My Story
I’m a former university professor and chair of philosophy as well as a former healthcare attorney and executive. I’m now retired in Lexington, Kentucky, settling into my so-called golden years after a second try at retiring.
A couple of years ago my wife talked me into joining her for an “art” class offered by the local university extension programs for senior citizens. Never before had I put a brush with paint to canvas or even considered doing such a thing.
However, two revelations followed.
I have to say that my work now in the studio at times results in something I never quite intended. Sometimes I think I’m living off of a kind of dumb luck and not any kind of artistic vision. The blessing is that I’ll never take myself seriously as an “artist.” I will happily remain a complete and consummate amateur.
So why try to sell my paintings? I have no choice. I literally have no more space to hang or store any more pieces. Besides, I need to buy more paint!
I quickly discovered that while I have only a very limited ability to produce (reproduce!) pieces of “representational art” (I can’t draw to save my life!), I discovered that I can sometimes do quite well throwing paint on canvases to surprise myself with the shapes and arrays of color that often emerge.
I have wondered if the key to a successful retirement is having some sense of myself – some sense of who or what I am – that does not rely on the titles and trappings of a professional career.
how this turns out might be a surprise to loved ones and friends, but even more so to oneself.
Recently, we lost our pal, Rico the wonder dog. He was a big dog with a big personality. A hound mix with a nose for every possible smell and scent.
Here’s how I remember him… ”Rico in the Weeds.”
check out these available pieces - cold wax and oil or acrylic and stretched canvas
24” x 36”. Framed acrylic on stretched canvas signed by artist. A single brush (from Home Depot) was used to create this piece, and now in a fitting end that brush will live on a part of the artwork it created.
36” x 24” - cold wax and pigmented pastels over acrylic base and on a claybord panel; signed by artist and framed. There are twelve (12) different pigmented pastels color mixed directly into cold wax and applied with breyers, “squeegees,” and pallet knifes. This is a first effort with pigmented colors as a substitute for oil paint. I think I like it!
30” x 40” - Unframed acrylic on stretched canvas signed by artist. The trick with this piece was figuring out what tool to use to apply paint to the stencils. After a number of experiments, a breyer was the choice.