ENTER THE SPORTS WORLD

After sending requests to sketch the Oregon State Uni. football practice I received a quick response and was able to witness two hours of outstanding athleticism.

My heart be still! As in dance, these beautiful body forms give 150% of what they are there to do. I was the only one in the stands for much of the time and sketched non-stop taking away notes I am proud to say are refreshing and seem like potential painting subject matter. No one cared that I was there and that provides an excellent climate for drawing to meet my needs. Drove home loaded with smiles and the sound of the band practice echoing in my head. A reminder Ohio State years.

Don't know where this is all going but

USEFUL SKETCHING NOTES

The update on my project for combining sports movement gestures and dance gestures is still in the stage of making use of the wonderful works at North West Dance Project and trying to get field time with University of Portland women's soccer and Oregon State University football. I have e-mails explaining the the project, my request for field time and some paintings as examples. Perhaps I need to go to the athletic departments with a brief portfolio. Their time and schedule must be quite precious right now.

Meanwhile I am prepping canvases in anticipation of what's ahead.

DANCE OR SPORT?

Seems like it has taken years for me to come to the exciting project of painting a series of canvases that have to do with the idea that dance and sport have similar gestures and come under the concept of movement as being composed of force, time, space and flow.

My first task at hand is to line up opportunities for getting on the playing fields of football,volleyball, soccer and tennis during practice to sketch as close as I do in the dance rehearsals I'm attending now. Eventually I would accumulate notes and experiences that will nurture this project for however it last.

It will be enjoyable to report into this blog as a journal for this endeavor.

PAIR ON THE RUN

After the gallery that I had these gestures exhibited closed last spring I decided to circulate some of this work in local venues. It has become a refreshing lift after losing the original home for this inventory.

The owners of a wine bar named BARILE' here in Portland have agreed to hang 10 of these gestures. Their interest and enthusiasm breathes new air into the work.

AND THEN AGAIN

Canvas work can be so luring. I don't have to settle for any line, color or shape unless I want to. So this canvas haunts me even in the grocery store and will do so until I find what it is I am looking for.

The female figure is more convincing then the last attempt.

Dance is conversation with the body. This canvas needs to offer that.

The male figure at the top right needs company.

NEW LINES ON OLD PAINTING CAN BE FUN

I have been pestered by a canvas I started over a year ago. The painting is from notes taken from James Canfield 's choreography last summer.

Actually it is several blogs back from this one. The gesture of the female figure on the left did not work in this composition .

On a studio errand yesterday the image of the figure that I needed came to me. When back in the studio she went down onto the canvas in a matter of seconds.

What fun to have resolved that part of this process called painting. Maybe I should repeat that same errand tomorrow before adding color and features to hopefully move her and the viewer.

CELEBRATION TIME COME ON!

What better way to announce I am back from a year sabbatical than flowers in season.

This year long sabbatical has provided the time needed to convalesce from surgery and creative fatigue.

The Northwest Dance Project NWDP, has provided me with notes to launch new works. They are one of the main dance attractions in Portland during the summer and I am grateful for the opportunity to prop on their floor and draw. It's great to be back.