Sept.9- "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?"

It was six months ago that Lu and I were sat in our Oncologist's office and he advised us that the finding of a CT scan  confirmed that I had Stage IV Urothelial cancer that had metastasized to the Lymph Nodes. His prognosis was that without immediate chemotherapy I had maybe six months and that with Chemo 12-18 months. Well, still standing, still fighting and still painting-save your tears and please (he says hopefully) enjoy the work.

I think that for me, as an artist, what truly excites me is the discovery of new mediums and substrates and the challenge of taking these new tools and creating something original and exciting. I offer the following in evidence.

I've been working from home a lot and doing smalls. This is on 7"x10" 1264 Fabriano watercolor paper and the golds are from a Japanese collection  (Kuretake) of  gold metallic watercolors coupled with Mungyo metallic oil pastels. "Confetti."

Two larger studies for a series titled, "New Color Ikons."- This is on Canson 12"x18" watercolor with Nova Color  acrylic metallic gold background and metallic color pastel colorfields in primary colors.

Finished  version (bad photo) on Strathmore paper 22"x30" same mediums but better executed. I'll post a better photo as it is pretty stunning in real time.

    

    ``This piece features a new medium for me, watercolors,  but they are graphite colors and come from Japan.

I've pretty much avoided watercolors because I just didn't feel I had the "hand" for it. Watercolors, to me, are like baking, no room for error. But, as is usually the case, I was very wrong. I just had to trust the process-corny, I know, but the truth, nonetheless. On Canson watercolor paper with Kuretake Graphite Watercolors. Not sure on the dims.

  Same as above with an acrylic seal that deepened the colors and added gloss.

Study piece on 1264 paper with Matisse gesso blue background and 3 variations of Nova Color gold.

 Another study but on a larger format using the metallic gold as a border with the graphite watercolors.

The photo is terrible but captures the rawness and unpredictability of the watercolors set against the gold border

 This is from "Lulu's Collection."  Titled, "Graphite Watercolor Landscape." My favorite, so far.

                                "Dreams #1"

                        "My Mother's Carpet." 

                        Metallic silver study on Matisse gesso background.