Art at Morningstar Hall

Latest Commissions:

"Dance"

"Dance"

acrylics, 11 x 14

This piece, done for friends, evolved from the interplay of opposites: fire and earth on one side, in the rich reds, golds, and browns of the phoenix, with water and air represented by the storm-colored dragon on the other side.

Each element had to occupy the same amount of space, roughly like a yin-yang, and each had to meld with the whole despite using opposite colors. obviously, this was a challenge!

Two winged creatures with elongated necks and tails take up a lot of room, and I had to be careful not to let either one dominate the space. I had trouble with the design, which always seemed to favor one or the other,until I began to think of it as a dance where each figure yielded a little room to the other, and not as a conflict, where each tried to take it.

To blend the colors and bring them together I used some blue, like bluish flame, on the phoenix, and some amber on the dragon, with some red lowlights dropped into the purple blue on the wings for an effect like stormlight. It came out well, and the two figures, both outlined in the same neutral silvery-gold metallic, now share the space equally.

This was the first large plaque I've ever done, and by far the largest piece I've ever attempted in the semi-realistic tribal style I've adopted. I'm quite pleased with it, and very proud that it will have a place of honor in its new home.

Jewelry and Trinket Boxes

There's something mysterious and just a little magical about boxes . . . anything could be inside.

I paint boxes to hold all sorts of things: jewelry, mementos, even perfume!

Each raw wood box is sanded and given a triple coat of gesso, then the underpainting is applied to give the box its base color.

I create the design on paper, working from a central image. Each side must harmonize with the others, and the style must be consistent and flow from side to side. For commissions, I consult with my clients to determine color, symbolism, and theme.

When I'm satisfed with the design, I transfer the final pattern to tracing tissue and apply it to the prepared surface, then apply each color in careful sequence. This exacting and time-consuming process requires several coats for each color. Once the colors have been applied, I add metallic touches, finish the inside of the box, and sign the work.

Every box gets a triple coat of high-quality acrylic varnish to help protect it from surface scratches and harmful UV light, and is then allowed to dry thoroughly before the hardware is restored and the fit of the lid adjusted.

An average-sized piece can take anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five hours to complete. It's a process I find enjoyable from start to finish, and there is no moment more exciting to me than adjusting the screws for the final time and closing the box to get my first look at the final product.