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"Grounded" is the title of this month's painting as well as expresses an unfamiliar, yet comforting position that I find myself in. If you've been following my blog, you are aware of the transition that I have been going through. It has involved moving, some serious downsizing and purging of many wanted, but not needed material things. As a result, I am surrounded by what I really need, am within a ten minute walk from all that I'm mostly involved in and feel more in control than I have in a very, very long time.

Last month I mentioned that I felt a change in my creative expression and this month's painting takes a leap in that direction. Grounded in simplicity and color, hope you enjoy!

Thanks for following........Jim

Are you more of a free spirit or more into having things about you in order? Do you need to have every minute & mile of your vacation preplanned, or do you like to just get in the car and wing it as you go? My art has been and continues to be a transition for me. A transition from always striving to be in control, always planning the next move and having a map of my journey before I ever start it, to moving more towards allowing room for relaxing, spontaneity and abstracted thinking.

Reality is, we live and function to some extent, in both worlds everyday, Side by Side. Thus this image and its title that I have chosen for this month's blog. I feel it demonstrates the two worlds of order & chaos that we straddle each day. The need to be in control and behave ourselves and those times, when in spite of all our efforts, things slip through our grasp and get out of control.

And sometimes, doesn't it just feels great to flip out, get crazy and say screw it, on purpose, but of course..... not necessarily in that order.

Thanks for stopping by & make it a good day!

I've chosen this earlier piece of mine "Starting Over" for the title and it's symbolic connection to my current personal journey. Starting over, there is a lot of that going on and actually to some degree it always is. Whether do to the natural life cycles that we all experience, the economy, corporate downsizing, or from an unfortunate tragedy, starting over happens.

I can certainly compile a list that will put you to sleep from my own journey. Let it suffice to say I'm in the middle of yet another starting over / transition, which is and has been a major exercise in downsizing of personal living space. You have to understand that I have been and I have enjoyed being a material kind of guy. Not a hoarder, but stuff and things and when I had a large townhouse, I had a place for all of it.

My new reality is a 400 square foot efficiency apartment, which had me draw a firm line between the wants and needs. I have to admit that I embarrassed myself with all of the material stuff that I had acquired that were not even close to a being a needed item. Gone is all the fluff and with minimal wall space, I'm sad to say my art collection had to be thinned as well. After numerous ads on Craig's List, donations, gifts to friends and several garage sales, I'm possession lean and all that's left will comfortably fit.

The cleansing has been a very positive and rewarding experience and like a governor on an engine, a small living space will keep in check all future unneeded purchase impulses. Needless to say, painting a 30x40 isn't going to happen in this space, however I usually create in the 20x20 size and under, so all is good.

I look forward to getting a fresh canvas out and seeing what emerges as I begin Starting Over!

How much of what an artist produces is a reflection of themselves? I ask this because soon after I posted this image of my recent piece titled "Off The Grid" on Face Book, a dear friend commented that "This does not look like your "happy place" Jim. But I like it! Because many slices of life are NOT happy. But I sure wish I could see you be happy". While I appreciate my friend's concern for my well being, I was actually a bit surprised with the comment.

After over twenty years of a structured photography career, painting in the abstract has been and is the most creative fun I've had in years. I do acknowledge that my color palette tends to be a bit on the dark side at times. You should see my closet, or my home decor. You'll find a mix of browns, tans, rusts, dark greens, blues and burgundys, you know earthy and on the darker side.

As for the images themselves, well, abstract is abstract and when you work intuitively as I do, it is.....what it is. If I am working through some issues on the canvas, it's a whole lot more enjoyable and a lot less expensive that couch therapy.

I know actors choose roles that they relate to and songs are often written with lyrics derived from personal experiances......so what do you think? Are some of my demons being revealed, or am I just a quiet introvert having some fun.....on the Dark Side?

P.S. - You don't think that my Dad's first name of Darth and my middle name of Luke could be influencing factors, do you?

After titling my most recent painting "Connection" that you see here, I got to wondering, what's the connection to the art you buy and how important is it? For some, it must match the sofa or some other decorating detail or theme. For others, it may represent an experiance that was either had or one waiting to be. Yet for some, art is purchased because it speaks to them at some level or for the sheer joy and emotion that is felt from its creator.

For the reason of matching your couch or rug aside, the purchace of art can be a very personal and emotional experiance, as it should be. And even if the art was commissioned to match your decor, the artist is chosen for his or her style and that style can be like a signature, as personal as any finger print.

Taking it a step further, when you buy local and or have the chance to personally meet the artist that created your piece, the connection is everlasting. Yes, the monetary exchange is always appreciated, however the purchase serves as an endorsement that goes well beyond.

Spoil yourself & buy art whenever you can, make it a goal to invest in it locally and make the connection!

With this painting, Rustic Interlude, as with most of my paintings, I didn't have a clue what I was looking at until I started getting feedback from others. Once I have textured the canvas and start to apply some paint I let the image pretty much design itself. I look for elements of design, balance, texture and color harmony, but rarely do I start with or pursue a specific design or image.

Usually the painting is done and I'm trying to decide on a title is when I start to find some recognizable hints of an image. It's always interesting and rewarding to get feedback from others as to what they see and how they may feel about what they are looking at.

So far viewers have seen one leg, two legs, a backhoe, water, lava, a cave, a reflection pool and a horse head. I can see those images now, how about you, what do you see in Rustic Interlude?

The title could have also been, "Playing it Safe v/s Taking a Chance". This painting was done and hanging in my local gallery for a few days. It consisted of, what is now the background, the lavenders, purples, tans and blacks. While I was initially satisfied with it, I soon felt that it wasn't done yet, it still needed something, it was too safe. It lacked a focal point and it needed some energy and excitement. I decided to go with the addition of this very strong red, which I have used as accent and in smaller applications on other paintings, but never this bold and prominent.

Now it was a decision of should I work it into the painting as before, or approach it with a totally different application. So now, as I was thinking of adding a splash of strong color, I thought, why not splash it on as well. The background took a few hours to complete, the addition of red only a couple of minutes, plus three or four days to work up the courage to do so and the final is now before you.

The original title was "Crossover" and with the new addition I was thinking about "The Next Generation", but the more I look at it I think I'll call it "Dexter". What do you think?

Thanks for reading........Jim