Why an Amber Series?

While studying various cloud formations one evening, I witnessed a spectacular show of changing colors. I watched the monochromatic color tones of some cumulus clouds change from cool and warm gray to a kaleidoscope of creamy yellow, violet, pumpkin orange and salmon pink within a 15 minute time frame. I was impressed how the dark sky of an approaching storm was transformed within minutes to a canopy of glowing colors that created for me another unworldly experience to observe. I enjoyed the abstract patterns and color
that was enveloping before me and decided that this specific moment was worthy of its own series of studies.

Within my most recent amber paintings, I decided to crop in on my subject to reveal the most intensified color areas of undulating forms. I have enjoyed the impact of the various compositions and color combinations I have been working on this past year and look forward to creating other paintings within this field.

I also look forward to applying what I have learned about color combinations in creating new grayish paintings in 2008.

Painting From Memory

Sometimes I have to rely on my memory when creating a painting, rather then relying on physical references.

A couple of weeks ago my brother and his wife urged me to take a look at a moody sky they just spotted while driving home. Their description sounded intriguing so I drove off to a parking lot to take a look. It was around
7 p.m. when I looked toward the west and observed some very dark and slightly lighter cloud formations tinted with warm and cool purples. This grouping of storm clouds was juxtaposed with creamy streaks of open sky. The sky looked surreal. It was one of those moments when the sky didn’t look like a sky at all, but rather a design.

Because it was so late, I couldn't expect my camera to record the subtle color conditions I was experiencing nor could I sketch anything effective enough in the dark. So I stood there for 15 minutes watching the sky fade away into darkness. Later on that evening I recorded my experienced and made some small oil studies.

I enjoyed the simplicity and mood of this fleeting moment and plan on painting some variations of it in 2008.