"Chanterelles" has been accepted into the IWM Exhibit!

I have been given the great honor of being part of IWM Exhibition in 2026! It is an opportunity to hang with the masters! This show will be held at Lilleshall Hall in Shropshire, England next May. Some history on my painting entitled "Chanterelles" is something that caught my eye while visiting the Village of Sarlat, France. Outside this restaurant was a basket full of Chanterelle mushrooms. Their rich color and gourmet aspect I found interesting. There were stems of ferns stuck in the basket and a chalkboard sign advertising about making them into omelettes. The wicker french chairs and cobblestone patterns added to the design.

 

Development of "Enlightenment"

 

The development of "Enlightenment" starting with developing the statue of Buddha. I achieved the texture utilizing such materials as salt, granulation paints, and techniques such as spattering. Once I was satisfied with the result, I proceeded onto developing the plants and floral parts of the painting. The background was worked on in stages as I worked in different areas.

Enlightenment

This is a painting that have revisited. I did one a few years back but was not happy with the result. I still wanted to paint this buddha statue and worked hard to not only come up with a different composition, but also to capture the stone work with its textures. I am happy with the result. What I am most proud of is the texture on the statue that was created with different watercolor effects. He holds a single blossom and is surrounded with tropical foliage. This was on on Arches Rough watercolor paper.

 

Monpazier, France

This is a cafe scene from the Village of Monpazier, France located in the Southwest corner. A few years back, I painted this scene with a different composition but wanted to try a different layout. I am intrigued with capturing the weathered stone walls with watercolor granulation and texturing techniques.The medieval village of Monpazier to find such textures is an excellent source. This is the first new painting of 2025!

 

New Year and more art to explore!

 What is it about a new year and making a fresh start? Do we constantly have a need to re-invent ourselves? I believe the answer is yes. I know that I always start to think about what I want to accomplish this year and what would make me fulfilled and happy. What does one want to have in one's life. As you get older, your thoughts lean toward your longevity. We are all here on a temporary basis. But we get caught up in the everyday things that we need to do in order to live. Art has a way of making even the most mundane lives one of excitement and pleasure.

Last year and this year, I tried some new mediums that can work with watercolor as I have been wanting to expand my creativity. I dabbled with jelly gouache to create my Monet Garden series of paintings. I tried my hand at Collage in which I created my Moon Series. I now have been interested in lino printing. A novice at best but here is my first result shown below. It is entitled "White Mulberry".

Let us all continue to see the beauty around us and leave the troubles in the world to a God. We can help a little to aleviate some discomforts. Hopefully, I hope that you have enjoyed my blog and has brought some inspiration. Take care and have a happy new year.