded in mysterious settings with figures and lighting.

I had my (I know this is going to sound hoaky) pictureperfectviewfinder, that has this transparent red film that easily allows you to distinguish values. So when looking at a picture you hold this device up , sqinting one eye, and look through the window. It minimizes detail and allows you to see shapes based on value, which in turn you can easily match up on a value scale.

In most pictures the area that is the lightest in value or shows the greatest contrast between light and dark is where your eye goes. A clever artist, familiar with this concept composes his picture utilizing this method and Vermeer is no exception. When you look at this picture you might think the point of interest or the lightest light is within the face, but after you hold up the pictureperfectviewfinder(what a mouthful) it becomes evident that the arm sleeve is where the lightest value is located. Also, the arm is closer to us than the face so this would make sense of why the light value is lighter. But whats even more unusual, is that the color of fabric on the arm sleeve is lemon yellow. In terms of paint, there is a concept of warm versus cool. Warm colors advance, cool colors recede is the general rule.

A cool yellow is typically a lemon yellow, and a warm is cadmuim yellow medium. Sunlight usually is warm and will cast a warme color. So, the current school of thought is to paint objects in sunlight warm colors. But Vermeer in this piece uses a cool yellow in the fabric of the sleeve(it's more apparent when you see the piece in person that from the digital image of reference in this post) and effectively creates the feeling of light.

So you have the cool light and face that is subdued in this piece, which breaks stride with the works of other Dutch Masters in the period. Maybe I'm off on my thoughts but it was my observation...

sensitive grapes

2008-08-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

I didn't know how difficult grapes were to paint. I feel this is successful composition. You need a light touch to capture the essence of a grape.
5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$80 to purchase, email jjwoodee@gmail.com

Japanese Vessel with None-so-Pretty or Catchfly

2008-08-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

Here's another study of this favorite form of mine. I enjoy how there is just enough information to convey the vessels presence.
5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$80 to purchase, email jjwoodee@gmail.com
or

Japanese Vessel with cosmos

2008-07-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

Here's simple little study of my favorite Japanese Vessel.

5" x 7" acrylic on canvas paper
$75 to purchase, email jjwoodee@gmail.com