FROM THE SKETCH TO THE PAINT

I would be curious what other painters feel as they are about to take on the canvas with brush in hand. For me it's often like standing on a very high diving platform. Stalling by fussing about before taking that deep breath.

Today I dove. This figure will evolve over the next weeks or few days with the hope I do not take away the movement in the gesture and bind her up with paint. Instead, she needs to soar.

WAKING UP THIS BLOG

Since last fall I have been collecting notes for this series of large canvases that focus on similar movements found in dance and sport.

Sketches are still happening since the football, soccer and volleyball practices observed last fall. Lately my subjects have been PSU women's basketball and Oregon Ballet Theatre rehearsals.

This 48"x72" canvas has just been started. The posted gesture popped up in both my PSU sketches as well as those from the dance floor at OBT. My self imposed project is turning out to be fun and full of wonderful challenges. I am at the wonderful mercy of what happens in front of me whether it be at practices and rehearsals or on canvas.

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.